The Disney World Trader Sam's Secret We Have To Ruin

When it comes to tiki drinks and fun snacks, there’s one fan-favorite place to visit at Disney World.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto in Disney World

Yep, it’s Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto! This fun little tiki bar at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is home to a menu filled with fun cocktails and small bites. There’s only one problem. Seemingly EVERYONE loves this drink spot — and it’s usually crowded. Like, the kind of crowded that you have to join a long wait list to have a chance at getting in. Well, we have a tip for you if you’d like to enjoy an empty and serene Trader Sam’s.

There are a few nights a year that you can find Trader Sam’s relatively empty. Those nights are all the nights before runDisney races!

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Yep, most of the Disney World visitors/runners on these nights are snug as a bug in their hotel rooms. They’re resting up for that early wake-up call and long distance run that’ll take place the next morning.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

While the races begin at 5AM, runners start to arrive as early as 3:30AM. For many runners, especially those wearing costumes and makeup, this means that it’s necessary to wake up as early as 1:30-2AM in most cases!

Princess Half Marathon

While celebrating at Trader Sam’s might be an awesome way to celebrate the many miles run, most runners probably aren’t going to pregame a distance race with an alcoholic tiki treat. If they do, we want to know their secret.

A delicious treat most of the time, but a recipe for disaster before a race. 😂

This also goes for other popular bars and lounges around Disney World. In some cases, you’ll even find the parks a bit emptier! If you’re hoping to experience an empty park during race weekends, we recommend visiting right in the morning when the runners are still resting up or cleaning themselves up after the race.

What a runDisney race morning could look like.

Keep in mind that getting to the parks might be difficult due to road closures, though, so a rule of thumb is to stay within walking distance to the park you’d like to visit, or a hotel that has Monorail or Skyliner access.

EPCOT

We’ll continue to keep you updated with tips and tricks pertaining to the Disney Parks, so make sure to follow along for more!

Looking for more information on runDisney weekends? Click here!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.

Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

Have you ever visited Disney World during a race weekend? Let us know in the comments!