Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

Trader Sam's exterior

Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar is a tiki-themed bar located at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California that opened in May 2011. Named one of the top 5 tiki bars in Los Angeles by LA Weekly,^[1] Trader Sam's is one of many tiki bars gaining popularity throughout the United States, and even the world, in what some call Tiki's "3rd Wave". ^[2]

Influences and References

Trader Sam's incorporates elements of traditional tiki bars (glass floats, bamboo, tiki carvings) combined with memorabilia from Disney rides and movies like Indiana Jones and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. According to Brandon Kleyla, Disney Imagineer and head decorator for Trader Sam's, there are more than 1600 items decorating the interior. ^[3]

In addition to classic tiki bar details, Trader Sam's contains references to many elements of the Adventureland area of Disneyland. The Jungle Cruise ride introduces Trader Sam as the "head salesman" of the Jungle Cruise Navigational Company, which explains all the tiki memorabilia throughout the bar. Also in keeping with the bar's Jungle Cruise theme, bartenders are all referred to as "Skippers" and one of the drinks is called "Schweitzer Falls", one of the landmarks pointed out in the Jungle Cruise ride. As a nod to the influences of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, there is a drink called "Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum" and carved tiki figures with slowly-moving eye on each end of the bar that are identical to the ones in the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction. The tiki drummers above the bar near the ceiling are also from the Enchanted Tiki Room.

Many references to various Disney franchises are scattered throughout the bar as well. The bull whip from Indiana Jones, a letter from Short Round, a map of the Temple of the Forbidden Eye from Indiana Jones Adventure, and the voodoo doll from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom can all be found. The harpoon from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is also present. A few references to the Adventurer's Club at Walt Disney World in Florida are also present: a postcard from Samantha Sterling (a cabaret singer at the Adventurers Club) and a letter from Pamela Perkins (club president) on Adventurers Club letterhead. You can also get a Kungaloosh cocktail at Trader Sam's, named after the Adventurer's Club official greeting.^[4]

Cocktail-triggered animatronics

Trader Sam's in unique amongst any other tiki bar in the world in its use of animatronics, lighting, sound effects, and employee interaction when certain drinks are ordered. While most tiki bars have a static interior that changes infrequently, if ever, Trader Sam's was designed by Disney Imagineers whose great attention to detail went into the creation of tiki carvings with moving eyes that slowly move back and forth, an animated shipwreck in a bottle, erupting volcanoes, and barstools that sink slowly into the floor. ^[5] Though not all drinks cause something to happen, the following is a list of drinks that do:

Shipwreck on the Rocks → The ship in a bottle above the bar encounters stormy seas and begins to sink.
Krakatoa Punch → The serene Polynesian scene outside the faux window shows a storm gathering as the volcano begins to erupt.
Shrunken Zombie Head → Certain barstools will begin lowering toward the floor. (Bartenders can also just mess with customers by doing this independently of drink orders.)
Uh Oa! → The bartender rings a bell and people begin chanting "Uh OA! Uh OA! Uh OA OA OA!" and employees spray water into the air so it feels like it's beginning to rain.

• Draft Beer → Beer draft handles are carved tiki heads with lighted eyes. When a bartender pulls a draft, tiki drums and chants begin to play. The more drafts that are pulled in succession, the faster the drums and chanting.

Expansion

A second Trader Sam's called Grog Grotto opened in 2015 at Disney's Polynesian Resort in Walt Disney World. During a Halloween event at the Disneyland Trader Sam's, more details were shared about the new location in Florida. While The Enchanted Tiki bar draws its inspiration from the Enchanted Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise at Disneyland, the Grog Grotto incorporates themes from the classic film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in addition to the aforementioned attractions.^[6]

Tiki mugs

The following souvenir tiki mugs are available with certain drinks:

Krakatoa (fogcutter shape)
Uh-Oa bowl
Shrunken Zombie Head
Shipwreck rum barrel

References

↑ Bartlett, James (2013-03-25). "TOP 5 TIKI BARS IN LOS ANGELES". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
↑ Saladino, Emily (2015-01-06). "6 Bars Ushering In Tiki’s Exciting 3rd Wave". Food Republic. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
↑ Yeh, David (2011-11-03). "The ART(ifacts) of Trader Sam’s". Endor Express. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
↑ Bricker, Tom (2013-06-26). "Trader Sam’s Backstory & Details". Disney Tourist Blog. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
↑ Kidney, Kevin (2011-06-23). "Trader Sam's Tiki Bar". Kevin Kidney. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
↑ Hayward, Jim (2014-10-06). "Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto design, merchandise revealed during Mahaloween event at Disneyland". Atomic Grog Blog. Retrieved 2014-01-21.

External links

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