Trader Sam's Opens and Aunt Polly's Returns at Walt Disney World

March 28, 2015, 3:50 PM · It's been a great weekend for new food and drink experiences at top theme park resorts. We told you yesterday about the new Springfield USA restaurants at Universal Studios Hollywood. Today, the east coast welcomed a popular new establishment as another Trader Sam's tiki bar opened at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto

Inspired by the original Trader Sam's at the Disneyland Hotel in California (and, just a little bit, by the old Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island before that), Trader Sam's Grog Grotto seats 50 inside and 82 on the patio, and wait times for a table inside ran up to four hours, according to readers on Twitter this afternoon.

Shrunken Zombie Head at Trader Sam's

Once in, you can order from a wide selection of tropical inspired drinks (mostly alcoholic, but with a few sans the booze). Many popular choices are served in souvenir mugs and glasses, including the Krakatoa Punch and the Shrunken Zombie Head (pictured above - photos courtesy Disney). A selection of appetizers, including sushi, kalua pork tacos, and bahn mi sliders, also is available.

If you're looking for a different flavor of nostalgia — and a much lower price point — Aunt Polly's reopened today on my beloved Tom Sawyer Island, after an absence of many years.

The walk-up quick-service window is serving turkey sandwiches, PB&Js, and lemonade.

That's a step up from the days when I worked the Tom Sawyer Island rafts, and Polly's served only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and soft drinks. "Where's the lemonade?" might have been the second-most popular question guests asked me when I was working on the island back then. ("How do I get off this island?" being the first, of course.) Update: We're told that Polly's will be seasonal-only, through April 11, for the spring break crowds. But if enough people rave about it at City Hall (hint!) and the income numbers look good, here's hoping that Polly's will return for the summer and other high seasons in the future.

Where have you been eating in the parks this weekend? Tell us in the comments.

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Replies (13)

March 28, 2015 at 6:26 PM · Very happy about Aunt Polly's... it gives life to the island, and I hope it sticks around. Plus, I love the simplicity of the menu. (Didn't it have fried chicken at one point or am I mixing things up?)

Also happy to get to Trader Sam's soon, too, as I love the DL spot.

March 28, 2015 at 8:31 PM · Over at Magic they're saying Aunt Polly's is only open till April 11th for the Spring break crowds.
March 28, 2015 at 8:36 PM · Pollys is a much needed place over there because that's honestly the last quiet place to chill and eat lunch besides the noodle station (aka now Tomorrowland Terrance). Magic kingdom has simply gotten too popular for its own good.
March 28, 2015 at 8:36 PM · The zombie mugs are hideous. Who would collect them?
March 28, 2015 at 8:53 PM · I soooo want a zombie mug!!
March 28, 2015 at 9:37 PM · Drunk people?
March 29, 2015 at 8:49 AM · I love my Zombie Mug. I use it exclusively for ice cream while I am watching The Walking Dead.
March 29, 2015 at 10:49 AM · When the work on the Poly is finally complete it will be -- hands down -- the most beautiful theme park resort on the planet.
March 29, 2015 at 11:02 AM · You know that Tom Saywer really enjoyed hummus!
March 29, 2015 at 11:09 AM · I LOVE my zombie mug. I got it in California now I use it exclusively for eating calming ice cream while I watch The Walking Dead. I'm expecting a three scoop night tonight (5/29/15).
March 29, 2015 at 2:25 PM · A 4-hour wait time for Trader Sam's? Do you get to meet Anna & Elsa?
March 30, 2015 at 4:09 PM · Yes, Polly's DID serve chicken, once upon a time. I can not tell you how downright giddy I am that it's open, just when we will be there. When I was a kid, we ALWAYS ate there and I took my daughter too. Unfortunately, she was too little to remember. I can't wait to take her this Saturday!
April 3, 2015 at 9:12 AM · Will it be open on April 11? I can't tell from the comments if it is closing on April 11, or will be open on that day. That's the only day we'd be able to go, given that the Seasonal Passholder block out period ends on April 10.

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