Considered one of Walt Disney World’s hottest lounges is now opening a number of hours earlier every day, with Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto now greeting company beginning within the morning! Listed here are full particulars on the late 2025 and early 2026 schedule change, together with what we hope occurs with this widespread Poly bar going ahead.

As primary background, Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto is a themed tiki bar at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The “secret spot” (air quotes) is tucked away behind a nondescript door on the decrease degree of the Nice Ceremonial Home. Secret as a result of it doesn’t draw consideration to itself with a distinguished marquee and isn’t simple to seek out should you’re unfamiliar with the foyer structure, however air quotes as a result of the situation is however insanely widespread and has a devoted following amongst followers.

Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto is widespread for good purpose. It’s close to the highest of our Listing of the 25 Finest Bars & Lounges at Walt Disney World, and we view Dealer Sam’s as a must-visit for first-timers or followers of themed design. It’s actually well-themed and a enjoyable expertise, so it’s unsurprising that Grog Grotto is having fun with a lot success a full decade (needed to double-check that; can not imagine it’s been so lengthy) after opening!

The newest replace comes through the Walt Disney World working calendar, which signifies that Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto is now open each day from 11:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight), efficient instantly for the guts of the Christmas 2025 season and lengthening till at the very least February 15, 2026.

The one purpose it “ends” then is as a result of that’s as far out because the calendar goes. If truth be told, hours are all the time topic to alter (therefore this last-minute extension when beforehand the hours for these identical dates had been shorter). If this ‘experiment’ goes effectively, Walt Disney World will make 11 am to midnight the brand new regular for Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto.

In all probability, it’s contingent upon staffing and the bar having the ability to cowl shifts. Our guess is that received’t be an issue. From what we perceive, this is among the extra fascinating positions at Walt Disney World. Usually talking, servers and bartenders are inclined to do effectively.

Previous to this variation, Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto beforehand opened at 3 pm each day. This was truly an extension of its unique working hours. Afternoon hours had been already added as a result of traces that will kind within the hallway, clogging up the walkway resulting in Capt. Prepare dinner’s. Our guess is that these will nonetheless kind, however a couple of hours earlier.

With this variation, Dealer Sam’s Tiki Terrace has additionally seen its hours prolonged. That is the out of doors counterpart to the indoor bar situated on the ‘again’ of Grog Grotto, adjoining to the out of doors seating for Capt. Prepare dinner’s by the function pool. Dealer Sam’s Tiki Terrace will now function from 11 am to 11 pm each day (additionally at present by way of mid-February 2026).

The age requirement for Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto not modified. Friends of all ages are welcome from 11 am till 8 pm, at which level entry is restricted to company 21 years of age and older are allowed into the tiki bar from 8 pm till midnight. Nevertheless, the open-air Dealer Sam’s Tiki Terrace stays all-ages at all-hours.

One other non-change is that Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto (fortunately) doesn’t settle for Advance Eating Reservations…for now? The similarly-popular Wailulu Bar & Grill “subsequent door” to Grog Grotto within the Island Tower simply began providing ADRs. We sincerely hope that doesn’t develop into a development, as one factor that makes lounges extra enticing is their laid again and informal nature.

Moreover, vehicular entry to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is routinely restricted to solely company of the lodge, or these with ADRs. Because of this should you’re not staying on the Poly, it’s essential take Walt Disney World transportation to the resort so as to drink at Grog Grotto.

You might need success with safety that guards the car parking zone, however don’t financial institution on it. We’ve heard from numerous company who’ve stated they’re going to Grog Grotto and have been rejected. We don’t assume it’s even well worth the gamble.

With that stated, we do suggest making the hassle to recover from to Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto. It is a destination-caliber bar. We’d go so far as to say that Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto is among the finest additions to Walt Disney World within the final decade or so.

The inside is a treasure trove of particulars, and references just about every thing in Adventureland, together with Swiss Household Treehouse, Jungle Cruise, and even the Enchanted Tiki Room: Below New Administration. Additionally represented are Walt Disney period movies, amongst quite a few different issues.

There are additionally loads of enjoyable results and only a usually nice environment. Grog Grotto isn’t for everybody, however the themed tiki bar is exclusive and it’s value experiencing for your self at the very least as soon as. With these earlier hours, now it’s simpler than ever to strategize a go to and keep away from the crowds at Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto. We’d extremely suggest giving it a shot–you may adore it!

Meals is served each day from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm at each Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto and the out of doors Tiki Terrace.

Nevertheless, we’d warn that Dealer Sam’s is a bar for ingesting, not for consuming. We love lounges and revisit our favorites commonly, which might recommend we’re regulars at Grog Grotto given its rating on our listing. However as famous above, that’s for first-timers and rare guests.

We haven’t dined or drank at Grog Grotto in a couple of years. Solely as soon as within the post-COVID period. We’ve made a few temporary visits to satisfy up with pals, however have in any other case spent extra time on the out of doors Tiki Terrace (the vibe is healthier for socializing). The rationale for that is easy: the meals at Grog Grotto leaves quite a bit to be desired.

Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto is considered one of a number of bars at Walt Disney World the place meals is an afterthought, and though an appetizer menu is obtainable, it’s a brief listing of chilly objects or dishes that may shortly be heated up in a small toaster oven. This can be a distinction to the family-friendly lounges we frequent, which have substantial meals menus due to sharing a kitchen with one other restaurant or having considered one of their very own.

From our perspective, this is the most effective change that Dealer Sam’s might make–a extra bold meals menu. Capt. Prepare dinner’s is true there, and gives supply to tables, so the logistics of this are hardly insurmountable. If something, this is likely to be a internet optimistic in serving to relieve demand from the strained eating scene on the Poly, at the very least in the case of the out of doors tables on the Tiki Terrace. These tables already are sometimes occupied by company with Capt. Prepare dinner’s meals since that seating space is undersized, and counter service company find yourself being shooed away like pigeons.

There’s in all probability not any inclination to supply a much bigger meals menu inside Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto, because the bar is already busy most afternoons and evenings. These prolonged hours will assist with that to some extent, however we doubt it’ll materially change–most company will proceed favoring the 8 pm to midnight timeframe. The flipside of that’s you’ll encounter decrease crowds when stopping in Dealer Sam’s within the morning or early afternoon.

The true answer to this downside, as not too long ago mentioned in Deserted Areas at Walt Disney World, is including one other restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Or fairly, restoring one which’s already there.

The lodge was residence to Tangaroa Terrace, which is a stout constructing over by the monorail tracks and near-ish the bus stops. Though Tangaroa Terrace closed manner again in 1996, the constructing was nonetheless used after that for group occasions and, extra notably, the Neverland Membership and Lilo’s Playhouse till 2018. It now serves as an area for Forged Members, together with storage and places of work.

Even earlier than the opening of Island Tower, the Poly wanted extra eating capability. Now the lodge badly wants one other restaurant, as Wailulu is simply not sufficient for the rooms added. Restoring Tangaroa Terrace as one other counter service restaurant, lounge, dinner present, or Moana character eating expertise could be an enormous win. Island Tower ought to’ve been constructed with a rooftop restaurant, however since that ship has sailed, that is the most effective comfort prize.

Given the recognition of actually each eating choice on the Polynesian and the way Nice Ceremonial Home is bursting on the seams with demand and crowds, having Tangaroa Terrace as a launch valve on the opposite facet of the resort simply is smart. The resort has much more eating demand immediately than it did again in 1996.

Extending the hours of Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto is an efficient begin, however a fair higher one could be shifting that demand to a venue exterior of GCH. Frankly, Grog Grotto ought to’ve been constructed over in Tangaroa Terrace within the first place, and I can’t assist however wonder if Walt Disney World regrets the short-sighted choice of placing it within the foyer. Transferring Grog Grotto over there would unencumber house within the foyer, permitting for a much-needed enlargement of Capt. Prepare dinner’s. Win-win!

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Your Ideas

Have you ever skilled Dealer Sam’s Grog Grotto? Is it deserving of the hype and our enthusiastic advice? Or do you view Grog Grotto as a one-and-done? Will you be trying to expertise the tiki bar throughout these earlier hours? Suppose the Poly wants one other eating choice? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!