A little bit of the Adventurer's Club reincarnated in Anaheim?

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From Theme Park Adventure. Check out the article link for more pics.

Rick West's Exclusive Interview With Disney Imagineer Kyle Barnes on the Creation of Trader Sam's

One of the hottest stories right now in Disney enthusiast circles is the massive renovation that the Disneyland Hotel is undergoing in Anaheim, California. New tower designs with over-the-top lavishly-themed suites, an incredible new Monorail Pool and perhaps the most talked about new fixture of them all... Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar!

Sam's has spread across Disney fan forums, tweets and podcasts from coast to coast and around the world in just the few short weeks that it's been open at the hotel. An incredibly potent mix of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and the sorely-missed Orlando favorite The Adventurers Club, Trader Sam's has taken on legendary status almost immediately out of the starting gate. Fueled mostly by Disney fans using social media, the interest in this new hangout is growing by leaps and bounds.

But what exactly is Trader Sam's?

On the outside, Trader Sam's looks like a very laid-back Polynesian-styled lounge. At night, live Hawaiian music is performed under the glow of burning torches and Tiki lanterns, as guests relax on outdoor couches or sit at tables sipping away at gorgeous tropical drinks. It is both scenic and romantic, attracting an older crowd, perhaps seeking some peace away from the frenzied pace of the theme parks and the tens of thousands of visitors they attract. Casual laughter and mellow conversation blends with the peaceful guitar (and sometimes ukulele) music and soothing voices of the live performers.

It is so incredibly serene.

And then it happens. From inside Trader Sam's, beyond two massive wooden carved doors, the sound of a bell being rung loudly - clang, clang, clang - is suddenly drowned out by tribal-like chanting of Cast Members and bar patrons alike: "UH-OA! UH-OA! UH-OA OA OA!"

The interior of Trader Sam's is the total opposite of the peaceful patio lounge outside. Inside, guests find themselves in a richly-themed, dimly-lit bar that looks like the Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise and Adventureland all got up and left Disneyland to come have a round of drinks at the hotel! Every inch of the interior is cram-packed with pictures, post cards and mysterious artifacts, from Tiki carvings (did those eyes just move?) to correspondence from famed archaeologist Indiana Jones.

Over the dull roar of patrons drinking and gawking at the sights, the clanging rings out once again as a Cast Member frantically swings the bell clapper back and forth and screams, "WE HAVE A SHIPWRECK!" The lights in the bar go out, thunder rumbles and lightning flickers as Trader Sam's is enveloped in a deep blue glow and the sound of wind howls through the room. Behind the bar, a model of a ship inside a large glass bottle is magically tossed about on a wicked sea and actually sinks right before your eyes!

The storm passes, and the lighting returns to normal. But the lights are the only thing that appear to be "normal" in this wondrous place of booze and enchantment. Around the bar itself, guests slowly realize that they've grown by several inches - or perhaps they've shrunken a couple feet. The bar stools themselves randomly rise and drop, which is great for a laugh or perhaps even some drunken confusion for unsuspecting visitors!

Disney enthusiasts will find great tributes on the walls of Trader Sam's to Disney personalities as well, including a banjo with reference to Disney Legend Harper Goff, who was an extraordinary Disney artist credited with the exterior design of the Nautilus for 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, and outside of Disney, was the art director for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Goff played the banjo for the Disney band called the Firehouse Five Plus Two. In later years, Harper Goff was instrumental in designing the layout of World Showcase for Epcot, as well as the concepts for the Japan, Italy and United Kingdom Pavilions.

Once again, the madness that is Trader Sam's is accented with the clanging of the bar bell, as the Cast Members scream out, "KRAKATOA!" Then, everyone begins chanting, "Krakatoa! Krakatoa! Krakatoa!" The lights go out again, and then flash bright red as a massive explosion shakes the bar. Outside a faux window, a distant volcano blows its top, spewing fire and lava. It's corny, clever and everyone loves it!

As the lighting again returns to normal, it is very apparent to everyone that this is the mother of all Tiki bars!

Trader Sam's is a huge investment for Disney, and as you might imagine, something like an enchanted bar is right up the alley of many of the company's most talented Imagineers. As grinning Tikis looked on, and the bar's many "skippers" brought food and drink to thirsty guests, I huddled in a dark corner with Walt Disney Imagineer Kyle Barnes, who works in the WDI Interior Design department. Over the lava-like glow of my Krakatoa Punch, I leaned in close and spoke with Kyle about bringing the legend of Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar to life...

Rick West: Kyle, first of all, congratulations on the very successful opening of Trader Sam's! This is truly a gem in the Disneyland Resort treasure trove, and has fans excited around the world! Before we get into the specifics of designing Trader Sam's, let's first get acquainted with you, and your career! How long have you been a Disney Imagineer?

Kyle Barnes: I've worked for Walt Disney Imagineering for 21 years.

West: And what is your role at WDI?

Barnes: I'm an Interior Design/Principal Resource Specialist.

West: That sounds really cool! What projects have you been involved in, and what role did you play?

Barnes: Some recent projects I've worked on include Tokyo DisneySea and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, where I was an Interior Designer on Toy Story Midway Mania for those parks. I was an Interior Designer for Stitch Encounter for Hong Kong Disneyland. And I also was an Interior Designer right here at Disneyland on the Star Tours remodel.

West: That's fantastic! And what a cool job you have! One of these days, maybe I'll get to Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney, but I do visit Disneyland about once a week and love what you guys did with the new interior for Star Tours; congratulations on that!

Okay, so let's get to it. Tell us how Trader Sam's came to be. It seems to be the love child of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and the greatly-missed Adventurers Club that was at Walt Disney World for many years.

Barnes: The current remodel of the Disneyland Hotel transformed the hotel tower names to reflect the themed lands of Disneyland. The Trader Sam's / Tangaroa Terrace concept was best suited due to the adjacent Adventure Tower. Several of us on the team are Tiki enthusiasts, and were passionate that it would be a welcomed addition to the resort. When Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room debuted in 1963, for many of our guests, it was their first exposure to Polynesian lore. We incorporated that into an exploration motif similar to The Adventurers Club. This allowed us to combine elements from an assortment of exotic Disney adventures.

West: The inside portion of the bar itself is very small; I believe 47 is the maximum occupancy posted. Was the decision to make such an intimate bar one that WDI opted for, or were you working within the constraints of the existing structure that was there prior to Sam's?

Barnes: We were working within the constraints of the existing structure.

West: The interior design of Trader Sam's is fantastic; there is enough Disney trivia plastered across its walls to keep enthusiasts very busy observing the fine details during their visits. With such a rich pallet to choose from, who decided on the decorations and how? It seems it would be a monumental task!

Barnes: The Trader Sam's team brainstormed an initial prop / decor wish list. We were very fortunate to have the extremely enthusiastic Brandon Kleyla from the WDI Props Department. He was responsible for the incredible feat of locating, creating and installing the vast number of props - approximately 1,600.

West: Are there elements inside Trader Sam's that pay homage to the Adventurers Club? If so, what are they?

Barnes: The beloved Adventurers Club was a source of inspiration to the team. We included several elements from it. Most notably, the Ship In A Bottle, and the Shrinking Barstools; both of which were customized for Trader Sam's installation.

West: Some of the drinks "trigger" special effects within Trader Sam's when ordered; tell us a bit about this process. When was it decided to have this type of interactive element, and how did you go about figuring what drinks would trigger what effects within the bar? Walk us through that creative process.

Barnes: As soon as we decided we wanted to have special effects in the bar, we started talking about having drinks and effects tied together, to help create storytelling magic.

We worked closely with our partners in the Food and Beverage Concept Development team to match the drinks to the effects. In the end, it seems quite natural to have the “Shipwreck on the Rocks” trigger the sinking ship in the bottle effect; “Krakatoa Punch” cause the volcano viewed through the “window” to erupt; and “Uh-Oa”, the Tiki goddess of disaster to create a typhoon scene!

West: The outside of Trader Sam's is lovely, too. But it is very different than what's found on the inside of the bar. Was it a premeditated decision to keep the vast majority of the Tiki theming inside, or were you trying to be more cohesive on the outside with the surrounding hotel environment?

Barnes: Our architect designed an exterior that skillfully adapted Tiki style to blend with the surrounding Disneyland Hotel resort. Trader Sam's extensive theming and magic are revealed once the guest is inside.

West: Tangaroa Terrace is obviously part of the whole Trader Sam's / Tiki environment, but is nowhere near as richly-themed as Sam's. Was there ever any plan to make Tangaroa into a full-blown themed experience like the bar, or was it always seen as a quick meal "pick-up location" for pool guests or those at Trader Sam's?

Barnes: Indeed, they are two distinctly different spaces. Tangaroa Terrace serves food all day, and should feel open to guests and address the needs of the pool area. Trader Sam's is a lounge; the most effective way to tell our story was in a controlled, window-less environment.

West: Kyle, again, congratulations to you and the entire WDI design team on the opening and success of Trader Sam's! It's a wonderful addition to the Disneyland Hotel and resort in general! We speak for a lot of fans when we say we love it, and hope it remains open for a long, long time!

Barnes: Mahalo!

While that may be the end of our interview, I assure you, that is far from the end of the Trader Sam's adventure, dear reader!

Trader Sam's is open daily from 9:00 A.M. - 1:30 A.M. at the Disneyland Hotel, and is open to people of all ages. Be advised however, that at peak periods, Cast Members have been carding at the door, so that only adults 21 years of age or older may enter the inside of the bar.

And now, for our own review and observations...

Trader Sam's has become one of our favorite places at the Disneyland Resort to hang out at each weekend (and if we're really in need of a Sam's fix, a mid-week run to the bar from our home in Los Angeles isn't unheard of). We have found that while we adore the inside - and absolutely recommend first-time visitors spend a good portion of their time there to absorb the surroundings - we agree after a month or so of visiting the bar that we prefer the very relaxed, romantic outdoor patio. The live music is absolutely wonderful, and being under the lit torches and night sky just can't be beat. Plus, the backdrop of the gorgeous Monorail Pool water slides is too cool, and at 9:30ish each evening during the summer, the fireworks from Disneyland echo off the towers of the Disneyland Hotel and really sound extra-loud!

For those coming from the theme parks, Trader Sam's is about a 10-15 minute walk through Downtown Disney. We prefer jumping on the Monorail in Tomorrowland if we happen to be inside Disneyland already; from the Monorail station, Trader Sam's is a short walk - probably no more than five minutes or so. It's important to remember however, that Monorail service back to Tomorrowland ceases about 30 minutes prior to park closing time, so if you happen to have too much fun at Sam's and miss the Monorail, it's going to be a long walk back through Downtown Disney.

As we've said, there is live music nightly at Trader Sam's. Usually, this consists of one gentleman strumming a guitar or ukulele, singing traditional Hawaiian and other songs by request over a small sound system. On occasion, we have seen up to three performers together, but most of the time, it's a single musician. And they're great - very friendly, and absolutely very pleasing to the guests sitting outside. That said, one of the negatives that Disney really needs to address is that even on Friday and Saturday nights, the live performers at Trader Sam's have to call it quits at 10:00 P.M., and piped-in music suddenly drowns them out. Plain and simple, everyone hates this. When the musicians say they have to call it a night, people boo, and beg them to play longer. You can tell even the performers hate their 10:00 P.M. curfew. It makes no sense to anyone. On a weekend - definitely Friday or Saturday night, there is no reason they cannot play until midnight at least. The music is mellow, it's not loud, and if Disney is worried about waking anyone up in the nearby towers, the simple question I pose is this - who do they think is in bed at 10:00 P.M. on a Friday or Saturday night at the Disneyland Resort anyway? If it's children they're worried about, most of them are still milling around Disneyland, considering Mickey and Minnie stay out in Town Square until about midnight. And any parent can attest to the fact that if their kids are sleeping at 10:00 P.M., nothing is going to wake them - especially not a mellow Hawaiian singer! Children sleep like the dead, folks.

If anything, the very clear message that Disney management should understand is that the minute the live entertainment ends at Trader Sam's, people begin to vacate the patio. That translates to less cash being spent. That should get someone's attention. We're very hopeful that this issue will be resolved, as a huge part of the allure for us when we visit Trader Sam's is the hospitality and presence of the live performers.

We have sampled many of the exotic drinks offered at Trader Sam's, and thus far, my personal favorite is the Piranha Pool; a magical blend of strawberry vodka, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, strawberry puree, and Blue Curacao. Yummy, yummy, yummy, kids! Most of the drinks at Trader Sam's, we have found to be very tasty - there are even a few non-alcoholic concoctions for the young adventurers in your group - or your party's designated skipper! The drinks are about average in cost compared to other Tiki bar drinks elsewhere. The bummer is that Annual Passholders do not get a discount on booze at the Disneyland Resort (apparently in California, it is against the law to offer discounts on alcohol), so a trip to Trader Sam's is definitely not cheap, especially if you throw a meal in with it. One more word to the wise about drinks at Trader Sam's: Krakatoa Punch and the HippopotoMai-Tai come in souvenir glasses that add about $5.00 or so to the cost of the drink. If you do not want the additional cost/glass, simply make that clear to your server, and he or she will bring you the drink in an alternate glass. That said, the glasses for both drinks are uber-cool, and we own them both and plan to get more so we have sets!

Speaking of food, Trader Sam's offers a limited menu that is definitely on the expensive side, but, is very, very good. We have tried most of the items on the menu, and haven't had a single thing that we didn't like. However, as I said, the menu isn't cheap. The Pu Pu Platter (pictured to the left) is $15.99, and as you can see, there aren't huge portions to go around. Even with the Annual Pass discount (you do get a discount on food), the prices at Trader Sam's for food are steep.

Our suggestion (besides the obvious of eating somewhere else before venturing to Sam's for drinks) is to head next door to the brand-new Tangaroa Terrace, which is the "restaurant" add-on. There, you can find a slightly bigger selection of meals, including hamburgers that are really tasty. You order, pay for your food and then take a number back to your table at Trader Sam's and a Cast Member will bring your food to you! Service is very fast and we haven't had a negative experience with this method at all. The Hawaiian Cheeseburger is my favorite; it comes with a 1/3 pound angus patty, teriyaki sauce, fresh grilled pineapple, havarti cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, served on a multi-grain bun with sweet potato fries. It's not a huge burger, but it definitely does the job and is much more satisfying than the more expensive "bar food" from the Sam's menu. Note that Tangaroa Terrace stops serving food around 10:00 P.M. (as of this writing), so if you're going to get your burger on, be sure you do it earlier in the night so your tummy isn't disappointed with you!

The Kalua Pork Flatbread is very good at Sam's, as are the Panko-Crusted Chinese Long Beans. Our respect goes out to the cooks at Trader Sam's and Tangaroa (same kitchen). And we definitely would recommend the food to anyone. Just be prepared for the price to be a bit on the steep side. And of course, any time you order both food and drink at Trader Sam's, you do get a discount on your food, so don't forget to produce your Annual Pass, because unlike inside the parks, the Cast Members at Sam's do not readily ask you if you have an AP; it's all on you to remember as a Passholder.

Which brings me to the next point that we are very hopeful that Disney will work out sooner than later. Currently, Trader Sam's and Tangaroa Terrace do not validate parking for Downtown Disney guests. The validation occurs at "table service" restaurants throughout Downtown Disney. There may be something I'm missing here - but when a server comes to us and brings a menu that has both alcoholic beverages as well as food items, that seems pretty much like table service to us. And to a whole lot of other folks too, who have apparently voiced their opinion and dislike to Sam's Cast Members about not offering validation. A couple can just as easily rack up a tab that rivals any other location at Downtown Disney while enjoying Trader Sam's. It makes no sense at all that we can go eat and drink at Rainforest Cafe or wherever else and be validated, but can't be at Trader Sam's. We remain hopeful that management will take a good look at this - because as much as we love Sam's, it's kind of a stretch to go out and move our car out and back into the lot every three hours because they refuse to validate our business there. And there's no way we're paying a dime for parking when we already have Annual Passes and spend a lot of cash at Trader Sam's on food and booze. It's easier just to call it a night and leave before our three hours of free parking are up than hassle with moving the car, trying to get validated elsewhere, or jumping through any hoops. Again, it boils down to management understanding that they're turning cash away when guests are under a time constraint.

Last but certainly not least, I want to discuss the Cast Members - "skippers" - themselves at Trader Sam's. This is a unique environment, and in turn, almost demands special personnel making up the cast. Disney puts on a show, and absolutely at Trader Sam's, the Cast Members play a critical role.

Like with anything new, there are still some issues to work out. Most of the wait staff that we've encountered have been very friendly, but somewhat... timid, I suppose you could say. It feels like they're still really struggling to get into the whole theme and feel of the bar. Rather than wild, humorous banter, most of it feels like awkward, forced dialogue from a staff that perhaps doesn't necessarily want to be over-the-top.

And that is where the great divide is going to lie for the time being between Trader Sam's and the once-mighty Adventurers Club in Orlando. At the Adventurers Club, the cast was the cast - everyone had a name, and a wild, detailed story that they had no problem getting into with guests as they sipped their drinks. Cast Members were encouraged by Disney and fans alike to become wild, zany and wonderful. And they were; the atmosphere of The Adventurers Club was totally unique and even years after its closure, Disney enthusiasts continue to talk about it with great love and appreciation.

Trader Sam's can become that. It needs to become that. We, the fans, want it to become that. However, it is up to Disney to equip these Cast Members with the support, training and understanding of what this show is all about. These folks need to really turn it up a few notches - perhaps even to "Maynard" level (hard core fans will know of whom I speak). If they're not comfortable becoming outspoken skippers with wild tales to embellish us with, then management needs to make some changes. There are plenty of other locations for those who can't or won't bring it to Trader Sam's - and likewise, I imagine there are plenty of Cast Members throughout the hotels thinking of how much fun it would be to become a crazy skipper serving up drinks and tall tales there; those are the folks we need to see populate this new location. Those are the Cast Members that Disney needs to seek out internally (or externally with new hires). Once that comes full circle and the staff really lets loose - then the Trader Sam's experience will explode and become as legendary as The Adventurers Club once was. And knock on Tiki wood... once that happens, and Disney sees how much fun and income comes from Sam's, perhaps we will eventually see such a location open at Walt Disney World again as their Downtown Disney area is under massive re-imagining now. God knows, our Floridian friends out there would certainly love to have this type of bar once again. Here's to hoping, folks! Kungaloosh!

We adore Trader Sam's. For its few kinks that need ironing out, it has scores of strengths that we're absolutely in love with. Nothing is more relaxing and fun than meeting with friends and loved ones at Sam's on a warm summer evening and sipping the night away with music and laughter. We raise a toast to all Imagineers who contributed to the design of Trader Sam's, and thank them for a wondrous gift! Here's to many adventures in the Enchanted Tiki Bar.

Okole maluna!

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Sounds like a cool place!

The island of Krakatoa!!!! Classic Hathaway Brown!!!!