If you were planning to kick back at Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace during your stay at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, here's an important heads-up: the outdoor extension of Trader Sam's Grog Grotto and Tiki Bar is still closed — and as of July 13, Walt Disney World Resort has not shared a new reopening date.
A Refurbishment That's Running Long
Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace originally closed for refurbishment back in April, alongside a wave of other maintenance and refresh projects at the Deluxe resort. Those projects included the transformation of an automatic doorway into a stationary glass window at the new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Island Tower building, the rerouting of several roadways in the Magic Kingdom Resort area, and a refurbishment of the BouTiki merchandise location in the Great Ceremonial House.
At the time of the initial closure, Walt Disney World Resort indicated that Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace would reopen in "late June 2026." That date has come and gone, and the terrace remains blocked off to guests. Disney has since quietly removed the "mid-April to late June" language from its official webpage for the location. The site now simply states that Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace is "currently closed for refurbishment" and encourages guests to "check back" for updates.
The Good News: Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Is Still Open
While the outdoor Tiki Terrace remains off-limits, the iconic indoor tiki bar — Trader Sam's Grog Grotto — is still welcoming guests inside Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. It's open to guests of all ages during the day and transitions to a 21+ venue at 8:00 p.m. each evening.
A Broader Shift at Disney's Resort Hotels
The extended closure is happening at a time when many Disney Parks fans are feeling uneasy about the future of resort hopping. Over the past month, Walt Disney World Resort has restricted bus and boat transportation to Disney Resort hotels from Disney Springs to hotel guests only.
Shortly after that change, Disney announced it would not bring back the traditional life-size Gingerbread House for the 2026 holiday season at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa — a move widely interpreted as an effort to reduce foot traffic at the Deluxe hotel. For the first time, Walt Disney World Resort also officially stated that holiday decorations at its hotels are intended for guests staying at each specific property, not for outside visitors.
For now, Monorail, bus, boat, and Disney Skyliner transportation to the four theme parks remains available to all guests, not just those staying on property. However, security has tightened regulations for guests walking through Disney's Polynesian Village Resort on their way to Magic Kingdom Park from the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC).
We'll be keeping a close eye on any updates to the Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace reopening timeline — so stay tuned to Disney Daily for the latest!