Hi there Melinda! Thank you for bringing your great question to planDisney.
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar holds such a special place in my heart! I have so many wonderful memories there and you cannot beat their sweet-and-spicy chicken wings and their tropical drinks.
Dining reservations are hard to come by, so I love that you're thinking ahead!
Since it is such a popular restaurant, I recommend checking the
mobile dine walk-up availability in the
Disneyland app starting mid-afternoon. If you're able to add your party to the walk-up list, you can confirm all of your party details, and then you'll receive a notification when your table is ready. The availability does fluctuate throughout the day, so I would start checking mid-afternoon if you're looking to dine for dinner.
Another tip is to keep checking for dining reservations all the way up until your trip, including the day of! Plans change for Guests all the time, and I've been able to secure last minute reservations for popular restaurants the day before or the day of my trip!
My final tip I'll share is that if for some reason you aren't able to secure a reservation or if there is not walk-up availability, I recommend checking out
Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill located right alongside Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. You'll find a lot of the same delicious dishes to enjoy, and there is a bar outside of Trader Sam's that you can grab a drink at as well! While you might not be inside Trader Sam's, you'll still get to enjoy the cuisine, libations, and the atmosphere that everyone has come to love!
I'm wishing you and your family a wonderful trip full of memories, Melinda! I'm happy to help with any other questions you may have, so feel free to
come back and ask!
Have a magical day,
Melissa