How Trader Sam Will Be A Part of the All-New Jungle Cruise
Have you heard the gnus? Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland Park is receiving updates to its classic storyline in the near future. We already learned about some of the Jungle Cruise enhancements we can expect to see, and the addition of Alberta Falls. Today Disney Parks Blog hinted at how Trader Sam will still be a part of the world-famous Jungle Cruise!
Jungle Cruise Lost & Found
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
According to Disney Parks Blog, Trader Sam is charting a new adventure along the river in both Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom Park. Guests of Magic Kingdom will soon have a look into one of the Jungle Cruise’s latest updates, found at the final bend of the attraction. You may remember this area of Jungle Cruise being home to the Jungle’s Head Salesman, Trader Sam, animatronic, and his shrunken head business.
Although the Trader Sam animatronic is no more, it sounds like Alberta Falls, proprietor of Jungle Navigation Company Ltd., still entrusted Trader Sam to manage an important part of the Jungle Cruise. He’s now managing the new Lost & Found location at the world-famous Jungle Cruise! So if you’ve been wondering where your lost items might’ve gone, you may have left them on the Jungle Cruise.
In true Trader Sam fashion, he’s turned the Jungle Cruise Lost & Found into Trader Sam’s Gift Shop! If you recognize some of your belongings in the shop the next time you ride, just remember Trader Sam is always willing to make some extra money to sell it back.
For guests missing their Trader Sam interaction on the Jungle Cruise, this new concept for the final bend of the attraction is a perfect way to nod to once was. I don’t know about y’all, but I’m interested in learning more about the “Cruise Photo” opportunity displayed in the concept art!
Ready to learn more about the updates and enhancements coming to the Jungle Cruise? Visit my first article on updates here!
Trader Sam’s
If you’re still looking for more Trader Sam’s at the Disney Parks, both the east coast and the west coast have their own bars named after the Jungle’s Head Salesman.
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
This Trader Sam’s location is at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Nick and I had the chance to visit when we stayed at the Disneyland Resort and we really enjoyed the food and fun, specialty drinks! Although we weren’t able to sit in the main bar area inside, we loved the atmosphere of the outside deck area.
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is currently closed due to COVID-19, but hopefully, with the Disneyland Resort reopening little by little on April 30, 2021, we will get an announcement about this experience opening again soon!
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
This Trader Sam’s location is at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in Orlando, Florida. Like the location in Anaheim, I’ve only ever been able to experience the outside seating for this Trader Sam’s spot. If you ever get the chance to be seated inside, take it! There’s so much to experience inside of both Trader Sam’s locations, but the mixed drink with Dole Whip in it is only available on the outside seating area at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is also currently closed due to COVID-19, but with things starting to reopen at Walt Disney World Resort we will hopefully be able to have a seat at the bar again soon.
It’s exciting to have some more details about the upcoming changes to Disney’s Jungle Cruise! Before we know it we will be experiencing the new version at our home parks, Walt Disney World or Disneyland.