Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will stay closed through mid-December, Disney says. The outdoor lounge had been targeting a late October return, so the new timeline pushes it back by about a month and a half. Work at the Great Ceremonial House remains the reason for the closure. Here’s the latest.
Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace Closure Extended Through Mid-December
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Disney’s updated timeline for Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace.
- How the closure has shifted since it began in April.
- What guests visiting the Polynesian before the reopening can expect.
Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace is the open-air side of the Polynesian’s famous tiki bar, just outside the indoor Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. The terrace closed in April when scaffolding wrapped the Great Ceremonial House. Mid-December is now the third reopening target Disney has set for it.
Disney’s updated wording reads, “Through mid-December, Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be temporarily closed due to refurbishment work at the Great Ceremonial House.”
The update also asks guests to allow extra travel time when arriving at or leaving the resort. Disney says crews will try to keep daytime disruptions to a minimum. Additionally, crews are still reconfiguring the resort’s front entrance roadway, which Disney now expects to continue into early 2027.
Tiki Terrace Timeline Slips Again
Disney’s original window had the Tiki Terrace closed from mid-April through late June. That date passed without a reopening, and Disney set a late October target on July 14th. By mid-December, the terrace will have sat closed for about eight months.
Mid-December still puts the terrace back in time for the peak of the holiday season, if Disney holds to this timeline. The indoor Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto stayed open throughout the outdoor work.
Story So Far
- January 20: Disney confirmed exterior maintenance at the Great Ceremonial House, warning that views from ‘Ohana could be partially or fully obstructed.
- April 18: Scaffolding enveloped the north-facing section of the Great Ceremonial House, and Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace closed to guests.
- July 13: The Tiki Terrace remained closed weeks after its original late June target.
- July 14: Disney moved the reopening target to late October.
- October 20: Disney extended the broader Polynesian refurbishment into early 2027.
- October 27: Disney pushed the Tiki Terrace closure through mid-December.
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