Disney California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival is pulling in the guests at Disney’s California Adventure park, but it doesn’t mean the skippers at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar have been resting on their laurels. There are some special offerings at Trader Sam’s that help celebrate the Festival at the resort. Here’s what’s happening at Disneyland’s Tiki Bar… So, stick around for our experience at a recent Trader Sam’s Mixology class, news on 3 rum tasting flights (with a cute muglet set), & new orange HippopotoMai-Tai mugs. And, as a special treat, we’ve got a straight-from-Trader Sam’s recipe for you to make your very own HippopotoMai-Tai at the end of this article!

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

Trader Sam’s Mixology Classes

Trader Sam’s, the popular bar at the Disneyland Hotel, has long been involved with the Food & Wine events… offering Mixology classes inside Disney California Adventure (all classes are sold out at this time). This year they’ve included pricier mixology options at the bar itself (now sold out).

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

On March 6, the bar held the first three mixology classes and had the inside bar closed down until 5:30 p.m. The classes were on the pricier side ($159 + $14.54 tax & $28.62 gratuity), but it was a great experience for all that attended.

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

Attendees learned how to make the bar’s signature HippopotoMai-Tai, which is designed a tad sweeter than a normal Mai-Tai to appeal to a wider range of guests (we’ll post the recipe below!). Instructors Skipper Kelly and Skipper Melissa provided the background of the bar and knowledge of syrups and rums while guests poured their way into making their very own cocktails.

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai
Skipper Melissa and Skipper Kelly

After the initial mixology course, guests were ushered outside to the fire pit for food and live entertainment by the legendary Martini Kings, who have played many tiki events, including a few at Club 33. If you’re familiar with the soundtrack played within Trader Sam’s, The Martini Kings performed “Return to Moorea” which can be heard in the loop.

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

Guests went home with the latest edition of the HippopotoMai-Tai mug, which is available at the bar for $36.

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai
Orange variant of the HippopotoMai-Tai mug

Although the opportunity for the mixology classes for this year have already passed, we hope that more dates are offered in the future. We really loved getting a hands-on experience at Trader Sam’s and we’re already dreaming of what cocktails could be featured next time. 

NEW! Rum Flight 3 Ways

Tiki fans familiar with Walt Disney World’s Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto all know of the rum flight available at the bar there. But until now, it was an Orlando-exclusive experience. The bar in Orlando shipped a few cases of rum flights to Anaheim to sell at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar! But that’s not all, the Anaheim team ordered surfboards to go along with them!

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

The rum flight originally sold in Orlando for $34 when it debuted in 2015 for just the three muglets. Now in Anaheim, you can get the three muglets and the surfboard tray for $85.

There’s an option of three different rum flights at Trader Sam’s Anaheim, all for the same price if you’re taking home the mugs and surfboard:

  • INTRODUCTION TO RUM TASTING
    • Real McCoy 3 Year
    • El Dorado 8  
    • Plantation Original Dark

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

  • PREMIUM RUM TASTING
    • Zaya Gran Reserva
    • Plantation Pineapple
    • Neisson Blanc Agricole Rhum

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

  • MASTER CLASS RUM TASTING
    • Diplomatico Reserva
    • Mount Gay XO
    • Zabala 23

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

There is an option to try the rums if you don’t want to take home the mugs and board for $16, 19, and $21, respectively.

There are a limited amount of the surfboards and rum muglets from Grog Grotto so definitely hit up Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar sooner than later! We don’t know if there are plans to renew inventory once the muglets sell out. If this is something you’re interested in, get a move on!

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

Whatever you decide, you’ll have a great time at Trader Sam’s! Make a rum for it!

Trader Sam’s at Home: HippopotoMai-Tai Recipe

As promised, here’s the recipe for the iconic HippopatoMai-Tai cocktail at Trader Sam’s that you’ll be able to enjoy at home!

Trader Sam’s HippopotoMai-Tai

Ingredients

  • 1 Oz lime juice
  • .5oz Agave
  • .5oz Orgeat
  • .5oz Orange curaçao
  • 1oz Bacardi silver rum
  • 1oz Plantation original dark

Directions

  • Add crushed ice and shake vigorously
  • Roll into a glass and garnish (usually with mint, orange and cherry) and serve

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai

Cheers!

For more about DCA’s Food & Wine Festival this year, be sure to take a look at the article below:

Delectable Delights: Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Guide 2023!


Discount Disney Theme Park Tickets & Hotels!!!

trader sam's, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki News: Mixology, Rum Flights & HippopotoMai-Tai
The Disney100 celebration is coming up. Time to start planning!

MiceChat brings you the BEST theme park ticket, hotel & package deals! (You’ll find extra nights free, big discounts, and special offers as well).

Check out the latest offers for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm:

If you live in Southern California, there’s a very special ticket offer for you that runs from January 9th through May 25th: 

(MiceChat works with Get Away Today to provide you with the best theme park travel deals and we may make a small commission on any sales made through our links)


Let’s Hear From You

Have you attended any of Disney California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival Mixology Seminars? Does the new surfboard and muglet rum flight at Trader Sam’s catch your interest? Ready to make a Hippopoto Mai-Tai at home? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Sharing is caring!

David Yeh
David is a long time Disney fan, collector, Star Wars lover, and tiki guru. When he's not at Disneyland, he's traveling the universe in a slightly used Starspeeder 3000.