REVIEW: Monstro Tiki Mug Debuts at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort With New Whale of a Tale Drink

Matthew Soberman

Updated on:

REVIEW: Monstro Tiki Mug Debuts at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort With New Whale of a Tale Drink

After weeks of waiting, the Monstro tiki mug has finally arrived at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 1

The mug previously debuted at the Disneyland Resort in late August. Today’s release coincides with Disney+ Day and the premiere of the remake of “Pinocchio.”

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 2

The mug comes with an alcoholic cocktail, the Whale of a Tale, but a non-alcoholic mocktail, the Treacherous Waters, can be purchased for an additional $6.93, tax included.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 3

Shortly before the lounge opened at 3 p.m., bartenders could be seen preparing a number of cocktails for the line of customers waiting to purchase the mug.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 4
monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 5

The Treacherous Waters is made with ginger ale, falernum, cinnamon, lime juice, and strawberries, and garnished with a strawberry, pineapple leaf, and dried ginger. It can also be ordered separately for the same $6.93, tax included.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 6

Meanwhile, the Whale of a Tale is made with Malfy Gin Originale, Plantation Pineapple Rum, Italian liqueur, pineapple juice and oregat (or almond) and garnished with an orange wheel, charred pineapple wedge, and pineapple leaf. It can be ordered without the mug for $15.98, tax included.

As a neat Easter egg, the cocktail is named after a song heard in “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” which plays heavily in the song rotation heard at Trader Sam’s.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 7
monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 8

This isn’t overly sweet as opposed to many of the other drinks we’ve been used to getting with mug releases.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 9

You get a good taste of the gin and juice, but there’s also something bitter as well, and not in a good way. You can certainly detect the alcohol. It almost tastes like the juice went bad.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 10

Overall, it was okay. We don’t think we’d order it on its own, though.

Monstro Tiki Mug – $50.00

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 12

Unlike the Disneyland version, this mug is cream-colored, accented with black marks to give it a wooden look.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 13

Otherwise, the sculpt is the same.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 14

It also has waves underneath, to give Monstro the look as if he’s swimming in the sea.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 15

The head is hollow to hold drinks.

monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 16
monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 17
monstro tiki mug release trader sams polynesian 18

The bottom notes that this is a Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto first edition, exclusive to Walt Disney World.

Will you be sailing to Trader Sam’s to pick up the Monstro tiki mug? Share your thoughts in the comments!

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram.

2 thoughts on “REVIEW: Monstro Tiki Mug Debuts at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort With New Whale of a Tale Drink”

  1. Have we heard if this is intended (when not sold out) to be ongoing? I’d love to get one when I’m there in late January, but I have a feeling it’s going to be limited.

  2. How much liquid does it hold? It doesn’t look like one could drink from it very easily. Did you or anyone try to take a sip from this mug?

Comments are closed.