Star Wars Bar Switches to Standby & Ditches Dining Reservations at Disneyland
Oga’s Cantina is a bar in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and has been one of the land’s most popular attractions since it opened over 5 years ago at both Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World and Disneyland. But demand has been dying down, and Disney is finally making meaningful changes to Advance Dining Reservation rules. This covers the changes, plus our commentary about the why of this and whether WDW will soon follow suit.
Here is the alert from the Oga’s Cantina page on the Disneyland Resort website: “Incoming transmission: Beginning August 19, Oga’s Cantina will transition to walk-up availability with a traditional standby queue and will no longer offer new reservations. Any existing reservations will be honored.”
Note that this change only applies to Disneyland in California. Oga’s Cantina at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World (Florida) is still accepting Advance Dining Reservations. There are no changes to Batuu East, the outpost in Florida. At least, for now. We’ll cover that in greater depth deeper in this post…
Also note that both versions of Oga’s Cantina still have several policies in place, most notably:
- Guests may be asked to wait in a traditional standby queue.
- Keep in mind, all members of your party must be present before seating, and hosts must bring your entire party to the table at one time. At least one person in the party must be 14 years of age or older.
- This experience takes place in an enclosed space with low lighting levels and high activity, and is limited to 45 minutes per party.
- Oga’s Cantina consists mainly of standing room, with limited seating. Seating is not guaranteed upon entry.
- Separate parties may be seated together, and large parties may be separated.
- Limit 2 alcoholic beverages per guest per transaction.
- A limited menu of snack offerings is available at Oga’s Cantina.
We’re drawing your attention to all of these points, as they are common complaints about this Star Wars Bar. We routinely get reader responses to our 25 Best Bars & Lounges at Walt Disney World, which ranks Oga’s Cantina very highly, that it shouldn’t even be on the list, period, because [insert one or more of the above bullet points]. Those make it a non-starter for many guests.
This is not the first discrepancy between Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World. Most notably, there’s a major pricing difference at Savi’s Workshop between the two coasts, with the Walt Disney World version costing $249.99 and the Disneyland version costing $219.99. Neither version of Savi’s Workshop offers Annual Pass or other discounts.
Savi’s Workshop at Disneyland did cost $250 for a brief bit, but fell from that price back down to $219.99. When it comes to Disney, any drop is a big one, as prices typically only go in one direction–up. That’s still up from the $200 price tag on the Savi’s Workshop lightsaber building experience when it first debuted, but pretty much everything at Disneyland is more expensive than it was ~5 years ago.
The price went down at Disneyland because demand dropped. It’s as simple as that. Disneyland is more dependent upon a local fanbase, and the California park largely exhausted demand for lightsaber building among locals, and is now reliant on the smaller slice of tourists that visit Disneyland. By contrast, Savi’s Workshop is still a popular reservation at Walt Disney World thanks to a steady stream of new tourists. Even so, it’s not as popular there as it once was.
We bring this up because it’s an almost identical story with Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland vs. Walt Disney World.
Due to the aforementioned bullet points, Oga’s Cantina is not exactly a popular bar at Disneyland Resort. Ask the average local to make a list of their favorite watering holes at Disneyland that they frequent most often, and I’d be shocked if Oga’s Cantina tops many lists. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s left off most lists.
There are Star Wars superfans, sure, and the aforementioned smaller slice of tourists. Oga’s Cantina is a must-do for first-timers and still seems sufficiently popular with Star Wars fans. But there aren’t enough of either to sustain demand. The dominant demographic is locals, and they’ve gotten their fill of Oga’s Cantina.
Honestly, I’m surprised that it took this long to make the change. There have been plenty of times in recent months when Oga’s Cantina hasn’t had much of a line at Disneyland, period, and I’d pretty safely assume that tables were going unfilled. I’m one of those locals who has mostly gotten my fill of the Star Wars bar, so I don’t go in to check things out too much, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told me the 45 minute time limit wasn’t being enforced–or was only loosely enforced on busy dates.
As for whether the same change could come to Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World, the above discussion should more or less address that.
Already, it’s worth noting that Advance Dining Reservations for Oga’s Cantina are nowhere near as competitive as they once were. As I sit here typing this, every single time slot for today–and any day into the future–is available for booking. The Walk-Up Waitlist is also open, and shows a 45 minute wait for some reason (assuming that’s accurate, you’d be better off booking an ADR ~20 minutes into the future; but it probably isn’t accurate).
Between the new lounge smell wearing off and pent-up demand being exhausted, this is the norm. There’s also the fact that Oga’s Cantina is usually open for a full hour after Disney’s Hollywood Studios closes, which the extra time helping absorb more demand.
Nevertheless, I also feel like it’s the norm for chaotic crowds outside Oga’s Cantina at Walt Disney World.
You can get in same-day, but you’ll have to wait most of the time and, judging by the line outside, it’s presumably still busy inside. Disney likes to pack restaurants to the greatest extent possible, and that seems especially true at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Beyond that, I also wouldn’t expect Walt Disney World to ditch ADRs at Oga’s Cantina for the simple reason that vacation planners largely love the certainty of advance bookings. This news is being met with thunderous applause (okay, maybe it’s not quite thunderous, but the response is pretty much “good, this is how it should’ve always been”) among Disneyland diehards.
If the announcement were made for Walt Disney World, I’d hazard a guess that reactions would be much more mixed. There are few things Walt Disney World planners disdain more than uncertainty. Even if the end result is exactly the same (e.g. I can book an ADR for Oga’s Cantina ~20 minutes from now and be seated at the same time as someone who booked ~60+10 days out), WDW guests love the clarity offered by advance planning.
For this guest demographics gap on full display, look no further than the approaches to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World vs. Disneyland. By popular guest demand, Walt Disney World switched from same-day Genie+ ride reservations to pre-arrival Lightning Lanes last year.
Disneyland also made the switch to Lightning Lane Multi-Pass…but in name only. The system is functionally identical to the Genie+ service, with guests not making same-day line-skipping selections until actually entering the park.
Ultimately, the one change that I could see coming to Oga’s Cantina at Walt Disney World would be relaxing that 45-minute time limit. And honestly, it’s entirely possible that this has already happened on a case-by-case basis. There’s really no reason to give guests the boot if tables are empty, ADRs are going unclaimed, and there are no Walk-Up Waitlist guests waiting.
This could also mean other informal policy changes, such as not seating separate parties together or giving guests greater choice over where they stand or, ideally, sit. Decreased demand could also ease up the burden on Cast Members to turn over the space faster, allowing for an expanded menu of food and maybe even drinks that aren’t premade.
There are a number of incremental improvements that could be achieved at Oga’s Cantina so it’s more worthy of being considered among the top bars at Walt Disney World (or Disneyland).
Even today, Oga’s Cantina is a cool place to experience, and spending some time there can be satisfying. It’s not your typical relaxed lounge experience, but it has a lot to see and appreciate. The enthusiasm of other patrons is contagious, and the sick beats from DJ R3X will be felt in your bones. It ranks among the better things to do in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which is saying something given that this is a land of highlights.
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Your Thoughts
Thoughts on Disney ditching ADRs for the Star Wars bar at Disneyland? Have you visited Oga’s Cantina recently? What was your experience like? What did you think of the theme and atmosphere? What about the drinks? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Looking forward to experiencing Oga’s Cantina, or is it low on your list of Star Wars Land priorities? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Though this isn’t a problem in Batuu west, improving the menu selection in Batuu east I think would also keep it more popular – along with the many echoes above of having more actual seating. As much as I love the place, I have had an experience where I went in with an individual with disabilities, and even though we requested a table? They gave us a spot at the bar, and brought us a crate for them to sit at. Once that had their head almost below the high table. It was not a good experience.
That said, I have had amazing experiences at Ogas, and…much like the movies, I will heavily defend it for its potential. Your original descriptions of this bar (and Galaxy’s Edge as a whole) not being as enjoyable since they weren’t populated with quirky characters is the ENTIRE reason why I dressed up for my first trip – and I got such good responses from the cast and other guests that I’ve done it ever since. Oga’s was built to be a playground – a fantasy experience – and when it’s treated as such on both ends (when the cast is invested and when the guests are engaged) is when it really shines.
We stopped going to the cantina about a year ago. We made reservations for my son’s birthday (turning 8) All he wanted was the milk and cookie dessert.
No one was in line and the place only had 2 groups total. Even with all the open tables they forced us to sit with a group of “woo girls” he talked crap about us sitting there and were screaming the entire time.
The server ignored us and overall it was a horrible end to what was an otherwise great day there in that area. I don’t know what has happened but their service has gone in the toilet there over the past 3 years to where I avoid going tans just enjoy the rest of the Star Wars land.
Butterbeer >>> Blue Milk.
Wand Interaction >>> Scanning QR Codes
Star Tours >> Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
It’s also rough that Star Wars Land has SO much wasted space, and yet Oga’s, one of the few truly popular areas in Star Wars Land, is so small. I was shocked at how vastly more I liked Universal’s Harry Potter lands. They are nirvana for any kid or adult with a touch of emo or mysticism. Whereas the multiple empty staircases blocked by chains is the vibe I remember from Star Wars Land. I’m among the many who wish Star Wars Land had gone for a straight-up nostalgia play anchored in the classic trilogy, instead of inventing “Galaxy’s Edge”. I also wish they hadn’t tried to do a Larp Hotel. I’m a “girl dad”, and my wife isn’t a Star Wars fan, so we may skip it entirely on our next visit.
I feel like Oga’s would be my #1 favorite place to get a hot pretzel and a Coke…but that drink menu just isn’t for me.
Never been. It doesn’t look like the Cantina in Star Wars. It’s the substitute Kathleen Kennedy sequel trilogy fake cantina. Fake drinks and food too. It just doesn’t seem like a pleasant way to waste my money.
I’ve been to Oga’s twice but only in Disneyland. Both times it was super easy to get a reservation. In 2023, I had an unexpected third person join us on our trip fairly last-minute and was easily able to modify the reservation. I think this makes sense as a change. I also really enjoy Oga’s. I don’t drink alcohol but the mocktails are super fun, too. I enjoyed the bread dish last time we were there. And the atmosphere is so fun for Star Wars fans.
Been to Oga’s twice, atmosphere cool, but drinks and snacks awful, sure hope Beak and Barrel doesn’t disappoint.
Not impressed with the menu there either. Seems Disney is just going for the $$$$$.
It’s August so we’re talking about A/C — but when we visited Oga’s at DHS a few years back it was a crisp day that didn’t make it into the 60s, and it cooled off into the 40s night (I know it cools down at night in Anaheim during winter, as well). So most of the day was was spent wearing our lighter winter coats — we’re from the Midwest where you need a few different levels of coat. I was okay with standing at Oga’s, but dealing with either wearing our coats or finding an awkward place to stow them made things way less comfortable was we were bunched together at one end of a shared table. This was just a reminder that a cantina should be a place to relax and wind down….and Oga’s didn’t have that “feel” in any way. Being able to walk in, and perhaps not being kept “on the clock” so rigidly, will help a bit in that regard. I don’t like having to plan around a set time for a place like this either — the reservation we were able to snag ended up being a time when we weren’t in the mood for sugary drinks, but we knew that was our only opportunity to experience the place. But beyond that improvement, some of the existential issues (noted above) with Oga’s still place it in a “nice place to try once” bucket for me.
Love Oga’s! It’s a must-do for our family although we always request a table. Years ago getting an Oga’s ADR was stressful but lately it’s been easy at both GE East and West. Going standby only at DL makes sense and will hopefully allow more flexibility on when we decide to go.
The lack of seating, lack of good food options and my kid not wanting to return is what keeps me away. Knowing I will have to put more pressure on my feet is a big turn off.
We’ve been to Oga’s at Disney world twice this year. Once in January and once at the end of July. We loved the fun drinks and crazy jello but everyone hated the lack of seating. We’re walking 20-25k steps so it would be nice to be able to sit down while having our drinks and snacks! I think if they added stools so everyone could sit my kids would want to go every trip. I also thought it was weird that our server brought me my drink and said “don’t set it down! It can fall over!”. Why have a glass that tips over???
Wait, the bar stools are gone? That’s where I sat last year, and even though I had a generally terrible time anyway, there’s absolutely no way I would have stayed at all if I couldn’t even sit. I think Oga’s suffers from too many small things that really get in the way of guest enjoyment. The “pack ’em in” mentality, the forcing groups together, the drink quality…all of that made Oga’s a “one and done” for me, and I didn’t come anywhere near that 45 minute time limit. I also think that Oga’s specifically, and Galaxy’s Edge in general are suffering from the sequel trilogy time frame. Disney intentionally removed the wish fulfilment aspect for fans of the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy, and it’s pretty clear that the sequel trilogy isn’t driving much nostalgia or brand affinity. Maybe (hopefully) the Mandalorian and Grogru addition to Millennium Falcon will be a part of a major re-focus to Galaxy’s Edge, or at least give Disney enough data to show them that it’s what they need to do to.
“…it’s pretty clear that the sequel trilogy isn’t driving much nostalgia or brand affinity.”
I would give you this point if you hadn’t already complained about the land not offering wish fulfilment for prequel trilogy fans. I remember when the prequels were released, they were financially successful but they were not well received by the fandom. Any nostalgia that exists for them came later, and none of us can know how the sequel trilogy will be viewed in 20 years. I get it may seem unlikely now, but it seemed equally unlikely anyone would ever argue “no wait, the prequels are actually kind of good” 5 years on from the release of Episode III.
I’m of two minds about Galaxy’s Edge. Choosing a concept that precludes appearances by Luke, Han, Leia, and Vader definitely runs counter to casual fan expectation. On the other hand, the consistency of a unified timeline is admirable and frankly the kind of thing hardcore fans of both Star Wars and theme parks claim to want (a lot of fan complaints about WDW are some version of “thing X doesn’t make thematic sense in area Y”). If the land was going to be set at a specific point in time, I can’t really fault Disney for going with the section they invented. And perhaps controversially, I think Rey/Finn/Poe/BB8 and crew are a fantastic set of characters. I don’t feel the movies ended up serving them very well, but as characters I think they have just as much potential staying power as the original set of leads.
I like the cool atmosphere but the drinks and food aren’t very good. I go in if I can get a seat but having to stand is a deal breaker. Sitting with other people is fine, they are usually Star Wars people and they sometimes show you their lightsaber.
Thanks for the article Tom. My biggest gripe with Oga’s east is the fact that they took away the bar stools. The second time we went we had to stand and we left immediately. We always wait for a table when we make a ressie there now (usually have to wait 5-10 mins after checking in and telling. Them we want to be seated) Its a great place to grab a drink or 2 and get some air conditioning and take a break in the middle of the hot Florida days. But I would not go in if we had to stand.
*facepalm* I feel like a fool for never asking to wait for a table. If it’s only about a 5–10-minute wait after checking in and requesting seating much of the time, that would significantly improve the experience for us!
Thanks, Mike!