Oag’s Cantina is a bar at Disneyland’s newest land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. During my many visits to the planet Batuu and its main spaceport, Black Spire Outpost, I’ve had the opportunity to make numerous pit stops at Oga’s. And it’s fun.
This review will analyz Oga’s theming and drinks. Oga’s does not sell food other than a few “snacks”. These snacks are very small bowls of nuts or crackers and will not be reviewed. Grab your favorite space liberation as we look into one of the most popular “attractions” at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!
Theming
Tucked in the back of Galaxy’s Edge in Smuggler’s Ally sits Oga’s Cantina, a few steps from the ride entrance to Smuggler’s Run. Although themed to look similar to the Mos Eisley Cantina from A New Hope, Oga’s is a separate entity in the Star Wars Universe.
Although diehard fans, and myself included, would have loved to venture inside the cantina made famous from the original Star Wars movie, Galaxy’s Edge is set on a different planet (Batuu) and thus could not have the same bar. With that bit of information aside, Oga’s does feel different and at the same time similar to the cantina presented in A New Hope.
Like the rest of Galaxy’s Edge, Disney spared no expense in designing the bar. Once inside, I knew right away this was a bar on a different planet. A massive drink serving station sits in the middle of the building. The area is covered in Star Wars easter eggs. Traditionally, a bar hosts its liquor bottles in the middle. However, at Oga’s, the bottles are replaced with various serving containers, native wildlife, industrial hoses and accessories I didn’t recognize.
To be honest, I’m still not too sure what I’m looking at half the time. But hey, it works. As of right now, when I think of a bar on the other side of the galaxy, this is what I imagine. The point of theming is to bring you somewhere else and Oga’s delivers. Like the rest of Galaxy’s Edge, I truly felt I “left” Disneyland when I walked into Galaxy’s Edge. Oga’s continues the trend.
Around the rest of the bar, the great theming continues. Most of the tables are standing room only. But get this. They were designed so we can lean on them exactly like Han Solo did in A New Hope. Isn’t that crazy? I hope whichever Imagineer thought of that received a great Christmas bonus.
The walls are littered with blaster marks as this is a place for the scum of the galaxy. They look so real like Disney actually invented a blaster and just started shooting it off inside before they opened. It adds grit and character to this bar, making it seem alive and inhabited by real people, not American tourists.
Lastly is DJ R-3X (Rex), the former Star Tours captain. No longer a captain, he is now a DJ for Oga’s. The Imagineers did a fantastic job incorporating him into the atmosphere of the cantina. He looks incredibly lifelike playing different songs and issuing commentary about the bar’s various patrons.
On my second visit, he stopped playing music to “restart” himself and then said he would play the music that started it all. It ended up being the classic cantina music from the first film. It was a fun moment (everyone in the cantina starting clapping), especially after a couple of drinks.
Disney Imagineering knocked it out of the park with Oga’s theming. I love Trader Sam’s, but Oga’s is the closest bar Disney has created challenging Trader Sam’s supremacy. When you first enter Galaxy’s Edge, you begin to distance yourself from the real world. And when you walk into Oga’s, you’ve left our world behind and officially become apart of Star Wars.
The Drinks
Now for the most important part of the review, the drinks. The menu includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for the morning and the afternoon/evening. Although the menu is split between morning and afternoon beverages, you can order them whenever.
Keep in mind all of the drinks at Oga’s are pre-mixed. You cannot change the ingredient list on your drink or ask for something off the menu. The bartenders simply pour out your drink like a draft beer. I wish Disney wouldn’t charge $15 for a pre-mixed drink but what are we going to do? They know we’ll pay for it. Anyway, here is a breakdown of the drinks:
- Dagobah Slug Slinger – Green colored tequila drink meant to reflect the home of Yoda. Tasty and sweet.
- Jedi Mind Trick – Blue colored vodka-based drink. Sweet but nothing special.
- Bespin Fizz – Rum based drink with a cloud swirl effect. An actual swirl dances around the drink, as if you are you in the City of Bespin high above the clouds.
- T-16 Skyhopper – A fancy take on the classic grasshopper drink. Creamy and sweet.
- Jet Juice – My favorite. A bourbon-based drink served in a slightly larger shot glass. Small in comparison to the other drinks, but it blasts to your dome much quicker.
- The Outer Rim – Essentially a brown margarita. Nothing special.
- Yub Nub – A tropical rum drink served in a souvenir glass featuring ewoks (as Yub Nub was their celebration song). Sweet but delicious drink. It tastes like a tiki drink. But beware, you MUST buy the souvenir glass to have the drink ($42.00).
- Fuzzy Tauntaun – Vodka/Peach schnapps drink with “buzz foam.” The foam mildly numbs your mouth and lips, leaving behind a tiny sensation. An absolute must, another one of my personal favorites.
- Spiran Caf – Morning based drink. It’s a mixture of coffee, 151 rum and whipped cream. Tasty and strong.
- Bloody Rancor: Another morning based drink. Like a Bloody Mary using Tito’s vodka. It also comes with a Rancor Bone (made from marshmellows).
Oga’s also serves beer on tap and wine. The bar includes a large selection of non-alcoholic beverages. Examples include Hyperdrive, Blurrgfire and Jabba Juice. You can even order a Blue Milk with a full cookie on top. As you can imagine, all the non-alcoholic verisions are full of sugar.
As I said above, Oga’s doesn’t really serve food. They do have a cinnamon roll in the morning but mostly they have light snacks. They do sell a cheese board for $21.
Conclusion
Oga’s Cantina is a fantastic addition to Disneyland’s bar lineup. For all of us kids who grew up wishing they could recreate the cantina scene for A New Hope, Oga’s satisfies that dream. The first time I walked in I knew this place was special. The theming is outstanding and the drinks are pretty good.
Is it perfect? Of course not, but that’s okay. I wish the time period of the bar was set during the original trilogy rather than the lame sequel trilogy. I wish it was actually the cantina from A New Hope. But those complaints don’t take away from the overall experience. Oga’s is still a ton of fun. Like I said above, you’ll forget you’re at Disneyland and instead believe you’re in Star Wars. Because of this, Disney Imagineering succeed.
Next time you visit Batuu, make a stop at the local watering hole. Oga will take care of you. Her drinks may be pre-made but they have flavor. We recommend a Jet Juice. It’ll help when you fly the Millennium Falcon.
At this time, Oga’s is reservation ONLY. Reservations can be made 60 days in advance. The website claims they have “limited” standby seating but good luck if you try that approach. Also, Oga takes her payment before you receive your drink. Emperor Iger requires lots of tribute. He also likes it when you spend $200 on a lightsaber.
Thoughts?
Thank you for reading our review of Oga’s Cantina! We loved it and plan to revisit once we head back to Galaxy’s Edge. In the meantime, check out our One-Day Disneyland Itinerary HERE and our One-Day California Adventure Itinerary HERE for tips to best utilize your time.
Have you been to Oga’s? What did you think? Did you spend $42 on a Yub Nub? Or $200 on a lightsaber? If yes, do you play with your lightsaber at home? As a grown man? Let us know in the comments below!
