Man, I thought I was out on this thread ... but finally tried Oga's Cantina today. The single worst experience I've ever had in an Orlando bar.
Surprisingly not the service--it was harried and rushed, but adequate. Instead the whole place is meh. There is nothing Star Wars in here, let alone anything resembling the iconic Mos Eisley Cantina. No aliens, no band. This is a generic bar themed to dystopian future or whatever. I defy you to show me one thing from the movies (so Rex doesn't count) that would distinguish this from a Blade Runner bar or a Battlestar Galactica bar.
Overcrowded--just wall-to-wall people. And the music is--oof. EDM remixes of Star Wars soundtrack songs. Which was cool ... back when Meco did it in 1977. It's not real "in-universe" atmosphere like the rest of Batuu (would a far-off bar really play a remix of the Ewok chant?). And it's not iconic enough by itself to justify its inclusion. It's just sort of annoying. The crowds and music and obscene drink prices made think I'd wandered into whatever Antigua/Club Paris/whatever it's called these days downtown.
Yeah, those prices: 4 drinks + 1 beer = $100 cash American. And I'll be honest, I was a stingy tipper because I don't give more than $2 for pulling a tap handle. Unlike the authentic tiki drinks at Grog Grotto or the craft cocktails coming to B&tB bar (with its 8 types of bitters), these were neon-colored 90s Pleasure Island drinks dressed up with special effects.
If you have a limited time in Orlando, skip this.
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I will say today was feeling a bit busier, at least in SW Land. Looking around, clearly gold and silver APs finally getting into the park. But to me that show the huge issue Batuu faces: how do you sell people who can't justify an extra $20/month for Platinum to shell out $20 for a drink or a $50 plushie or a $200 for a lightsaber. Might--I emphasize
might--do that once. But never going to be a regular thing, like say Dole Whip. Or a Voodoo donut or Butterbeer. With Star Wars fans not into theme parks shrugging their shoulders, there's not a long-term market for this. A pop-up bar would've killed during SW Weekends. Who's going to be in here drinking in late April?
When has school ever stopped someone from visiting ?
All the time, why do you think Xmas and Spring Break are always slammed? Enough with the goalpost moving and grasping at straws.