Disney Implements New Restriction for Hundreds of Cast Members, Sparks Guest Complaints

Disney has put out a new regulation for cast members to follow after a song was deemed inappropriate for employees to sing.

If you have ever been to Walt Disney World, you know that a majority of the cast members make it their goal to immerse you into the world of the theme park. Each land and attraction has costumes for the cast members dedicated to the story that that area of the theme park is meaning to convey, bringing to life all of your greatest fantasies.

In some areas of the park, the cast members play a character to further immerse you into the setting, and a great example of this is in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. If you have ever strolled through the marketplace, went to buy blue or green milk, built a droid at the droid depot, spent some credits at Docking Bay 7, created a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, or helped to defeat the First Order on Rise of the Resistance, you know that in the land of Batuu, the cast members are inhabitants of that land, and will keep that character going for all guests, using iconic Star Wars lingo and references.

Oga’s Cantina is one of the more popular spots in Galaxy’s Edge.

Stepping inside Oga’s Cantina is like entering a dimly lit chapter of the Star Wars universe. Strange alien artifacts line the shelves, bubbling concoctions simmer behind the bar, and the air thrums with the electricity of whispered deals and hushed conversations. Even the bartenders, some with unusual features of their own, add to the otherworldly ambiance.

Forget your typical cocktails! Oga’s Cantina boasts a menu of “exotic beverages” with intriguing names and even more intriguing appearances. The Fuzzy Tauntaun, a fruity concoction, might tempt you, while the Dagobah Slug Slinger, a mysterious green libation, dares you to take a sip. Whether these beverages are truly fit for human consumption is part of the cantina’s mystique.

While the unique drinks are a major draw, Oga’s Cantina offers an immersive Star Wars experience that goes beyond your taste buds. The soundtrack throbs with galactic beats mixed by RX-20, a former pilot turned DJ droid. The opportunity to brush shoulders with fellow Star Wars fans and imagine yourselves part of a hidden world adds another layer of magic to the experience.

Lately, we shared that guests have felt that Oga’s Cantina has been pulling back on the quality of their beverages, removing some drinks entirely, and slowing down on the “acting” side of things when it comes to the servers and bartenders. 

When the bar opened, cast members would sing the Gungan Drinking song. “Una Duey Dee” is a song written and recorded for the theme park land Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where it plays inside Oga’s Cantina. According to the 2001 Star Wars Legends book Galactic Phrase Book & Travel Guide, the words “una duey dee” were Gungan Basic for “one two three.”

Below, you can take a look at how the bar reacts when the cast members lead them into the song.

Recently, it seems Disney put a new restriction forbidding cast members from joining in on the song, as it promotes drinking and is too loud.

One guest wrote online that they noticed the song disappear, “Biggest change I’ve noticed is how out of character and unengaged the bartenders and servers are. First time we were there in Jan. ‘20 (right before the pandemic), the cast members were singing (Gungan Drinking song lol) and interacting with each other. Really felt like we were immersed in a Star Wars bar. Then, this past winter we visited, and none of the cast members seemed to even bother with the songs or acting in character. Now, this is only anecdotal and a couple of times, but given how other experiences across the parks have been going, I suspect there’s more than a semblance of truth to this.”

Another guest added that, “CM’s aren’t allowed to encourage the drinking song anymore 🙁 They have to wear earplugs nowadays, were deemed too loud. Drinking songs didn’t help. I still sing it and usually get a few comments from the cm’s saying they wish they could join in”.

So, it seems that this lesser theming has less to do with cast members’ willingness and more to do with Disney’s added rules and regulations around the matter.

Reservations are highly recommended for Oga’s Cantina due to its popularity. The menu consists solely of beverages and a few light snacks, so plan your visit accordingly. And remember, just like in any cantina, things can get a little rowdy, so this might not be the ideal spot for younglings.

So, if you’re looking for a break from the thrills of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run or Rise of the Resistance, and want to delve deeper into the shadowy corners of the Star Wars universe, then a visit to Oga’s Cantina might be just the ticket (or credit chit) for you.

What do you think of Disney putting in this new cast member restriction? 

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