Oga's Cantina--are you required to order something?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The initial discussion was about the OP making an ADR, getting seated and not ordering anything. Not about seeing it, which a few posters mentioned NOT having an ADR and showing up to Oga's and asking for a quick peek, which is very different and has been allowed by some CM's.

Yeah the people I saw at DLR didn't have an ADR and they asked at the checkin podium. They waited something like 20mins or so before being let in to take a quick look around and leave. It wasn't a free for all and I assume it's a case by case basis. Not that I wouldn't want that to become too wide-spread either but at least they weren't taking up a reservation by doing so.

 

[mckennarose]

but at least they weren't taking up a reservation by doing so.

Right. And that's exactly what the discussion on here is about.... taking up a reservation without actually using it for what it's intended at an establishment meant to serve food and drink.

 

[J-Dog]

Right. And that's exactly what the discussion on here is about.... taking up a reservation without actually using it for what it's intended at an establishment meant to serve food and drink.

But, if the OP is to be believed (and why wouldn't we believe him/her?), then Disney doesn't care, so why should other guests care? Those people responding on here aren't making any money off of the situation.

If Disney is okay with it, then the only reasons people on this board would have a problem is because they are busy-bodies or think that they need to impose their own morals upon other people.

This has turned into another tipping thread...

 

[marikujawa]

I guess I can see the value in giving opinions on what is or is not allowed by Disney because it helps people plan. But personal feelings on what Disney should allow and making people feel guilty for doing things Disney is okay with has little value beyond whatever joy one gets out of trying to control others’ behavior. Disney is far easier and much more flexible, accommodating and fun than it tends to be portrayed here and I think people who come here for advice should know that. The only people who seem to have consistent problems at Disney are the incredibly unlucky “people in front of us.”

 

[mckennarose]

If Disney is okay with it, then the only reasons people on this board would have a problem is because they are busy-bodies or think that they need to impose their morals upon other people.

That's actually funny....

But no, the bottom line for me personally is not to "impose my morals upon another".... it's simply stating the fact that and ADR is an Advance Dining Reservation.... Oga's is a bar that serves food and drink. And like it or not, Disney does change things when the system is used for a purpose other than it was intended... BOG for example. I wouldn't personally make an ADR at a bar/restaurant to not order anything. Has nothing to do with morals. No need to assume or name call.

 

[J-Dog]

I guess I can see the value in giving opinions on what is or is not allowed by Disney because it helps people plan. But personal feelings on what Disney should allow and making people feel guilty for doing things Disney is okay with has little value beyond whatever joy one gets out of trying to control others’ behavior. Disney is far easier and much more flexible, accommodating and fun than it tends to be portrayed here and I think people who come here for advice should know that. The only people who seem to have consistent problems at Disney are the incredibly unlucky “people in front of us.”

Totally agree. But that's part of what keeps these boards interesting.

 

[J-Dog]

That's actually funny....

But no, the bottom line for me personally is not to "impose my morals upon another".... it's simply stating the fact that and ADR is an Advance Dining Reservation.... Oga's is a bar that serves food and drink. And like it or not, Disney does change things when the system is used for a purpose other than it was intended... BOG for example. I wouldn't personally make an ADR at a bar/restaurant to not order anything. Has nothing to do with morals. No need to assume or name call.

So...you're not imposing your own morals, but rather chastising someone for something that might possibly someday happen in the future because of it? I'm not sure that's any better...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

But, if the OP is to be believed (and why wouldn't we believe him/her?), then Disney doesn't care, so why should other guests care? Those people responding on here aren't making any money off of the situation.

If Disney is okay with it, then the only reasons people on this board would have a problem is because they are busy-bodies or think that they need to impose their own morals upon other people.

This has turned into another tipping thread...

The CM the OP encountered didn't care. That's not the same as saying Disney doesn't care. It's an important distinction when you're giving advice to others--that's where my thoughts were coming in. It's an incorrect fallacy in assuming that everyone is good. Even when Disney has a policy on something there's inconsistencies there. It's why many of us play the caution game. There's a long never-ending list of things one person was able to do but another wasn't, or a process someone was told is what it is but another person was told something different. Blanketing things to everyone is a risk I'm, and a fair few others, are unwilling/uneasy about taking. Totally others are and that's ok. There can be a balance there in just giving cautionary advice though.

As far as being busy bodies..man if you ask a question on this Board (and I think the OP was really trying to be polite in their inquiry) it means you want to know and at least on the surface care about other people's input (otherwise you'd just ask while you're there at the parks to the CM)--you gotta accept the good with the bad (which admittedly can be hard at times).

You're more than welcome to exit the thread if it the discussion is morphing into something you don't wish to see or discuss. That is always an option. You can also stay if you'd like though you may encounter a discussion that is morphing into something you don't wish to see or discuss.

 

[J-Dog]

The CM the OP encountered didn't care. That's not the same as saying Disney doesn't care. It's an important distinction when you're giving advice to others--that's where my thoughts were coming in. It's an incorrect fallacy in assuming that everyone is good. Even when Disney has a policy on something there's inconsistencies there. It's why many of us play the caution game. There's a long never-ending list of things one person was able to do but another wasn't, or a process someone was told is what it is but another person was told something different. Blanketing things to everyone is a risk I'm, and a fair few others, are unwilling/uneasy about taking. Totally others are and that's ok. There can be a balance there in just giving cautionary advice.

As far as being busy bodies..man if you ask a question on this Board (and I think the OP was really trying to be polite in their inquiry) it means you want to know and at least on the surface care about other people's input (otherwise you'd just ask while you're there at the parks to the CM)--you gotta accept the good with the bad (which admittedly can be hard at times).

You're more than welcome to exit the thread if it the discussion is morphing into something you don't wish to see or discuss. That is always an option. You can also stay if you'd like though you may encounter a discussion that is morphing into something you don't wish to see or discuss.

I agree. But I have just as much right to question the PP's reasoning as much as you have a right to question the OP's reasoning.

 

[marikujawa]

That's actually funny....

But no, the bottom line for me personally is not to "impose my morals upon another".... it's simply stating the fact that and ADR is an Advance Dining Reservation.... Oga's is a bar that serves food and drink. And like it or not, Disney does change things when the system is used for a purpose other than it was intended... BOG for example. I wouldn't personally make an ADR at a bar/restaurant to not order anything. Has nothing to do with morals. No need to assume or name call.

But I’m sure the OP already knew that an ADR is an Advance Dining Reservation and that Oga’s is a bar that serves food and drink. He/she just asked if it was possible to experience it (a unique venue in a new land) without ordering anything and then reported back that it was not a requirement to order something. I don’t see the value in advising the OP that people wouldn’t go into a bar or restaurant like Applebee’s without ordering anything. I’m sure no one would think that was reasonable. Disney can accommodate all types of guests.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I agree. But I have just as much right to question the PP's reasoning as much as you have a right to question the OP's reasoning.

I never questioned your right to answer a question though

I responded to your "this is becoming another tipping thread" aspect. If the topic is morphing into something you don't like you can exit the topic entirely. If you stay then you can probably expect to see more of the type of discussion you don't like (more like 'don't shoot the messenger' kind of thing). Only you can decide how much seeing a thread with a morphing topic you don't like you're willing to keep up with.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Disney can accommodate all types of guests.

Can and will are two different things.

You used to be able to do lots of things at Disney, they used to accommodate lots of things at Disney, until they decided to do otherwise. It's something we all have to keep in mind unfortunately (and I think that's where posters are coming from).

At the very least Disney does have options for those not wanting an alcoholic beverage and also has some options for snacks. They keep the main purpose without excluding certain patrons.

 

[piccolopat]

But, if the OP is to be believed (and why wouldn't we believe him/her?), then Disney doesn't care, so why should other guests care? Those people responding on here aren't making any money off of the situation.

If Disney is okay with it, then the only reasons people on this board would have a problem is because they are busy-bodies or think that they need to impose their own morals upon other people.

This has turned into another tipping thread...

Perhaps people disagree with the OP is because they feel bad that other people who really want to experience everything that Oga's has to order can't because the ADR is taken by someone who has no interest in spending a dime there. I don't think that Disney is okay with this. Instead I think they may not have considered people making an ADR and then not ordering anything. I see OP's plan as no different than going to the Japanese hibachi restaurant in Epcot and just watching the show, not eating but taking up a seat.

 

[mckennarose]

So...you're not imposing your own morals, but rather chastising someone for something that might possibly someday happen in the future because of it? I'm not sure that's any better...

You're picking out ONE part of what I believe about the whole concept of making an ADR without actually using it as an ADR.

My "reasoning" is in my responses throughout the thread and certainly not based on a "what if" scenario.

 

[marikujawa]

Can and will are two different things.

You used to be able to do lots of things at Disney, they used to accommodate lots of things at Disney, until they decided to do otherwise. It's something we all have to keep in mind unfortunately (and I think that's where posters are coming from).

At the very least Disney does have options for those not wanting an alcoholic beverage and also has some options for snacks. They keep the main purpose without excluding certain patrons.

According to the OP’s follow-up Disney will accommodate people who plan to do what the OP asked.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

According to the OP’s follow-up Disney will accommodate people who plan to do what the OP asked.

According to the OP that CM accommodated them. I wasn't aware that the OP represented everyone though I am well aware in your opinion they do. For all the people who say "go for it you should be fine because so and so was able to" there will be people who say "you should be prepared that you won't be fine even though so and so was able to". I error on the side of caution. If you don't when you give advice to people that's fine. But I will.

 

[marikujawa]

Perhaps people disagree with the OP is because they feel bad that other people who really want to experience everything that Oga's has to order can't because the ADR is taken by someone who has no interest in spending a dime there. I don't think that Disney is okay with this. Instead I think they may not have considered people making an ADR and then not ordering anything. I see OP's plan as no different than going to the Japanese hibachi restaurant in Epcot and just watching the show, not eating but taking up a seat.

Yes but nobody wants to go to dinner at the hibachi place to just watch the show, just as nobody wants to go to Applebee’s without ordering anything. People just keep shooting down straw-man arguments. If someone wants to know about the hibachi thing they’ll start a thread about it. Until then, it’s okay to go into Oga’s without ordering something. From my experience there, nobody is doing that either. So what harm is it if someone does something a little different if Disney allows it? The experiences that were changed were likely in response to numerous factors that only Disney knows. People experiencing Disney in ways that make it more fun for them (and in ways that Disney allows) are not breaking Disney.

 

[BadPinkTink]

It is very likely that someone in a Disney office is monitoring and tracking amount of reservations V amount of drinks sold. It is very likely that there is a daily tally, a weekly tally and a monthly tally. It is very likely that someone in a Disney office knows the number of drinks sold and the number of people who had reservations for any given day. This is a data driven world world now, everything is tracked and monitored and analysed. It makes no difference what the CM's at Ogas allow, what matters is the numbers, the figures on someones spreed sheet, the graph and trend created from the numbers on a spreadsheet in a Disney office, probably in Burbank.

They most likely have a cut off point. They most likely know at what stage they will start enforcing a minimum spend just like with Be Our Guest in Florida. These decisions are planned months in advance. Its not an if its a when. For example, if there are 2000 people who have entered Ogas that means there should be in theory 4000 drinks sold. But if they see only 1000 drinks sold, it means that 50% of people who have been in Ogas did not make a purchase. This is where the number crunching starts.

They would then monitor and track for a specific time period, to see if this is an emerging trend, or a once off.

If the pattern is repeated on a regular basis, either every day, or on specific days, that's when they will change the rules regarding minimum spend per reservation.

Its just a matter of time and how many people feel that its ok to make a reservation but not order anything

 

[marikujawa]

It is very likely that someone in a Disney office is monitoring and tracking amount of reservations V amount of drinks sold. It is very likely that there is a daily tally, a weekly tally and a monthly tally. It is very likely that someone in a Disney office knows the number of drinks sold and the number of people who had reservations for any given day. This is a data driven world world now, everything is tracked and monitored and analysed. It makes no difference what the CM's at Ogas allow, what matters is the numbers, the figures on someones spreed sheet, the graph and trend created from the numbers on a spreadsheet in a Disney office, probably in Burbank.

They most likely have a cut off point. They most likely know at what stage they will start enforcing a minimum spend just like with Be Our Guest in Florida. These decisions are planned months in advance. Its not an if its a when. For example, if there are 2000 people who have entered Ogas that means there should be in theory 4000 drinks sold. But if they see only 1000 drinks sold, it means that 50% of people who have been in Ogas did not make a purchase. This is where the number crunching starts.

They would then monitor and track for a specific time period, to see if this is an emerging trend, or a once off.

If the pattern is repeated on a regular basis, either every day, or on specific days, that's when they will change the rules regarding minimum spend per reservation.

Its just a matter of time and how many people feel that its ok to make a reservation but not order anything

Won’t be many people. No worries.

 

[Alan1972]

I don’t understand why some one who doesn’t drink wants to “experience” a bar