Rising Moons Roberta, and welcome back to planDisney!
As a fellow lightsaber-wielder myself, you can bet that I took the opportunity to
take photos in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge with what Obi-Wan Kenobi himself considered "an elegant weapon for a more civilized age". Now I'm not sure what part of the galaxy you hail from, but drawing a highly dangerous weapon in any dining establishment is often frowned upon and something that our server told us we should avoid during our most recent visit - lest anyone be accused of blasting first.
I did ask the Cast Member citizens of Batuu at
Oga's Cantina about whether anyone can
walk in without an existing reservation and from their responses it sure sounds like strict Oga herself doesn't take too kindly to folks who either try to head inside without having
a reserved time slot. As with any other
dining locations around Walt Disney World Resort, guests are welcome to change their mind and decide not to stay - but you're better off asking the Cast Members out front to let them know that you just want to take photos and leave without purchasing anything to see how they and their leadership may respond - policies are subject to change without prior notice and may be at the discretion of management as to whether they may permit you to do this on the day of your visit. Though this cantina is full of the shadiest smugglers and scoundrels coming to this edge of the galaxy, they all seem to be decent enough to pay for everything they snack and sip on before continuing on their more perfidious pursuits out in Black Spire Outpost like
hunting down their targets in Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters.
In my personal experience, the two things that you'll immediately notice during your reservation is that this stellar hot spot is incredibly popular, resulting in limited space to take photos and time you'll have to linger around. (You probably wouldn't want Oga to find you responsible for severing any limbs or burning into any furniture in her domain.) I highly recommend opting to choose one of the very last reservations of the night just before closing - which is often when I see the most availability in the
My Disney Experience app - for the greatest opportunity to snap shots with fewer folks. This however can never be guaranteed, however it does provide you with the chance to experience the streets and alleys of Batuu in the late evening after most travelers have moved on; a time when you'll find fellow force-sensitive folks emerge from the darkness to take their epic photos under the glow of their lightsabers.
You might be interested in booking a
Capture Your Moment session at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge for some of the most stellar shots with lightsabers courtesy of some talented
Disney PhotoPass photographers, but here's hoping the folks around Black Spire Outpost can help you find ways to make it happen on your visit this month!
May the Force be with you on this quest, Roberta!
Prince