Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ cantina to serve alcohol

LOS ANGELES — Disneyland visitors who explore the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expansion, which opens next year, will be able to belly up to a dimly lit “Star Wars”inspired cantina where — for the first time in the park — they can order alcoholic drinks.

New artist renderings released on the Disneyland blog last week show a dark tavern where Stormtroopers, bounty hunters, smugglers and other alien travelers crowd around a bar that serves various concoctions. The post says the tavern, dubbed Oga’s Cantina, will serve “libations for adults.”

Walt Disney Co. representatives confirmed the libations will include pre-mixed alcoholic drinks, a significant development at the attraction because Disneyland has never sold booze to park visitors, except to members of the private Club 33, an exclusive dinner club at Disneyland’s New Orleans Square.

Parkgoers who get drinks in the cantina won’t be able to take them into the park.

Walt Disney himself opposed the sale of alcohol in his parks, saying he felt the introduction of booze would ruin the family atmosphere.

The founder of the media giant said in 1956: “No liquor, no beer, nothing. Because that brings in a rowdy element.” But the decision to introduce alcohol at the park shouldn’t come as a surprise.

“Providing a memorable guest experience that exceeds our guests’ expectation is very much the essence of what Walt Disney set out to achieve, and we feel that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will of- fer that kind of experience,” Disneyland spokeswoman Liz Jaeger said.