Oogie Boogie Bash is Disneyland Resort’s Halloween Party. It is a separate ticketed event that takes place at Disney California Adventure. It is extremely popular, all nights sell out weeks in advance.
This is the fourth year that my daughter and I have attended Oogie Boogie Bash. It’s tied with Disney Jollywood Nights as our favorite special ticketed event that is currently offered in the US; at least our favorite that we’ve been to. We enjoy it so much that we planned a short trip to Anaheim primarily to attend Oogie Boogie Bash! We were there on September 30.
Oogie Boogie Bash seemed more crowded than in past years, although the crowd was still manageable. I don’t know if Disney increased capacity, but it felt like it. Even with more guests, it wasn’t packed like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party last year.
One fun part of Oogie Boogie Bash is the Treat Trails. At Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you’ll receive plenty of treats, but nothing like what you can take home from Oogie Boogie Bash. You’ll wind down a trail with several stops along the way. Cast Members will give you handfuls of candy! In past years there were also some healthier options, such as apple slices and Sun Chips. We didn’t have those this time. There were Goldfish crackers and strawberry fig bars for those looking for something without chocolate. That said, Snickers, Milky Way, and Twix fans were more than happy, I’m sure!
Honestly, I was disappointed with the treats on the trails this time. My daughter and I are both vegetarian, and she has a dairy allergy. Most of the dairy-free treats had gelatin, which we didn’t realize when asking at the candy stops. We ended up giving a huge pile of treats to the front desk staff at the hotel, which they seemed to appreciate! It was better than just throwing out a lot of candy. We still ended up with plenty of treats. The way that allergies and treats are handled at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is much better than at Oogie Boogie Bash.
Most of the Treat Trails have characters along the way. The character interactions were awesome, as always! This year, the characters along the trails were Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Hades, Judge Doom, Ernesto de la Cruz, Agatha Harkness, Yokai, Syndrome, Maleficent, and, of course, Oogie Boogie. Sid from Toy Story was replaced by Syndrome, which made me a little bit sad. Sid was my favorite in past years. Madam Mim also didn’t return. I’ve added some interactions from the characters on the Treat Trails to the Disney Over 50 Facebook and Instagram pages if you’d like to check them out.
There were plenty of other characters out and about for Oogie Boogie Bash. The lines that we waited in weren’t too long, and the interactions were fantastic. PhotoPass is included with your Oogie Boogie Bash ticket. A special shoutout to Prince Hans. His was one of the best face character interactions that I’ve ever had. Hans, if you’re reading this, I’m still doing that research for you!
One unique attraction during Oogie Boogie Bash is Villains Grove. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is turned into a hideaway for villains. There aren’t any characters along the way, but you do feel like you’re walking through their world. The lighting and sound effects are perfect, making it spooky but not really scary. The line for Villains Grove tends to get long, but it moves quickly. Cast Members were reminding people in line that there are no treats inside. They said it several times, so there were probably complaints at some point.
The parade for Oogie Boogie Bash is called Frightfully Fun Parade, and it’s so good. It runs twice during the evening. Mickey and Minnie are the classic characters. It also features The Nightmare Before Christmas, Haunted Mansion, and plenty of villains. Like Mickey’s Boo-To-You-Halloween Parade at Walt Disney World, it starts with the ride of the Headless Horseman, but this includes more of the story. We will always look for a spot near the beginning of the route because that was what a Cast Member recommended the first time we went, and it’s a great place to watch. If you’d like to see more, I’m also adding parade videos to Facebook and Instagram. This parade grows on me more each time we see it.
Several rides were open during Oogie Boogie Bash, and the Wait Times that I noticed were short. We weren’t there to ride anything during the party, but we did squeeze in one final ride on Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! It’s closing early next year to make way for Avatar.
There are no fireworks at Oogie Boogie Bash. Honestly, I think that’s an advantage. When I’ve attended special ticketed events that have fireworks, we try to find a good spot early, only to have someone step in front a minute before and put a kid on their shoulders. No fireworks means you can spend time doing other things. Five hours seems like a lot when you arrive, but that time flies by!
As much as I loved Oogie Boogie Bash this year, it felt like something was missing. I’m not sure what. I thought it was just me, but my daughter mentioned it as well. Maybe we just missed Sid.
Still, we once again enjoyed Oogie Boogie Bash, and are already talking about going back in 2026. The ambiance alone is worth it! We made some great memories. Isn’t that what vacation is supposed to be all about?