Our 2024 Oogie Boogie Bash Experience

Oogie Boogie Bash is the 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 third year that my daughter and I have attended Oogie Boogie Bash. It’s 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 October 20.

My favorite 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 we got at Oogie Boogie Bash. You’ll wind down a trail with several stops along the way. Cast Members will give you handfuls of candy! The past two times we attended there were also some healthier options, such as apple slices and Sun Chips. I don’t know if it’s because we were at a party late in the season, but we didn’t have those this time. There were different types of Goldfish products and Rice Krispy Treats for non-candy items, but that was about it.

Most of the Treat Trails have characters along the way. The character interactions were awesome, as always! I’ve never been compared to a “dead fish” before, but Dr. Doofenshmirtz seemed to think it was appropriate. (I added the video as a reel on Facebook and Instagram.) Hades was new this year, and his area was as impressive as the character! My favorite villain in the Treat Trails is Sid from Toy Story. Perfection.

There was one glitch with a Treat Trail this year. We waited in a long line for Ernesto De La Cruz, and he wasn’t there. We waited on the side, there were some effects on the stage, but no Ernesto. After a few minutes, we decided to leave and keep checking back. We didn’t see Ernesto on his trail until almost the end of the event. I don’t know if our timing was that bad or if (more likely) there was a problem behind the scenes, but it would have been nice to know if he would be there soon. Five hours goes by quickly.

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. They did feel a little bit rushed, but that happens when there’s a limited amount of time. PhotoPass is included with your Oogie Boogie Bash ticket.

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 sounds are perfect, making it spooky but not really scary. The line for Villains Grove tends to get long, but we went through during the first parade of the evening. That was nice, we were able to take our time and enjoy it without feeling rushed.

Speaking of the parade, it’s 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.

One disappointment this year is that the live show Mickey’s Trick or Treat has been moved to the day, so we didn’t get to see it. If I had realized that we would have gone when we arrived. It’s a cute show and features classic Disney characters. Next year, I’ll check ahead of time.

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. We were able to get in at 3:00 with our tickets, so we took advantage of that time.

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.

We once again enjoyed Oogie Boogie Bash, and are already talking about going back in 2025. The ambiance alone is worth it! We came home with enough candy and Goldfish products to last a while, and we made some great memories. Isn’t that what vacation is supposed to be all about?