The kids are back in school, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back on the menu, and the fall decorations are back along Main Street, U.S.A. That can only mean one thing: Disney’s Halloween after-hours parties are returning for another year.
Florida likes to get the party going way early with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which had its first event in Magic Kingdom on August 11. Disneyland locals and anyone planning on a trip out west have had to exercise a little more patience, as the Halloween season doesn’t officially start until September 1 (though you may spot some early decorations in those final few days of August).
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort is one of the best times of the year to visit. In addition to seasonal treats and festive fireworks, it’s the time of year guests can experience what many consider to be Disney’s best after-hours event: Oogie Boogie Bash. The hard-ticketed event is not included with regular park admission, and the event sells out in a flash. Taking place over multiple evenings in September and October, Oogie Boogie Bash transforms Disney California Adventure into a not-so-spooky environment filled with rare character meet and greets, Treat Trails, parades, and more.
If you’re heading to Oogie Boogie Bash this year, make sure to give this comprehensive guide a read-through so you’re prepared to tackle the evening with ease. If you aren’t attending, this guide can serve as a peek into just how much Disney goes all-out with the party, and perhaps it can serve as a little inspiration to try and attend next year’s Bash.
Before The Party Begins
Every guest attending Oogie Boogie Bash is able to enter Disney California Adventure starting at 3 PM the day of the event (the party starts at 6 PM). That gives you three full hours to explore the park before it closes to regular day guests. Use this time to get a few rides in and be among the first to shop for party-exclusive merchandise (it sells out fast!). Once California Adventure closes to regular guests at 6 p.m., the party is on!
NOTE: If you have a regular day ticket for California Adventure or a Park Hopper on the same day as Oogie Boogie Bash, you don’t have to wait until 3 PM to enter the park! The 3 PM rule only applies to those guests who only purchased tickets for Oogie Boogie Bash for that evening and are not regular day guests.
You can also use the “mix-in” hours from 3 PM to 6 PM to redeem your party wristband and treat bag. Note that if your goal is to return home with as much candy as possible, you may want to bring your own trick-or-treat bag(s), as the ones Disney hands out are on the smaller side.
NOTE: Dressing up in Halloween costumes is encouraged at Oogie Boogie Bash, no matter your age! Keep in mind, however, that September and October are typically very hot months in Southern California, so dress for comfort. Temperatures should cool off once the sun goes down, but entering California Adventure in those mid- to late-afternoon hours could be quite warm. Consider packing your costume in a bag and changing closer to when the party starts, or plan your costumes to be more warm weather-friendly.
Oogie Boogie Bash Characters and Treat Trails
If you’re big into meeting rare Disney characters, then you probably know that these hard-ticket after-hour events are a great opportunity to say hello to the characters you normally don’t get to see. Oogie Boogie Bash is no different, and since it’s a Halloween event, the villains are out to play! Many of the villainous character spots are located along the Treat Trails. These are essentially the lines guests will wait in for Halloween candy, but included in the line is a walk-by encounter with a Disney villain.
Some villains will have long lines throughout the evening (especially the newer additions), while others may have wait times that ebb and flow. The treat trails are available throughout the evening, so don’t be afraid to check back later when the line might be shorter (popular villains could have very long lines at the start of the event).
2023 Oogie Boogie Bash Treat Trail Villains and Locations:
- Judge Doom (Roger Rabbit) (NEW for 2023!) – Grizzle Peak Airfield behind Soarin’ Around the World
- Yokai (Big Hero 6) (NEW for 2023!) – San Fransokyo Square
- Sid (Toy Story) – Pixar Pier Bandstand
- Oogie Boogie (The Nightmare Before Christmas) – Animation Lobby
- Cruella de Vil (Cruella) – Hollywood Backlot Stage
- Ernesto de la Cruz (Coco) – Hyperion Theatre Queue
- Agatha Harkness (Marvel’s Wandavision) – Ancient Sanctum in Avengers Campus
- Madam Mim (The Sword and the Stone) – Bountiful Valley Hideaway
- Mother Gothel (Tangled) – Grizzly Peak Trail behind Grizzly River Run
Note that there is an additional, non-immersive Treat Trail located in Paradise Gardens Park. This one may have shorter lines if you’re just looking to fill up on candy!
In addition to the villains listed above, there are several other character meet-and-greets to check out throughout the evening. Expect to find your classic Disney characters, but be on the lookout for rare characters like Bruno from ‘Encanto’ and Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle dressed as the Sanderson Sisters from ‘Hocus Pocus.’
Oogie Boogie Bash Entertainment
Frightfully Fun Parade
- Step-off times are at 7:50 PM and 10:05 PM
- The parade steps off at Paradise Gardens Park, weaving its way through California Adventure as it passes the viewing area for World of Color and Wine Country Trattoria before turning at Carthay Circle and continuing down Hollywood Boulevard. The second parade of the evening follows the same route in the opposite order.
- TIP! The second parade will typically have smaller crowds. Take advantage of potentially shorter Treat Trail lines while the first parade is taking place.
- Be sure to secure your viewing spot early – don’t wait until the last minute! The parade is led by none other than the Headless Horseman, who makes his way down the parade route a few minutes prior to the start of the actual parade.
Villain’s Grove
- A must-see immersive walking trail through Redwood Creek Challenge Trail featuring beautifully designed lighting and sound effects. This is a highlight of Oogie Boogie Bash and not to be missed.
- Encounter the mystical worlds of several Disney villains, including Dr. Facilier, Frollo, Scar, the Wicked Queen, and more. Villain’s Grove is not scary and there are no actual characters that appear on the trail, but if you are traveling with little ones who are frightened by eerie sounds, you may want to look up a walk-through video to watch ahead of time.
- Villain’s Grove will likely have longer lines throughout the evening. Wait until dark for the best experience.
Mickey’s Trick and Treat
- Show times are at 6:00 PM, 6:45 PM, 7:30 PM, 8:45 PM, and 9:30 PM.
- This is perfect for littlest ones in your family (think pre-school through early elementary age).
- Mickey’s Trick and Treat stars Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald in a not-so-scary stage show in the Disney Theater in Hollywood Land, featuring projections, plenty of bubbles, and original Halloween songs.
Food and Beverage
Oogie Boogie Bash is an opportunity to enjoy a few party-exclusive food and beverage offerings:
Flo’s V8 Cafe (Cars Land)
- Loaded Buffalo Chicken Fries: Steak fries, chicken tenders, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, blue cheese, and celery ($13.49)
- Loaded Carolina BBQ Chicken Fries: Steak fries, chicken tenders, tangy carolina BBQ sauce, dill pickle ranch dressing and chopped dill pickles ($13.49)
Hollywood Lounge (Hollywood Land)
- Tropical Melon Cocktail with Life Potion Bottle Glow Cube: Melon, peach, and mint liqueurs and orange & pineapple juices with a Life Potion Bottle glow cube ($24.00)
In addition to those items, California Adventure is home to many other seasonal treats, many of which are available during Oogie Boogie Bash.
Oogie Boogie Bash Parade Dining Package
- Includes a special 3-course meal for adults (starter, entrée, dessert, plus a non-alcoholic beverage) and a 2-course meal for kids (entrée, dessert, plus a non-alcoholic beverage) only available during Oogie Boogie Bash.
- Following dinner, guests have access to a separate, reserved standing viewing area for the Frightfully Fun Parade.
- The costs are as follows:
- $62 per adult ($10 upcharge for those ordering the rib-eye steak)
- $37 per child (ages 3 to 9)
- NOTE: The Oogie Boogie Bash Parade Dining Package is SOLD OUT for 2023. For 2024 and beyond, make sure to book your dining package reservation at the time of purchasing your Oogie Boogie Bash tickets.
Oogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party
- Dig into Halloween-themed desserts and beverages while enjoying preferred seating for the Frightfully Fun Parade.
- All Dessert Party packages include a selection of desserts, an alcoholic beverage for adults ages 21 and older, unlimited soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, and reserved parade seating.
- The cost is $89 per Guest and full pre-paid price is due upon booking.
Check out our full guide to ALL of the Halloween treats available around Disneyland Resort this fall.
Oogie Boogie Bash TIPS AND TRICKS
Tickets to Oogie Boogie Bash are not cheap, so you want to make sure you make the most of your time in California Adventure. Here are a few quick tips and tricks to keep in mind so your party goes as smooth as possible:
- Focus on party-exclusive offerings during the party. The whole point of paying a separate admission is to experience the exclusive entertainment, meet and greets, etc. that you normally can’t experience as a regular day guest, so prioritize those over rides. Use the three hours prior to the party to explore California Adventure, do some shopping, and get a couple of rides in (and maybe grab something to eat so you don’t run the risk of having to take time to look for food during the party).
- With all of that in mind, the parties are usually a great opportunity to ride some rides with little to no wait. If, for example, you happen to see a short wait time for a popular ride like Radiator Springs Racers, go for it!
- Villains Grove is INCREDIBLE and you NEED to prioritize it. That said, it’s best experienced in the dark, so wait until dusk at the earliest to hop in line. The line can get long towards the end of the night and they will likely cut the line off at some point, so don’t wait until the last minute to get in line.
- Definitely check out the Frightfully Fun Parade; however, the second showing will likely have smaller crowds. If you can wait, skip the first showing and use that time to check out the Treat Trails, many of which might have shorter lines during the parade.
- Merchandise: Shop EARLY before things sell out. The merchandise usually appears before 6 PM, so you can grab those souvenirs before the party even begins; that way, you aren’t wasting any precious party time waiting in the gift shop line (those 5 hours go by quickly, trust me). Party-exclusive merchandise can be found in Los Feliz Five & Dime along Buena Vista Street.
- Treat Trails: As mentioned before, some of the more popular villains will have long lines all evening. You may not get to every single trail, so pick your most important ones and prioritize those. You may be able to spot some villains from a distance without necessarily having to wait in the line for the treat trail, so if you want to see them but don’t necessarily need to interact with them, you can always catch a couple that way.
