Oogie Boogie Bash, a separately-ticketed event at Disney California Adventure, is the ultimate Halloween bash! This event sold out for the Halloween season before it even began, and it is such a popular event because villains you normally wouldn’t see year-round come out to play. The event only runs for a few hours, so if you managed to get a ticket for any upcoming dates or you are interested in attending next year, I have a few tips and tricks to share with you so that you can maximize your time all while enjoying the event all night long.
If you are determined to do it all in one night, you will have to hustle since you will only have a few hours. There are nine treat trails, a few photo ops with characters, a bunch of themed food, the Frightfully Fun Parade, and Villains Grove. I went to the event last year and learned a lot which helped me get through this year more successfully. Here is how I organized my night:
- If you are attending Oogie Boogie Bash, you can get in as early as 3 pm, and the event starts at 6 pm. I highly recommend you take advantage of the early entry and grab dinner and maybe a dessert before the party starts. You don’t want to use up your precious 5 hours waiting for food and taking the time to eat. I mobile ordered my dinner earlier in the day, so by the time I got into the park (an hour before the event started), I was able to eat and get dinner out of the way!
- Hop in line for the Guardians of The Galaxy: Monsters After Dark attraction right before the party starts (normal guests will be leaving the park), as wait times will be lower. Otherwise, wait until later in the evening, and the line should only be about 25-minutes long.
- Start from the back of the park and wind your way around. I started with Sid from Toy Story; he has a treat trail across from Pixar-Pal-Around (he is hilariously mean), and then I wound around over to Paradise Gardens, where I took a photo with Kingdom of Hearts Mickey (Donald had just left). From there, I went through Cars Land, Avengers Campus, and Hollywood Land then headed over to the Grizzly Peak area.
- There are two showtimes for the Frightfully Fun parade (this is a short 15-minute parade). The first showing is at 7:45 pm, and the last showtime is at 10:00 pm. I recommend seeing the second parade as it is less crowded, and you will have an easier time finding a spot. You can see the full parade on our Instagram!
- There is a photo op with Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle dressed as the Sanderson Sisters this year, and it’s a pretty epic experience. I recommend hopping in line while the first parade is going, as the wait times are very long all night. Most of the guests watch the first parade, and the line will have a lower wait time during the 7:45 pm parade.
- Villains Grove is an absolute must (we also have an Instagram post that shows the walkthrough of this)! The line will most likely look long all night long, but the line moves quickly, and it is totally worth it! Here, you will immerse yourself in dreamlike environments conjured up by Disney’s best-loved villains (including Dr. Facilier, Frollo, Scar, the Wicked Queen, and others). I hopped in line about 45-minutes before the second parade showing and got through it very quickly. Trust me, you will be completely enchanted by the flickering candlelit paths, the sparkling lights floating through tree branches, and magical light projections. Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll find:
- Frollo’s Sanctuary – Head into an otherworldly cathedral of trees infused with incense smells and chanting voices.
- Maleficent’s Will – Roam through a region replete with eerie ravens, thorn-spiked vines, and a seemingly spellbound waterfall of cascading color!
- Queen of Hearts Garden – Wander ‘round a charming garden of roses that paint themselves red right before your eyes!
- Scar’s Elephant Graveyard – Descend into a vast expanse that echoes with hyena laughter!
- Dr. Facilier’s Friends on the Other Side – Summoned by the great beyond, shadowy hands and colorful spells lure Guests deeper into the grove’s darkest corners.
- The Wicked Queen’s Lightning Forest – See the forest come alive as an electrifying storm flashes from branch to branch.
- Home of the Wisps – Watch these winged caretakers guide Guests to safety amid a magical bastion of endless light.
- Dawn – Escape in the nick of time as flickering lanterns lead the way toward a brilliant sunrise and the conclusion of this mythical trip!
Here’s where you can find all the characters and photo ops:
Photo Ops (Don’t forget that your Oogie Boogie Bash ticket includes free PhotoPass, so take advantage of all the photo opportunities!!
Kingdom of Hearts Mickey and Donald: Paradise Gardens, across from The Little Mermaid attraction
Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle as the Sanderson Sisters: Hollywood Land, next to the Monsters Inc. attraction
Bruno, across from Redwood Creek Challenge (Villains Grove)
Character Hosted Treat Trails:
Sid from Toy Story, Pixar Pier, across from Pixar-Pal-Around
Dr. Facilier, Paradise Gardens, across from The Little Mermaid attraction
Agatha, Avengers Campus, where Dr. Strange’s Mysteries of the Mystic Arts show is held
Oogie Boogie, inside the Animations building in Hollywood Land
Madam Mim, Hyperion Theater in Hollywood Land
Cruella, Hollywood Land at Hollywood Backlot Stage
Ernesto De La Cruz, Pacific Wharf, next to the entrance of Avengers Campus
Mother Gothel, at Grizzly River Run
Maleficent, Grizzly Peak Airfield, next to Soaring Over the World attraction
I hope my tips and tricks help you plan for your evening at Oogie Boogie Bash if you are attending this year. If you are not able to attend, be sure to check our Halloween Highlights on our Instagram to see all my content from when I attended last week, and don’t miss out on attending next year’s event…Oogie Boogie Bash is truly the most spooktacular event of the Halloween season!
Are You Ready to Book Your Next Vacation Today?
Be sure to call your Academy Travel Agent today for more information and help with booking your next vacation! Because here at The Kingdom Insider, we have plenty of resources for you, just a click away! We have an incredible team of dedicated Disney experts and Travel Planners at Academy Travel. They are ready to help you plan out every detail of your vacation, so you don’t have to worry! Call Your Travel Agent to Book, find a travel agent here, or visit AcademyTravel.com
Leave a Reply