It’s Halloween O’Ween, everybody! Let out a scream, hooray, it’s Halloween! Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure has returned after its launch in 2019. We were able to take a peek at a Cast Member preview and also attend the first official night of Oogie’s spooky party this year. There have been some changes since the 2019 event, but much has remained. Let’s take a look at the treats and a few tricks…
Disney had to cancel Oogie Boogie Bash last year due to the closure of the parks, and there was some question to whether a full event would be offered this year after Walt Disney World scaled their Halloween event back. Disneyland’s decision to offer Oogie Boogie Bash again proved to be quite popular as the entire run is now fully sold out. We hope that Disney adds a few more nights to the season for people who were unable to score a ticket. Let’s see if Disney has conjured up a tasty treat this year.
Getting to the Bash
The Oogie Boogie Bash officially begins once DCA closes for the day to regular guests at 6pm. However, event attendees can enter DCA as early as 3pm to mix in with regular guests. When we were there yesterday, the line to enter the park at 3pm was excruciatingly long. Unfortunately, it stayed that way right up until the event began at 6pm. Each ticket needs to be scanned and every attendee gets a photo taken. The whole process is very time-consuming and it is brutal to be out in the hot sun without moving (92º according to my weather app when I arrived).
In order to separate Bash attendees from other guests, a wristband (acquired at an event check-in desk) is required. There are two locations to get a wristband, one at the front of the park just after entering (that’s the one most people head to, which clogs up the entryway, and in turn prevents more people from entering the turnstiles) and another location at the Blue Sky Cellar. 
We ended up getting ours from the Blue Sky Cellar because the line was significantly shorter. You can get a wristband at any time during park mix-in hours or once the event begins. After getting your wristband, you’re given a free treat bag for your candy and an event map.
Frightfully Fun Parade
If you had told us back in April when the parks opened that the first parade to return to Disneyland would be for Halloween, we wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are, and the Frightfully Fun Parade is spooking its way through DCA for Oogie Boogie Bash. There have been a few changes since its last showing in 2019, and it’s only made it more enjoyable.
After not seeing a full-scale parade in so long, the timing threw us off a bit. The opening sequence with the Headless Horseman comes quite a bit before the remaining parts of the parade. Sort of like a parade appetizer. But patience is a good thing to have with this parade. But trust us, it’s worth the wait!
This parade has two showings each party night, first at 7:45pm and then again at 10pm. We highly recommend that you take the time to see it.
One of our favorite segments was the Haunted Mansion sequence. Watching the ghostly dancers, the Bride with her bouquet (hiding a hatchet!) and beating heart, and seeing the Hitchhiking Ghosts out and about was really special. This section was mildly reworked, and it’s a good change. In 2019, the Hitchhiking Ghosts were standing on the float, but now they can interact with the audience.
The parade route through DCA is quite long, so there are several good spots to watch from. We recommend getting a spot near Paradise Park, Buena Vista Street, or Hollywoodland. Although we did the specialty dining package that gave us a reserved parade viewing near Avengers Campus (that the ticket we were given still called Bugs Land…), we found that the spots listed above gave us a better vantage for viewing.
Who wants to tell @Disney? #oof #Disneyland #OogieBoogieBash #DisneyCaliforniaAdventure #Disneyland #HalloweenTime #ABugsLand #AvengersCampus #EpicFail pic.twitter.com/rhfbuJwMpQ
— MiceChat (@MiceChat) September 10, 2021
Most of the parade is as you remember it. That includes some of the mildly scary bits that we’ve come to love.
Finally, the Cheshire Cat has been returned to the tail end of the parade. He had previously been replaced by Vampirina (who was a bit out of place, as she’s not a villain).
Immersive Treat Trails
There are eight treat trails around the park, each featuring an iconic Disney villain. There are classic characters like the Evil Queen and Maleficent, plus some new faces as well. We’ll take a look at all the villains you can see and where to find them in just a moment.
Treat trails have been a part of the Halloween parties at Disneyland since the beginning, but this Oogie Boogie Bash has enhanced them considerably. They’re calling them “immersive treat trails.” Although we think that calling the trails “interactive” is more accurate (especially as some trails are abruptly placed and don’t feel very “immersive”), they’re still quite a bit of fun.
These treat trails use what Disneyland has always done best, to great effect, live entertainment. Each trail is designed around a specific character, and that character is front and center. They have a microphone and interact with all the guests as they walk by. And by interact, I mostly mean heckle, which is what we should expect from villains.
Here are the eight treat trails and villains you’ll see while making your rounds for candy:
Oogie Boogie (Animation building lobby)
Right when the event started, one of the treat trails with the longest lines was Oogie Boogie, the host of the Halloween party. His treat trail took over the entire Animation building to great effect. All the screens were lit up with Oogie-themed gambling imagery, which created a visually stimulating experience. Front and center was the green worm-filled sack himself, Mister Oogie Boogie Man. If you’re looking to stock up on candy, this trail has a bunch of treat stops. Keep in mind, masks are required for everyone while indoors. This is the only indoor treat trail for the event.
Oogie’s costume gives him a slight Pillsbury Dough Boy appearance, creepy and endearing. The mouth articulates to the pre-recorded dialogue; it’s funny, morbid, and extremely entertaining to watch. The trail has been designed to leave room for guests to stand around and watch Oogie if they wish without blocking the treat line.
NEW! Cruella DeVille (Hollywood Backlot)
The fabulous Cruella is putting on a fashion show in the Hollywood Backlot. The whole experience is quite surreal, almost as if lifted straight from the new film. Cruella is a perfect fit for an event where guests wear costumes, it gives her an opportunity to judge outfits as London’s best fashion designer.
Yes, this is the Emma Stone Cruella, but Glenn Close-style Cruella can still be seen in the Frightfully Fun parade, but where’s the iconic Marc Davis animated original?
Mad Hatter (Hyperion Theatre)
The Mad Hatter (the Tim Burton version) took over the Hyperion Theater queue and appeared on a stage in the back. His set was decorated like he was stepping out of the pages of Alice in Wonderland and as guests walked by he told stories, including a reciting of the Jabberwocky poem. While we were disappointed to see the Tim Burton version of the character again instead of the classic, we were delighted at how well he interacted with guests and how much fun he was.
Maleficent (Grizzly Airfield)
Of all the treat trails that we visited, this was possibly the least “immersive” one. Placed between the Soarin’ building and the parked plane, Maleficent has a small stage that doesn’t feel very threatening or spooky. It’s a shame that she isn’t getting the spotlight she deserves since she’s such a classic Disney baddy. This is the same spot she was in for 2019, and we had a similar complaint then.
Evil Queen (Grizzly Peak behind Grizzly River Run)
Unless you attended Oogie Boogie Bash in 2019, this treat trail is surprisingly hard to find. The Evil Queen is located on the walking path behind Grizzly River Run, somewhere that many DCA visitors don’t know exists! It’s a shame because the Evil Queen is such a fascinating character. When we walked by, she told us that she poisoned the applesauce (yes, there are some healthy treats available) in addition to Snow White’s apple.
Because this trail is under-attended compared to others, Cast Members were gleefully distributing lots of candy to any trail-goers.
Dr. Facilier (near Avengers Campus entrance)
Dr. Facilier is newly located in an area called Bountiful Valley Hideaway between Carthay Circle and Avengers Campus. This trail is decked out with tarot cards and Dr. Facilier’s stage is equipped with a throne-like chair. As we walked by, he commented on everyone’s costumes and all the guests were delighted to see (and hear from) him.
NEW! Agatha Harkness (Ancient Sanctum in Avengers Campus)
What’s Halloween without a witch? Agatha Harkness, the surprise antagonist in Marvel’s WandaVision takes over the Avengers Campus Sanctum in spectacular style. Agatha is just spooky enough, but also lighthearted as to not be too scary. But we wonder how many kids will know who she is.
Who’s been messing up the sanctum? It’s been Agatha all along!
Unfortunately, the sanctum is the only area of the campus that’s set up for Halloween. The rest of the land is the only area of the park still lit like normal, playing the regular music loop; Heroic music is terribly inappropriate for a Halloween party, especially when the rest of the park is playing Halloween music everywhere. Perhaps an assortment of villain themes would be more appropriate… and some additional Marvel villains out and about!
NEW! Sid (Pixar Pier)
Sid, Andy’s deranged neighbor and toy butcher from the original Toy Story, has taken over a sideshow circus, dubbing it “The Sid Show Circus.” He’s brought along his collection of demented, mutant toys to share with everyone. Sid looks down at you with a psychotic grin.
This is a creepy dude. They’ve absolutely nailed Sid’s sociopathic nature. It really does feel like you’re talking to an unhinged elementary school kid!
Here’s some interaction with Sid…
It’s incredible that Disney was able to take the simple treat trails of old and turn them into one of the best parts of the entire party. Of course, the magic of it is the addition of live entertainment (we won’t belabor the lesson here for daytime entertainment in the park, but couldn’t help notice how important live entertainment is to the Disney experience).
While not part of a treat trail, there are additional villains that you can take photos with around the park. The Carthay Circle fountain features an assortment of villains that rotates throughout the night (though, we did see Cinderella next to Lady Tremaine at one point, and that had us a little confused since princesses aren’t generally lumped in with the villains). Additionally, there is a photo op near the Grizzly River Run hill that features rare Disney villains. You won’t get treats from these areas, but it’s great seeing some faces that are rarely available in the Disney parks.
Villains Grove
Villains Grove is a sensory extravaganza. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail has been transformed with lighting, projection mapping, and other digital effects to evoke the spirit and essence of the villains. While you won’t find any characters to interact with or candy to add to your bag, getting to walk through Villains Grove is a treat in itself. This was a highlight of our visit, and not much has changed since its first incarnation in 2019.
The villains featured in the grove are Frollo, Maleficent, Queen of Hearts, Scar, the Evil Queen, Cheshire Cat, and Dr. Facilier. The wisps from Brave are also incorporated as your informal guides.
Villains Grove was one of the best parts of the Oogie Boogie Bash. It was spooky without being scary, highly atmospheric, and an incredible transformation compared to its daylight counterpart. This is the last section of the party to open, as the sun needs to set completely for the special effects to be fully implemented, but it is definitely worth the wait.
The fog really makes the lights dazzle.
Many of the special effects are done through projection mapping, and it is pretty spectacular. Very interesting to see the waterfall reimagined thanks to technological magic.
These vines grow across the falls right before your eyes.
The villains featured in the Grove were represented by glowing wisps of color. The only thing that could have enhanced this area would have been to include live actors.
Villains Grove was very well imagined with clever nods to Disney most dastardly denizens. We could have spent the entire night walking in circles through the area.
One thing to be aware of is that Villains Grove is VERY popular. At peak times (like upon opening at dusk or just after the first parade lets out), the wait skyrockets up to an hour or more. Our tip is to visit while the first parade is occurring and the wait is at its lowest.
Although Villains Grove is largely the same as from 2019, we absolutely loved getting to experience it again. We hope to see Villains Grove return with haunting enhancements in the coming years.
Mickey’s Trick & Treat
Over at the Disney Theater along Hollywood Boulevard, you can find Mickey’s Trick & Treat. It is the only formal entertainment offered outside of the parade this year. Described as a costume contest with a story, we weren’t sure what to expect from it. This is definitely geared towards younger guests, which is fitting since it takes place in the venue formerly known as Disney Junior.
All we can say is that we weren’t impressed with what we saw. Unless your little ones need a break, you’d likely be better off saving the time and heading to another treat trail instead.
And here’s a video walk-through of the event including a viewing of the parade:
Oogie Boogie Bash Merchandise
There’s a scant handful of Oogie Boogie Bash merchandise available this year. It mostly consists of pins and a tumbler. You can find this merch at Elias & Co and Julius Katz on Buena Vista Street.
Our Thoughts
The second iteration of Oogie Boogie Bash was largely a success, in our opinion. We loved being able to interact with all the villains and seeing the first parade return to the Disneyland Resort was a real treat. Although there were some elements that helped make the Bash in 2019 feel more complete, namely the World of Color Villanous! show, this year is worth the ticket cost. We hope that by the next Oogie Boogie Bash, more entertainment can be added for the party and that World of Color is ready to return. For now, we’ll be happily eating our candy and dreaming of all the villains we encountered.
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Let’s Hear From You
How do you feel about these types of after hours events? Do you like the Halloween party being at DCA or would you rather that it return to Disneyland? And does the loss of World of Color Villainous impact the value of the event for you and your family? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Editor’s Note: We would like to thank PhotoMatt and Andy Castro for their photography, Nathan Villamor for writing the copy, and Robbie Bulus for the video.
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