DisneylandDenise's Corner

My 11 Tips to Enjoy Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 at the Disneyland Resort

Hi everyone!

We attended the first two Oogie Boogie Bash nights at the Disneyland Resort again for 2024. It is our favorite Halloween event to experience each year! I do get questions from first-time guests on the party and wanted to offer some tips for 2024. Oogie Boogie Bash kicked off earlier than ever – on August 25th – and runs select nights through October 31st.

Check out our growing YouTube playlist. I have embedded some videos here, but there are many more we’ve posted. We will also have a new Mousesteps Weekly recorded tomorrow.

Oogie Boogie Bash is held in Disney California Adventure and is sold out for this year.

Here are my 11 Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 tips!

Oogie Boogie at entrance to Disney California Adventure
Oogie Boogie at entrance to Disney California Adventure

1 – Plan ahead – With Oogie Boogie Bash, you can see and do a lot within the 5 hour party. But you won’t do it all. There are so many characters to see, a variety of villainous treat trails to visit, the stunning Villain’s Grove experience and the Frightfully Fun Parade. Attraction wait times are shorter as well. And you may want to dress as a favorite character, as many guests do. Read the Disneyland costume guidelines for more information.

FYI – there are no fireworks or other shows during the event. The Mickey’s Trick and Treat show is now played during the day for everyone.

Pain and Panic at Oogie Boogie Bash
Pain and Panic at Oogie Boogie Bash

2 – Arrive by 3:00 p.m. – Oogie Boogie Bash officially starts at 6:00 p.m., but you can enter Disney California Adventure three hours earlier. The ticket isn’t inexpensive, so make the most of it! And if you are in the parks already, pick up your party wristband inside the park (not far from the Cars Land entrance, there will be an “Event Check-In” sign). The line is much shorter there than outside.

Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 map and treat bag
Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 map and treat bag

3 – Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Monsters After Dark – Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout changes to the equally fun Halloween themed version around 3:00 p.m. This is not an Oogie Boogie Bash exclusive, but the wait times can be shorter during the event. We actually like to get in line before the switch officially happens, I think around 2:40 p.m. or so.

Guardians of the Galaxy Monsters After Dark sign
Guardians of the Galaxy Monsters After Dark sign

4 – Purchase Oogie Boogie Bash merchandise – Normally this would be a tip for the end of the article, but Southern California can get a bit chilly and a Spirit Jersey or hoodie may be needed earlier in the evening (if you didn’t bring one). I picked up a hoodie this year and love it! Other items include a Loungefly mini backpack and an Oogie Boogie Bash ear headband. Check out my Oogie Boogie Bash merchandise article.

Oogie Boogie Bash Hoodie
Oogie Boogie Bash hoodie – it is very warm!

5 – Trick or Treat along villainous treat trails – I love the treat trails at Oogie Boogie Bash! Not just for treats (which include candy, pretzels, carrots and more), but for the characters. For me, it is like enjoying live theater performances. The characters along the trails are always such a highlight. During this year’s event, you can find rare characters including Madam Mim, Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Hades and Agatha in her Agatha All Along costume. Many trails offer a step-off area so you can enjoy the character interactions without blocking guests looking for treats.

There are nine treat trails with villains, and three with no characters.

6 – Meet rare characters – There are various rare characters throughout Disney California Adventure during Oogie Boogie Bash (in addition to the treat trail villains). In the Carthay Circle area, you may find Hans, Pain and Panic, Sheriff of Nottingham and more. We also met Kingdom Hearts Mickey, Goofy and Donald near Pixar Pier. Wade and Ember meet separately and together, depending on the time (and they swap out with Joy on Pixar Pier). There are more great character experiences as well!

7 – View the Frightfully Fun Parade – I don’t have a lot of advice on where to watch or which time would be better because the parade route seemed busy everywhere we looked (and at both times). We watched it on the first night but didn’t on the second as the parade has not changed much through the years. It is a fun parade, and includes Mickey and Minnie, Jack and Sally, Disney villains and more!

8 – Visit Cars Land – Radiator Springs offers two fun ride overlays (also available during the day) in Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, and also great decor and Cars characters in Halloween costumes to visit with. There is a non-villainous treat trail to enjoy.

9 – Don’t miss Villain’s Grove Villain’s Grove is a highly themed and fantastical area along the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. There are no actual villains, but areas along the trail are inspired by them (including Frollo’s Sanctuary and Queen of Hearts Garden). The line is often long for Villain’s Grove, but it does move quickly.

10 – Enjoy Photo Ops – Included with Oogie Boogie Bash are unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass digital photos captured from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM on your event night. This is a great bonus, and there are a lot of fun opportunities around Disney California Adventure!

11 – Ride attractions with less wait – Oogie Boogie Bash is a great time to ride favorite attractions with little to no wait (most of the time). We are so busy with everything else that we never have too much time left over. Maybe next year we will go to 3 parties.

Have a great time at Oogie Boogie Bash!