Oogie Boogie Bash Replaces Mickey's Halloween Party

One of our Frog Family favorite parts of Disneyland Halloween Time is the after-hours Halloween party. This year is even more frightfully fun with an all-new party, the Oogie Boogie Bash — A Disney Halloween Party at Disney California Adventure. This new party replaces Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland Park. We’ve enjoyed the Halloween decorations that have appeared over the past few years at Disney California Adventure and they make a nice backdrop for the new Disneyland Halloween party. On party nights those decorations are kicked up a notch with cool projections.

We enjoyed the Oogie Boogie Bash in 2019, and we look forward to its return in 2020. We are anxiously awaiting the details and dates for 2020 and will hop on it and update this guide once they are released. In the meantime, enjoy our tips and details from 2019. The tadpoles enjoyed exciting new entertainment — like the Descendants-themed dance party, entertainment for small children and a villain-themed World of Color show. The immersive treat trails and the Villains Grove were toadally cool! We’re sure you are as excited as we are to hear the ribbeting details, so let’s hop to it!

Overview | Dates, Tickets & Prices | Entrance Procedures | Costume Policy | Trick-or-Treat & Villain Trails | Entertainment & Rides

Oogie Boogie Bash Disneyland Halloween Party Overview

The Oogie Boogie Bash is a separately ticketed even that takes place inside Disney California Adventure park after hours. The party runs select Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. (These days of the week are completely different compared to past years' party days at Disneyland.) Party ticket holders can get the party started early by mixing in with Disney California Adventure daytime guests three hours early on most Tuesdays and Thursdays, and up to four hours early on Sundays, plus Oct. 31.

The park is all decked out for Halloween with daytime decor, plus special party decorations and lighting at night. Oogie Boogie from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is the monster of scare-a-monies, and he’s calling upon all of his ghoulish villain friends and fiends to help him set the scene. You can see your party ghost host inside his immersive treat trail in Hollywood Land. The Headless Horseman returned to Buena Vista Street with beautiful projections on the Carthay Circle bell tower. Many classic Disney characters are in costume party attire, and rare characters greeting guests. You’ll find plenty of entertainment — both new and returning. And guests of all ages get to wear costumes and trick or treat!

Disneyland Halloween Party Dates and Ticket Information

You’ll need to purchase a separate ticket to attend this hoppening Disneyland Halloween party. Disneyland Halloween Party tickets went on sale frightfully early in 2019, and were completely sold out by mid-September! But hip, hop hooray! Disneyland released more party tickets in mid-October for parties on Oct. 13, 15, 17, 22, 24, 27, 29 and 31. If that hoppens again hop to it and call 714-781-4565 before they disappear! The Oogie Boogie Bash 2019 dates were:

• Sept. 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29
• Oct. 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 and 31

Disneyland Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members and Disney Visa card holders could purchase as of April 23, 2019. Tickets went on sale to the general public April 30. If you want to attend in 2020, be sure to purchase in early summer for the best selection. Prices for 2019 varied per night and ranged from $100 to $145 for Annual Passholders and $110 to $145 for general admission. Guests ages 2 and under do not need a ticket, and purchasers are limited to eight tickets per person, per event date.

Entering Disney California Adventure for the Oogie Boogie Bash

If you are entering the party early, you may see two separate entrance areas — one for daytime guests and one for party guests. Use the special event party entrance turnstiles. Party guests will line up to receive a colored wristband (with the party date, day of the week and a character name), candy bag and an event guide.

The wristband allows you to stay in the park once it closes. Guests without wristbands are unable to move about the park once the park closes to the public and the party officially starts. We expect cast members will check wristbands throughout the night and rope off areas to check wristbands. As the regular park hours come to a close, cast members will begin ushering out guests without wristbands. If you will be in the park all day, you do not need to exit to get your wristband. You can check in at Blue Sky Cellar. If you do need to exit the party, be sure to take your ticket with you so you can get back in.

The cast members do not hand out a show times guide, but you can request one. Some major entertainment times are on the Disneyland app, but not all. Write down the DescenDANCE or Mickey's Trick & Treat show times (below) or ask for a schedule.

You may notice that the cast members got all new party clothes for this event. The treat holders are different too. Sometimes they are cauldrons and sometimes rectangular carts. The treat trail markers look like taller Oogie Boogie ghosts.

Oogie Boogie Bash Character Encounters

Your favorite characters, including the villains you may love to hate, will be out greeting guests and posing for photo ops. Some classic characters appear in Halloween costumes. Other characters, such as Oogie Boogie, Dr. Facilier, Tim Burton's The Mad Hatter, Maleficent and The Queen oversee the candy distribution from thrones along the trick or treat trails. This year, Oogie Boogie brings in some new and rare character encounters!

Here's where to find characters in 2019 (there may be changes for 2020):

• Classic Disney Friends: Carthay Circle, in front of Soarin' and Grizzly Falls
• Mickey and Minnie: to the left of Grizzly River Run
• Anna and Elsa: Disney Animation
• Friends from Disney Afternoon: Grizzly Peak Airfield
• Marvel characters: In front of Guardians of the Galaxy
• Friends from Kingdom Hearts: Grizzly Falls
• IncrediFriends: Incredicoaster
• Pixar Pals: Pixar Pier Bandshell
• Residents of Cars Land: Near Cozy Cone Motel
• Friends from Disney Channel: Cars Land entrance to Pacific Wharf
• Disney Villains: Grizzly River Run (we caught sight of the Big Bad Wolf, King John and other characters from Robin Hood)

Here's the scoop: The longest lines of the night are to meet characters. Identify which characters you want to meet and get in their lines before the party starts.

Beside meeting characters, you can also learn to draw characters! While you are down in Oogie Boogie's treat trail in Disney Animation, hop over to the Animation Academy to take a course in drawing characters from "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

Oogie Boogie Bash Costumes

One of the exciting parts of the Oogie Boogie Bash is that kids of all ages can wear family-friendly costumes and get to trick or treat. Use good judgment and keep safety in mind when choosing a costume.

Costume guidelines for all guests:

• Guests who dress as Disney characters cannot pose for pictures or sign autographs.
• Costumes cannot have sharp or pointed objects and cannot have materials that could strike another guest.
• Costumes may not drag on the ground (no full-length princess dresses).
• Layered costumes and costumes that surround the entire body are discouraged and may be subject to additional screening.
• Costumes may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.
• Costumes may not contain weapons that could be mistaken for actual weapons.

Costume guidelines for guests 13 and under:

• Kids can wear some masks — eyes must be visible and the mask cannot cover entire face.
• No props that look like real weapons. Plastic light sabers and plastic swords are OK.

Costume guidelines for guests 14 and up:

• Capes cannot go below the waist.
• Themed T-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are allowed.
• Acceptable accessories include transparent wings, plastic light sabers, toy swords and tutus.
• Headware cannot cover the face.
• Masks are not allowed, except for medical purposes.
• Guests may only wear costumes to the event for which they have valid tickets (daytime guests without party tickets cannot dress up).
• Full face paint is okay.

Guests who do not adhere to the costume guidelines may be refused entry unless they can modify the costume to meet the standards.

Of course, there will be Oogie Boogie Bash apparel to purchase if you aren't the type to dress up. With new Oogie Boogie Bash ears, a spirit jersey, shorts, sweatshirts and light-up sippers, you can still be wicked stylish even if you don't want to wear a Halloween costume.

Oogie Boogie Bash Trick-or-Treat Experiences

Our whole family enjoys trick-or-treating in the parks. Trick-or-treaters can collect candy from cauldrons along trick or treat trails throughout the park this year. Besides candy, you can collect healthy goodies such as carrots, apple slices and Pirate’s Booty from the regular treat trails. The immersive trails have only candy. What? Did you think that those villains are looking out for your health? Would you even trust an apple from a villain?

When you enter the park, a cast member will hand you a bag to collect candy, but you might want to bring your own larger and sturdier bag to haul your loot around. If it gets heavy, store it in a stroller or locker (along with sweatshirts or rain gear). You might want to save trick-or-treating until later in the night when lines tend to go down. That way you do not have to carry the candy all night. The lines are longest in the beginning and disappear as the night goes on, so do not waste early party time waiting in candy lines. There is so much candy and it's not going anywhere. All of the candy we received was from Mars Wrigley (which means there was a smaller variety of candy types than we've seen in the past). We also left with a smaller volume of candy than in past years, despite hitting numerous cauldrons of candy.

In 2019 there were 10 trick or treat trails. Five were immersive with eerie music, characters and themed scenery. Immersive trails have a villain such as Oogie Boogie (inside Disney Animation), The Queen (by Grizzly River Run), Maleficent (by Soarin'), The Mad Hatter (Hyperion queue) and Dr. Facilier (stage 17). The villains talk to you as you pass by, but they are generally up on stages and not available to pose with you for pictures. But they are very entertaining to see and hear, so we highly recommend finding their trails. You have serval candy stops along the way to visit them. There is an eleventh bonus trail for Annual Passholders located near Goofy's Sky School where Annual Passholders can pick up a special party AP magnet.

Villains Grove

New in 2019, you could travel through a special walkthrough Villains Grove Trail at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. This villain-inspired, dreamlike journey is unlike anything we’ve seen before. It has magical special effects, spooky sounds, shadows and lighting. You want to visit this grove when it's very dark. There are no actual live characters or candy in this trail. We heard scary tales of long lines, but when we visited during the first Villainous! show, we waited just a few minutes. The line moved quickly.

Oogie Boogie Bash Entertainment

The Frightfully Fun Parade at Oogie Boogie Bash

Hoppy news! The Frightfully Fun Parade park hopped over to Disney California Adventure for the first time in 2019. Here's what to expect if it returns in 2020. The Headless Horseman from Sleepy Hollow leads the way at 8:00 p.m. The parade follows at 8:15. Mickey and Minnie join the parade, leading a cavalcade of characters and villains who will be scaring up fun along the parade route. Keep your eyes open for an appearance from the Cheshire Cat bringing up the rear! The parade begins down by Silly Symphony Swings and ends near Guardians of the Galaxy. Decide where you want to watch the parade and be ready to hop in place when you see people claiming spots. In Hollywood Land we grabbed one of the last curb locations about 35 minutes before the Headless Horseman started his ride down the parade route. The parade made it to the Hyperion Theatre about 20 minutes after it began.

If you have seen this parade already at Disneyland, this might be a good place to save time by skipping. The party is so short. Spend your time on new experiences rather than waiting for the parade.

*If you are in search of a dining package that will give you a reserved viewing area for the parade, you are in luck! Wine Country Trattoria offers a 3-course Italian feast of "ghoul-inary" delights. Each guest who purchases a package receives a voucher to access the reserved viewing area. The viewing area is standing only and not located at the restaurant. The price is $50 for adults and $40 for children. Children (ages 3-9) receive a popcorn-filled bucket. Adults can pay $15 for the bucket. Dining times are from 3:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. You simply make a reservation during that time and ask for the package when you check in. If space is available, they may allow walk-ins up to 6:00 p.m.

The viewing is the seated area in front of Sonoma Terrace. There may be alternative areas as well. You'll definitely want to use your early entry time to dine before the party gets underway. You can find this option on the Disneyland site by searching for Wine Country Trattoria. When you check in at the restaurant you will need to ask for the Halloween party dining package, which has a special menu.

*All these details are for 2019.

Boogie at the New DescenDANCE Dance Party

It’s a monster mash over in the Hollywood Land Backlot, where an all-new dance party is the hoppening dance spot. It starts out as a show that transforms into a dance party. Shake your own oogie boogies out by learning new dance moves from the dance crew from the Isle of the Lost to hit songs from the three Descendants films. Keep an eye out for "Villain Kids," who might crash the party through magic mirrors. After shaking it off at the dance party, be sure to hop over to the new kid-friendly show in Hollywood Land. DescenDANCE times are at 6:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:45 p.m., 9:45 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. If you have younger children, hit this early in the night before they are too tired to dance.

Mickey’s Trick & Treat Show

The tadpoles have an all-new, not-so-scary interactive stage show starring Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Goofy and Donald. It takes place in the Disney Theatre (where you can catch the daytime Disney Jr. Dance Party). There’ll be dancing, age-appropriate scary-tales and candy. This party is a great addition for the toddlers and small children. The show is short and sweet. Sounds like the perfect party to me! Show times are at 6:25 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 7:55 p.m., 9:25 p.m.and 10:15 p.m.

If you see one of the first two shows, you can still make the Frightfully Fun Parade and Villainous! We exited the 7:10 p.m. show and found a place to wait for the parade in Hollywood Land. One parent held spots while the other parent grabbed snacks and took the tadpoles through the nearby Mad Hatter trail at the Hyperion.

“Villainous!” All-New World of Color Show

And all-new, party-exclusive World of Color show debuted in 2019. It brings out the villain in all of us. Oogie Boogie tells a Halloween story about a 9-year-old girl named Shelley Marie (umm … does that sound vaguely familiar? Think Mary Shelley, author of "Frankenstein," which she wrote at the young age of 18? But I digress). Shelley needs a Halloween costume and the villains are all too eager to help influence her.

The show weaves the twisted tale with light, fountains, lasers, projections and special effects. Shelley encounters infamous villains such as The Queen, Ursula, Hades, Dr. Facilier, Jafar, Maleficent and more. There is no dining package or FASTPASS distribution for this show, so plan to arrive early. Show times are at 9:00 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. we decided to skip the crowds and watch the 10:45 p.m. show. It was not too crowded. We hopped in place on a railing about 45 minutes before show time. For a center, front view, hop in a little earlier. Be sure to take care of all party business before settling in to see this final show. Once the show ends, the park is closed and you cannot purchase or do anything else.

Rides at Oogie Boogie Bash

FASTPASS does not operate during Halloween parties, but the wait times have historically been shorter during Mickey’s Halloween Party, and with limited crowds and so much other fun to explore. The lines were very short at the Oogie Boogie Bash. All rides are open during the party, but be sure to check the Disneyland refurbishments schedule before your visit. You may enjoy the screamin’ ride overlays that take place every night of the season, including Oogie Boogie Bash nights. After 4 p.m. on party nights, the story you experience during the daytime at Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! continues as Rocket Raccoon breaks back in to save Groot during Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark. With a heavy metal soundtrack and terrifying creatures, you’ll be howling with excitement on this thrilling nighttime ride.

Be sure to hop over to “Radiator Screams” to enjoy the mesmerizing Halloween décor and lighting, plus the ride overlays of Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween. The costumed cars will be crashing the party, too, so be sure to drive in to meet your favorite "Cars" characters! In addition to all of the party entertainment and ride overlays, you can also enjoy the Halloween décor. Oogie Boogie decorated to make the park more bewitching than ever before. The treat trail in Cars Land has a particularly "bootiful" view.

Expect that the following rides and attractions will be open during the Oogie Boogie Bash (except for ride breakdowns or refurbishments):

• Animation Academy
• Guardians of the Galaxy — Monsters After Dark
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• Monster's Inc.
• Radiator Springs Racers
• Luigi's Honkin' Haul-O-Weem
• Mater's Graveyard JamBOOree
• Incredicoaster
• Jessie's Critter Carousel
• Pixar Pal-A-Round
• Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
• Toy Story Midway Mania!
• Silly Symphony Swings
• Jumpin' Jellyfish
• Goofy's Sky School
• Golden Zephyr
• The Little Mermaid
• Grizzly River Run
• Redwood Creek Challenge Trail opens at dusk as the Villains Grove
• Soarin' Around the World
• We do not know the status of yet-to-be-opened rides and attractions coming to Avengers Campus in 2020!

Many Pixar Pier and Paradise Garden Park rides close during Villainous!

Oogie Boogie Party Tips

• Buy tickets in summer!
• Plan a fun costume. People of all ages dress up!
• Follow the costume guidelines.
• Arrive up to three or four hours before the party start time, depending on your night.
• Be sure to collect a map and look it over to seek out character greetings and treat trails.
• Check the Disneyland app for some show times and ride wait times.
• Request a show schedule sheet to see times for DescenDANCE and Mickey's Trick & Treat
• Use Disney MaxPass to get FASTPASS for rides during the early entry hour before the party gets started. It's included with your ticket before the party begins!
• Take advantage of free PhotoPass downloads during the party. Ask for Halloween Magic Shots.
• Save trick or treating for after the lines go down, but definitely hop into some immersive trails with characters at some point.
• Get a locker for sweatshirts, water bottles, bags of candy or anything else you do not want to carry all night.
• Visit the Villains Grove when it's very dark outside.
• Find your favorite character locations before the party starts.
• Check the weather. Make sure your costume is comfortable in heat or rain. We saw some sweltering little Oogie Boogies on opening night.
• Be sure to watch the projection on the Carthay Circle Bell Tower.
• If you need to sit down, take a free villain art class inside Animation Academy.
• Catch the later Villainous! for lighter crowds.
• Plan your visit to Pixar Pier and Paradise Gardens Park attractions for times when Villainous! is not showing (attractions close for the show).
• Stay hydrated.

What About Halloween Time in Disneyland Park?

Just because the party has left Disneyland park doesn’t mean the Halloween fun is leaving, too. Disneyland is still decorated with pumpkins, and guests with Disneyland tickets will still get to take a spin on Haunted Mansion Holiday, where Jack Skellington takes over the Haunted Mansion. You can meet Jack Skellington and Sally in New Orleans Square, and costumed classic characters on Main Street, U.S.A. Disneyland has brought back Halloween Screams for all guests most nights of the Halloween season. Most nights, the show has just projection, music and special effects. Fireworks light up the show on select nights (mainly Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).

If you are hungry for details on frightfully fun treats, there are plenty of fun themed treats in both parks. Hop over to our Foodie Guide to Disneyland Halloween Treats for some ideas for tasty treats that are available throughout the season as well as during the party.

Have questions about the new Disneyland Halloween Party? Drop us a line in comments below! Don't froget to check out our Guide to Disneyland Halloween Time 2019, which kicked off Sept. 6 and runs through Oct. 31, to see what’s hoppening in Disneyland Park for Halloween.

Related: Best Time to Visit Disneyland

Related: Guide to Planning for Holidays at Disneyland

Hoppy planning!