I know it’s still August and the summer weather in Southern California is barely heating up. But what better time to start collectively sending fall vibes in all directions. Halloween can’t come soon enough. The Disneyland Resort knows this and supports the gesture. Enter Oogie Boogie Bash - the after-hours event at Disney California Adventure that officially ushers in fall and sends us into a candy-fueled bender of spook-tacular sights and frights!

Oogie Boogie Bash, A History

If you’re new here, Disneyland Park first hosted a hard-ticketed Halloween party in 2005 under the name Mickey’s Halloween Party. Guests could trick-or-treat along Main Street, U.S.A., meet characters in costumes, and enjoy exclusive fireworks after regular park hours. For more than a decade, this event gave Disneyland a not-so-spooky twist every fall. This was all in addition to the festive pumpkin decor in Town Square and the Nightmare Before Christmas seasonal overlay of Haunted Mansion Holiday.

By 2019, the party moved across the esplanade to Disney California Adventure, gaining a new name and a new identity: Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party. At DCA, the party introduced signature offerings like the immersive Villains Grove, expanded villain-themed treat trails, and the Frightfully Fun Parade led by the Headless Horseman.

Meanwhile, in Florida, Walt Disney World has been home to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom since 1995. You can read more about MNSSHP in our “RELEASE NOTES: 2025 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom” blog post.

Together, these events transformed Halloween into a major season for Disney Parks. What started as a single after-hours party are now a pair of destination events that fans plan entire vacations around. Thanks to Oogie Boogie Bash in California and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Florida, Halloween time now starts in August!

Oogie Boogie Overview

Oogie Boogie Bash runs on select nights from August  17 thru October 31, 2025—five days before general Halloween Time begins. Ticket prices range from $139 on earlier party days staring in August to $199 for party days closer to Halloween.

What makes this party a standout?

Trick‑or‑Treat Trails, including the memorable Villains Grove in Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
“Frightfully Fun Parade”, with reserved viewing upgrade options via the Oogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party.
Admission includes early entry to DCA up to three hours before party time, plus unlimited PhotoPass downloads from the event.
Tickets went on sale June 26, 2025 for the general public (Magic Key holders had access to limited pre‑sale June 24–25). A few dates were still available for sale as of the date this article was published..

Earlier this month I wrote about the offerings at this years Oogie Boogie Bash. To get caught up on everything you should know read our full post on 2025 Halloween Time & Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort.

Alright, let’s get the countdown. There’s more to see, do, and eat at Oogie Boogie Bash than there is time to do it all. Here’s my Top 10 most anticipated rides, treats, and meet ‘n’ greets of Oogie Boogie Bash 2025.

#10 - Ursula Enchanted Waffles

To kick off this list we have to talk about Mickey Waffles. It’s a whole sub-culture. Mickey Churro Waffles on Disney Cruise Line are the reigning champions of the genre. Dont argue with me. Accept it. If you don’t know about Mickey Churro Waffles I weep for you. I like to pair mine with Nutella (a crew member can usually find a large vat of the hazelnut spread somewhere in Cabanas if you ask nicely) instead of syrup. They’re absolutely delightful.

So why did Ursula Enchanted Waffles make my list? Well, I like chocolate. That pretty much sums it up. Waffles? Good! Chocolate? Good! Ube? Well, ube is a bit complicated for me but I like to keep an open mind. A custard seems like it would pair well with the chocolate and waffle so why not?! Plus, the color combo hits hard. Let’s see what you got Ursula.

#9 - Syndrome

Plain and simple, gingers need more love. As a fellow redhead I’m inclined to sympathize with a clearly misunderstood villain. Beyond our personal idiosyncrasies Syndrome is a true evil mastermind. Plus, his outfit slaps. The confidence of this guy is admirable even if it’s ill advised. I will be meeting and greeting with Syndrome and if we end up besties I won’t be surprised.

#8 - Chili-Cheese Fries

Im not expecting these Chili-Cheese Fries to be the best of all-time. But I’m a sucker for ooey gooey goodness of melted cheese on just about anything. Combine the mounds of cheese with the famous film strip fries and I think we might have a winning recipe.

#7 - Oogie Boogie

The quintessential meet ‘n’ greet at Oogie Boogie Bash. He is the event’s namesake after all. You’d be remiss if you didn’t stop by to say hello.

#6 - Guardians of the Galaxy - Monsters After Dark

I know, I know… this isn’t an Oogie Boogie Bash exclusive. However, Monsters After Dark fits the vibe of OBB perfectly. Plus, the lower wait times during the party cant be beat. It’s not unrealistic to expect only a 10-15 minute wait to help save Groot. You can take a quick break from Treat Trails and photo ops to squeeze in a thrilling top tier attraction with a rocking’ soundtrack during a Halloween event without sacrificing your candy collection.

#5 - Treat Trails

Um, candy! Do I really need to justify this pick? We have a rule in my house I like to call the “Dad Tax”. I pay all their bills, and feed and house them and in return I get a portion or a bite of whatever my kids order. This rule extends to candy received on Halloween. They hate it. But I think it’s an important life lesson. We agree to disagree. When it comes to Oogie Boogie Bash all I ask for is all the Snickers they bring home. This seems to work out since, inexplicably, they don’t even like Snickers. This seems absurb but I don’t ask questions. I’m hoping to net approximately 17 lbs of Snickers to add to my stash.

If mounds of candy doesn’t do it for you there’s plenty of Villainous characters - like Maleficent - on the trails to make the trek worth the extra steps.

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#4 - Spell Bar

Obviously! Disney describes Spell Bar as a “Batter-fried SNICKERS bar on a stick with chocolate drizzle, whipped topping, and roaster peanuts”. I previously established I like Snickers. If you forgot please see #5 on this list. However, to reiterate, Snickers are my favorite candy. My second favorite candy is cheese, which I know isn’t a candy but the variety of candy I like and crave is pretty limited and I really like cheese so Im counting cheese as a candy/dessert. Back to Spell Bar. If county fairs have taught us anything it’s that deep fried foods are always better than their originals. In the case of Snickers this is especially true. The warm, gooey, nougutty goodness of a Snickers melted within the cake-like batter is a dream. I will be mobile ordering this. You cannot stop me.

#3 - Frightfully Fun Parade

If Oogie Boogie is the soul of the party, Frightfully Fun Parade is the rhythm. There’s a plethora of villains to spook you on the parade route while you jam out.

#2 - People Watching

If you can find a minute or two between trying to catch the next Lightning Lane or Mobile Ordering your next meal, Disneyland has always been a great place to people watch. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a shaded spot on a Main Street porch with a sweet treat from Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor and observe the throngs of people going by. You won’t be disappointed.

In my opinion, the people watching only gets better during Oogie Boogie Bash. Theme Park-goers turned would be Tick-or-Treaters are especially hyped and enthusiastic. More importantly they’re likely dressed up in costumes! Some are good. Some are great. All are creative in ways I wouldn’t have thought of. I also love the sense of community and camaraderie the costumes create. Costumed guests are willing to pose for photos and is a great way to lift them up and show appreciation for their efforts. Plus, you’ll get to meet new Parks people and maybe make a new friend or two!

Like I said earlier, we dont dress up every year. This is gonna be one of those years. We anticipate being too hot to get into full costume. Instead, we’ve opted for Disney-inspired Halloween t-shirts from the Disney shop on Amazon. These shirts are great because they come in a variety of sizes and colors and have specific fits for kids, men, and women. Plus, they’re available for Amazon Prime shipping so you can get them as a last minute alternate to a costume like we did. Here’s a few of the designs we picked with (affiliate) links to each one if you want to grab one for yourself.

#1 - Ernesto de la Cruz

Ernesto is my Eras Tour! Ernesto de la Cruz is still the best Oogie Boogie Bash has to offer. He’s got the rizz, man! Ernesto is suave and his voice is seductive. He’s a natural performer. He baits you in with flattery then finishes you off with a backhanded compliment. It’s devious and manipulative. I love it. God forbid you happen to be within ear shot of his live rendition of Remember Me. It’ll stop you in your tracks. It’s pure pop-spectacle and I don’t ever want him to leave.

Ernesto de la Cruz from Disney Pixar Animation Studios' Coco — Ernesto de la Cruz Seduces the Crowd During Oogie Boogie Bash via Disney

And that’s my list. Tell me what you’re most looking forward to. What are your favorite things at Oogie Boogie Bash? BE sure to follow the blog by joining the newsletter and following us on X, IG, Threads, Facebook, TikTok and more. We’ll be following up with our review of the event after we attend. Hope to see you there.

Alright, thats it for now. See ya next time.

Oogie Boogie Bash 2025: My Top 10 Most Anticipated Rides, Treats, and Meet ‘n’ Greets