♫ Well, well, well… what have we here? Oogie Boogie, Maleficent, the Evil Queen and a whole host of Disney Villains ready to overtake Disney California Adventure huh? Ohhh, I’m really scared! So they’re the ones everybody’s talkin’ about… bah ha ha ha! ♫
Oogie Boogie Bash is a separately ticketed event located at Disney California Adventure park that runs twenty select nights between September 17, 2019 and October 31, 2019, every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday including Halloween night itself. For its debut year in 2019, Oogie Boogie Bash combines the seasonal attraction overlays offered daily as part of Disney’s Halloween Time with several exclusive nighttime experiences and entertainment offerings, rare character meet and greet opportunities, as well as most of your other favorite Disney California Adventure attractions, including Guardians of the Galaxy: Monsters After Dark, Radiator Springs Racers and Incredicoaster – typically all with significantly reduced wait times.
It’s important to note that unlike in 2018, a ticket to Oogie Boogie Bash does not also grant admission to Disneyland Park, and as such, we will limit our coverage solely to Disney California Adventure.
*Seasonal offerings which return unchanged from the previous year will be duplicated from our 2018 review.
Unlike Walt Disney World, here some seasonal attraction overlays are available daily to all park guests during Disney’s Halloween Time – not just those who purchase a ticket to the upcharge Oogie Boogie Bash event. This year, however, does include some exclusive party-only offerings as well.
Villain’s Grove
A transformed Redwood Creek Challenge Trail becomes a wondrous and ethereal world of Disney villains unlike anything seen before. Redwood Creek will be completely transformed with lighting, projections, sounds and special effects, creating a dreamlike environment.
This new experience unfolds in a series of scenes, each creating a hauntingly beautiful dream-space of color, sound, light and shadow, as stories emerge from the darkest night to create an enchanting world.
Despite its simplicity on paper, Villain’s Grove is perhaps among the most ambitious seasonal overlays Disney has attempted in some time. Taking over the park’s Redwood Creek Challenge Trails – an area that typically serves as a large scale interactive playground – Villain’s Grove is completely transformed into a mystical, ominous new realm the likes of which we’ve not seen before.
Spanning nearly the entirety of Redwood Creek Challenge Trails, Villains Grove is expansive, and offers a very satisfyingly long experience; good news, given the wait times it often amasses early in the evenings once darkness has fallen. Elaborate lighting, large amounts of image mapping projects and billowing fog bring the worlds of classic Disney Villains to life in a whole new way – one that is equal parts artistic and enchanting.
Featuring moods evoked from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, The Lion King, The Princess and the Frog, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and more, Villains Grove has a healthy stylistic mix that results in an experience that feels like a walk through pure magic come to life. This is the closest Disney has come to a bona fide haunted house in the United States, so far, anyway.
Treat Trails
New and wonderfully wicked, fully immersive treat trails throughout Disney California Adventure, where guests may enjoy trick-or-treating under the watchful eyes of iconic characters such as Mad Hatter from Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland,” or even Oogie Boogie himself. Additional treat trails will feature oversized cauldrons full of treats for all guests at Oogie Boogie Bash.
Typically, we would not consider something like a Trick or Treat Trail to be an attraction – but this new immersive offering is something of a whole other level. While there are ten Treat Trails scattered around the park in total, five of them are particularly special.
These new Treat Trails transcend into the realm of interactive immersive theater, with iconic Disney Villains presiding over them on elevated stages. What results is an opportunity to meet the event’s biggest baddies without having to wait in the normally massive lines they would otherwise demand during these special occasions. Lines move swiftly, and each and every trick or treater – young and old – gets their chance for some incredible photographs.
Naturally, these immersive Treat Trails are headlined by Oogie Boogie himself, but he did not come alone. Maleficent, (the live action version of) Mad Hatter, Dr. Facilier and the Evil Queen each preside over their own, heavily themed domains. Attractions in their own right, these Treat Trails are so must-see that it’s almost easy to forget they also end with handfuls of candy. Almost.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark
Do you have what it takes to save Groot from crazed creatures on the loose?
Amid the chaos of the Guardians of the Galaxy’s rescue attempt, Groot got left behind. Even worse, the Collector’s Fortress is now mired in a total state of emergency—and overrun with menacing beasts.
Your objective? Team up with Rocket to return to the fortress, distract the monsters and escape with his little buddy in tow—but proceed with caution. With the Guardians of the Galaxy involved, the plan is bound to run into a few exciting ups and downs!
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is a high energy re-imagining of the the park’s former marque thrill attraction, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Utilizing its high speed drop ride system, the new Marvel-branded version kicks the excitement up to eleven, adding multiple different rock and roll sound tracks – one for each of the six randomly selected drop sequence possibilities – seamlessly meshed together with the irreverent humor of the Guardians of the Galaxy film franchise. Guests are thrown into a wacky escape plan orchestrated by Rocket, to free his friends – the Guardians of the Galaxy – from their display in The Collector’s Fortress.
With its “standard” version running throughout the year, Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark serves a what might just be the world’s first sequel theme park attraction, picking up where the regular story left off. The Guardians are free – but in the process, the entire Fortress has lost power and all of the monsters in the collection are loose. And naturally, baby Groot has wondered off, getting himself caught in the middle of the chaos.
Finding success in, ahem, borrowing the talents of a tour group earlier in the day, Rocket again puts guests to work – this time as warm-bodied distractions to lure dangerous creatures out of hiding while he hunts for Groot. And with the gantry lift system still on the fritz, all that human bait will be shooting up and down the Fortress’ elevator shaft at high speeds, sometimes in total darkness.
Different from Mission: BREAKOUT!’s random profiles, Monsters After Dark only utilizes one single drop sequence, coupled with a brand new custom soundtrack that really packs an adrenaline-filled punch to tell its story. And while all show elements, lighting and video are completely unique for this seasonal overlay, it should be noted that the physical drop profile is not new; rather, Monsters After Dark borrows Mission: BREAKOUT!’s “Born to be Wild” sequence. That not withstanding, you’d likely never notice with how different and chaotic this special Halloween version is.
Interestingly, guests visiting during Halloween Time don’t need to worry about missing “the first part of the story.” Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! operates daily, from park open until typically around 4:00pm (depending on the length of queue at the time.) At 5:00pm, the Collector’s Fortress reopens its doors as Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, then operating until park close. This mid-day swap effectively allows guests the opportunity to experience both versions of the attraction each day!
Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree
Don’t miss the down-home jamboree that’s tons of fun for all makes and models! Dying to do a spine-tinglin’ twirl? This fall, boo-step on over to Cars Land for Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree, a haunted hootenanny featuring high-spirited Haul-O-Ween music.
While tractor-trailer dance partners swirl Guests around the graveyard, Mater becomes the life of the party by crooning creepy country tunes with a Haul-O-Ween twist—including “Welcome to Radiator Screams,” “Monster Truck Smash” and other frightfully delightfully dark ditties. Ghosties beware… this junkyard-turned-graveyard is filled with tombstone grills that beckon you to “rust-in-peace!”
Don’t miss the jumpin’ JamBOOree that’s perfect for vanpires and wheelwolves alike, ‘cuz it’s only around during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort!
Cars Land’s popular family spinning flat ride, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree gets into the spirited season of Haul-O-Ween with this delightful seasonal overlay. Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree features the same out of control spinning and swinging motion, combined with multiple brand new soundtracks custom recorded by the voice of Tow Mater himself, Larry the Cable Guy.
Mater’s junkyard features some modest decorations, including a spooky new attraction marquee and tombstones fashioned out of used car parts. An adorable baby tractor from the attraction, dressed in his mummy Halloween costume, acts as a photo op just outside the entrance. Unlike the attractions we discussed above, Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree hardly feels like “a whole new ride,” but that doesn’t make its seasonal overlay an any less endearing piece of the Halloween Time offerings.
Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween
Gather ‘round the Horn of Plenty for a frightfully delightful festa sure to keep brakes pumping.
Got monster mash-worthy moves? Head to Cars Land this fall for Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, a ghoulishly grand song ‘n’ dance bash guaranteed to wake the dead… batteries, of course! While his kooky cugini (aka, cousins) give Guests a spooktacular spin around the dance floor, Luigi and Guido add a haunted twist to traditional songs and stories from the old country—including the “Terror-antella,” “The Chop Top of Carsoli” and more.
Both theme parks of The Disneyland Resort are already overflowing with atmosphere and charm – but for fans of the season of tricks and treats, Halloween Time kicks things up a notch. With entire fully decked out lands teeming with Halloween spirit, parts of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure become spooktacular new worlds waiting to be discovered.
At the focal point for the 2019 season, Disney California Adventure, Buena Vista Street, and the park’s iconic Cathay Circle Restaurant are enhanced with vibrant black and purple bunting covered with fluttering bats. A menacing – and breathing – statue of the Headless Horseman becomes a popular photo spot. And Lightning McQueen, Mater and their friends transform the sleepy little town of Radiator Springs into Radiator Screams, home of the spookiest Haul-O-Ween decor this side of Carburetor County (all made out of used tires, mufflers and traffic cones, of course.)
During Oogie Boogie Bash, Disney California Adventure further transforms with elaborate image mapping projection across Cathay Circle Restuarant as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy tower – offering an entry “wow!” statement befitting of the premium event’s pricetag. Lighting enhancements throughout the park add to the flavor of the event, with the Grizzly Peak taking on a much more ominous tone, while Cars Land’s Haul-O-Ween celebration keeps things delightfully spooky.
Meeting Disney Characters is always a popular pass-time at the parks, and on Party nights, a great mixture of classic favorites as well as several rarely-found faces come out to play. Beyond Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy decked out in their own Halloween costumes, you might find scarcely seen characters like the cast of Tale Spin or a whole host of Disney Villains lurking in the shadows.
But what’s Halloween without Candy? Oogie Boogie Bash invites kids of all ages (yes, that means you too, adults) to come dressed in costume and Trick or Treat throughout the park. Candy hauls will vary from station to station – and you may find Cast Members a bit more generous later in the evening so there is less sugary treats to carry backstage once the Party ends. Don’t expect to receive any special “Disney” treats for free (though custom menus are available on Party nights throughout the park.) Much of what you’ll receive is standard Halloween Candy-fare, from M&Ms to small Snickers or Milky Ways.
World of Color: Villianous!
Oogie Boogie weaves a Halloween tale about a young girl (and all-new character) named Shelley Marie. In “Villainous!,” Shelley has a decision to make about her Halloween costume for this year, and finds herself wondering if she could really be as strong and unique as some of her favorite Disney characters.
This twisted tale carries Shelley on an unforgettable journey, exploring the villainous side of Disney characters through fountains, lights, lasers, projections and special effects. “Villainous!” shows guests that, deep down, there’s a little villain in all of us.
A brand new production debuting with 2019’s Oogie Boogie Bash, Villainous! is, in fact, the very first Halloween overlay for the overly popular Disney California Adventure mainstay, World of Color. Although this new Halloween production makes use of World of Color’s show infrastructure, in execution, something about it feels far less spectacular.
Following the story of Shelley Marie, a new Disney character created especially for this show, Villainous! weaves a narrative of a little girl who learns its ok to embrace what makes her different. Shelley isn’t like the other kids; she doesn’t want to dress up as a princess or a fairy for Halloween; she’s far more drawn to the dark world of Disney Villains.
Hosted by Oogie Boogie, Shelley journeys through several classic animation underworlds, encountering epic baddies like the Evil Queen, Ursula, Dr. Facilier, Hades and more on her quest to meet her idol, the Mistress of all Evil, Maleficent. While Villainous! packs in a compelling story, its visuals are far less wow-inducing than one might come to expect from World of Color. A large portion of this show makes much heavier use of water screens and projection, rather than the hundreds of massive, colorful fountains that truly bring World of Color to life.
Frightfully Fun Parade
Behold a spook-tacular group of Disney Characters on display—from Mickey and Minnie to the park’s most mischievous ghosts!
Beware of a pre-parade appearance sure to send shivers down your spine as the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow suddenly emerges on his eerie black steed. With a flickering jack-o-lantern in hand, his somber presence warns onlookers of the nefarious forces soon to follow!
Spirits lift when costumed hosts Mickey and Minnie step into the spotlight and lead a procession of Disney’s trickiest tricksters down the street. Cheer while waving to fiendish friends from Halloween Town as they pave the way for Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Soon the scheming Dr. Facilier and his Shadow Men arrive, captivating audiences with bayou music from the “other side.” The Grim Grinning Ghosts add to the fun and the parade ends with a very special surprise—Vampirina, the ghoulishly cool star of Disney Junior’s hit show, joins the festivities for the very first time!
And there’s likely nothing more iconic than the ride of the Headless Horseman, ushering in the Frightfully Fun Parade for his only appearance at the event. Trotting past at a brisk pace, the appearance of the Horseman is quick, but no less memorable.
The Parade-proper starts appropriately with a costume party for Mickey and the gang, before shifting themes between its various units, touching upon all of the content you’d expect to see at a Halloween Party. Elaborate floats from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas feature the two-faced Mayor of Halloween Town, the Vampires and, of course Jack and Sally. Things appropriately segue to the attraction taken over by the residents of Halloween Town, as many of the happy haunts from The Haunted Mansion itself, including all three Hitchhiking Ghosts “live, in the flesh,” bring their swinging wake down the parade route. From there, Dr. Facilier and his “friends from the otherside” usher in a celebration of Disney Villains, lead by a rare appearance of Ursula, Captain Hook, the evil Queen, and even Disney Junior’s Vampirina.
Surprisingly, this is one area where Walt Disney World surpasses a Disneyland offering. With a long and elaborate seasonal procession throughout the streets of Florida’s Magic Kingdom, Disney California Adventure’s Frightfully Fun Parade is a bit short. That doesn’t make it any less detailed or well done, but with essentially just four different units making up this parade, it could benefit from a bit of added content.
Frightfully Fun Parade continues to run as exactly the same show it previously was before making the transition across the Esplanade from Disneyland Park.
It’s no secret that Halloween is our favorite time of year – and Disneyland’s Halloween Time has long been an iconic mainstay of things we look forward to. This is theme park Halloween done right – festive decor throughout and iconic attraction overlays so good we actually miss them when November arrives.
Unlike Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, a large majority of Disneyland’s special offerings are available to guests with regular tickets each and every day of Halloween Time, which runs from the first week of September through October 31 in both theme parks. Because of this, planning a visit to Oogie Boogie Bash is much less about the seasonal overlays and more about the overall experience.
Oogie Boogie Bash’s new immersive walk-through experiences add huge value to the event, making it feel a bit closer to having “haunts” than anything Disney has previously done States-side. Meanwhile, some will rave about the unlimited free candy. But for us, perhaps the biggest selling point is time in Disney California Adventure with greatly reduced crowds. On the night of our visit, the longest lines in the park were were between five and ten minutes for the headliner attractions, such as Radiator Springs Racers, Incredicoaster and the super-popular seasonal overlay, Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark.
Unfortunately, Oogie Boogie Bash was not given a chance to follow up on its premier year successes, as the event was forced to be suspended in 2020 due to the current health and safety climate. We certainly imagine, and wish to all things dark and mischievous, that Ooogie Boogie Bash will return with a vengance in 2021.
You can find an extended photo gallery from our night at Oogie Boogie Bash in this exclusive album on the Escape Authority Facebook page! While there, why not give us a “LIKE” if you haven’t already? We’ll give you candy!
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Venue: Disney California Adventure
Location: Anaheim, CA
Dates: Select Nights September 17th – October 31st, 2019
Hours: 6:00 pm 11:00 pm. Early entry to Disney California Adventure begins three hours prior, and is included free with all tickets.
Cost: Prices range by date from $110 – 135. Annual Pass discount is available on select nights early in the run. This event often sells out.