2021 Halloween Time Superthread *September 3-October 31* *Oogie Boogie Bash Returns on Select Nights*

[got2travel]

Checking in again to see if anyone can confirm that the security entrance into DCA from the Grand Californian hands out party wristbands starting at the 3pm mix in time.

It's about $120 more for me to switch my stay over to the Grand for that night... but if it's a 5 to 15 minute type thing of getting directly into the park at 3pm with wristbands for the Halloween party for myself and my two guests, it might be worth it. I hate lines, hate wasting time with stuff like that, and my two friends will ONLY be there for the party, 3pm to 11pm seems like a good amount of time based on the price of the tickets and stuff, but if 40 to 70 minutes is killed just trying to get "into" the park and wristbanded, that kinda hurts...

one of the blogs I follow did say anyone can use this entrance for the party and it had the wristbands etc

 

[dina444444]

If we’re already going to be at the parks on the day of our party, can we pick up our wristbands during the day? Or do we have to leave and come back in through the line at 3pm?

I’m not sure what time it opens but in park pickup is at blue sky cellar and did not appear to have much of line form what I saw on social media.

 

[kappyfamily]

Checking in again to see if anyone can confirm that the security entrance into DCA from the Grand Californian hands out party wristbands starting at the 3pm mix in time.

It's about $120 more for me to switch my stay over to the Grand for that night... but if it's a 5 to 15 minute type thing of getting directly into the park at 3pm with wristbands for the Halloween party for myself and my two guests, it might be worth it. I hate lines, hate wasting time with stuff like that, and my two friends will ONLY be there for the party, 3pm to 11pm seems like a good amount of time based on the price of the tickets and stuff, but if 40 to 70 minutes is killed just trying to get "into" the park and wristbanded, that kinda hurts...

We were at the Grand last night and used the side entrance at 4:45pm and they gave us our wristband and treat bag there too. They had a table set up with everything so I’m assuming it was ready at 3pm. When we went we had no wait to get thru security. It was definitely nice to just walk straight into the hotel after walking all day. Have fun!

 

[disney-inspired]

We were at the Grand last night and used the side entrance at 4:45pm and they gave us our wristband and treat bag there too. They had a table set up with everything so I’m assuming it was ready at 3pm. When we went we had no wait to get thru security. It was definitely nice to just walk straight into the hotel after walking all day. Have fun!

We have reservations for Storyteller's right before the party starts - hopefully it'll be the same for us.

 

[AndrewC]

We were at the Grand last night and used the side entrance at 4:45pm and they gave us our wristband and treat bag there too. They had a table set up with everything so I’m assuming it was ready at 3pm. When we went we had no wait to get thru security. It was definitely nice to just walk straight into the hotel after walking all day. Have fun!

Ah! I didn't catch what time you guys hit it... that would make sense that if they had it set up an hour or so before the official party start time that they likely have it set up at the start of mix in.

Thanks for costing me another $100 or so and having to bounce from the DLH over the the Grand, lol

 

[lindyv321]

Do you know if we can pick up earlier than 3pm or will they not start distributing until that time. The day of our party, we’re starting at DL, I was wondering if we could hop over at 1-2pm and get our wristbands before the rush.

i’m honestly not sure… when we did Oogie boogie bash in 2019 we didn’t go to the park that day just entered at three. When we did the Halloween party at Disneyland in 2016 we were in the park that day and I do believe we were able to get our wristbands earlier. If no one else reports back you may want to just ask a CM that day

 

[Mathmagicland]

Disney Food Blog has a quick review of the Oogie Boogie dessert party. Their post notes a more detailed review will be out soon.

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021...ogie-boogie-bash-dessert-party-in-disneyland/

 

[AndrewC]

Disney Food Blog has a quick review of the Oogie Boogie dessert party. Their post notes a more detailed review will be out soon.

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021...ogie-boogie-bash-dessert-party-in-disneyland/

Honestly that looks a lot better for the price. It's funny, it's the same amount of food and same items, but put together with some pictures of the view and a drink, it just feels a little less "rip off" compared to the really shoddy SnapChat or TicToc pictures. I'll never understand people that post "review" type stuff on SnapChat or anything else like that. You want decent pictures (at least Twitter quality) and you want them to hang around, not be gone in 24 hours or require an app to view. Thanks for posting the DFB link!

Hopefully Disney will allow two alcoholic drinks and will allow a vegetarian (me!, LOL) request to have those gummy worms swapped out for any other item. The rice crispy treat is probably fine (it's probably marshmallow fluff instead of marshmallows, the fluff usually doesn't have gelatin in it... at least I'll blindly risk that, the gummy worms though, 100% know those guys have gelatin in them...)

 

[kappyfamily]

We have reservations for Storyteller's right before the party starts - hopefully it'll be the same for us.

I’m guessing you should be just fine! Have fun!

 

[kappyfamily]

Ah! I didn't catch what time you guys hit it... that would make sense that if they had it set up an hour or so before the official party start time that they likely have it set up at the start of mix in.

Thanks for costing me another $100 or so and having to bounce from the DLH over the the Grand, lol

Sorry!!! As my husband and I kept reminding ourselves, you can’t put a price on memories!! Have fun though.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We went to the first party this year and compared to 2019 this felt as crowded which surprised us. We never made it to Villians Grove. The line was massive every time we tried. The treat lines we always wait until later. Many were closed prior to the 10:00 parade. We are never there for the candy anyway, but in 2019 we had bags full after a few empty trails.

The parade route is so large there isn’t any trouble finding a spot. Went to the first sitting in front of Ariel. The second near Buena Vista.

So many babies. So many drunks. Just a weird vibe. Too crowded for Covid, imho. I felt sorry for CMs.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I wanted to add something about the main entrance. We got there a few moments after three. Big lines at the entrance, but they moved fast. Huge line to get bands. Took forever, but probably first day confusion. Several CMs shouting that we could return later to get the bands. Unfortunately I was outvoted and our party stayed. Took close to 30 minutes. My advice, get in the park and return for bands between 5/6. Probably zero crowds.

 

[Araminta18]

We went to the first party this year and compared to 2019 this felt as crowded which surprised us. We never made it to Villians Grove. The line was massive every time we tried. The treat lines we always wait until later. Many were closed prior to the 10:00 parade. We are never there for the candy anyway, but in 2019 we had bags full after a few empty trails.

The parade route is so large there isn’t any trouble finding a spot. Went to the first sitting in front of Ariel. The second near Buena Vista.

So many babies. So many drunks. Just a weird vibe. Too crowded for Covid, imho. I felt sorry for CMs.

When you say treat trails were closed prior to the 10 pm parade, do you mean they were closed for good, or just for during the parade?

 

[dhorner233]

Is Villans Grove handicap accessible or are there stairs involved?

How long does it take to walk through Villans Grove?

I see it always has a line. Best time to go is during a parade?

 

[GenGen22]

Is Villans Grove handicap accessible or are there stairs involved?

How long does it take to walk through Villans Grove?

I see it always has a line. Best time to go is during a parade?

Yes it's handicap accessible. It has a long line but doesn't take too long to walk through.

 

[dieumeye]

Surprising tip for anyone following this thread:

Walked by the main gates today around 2:40 or so. The line for OBB was all the way from the DCA gates past La Brea past World of Disney entrance, almost to Starbucks.

Just for fun we walked to GCH and to the DCA entrance there. I was certain there would be another long line but at 2:50, there was NOT ONE OTHER PERSON there. I said to my wife, “they must not be letting OBB tickets in this entrance otherwise it would be busy.” But we asked and they said “of course you can enter here!”. We went thru security and there was a person handing out wrist bands right at the GCH DCA entrance. We were in the park with wristbands at 2:53!

So there’s that.

 

[dieumeye]

A few more notes from Saturday night:

-Villains Grove line was crazy long after the first parade (it was down to the plane and then looped back past the entrance to GRR) but it moved really fast, so don’t sweat it even if it looks insane. Moves way faster than the treat trail lines.

-Twice during the party RSR had a posted wait of 40 minutes, but both times we waited 15 minutes.

-They were closing the doors to the Buena Vista shops at 10:55, so there’s no “after hours” shopping like there normally is.

-At the end of the night the line for the Toy Story shuttles was packed! CMs were announcing the shuttle wait time was 45-60 minutes. Yikes! I walked back (about 20 minutes). So don’t plan on a quick escape if you want the shuttles at the end of the night.

 

[Castlequeen5]

Surprising tip for anyone following this thread:

Walked by the main gates today around 2:40 or so. The line for OBB was all the way from the DCA gates past La Brea past World of Disney entrance, almost to Starbucks.

Just for fun we walked to GCH and to the DCA entrance there. I was certain there would be another long line but at 2:50, there was NOT ONE OTHER PERSON there. I said to my wife, “they must not be letting OBB tickets in this entrance otherwise it would be busy.” But we asked and they said “of course you can enter here!”. We went thru security and there was a person handing out wrist bands right at the GCH DCA entrance. We were in the park with wristbands at 2:53!

So there’s that.

Are you staying at GCH? Can anybody use that entrance? We have Storyteller reservations before the party and want to use that entrance if it’s allowed.

 

[dhorner233]

Are you staying at GCH? Can anybody use that entrance? We have Storyteller reservations before the party and want to use that entrance if it’s allowed.

I was wondering that too. Can people wander through the Grand CA anymore? Without having a reservation? Can we go see the lobby decorations and have a drink at Hearthstone Lounge? And enter California Adventure through the Grand CA entrance?

 

[dina444444]

Are you staying at GCH? Can anybody use that entrance? We have Storyteller reservations before the party and want to use that entrance if it’s allowed.

Usually that entrance is only for hotel guests for the first few hours of the day. By mid afternoon it’s open to all guests.