Oogie Boogie Bash Halloween 2023 Super Thread

[deejdigsdis]

The word “trail” is a bit deceiving because they’re really nothing more than a queue with like 4 bins of candy that cast members are handing out on your way to see the particular villain. Those villains are usually up on a pedestal or stage interacting with guests as they walk by (or who stand and watch for a bit). Not really a photo op where you can take a photo with said villain because they’re up on a stage so you can sort of do a selfie with them in the background, but that’s about as close as you can get with them.

These are not to be confused with “Villains Grove” which is a walk-through trail that does not contain any actual villains. However, it’s a fun walk-through that features spooky lighting and lighted themes from movies where you can take selfies and do videos of yourself as you walk through.

Lastly, there are the actual character photo opportunities (listed as Character Experiences) where there is a line that one would wait in to take a photo with Disney characters. The Sanderson sisters (Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle) were fun, but we got in line late and Daisy was missing so we only got to meet/see/take pics with Minnie and Clarabelle. Hopefully this year we will see all three. My fave is to take a photo with Mickey dressed in his halloween themed costume.

If you’re looking to see Haunted Mansion and Nightmare characters, then the best place for that, aside from Oogie himself, is in the parade. I personally love the parade because it’s the only time to get to see a halloween themed parade at Disney parks, and, for me, it’s a can’t-miss experience. I love the parade.

So Villains Grove is not a trick or treat trail?

 

[Octomonkee]

So Villains Grove is not a trick or treat trail?

No. It’s a walk-through only. It takes about 10 to 15 mins to walk through and it’s located in the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail across from the entrance of Grizzly River Run. It usually a long line, unless you can time it right, throughout the night. The trail is lit with eerie lighting and sounds. There are several “themed” areas as you walk along the trail, but there are no treats handed out and there are no actual villains to meet or see in it. It’s just a spooky walk-through where you can take photos with the eerie lighting in the background.

I don’t recommend getting in that line while it’s still light at 6pm. I’d wait until 8pm or later once it’s dark because then it’s more “spooky.”

 

[Love Tink]

If you’re looking to see Haunted Mansion and Nightmare characters, then the best place for that, aside from Oogie himself, is in the parade. I personally love the parade because it’s the only time to get to see a halloween themed parade at Disney parks, and, for me, it’s a can’t-miss experience. I love the parade.

Well, except for the Boo-to-You Parade in Florida, which is longer and more elaborate. And the Halloween Cavalcade in Paris. And the Spooky Boo! parade in Tokyo. And Donald's Halloween Treat Cavalcade in Shanghai. And Mickey's Halloween Street Time Party in Hong Kong.

 

[skellinton]

The word “trail” is a bit deceiving because they’re really nothing more than a queue with like 4 bins of candy that cast members are handing out on your way to see the particular villain. Those villains are usually up on a pedestal or stage interacting with guests as they walk by (or who stand and watch for a bit). Not really a photo op where you can take a photo with said villain because they’re up on a stage so you can sort of do a selfie with them in the background, but that’s about as close as you can get with them.

These are not to be confused with “Villains Grove” which is a walk-through trail that does not contain any actual villains. However, it’s a fun walk-through that features spooky lighting and lighted themes from movies where you can take selfies and do videos of yourself as you walk through.

Lastly, there are the actual character photo opportunities (listed as Character Experiences) where there is a line that one would wait in to take a photo with Disney characters. The Sanderson sisters (Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle) were fun, but we got in line late and Daisy was missing so we only got to meet/see/take pics with Minnie and Clarabelle. Hopefully this year we will see all three. My fave is to take a photo with Mickey dressed in his halloween themed costume.

If you’re looking to see Haunted Mansion and Nightmare characters, then the best place for that, aside from Oogie himself, is in the parade. I personally love the parade because it’s the only time to get to see a halloween themed parade at Disney parks, and, for me, it’s a can’t-miss experience. I love the parade.

I hate having my picture taken, so I am thrilled to just be able to get pics of the characters and watch them interact with people. I never know what to say to them and get super nervous and flustered, so watching from the ground sounds divine to me.
I am incredibly excited about the parade, that was always my favorite part at WDW, I will probably watch that twice if possible.
Where is the best viewing for it. do you all think?

 

[RoseColored97]

I hate having my picture taken, so I am thrilled to just be able to get pics of the characters and watch them interact with people. I never know what to say to them and get super nervous and flustered, so watching from the ground sounds divine to me.
I am incredibly excited about the parade, that was always my favorite part at WDW, I will probably watch that twice if possible.
Where is the best viewing for it. do you all think?

We watch it twice, too. Seen it several times, but it's one of our favorite parades. We like watching it in front of the Animation Academy, but a lot of people report over by Little Mermaid is great because it requires little to no wait. It's nice that the parade route is so long because there is plenty of room to find a space.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

It is at Blue Sky Cellar near the Wine Country Trattoria.

It is no longer at that location. It got moved across the way to the location mentioned below. If it gets moved this year, it will definitely be posted in this thread.

That may have been one of the posted locations, but we definitely checked in and got our wristbands and bags at the Magic Key table area (not the MK Terrace). I just looked at a photo

 

[theluckyrabbit]

They may not catch every seller immediately, but they have been pretty good at catching the buyer at Park entry.

How would you know?

This gets reported every year with OBB tickets -- here, on other boards, FB, etc. Many people on this board have witnessed people being stopped at the gates because their party tickets (bought from an "unauthorized vendor") do not work. I've seen it several times. It's not fun seeing a whole family dressed up and ready for OBB being stopped at the gates and escorted out by security.

 

[GoldeneyezCA]

For those trying to get a small number of tickets on-site…It definitely can happen. In addition to the small early-morning hotel allocation, apparently the ticket booths can sell them.

My Dad flew into town last minute last year. We were staying offsite at the Westin, so we had no chance with the on-site hotels. He was able to buy a single ticket for a Sat night party at the ticket booth at 7 am. I was very pleasantly surprised!

I wouldn’t count on this, of course, but sometimes it works out!

 

[dtrain]

Mickey’s Halloween Party was so much better at DL, I wish they would switch it back.

 

[Snkrman]

They may not catch every seller immediately, but they have been pretty good at catching the buyer at Park entry.

Just curious but how will they catch them at entrance. Do they flag the ticket number?

 

[DisneylandFreak2013]

Just curious but how will they catch them at entrance. Do they flag the ticket number?

Don’t worry about it. Just remember, Disney does:

Absolutely nothing.

 

[Vala]

And whatever they do, they are not gonna go loudly proclaiming what they do on the internet to make it easier to get around the little things they actually do.

 

[Snkrman]

Don’t worry about it. Just remember, Disney does:

So they don’t then. Ha ha got it

 

[Vala]

It is no longer at that location. It got moved across the way to the location mentioned below. If it gets moved this year, it will definitely be posted in this thread.

Serves me right for using the main entrance one for a year. Thank you for the update.

 

[mlggator22]

Can guests staying at Grand use their entrance for OBB? Or does everyone have to go through the main entrance? You talked about a MK table. Is that for MK guests only?

I haven't been to the Halloween parties in years, not since it was on the other side at Disneyland. I'm excited to be returning.

 

[Aspencreek]

Madame Mim might be there? I didn’t look at much of the stuff from last year because I was so disappointed about having to cancel my trip the year before. I would love to see Madame Mim! Was she on the trail, or a specific meet and greet? Oogie and Ernesto are on the trail, correct?

She was there last year at least. This was her on one of the treat trails. My favorite villain from the night we went had to be Sid from Toy Story. They had an actor playing him that was so dead-on it was insane! Plus he was really good/funny with the interactions with the kids.

 

[sophy1996]

Can guests staying at Grand use their entrance for OBB? Or does everyone have to go through the main entrance? You talked about a MK table. Is that for MK guests only?

I haven't been to the Halloween parties in years, not since it was on the other side at Disneyland. I'm excited to be returning.

You should be able to enter with party tickets through the GCH. I believe people reported doing that last year.

The inside-park check-in is for anyone who entered the park with regular tickets or MKs—not MK exclusive.

 

[skellinton]

She was there last year at least. This was her on one of the treat trails. My favorite villain from the night we went had to be Sid from Toy Story. They had an actor playing him that was so dead-on it was insane! Plus he was really good/funny with the interactions with the kids.

View attachment 777328

She looks so good! I love that they had Sid too. I bet he was hilarious. I am excited to watch the interactions and see the characters. Madame Mim has always been one of my favorites. I think SitS is such an underrated gem. I showed it to my grandkids last summer and they loved it.

 

[rastuso]

This gets reported every year with OBB tickets -- here, on other boards, FB, etc. Many people on this board have witnessed people being stopped at the gates because their party tickets (bought from an "unauthorized vendor") do not work. I've seen it several times. It's not fun seeing a whole family dressed up and ready for OBB being stopped at the gates and escorted out by security.

Sounds like an urban legend to me. There would be video of security escorting out a family, kids crying.

 

[sleepymouse]

The word “trail” is a bit deceiving because they’re really nothing more than a queue with like 4 bins of candy that cast members are handing out on your way to see the particular villain. Those villains are usually up on a pedestal or stage interacting with guests as they walk by (or who stand and watch for a bit). Not really a photo op where you can take a photo with said villain because they’re up on a stage so you can sort of do a selfie with them in the background, but that’s about as close as you can get with them.

These are not to be confused with “Villains Grove” which is a walk-through trail that does not contain any actual villains. However, it’s a fun walk-through that features spooky lighting and lighted themes from movies where you can take selfies and do videos of yourself as you walk through.

Lastly, there are the actual character photo opportunities (listed as Character Experiences) where there is a line that one would wait in to take a photo with Disney characters. The Sanderson sisters (Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle) were fun, but we got in line late and Daisy was missing so we only got to meet/see/take pics with Minnie and Clarabelle. Hopefully this year we will see all three. My fave is to take a photo with Mickey dressed in his halloween themed costume.

If you’re looking to see Haunted Mansion and Nightmare characters, then the best place for that, aside from Oogie himself, is in the parade. I personally love the parade because it’s the only time to get to see a halloween themed parade at Disney parks, and, for me, it’s a can’t-miss experience. I love the parade.

Thanks for sharing these details. It will be our first special event ever! My son is not interested in spending his time standing in line to meet characters, so I love that we can still see the characters doing their thing on the trail and in the parade. We are looking forward to the overall atmosphere.