glitter & happiness

As Oogie Boogie Bash is about to start up soon, I wanted to have a list of fun tips & tricks our family uses to have a great time at this event!

First a bit of a declaimer: Oogie Boogie Bash is a separate ticketed event. This is a fun “after-hours” event, meaning the separate ticket is different from regular theme park admission! If you don’t have a ticket for this event, you will not be allowed in the park for this event.

This added cost can be a hard pill to swallow, especially with theme park tickets seeming like they keep climbing. My family doesn’t usually go every year, we do try to go every other year though.

If you are going to spend money on an after hours, separate ticket event, this is a great one to do so on! Tickets for these parties usually go on sale in late June/July, so plan accordingly.

With it being a separate ticket, it can feel overwhelming to make it seem “worth it.” Especially with taking kids, it can be hard to stop or slow down because you want to make the most out of every moment. This is a little reminder that you CAN have it feel worth it while simultaneously slowing a bit. One of my absolute favorite memories from OBB is eating at SmokeJumpers with the kids, watching all the amazing costumes go by while eating. I was so pregnant with my third baby. Everyone was cranky and hungry. To stop, even though we weren’t “doing” much, was much needed before going on with the rest of the event. It refeshed all of us, even though I was so scared, at the time, that we weren’t making the most out of the event. Looking back and seeing that memory brings tears to my eyes; we were able to appreciate the fun costumes, bond as a family, and be renewed to have a great rest of the event. Slowing down can, at times, be worth it!!

I would recommend figuring out your priorities prior to your OBB so you can ride, do, and see what you want!

Perks of the Event:

Obviously the biggest perk is Treat or Treating in the park! These are done via treat trails, which I will go into more detail below!

Photo Pass is INCLUDED in your ticket. This is so nice to get good photos with a camera and flash rather than your phone at night (from your photographer friend!) If photos are a big deal to you, make sure you take advantage of this!

Mickey & Minnie’s Trick or Treat Show is a great option for younger kids!

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail transforms into Villains Grove. Such a fun walk-through experience!

Ride Wait Times are significantly lower!

There is an exclusive Halloween parade, Frightfully Fun Parade, just for the party. There is two showings throughout the party!

Now let’s talk Treat Trails:

There are typically around 10 different treat trails with characters/villains. 10 trails doesn’t sound like a lot, but the trails are kind-of long with lots of treat stops before you get to the villain.

Treats vary from fruit, crackers, and candy. I believe you can even ask for gluten-free option from the cast member at the stop; they usually have this under the treat bin!

Villains on the treat trails change depending on the year! I recommend recording a video AS YOU APPROACH the character. As soon as you are coming towards them, they start interacting! If you want a picture, try to be mindful of those behind you!

My advice:

• Go all out on costumes!! This not the time to be shy about dressing up. Have fun & GO FOR IT!

• If you are going to OBB and are not a passholder: I would 100% recommend taking a chill day at your hotel and entering the park when you can with your OBB ticket. This still gives you entry 3 hours BEFORE your party into DCA! Get there maybe 20/30 minutes before the time; give yourself time to get through security and park lines. Then you can mobile order & eat dinner before the party starts.
• Go to the second showing of the parade! I can not overstate this enough. We do this EVERY TIME and it is so nice. I usually sit and save seats about 20-30 minutes before and the kids, or just Chad, do more treat trails in the meantime. We always get good seats for that second show!
• Speaking of the parade, I love the view from Buena Vista Street more than on the Pier area (in front of Ariel). I always prefer seating there!
• Bring extra totes for the treats! The little bag fills fast and we usually dump our little bags into a bigger reusable tote at the bottom of our stroller. You get SO many treats!!
• Do Villain’s Grove once the sun goes down; the effects are better. There is usually a huge rush for the Grove when the first parade starts, so be aware of that!

This is such a fun event and it’s what you take from it. I cannot stress enough to have fun! Get what YOU want from it, whatever that looks like to you!!

I hope you have the best time!!

Happy Spooky Season, friends!!