Halloween festivities are in full swing at Disney parks on both coasts and this year I had the opportunity to attend both Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom in Disney World and Oogie Boogie Bash in Disney California Adventure out in Disneyland. I’ve had several people who have asked which US Disney park does Halloween better, so I have decided to weigh in! The answer for me personally is not cut and dry, so I’m going to break it down into categories, putting the two events head to head and in the end you can draw your own conclusion about who does it better! Here goes!
Decor and Ambiance
This one is more reflective of the parks overall, and less of the respective events themselves, but I have to give this one to Disneyland! While Magic Kingdom has the pumpkins lining Main Street USA, the character scarecrows, and Halloween wreaths with Mickey’s likeness, Disneyland goes all in on the Halloween decor! Cars Land in DCA is transformed into a Halloween town, including the cars themselves who are dressed up for the season! Everywhere you look in both DCA, Disneyland Park, and even in Downtown Disney it is decked out with pumpkins and splashed with signs of the season. Disneyland does have a much smaller footprint than its Florida counterpart, making decorating property wide a much easier feat, but when it comes to the overall seasonal ambiance, Disneyland corners the market on this one.
Trick or Treat
Both events feature Trick or Treat locations where party guests can get their complimentary party bags filled to the brim with treats to enjoy during the event, and to take home as a fun party souvenir. Each Trick or Treat location is outfitted with several large barrels housing these treats, and is sponsored by Mars, which means lots of Skittles, M&M’s, and Milky Ways. Party goers walk through the queues, collecting candy from cast members along the way. Now, from the perspective of volume, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party had an edge on Oogie Boogie as this year cast members there are doling out the goods via large metal scoops, but in terms of overall experience, Oogie Boogie Bash blows away Mickey’s Not So Scary! Mickey’s Not So Scary’s trick or treat queues are merely lines that guests go through, stopping for candy along the way, in DCA at Oogie Boogie Bash, the trick or treat trails are not only a means for procuring sweets, but also as an experience to see and interact with some of Disney’s best villains! In the midst of the trick or treat trails you will find these rarer characters such as Sid from Toy Story heckling party goers, Cruella from the recent live action adaptation showcasing some of her latest designs, Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit laying out his plan for vengeance, and hear the musical stylings of Coco’s Ernesto de la Cruz. While you aren’t able to take photographs like traditional meet and greets, you can interact with the characters and snap a quick selfie between candy collecting, making this experience a huge upgrade between the two events! This was one of my personal favorite parts of the party.
Entertainment
I’m not going to bury the lead here- this one hands down goes to Mickey’s Not So Scary! The Boo to You Parade includes more performances and is longer than Oogie Boogies Frightfully Fun Parade making a better return on the time you spend looking for and securing a viewing spot. By default, Mickey’s Not So Scary also clenches this category with the firework show, Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular, which features projections on the castle, fireworks and a very impressive Jack Skellington puppet that serves as a host for the performance. Oogie Boogie Bash may edge out MNSSHP on several fronts, but their lack of night time spectacular takes them out of the running for this category. In addition to these offerings, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party also features the stylings of the Cadaver Dans, several dance parties for the younger crowds, and the stage show Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular featuring the Sanderson Sisters set in front of a spookily lit up Cinderella’s Castle. The overall entertainment value of the party is easily a highlight for Mickey’s Not So Scary.
Characters
Many party goers attend these special ticketed events with the goal to meet special characters. While both Mickey’s Not So Scary and Oogie Boogie bash had an impressive line up for special and in many cases more rare character meet and greets ( im looking at you 7 Dwarfs) the accessibility at Oogie Boogie Bash was far superior to Mickey’s Not So Scary. Aside from the Minnie, Daisy and Clarabelle as The Sanderson Sisters at Oogie Boogie, most of the other meet and greets were much more manageable lines, making it possible to visit with several more characters during the party. Pair the smaller lines with the aforementioned villain sightings in the Trick or Treat Trails and this one is hands down a win for Oogie Boogie Bash. Added bonus, PhotoPass Photos taken during the party, including posing with your favorite characters, are included in your party admission! Smile!
Ease of purchasing tickets
This is obviously a big sticking point as none of the other categories matter if you aren’t able to purchase the ticket to go. In 2023, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party dates include 37 nights from mid August-November 1st and range in price from $109-$199 per person. Oogie Boogie Bash is scheduled for 25 nights from early September through October 31, and tickets range in price from $134-$189. Mickey’s Not So Scary has only now, 10/1 , sold out for the season, making tickets for this event much easier to come by. Oogie Boogies ticket sales were plagued from the beginning with technical issues, causing many would-be partygoers to wait hours in a queue and walk away in the end without a ticket, making this category a win for Mickey’s Not So Scary.
While I’m not sure that there is a definitive answer on who did it better, I can only offer my personal opinion. As a Disney adult, I valued the more rare character sightings and overall ambiance higher than other aspects, making Oogie Boogie the winner for me. However, when looking through the lens of a parent to younger children, I think the overall experience is more well rounded at Mickey’s Not So Scary. Walt Disney World is also my home park as an East coaster, and this visit at Oogie Boogie Bash coincided with my very first visit to Disneyland, which I also acknowledge may have clouded my opinion as I was wowed by all the newness .I guess the only answer is that I will have to try and do it all again next year and see what I think then! I will let you know what I come up with.
Magic of the Mouse 