If you’re a Disney family who loves Halloween, there are two parties that probably have your attention: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World and Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort.
Both involve costumes, candy, special entertainment, Disney villains, Halloween attractions, and a whole lot of spooky fun. But after experiencing both, I can tell you this – they are NOT the same party. I absolutely believe you can’t go wrong with either one, I also think there is a clear winner depending on what you’re looking for. So let’s discuss..
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party takes over Magic Kingdom many nights from early August – end of October. Yes, it’s a little strange to be dripping sweat and trick or treating, but if you know anything about Disney, they sure know how to extend a festive season.
The entertainment is the star.
One of the biggest reasons I love Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the sheer amount of classic Disney entertainment packed into the evening.
You have:
- The Headless Horseman and Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade
- Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular fireworks
- Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular
- Special character appearances
- Trick-or-treating throughout the park
- Halloween-themed attraction experiences
The Boo-to-You parade is a must. The Headless Horseman is one of the coolest moments of the parade for me. He kicks off the parade. If you called me right now and asked me to sing you the Boo-to-You parade song, I would. It’s SO catchy and fun. Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular is another major highlight, combining fireworks, projections, music and Disney characters into a genuinely impressive nighttime show.
The vibe? Classic Disney Halloween. It’s colorful, nostalgic, family-friendly and very “Disney.” It’s a lot of OG characters dressed up like they are attending a Halloween party. So if lighthearted Disney with a playful twist is your vibe, this is your party.
Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland
And then there’s Oogie Boogie. If Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is classic Disney Halloween, Oogie Boogie Bash is the slightly edgier, more immersive older sibling.
Oogie Boogie Bash takes place at Disney California Adventure, and it also runs from mid-August through the end of October. Again, a little weird to be sweaty trick or treating, but still a blast.
Right off the bat, you’ll notice a really significant difference in the park transformation. Disney California Adventure is a fantastic Halloween park. Cars Land gets an incredible Halloween makeover. Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark, a Mission Breakout! overlay, is also available. And the entire park feels a little more naturally suited to the slightly darker, more atmospheric side of Halloween.
The real magic is in the Villains. One of my favorite things about Oogie Boogie Bash is the Treat Trails. Yes, you get candy; but, you aren’t just walking up to a Cast Member, saying “trick or treat,” and moving along (although I do that, too, haha!) Most of the trails feature Disney villains interacting with guests while you make your way through an immersive environment and collect candy.
Due to park construction this year, Disney was not able to put on their traditional party parade. Instead, they substituted with Madame Leota’s Swinging Wake – A Haunted Mansion Street Party. Which was, very seriously, the coolest Halloween party experience I have EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. I opted to book the Dessert Party to get a reserved viewing location for this experience and I am SO grateful I did. It started with the Headless Horseman (a clear favorite of mine) and then the “mini parade” started. It was all Haunted Mansion themed. The floats were incredible. The performers were amazing. 10/10. Five Stars. No notes. I even teared up a little that I was so blessed to witness such an event.
Finally, there’s Villains Grove. This is one of those experiences that I think makes Oogie Boogie Bash stand apart. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is completely transformed into an eerie, atmospheric walkthrough inspired by Disney villains. The environments, lighting, music and effects make it feel less like a Halloween party and more like you’ve stepped into a completely different world.
If you love Disney villains, Oogie Boogie Bash is hard to beat.
So…Which Party is Better?
Here is where I’m going to give you the very unsatisfying travel-advisor answer: It depends. I know, I know. Hear me out.
Choose Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party if…
- You want the quintessential Disney Halloween experience.
- You love Magic Kingdom.
- Fireworks and nighttime spectaculars are important to you.
- You love big, traditional Disney entertainment.
- You want the classic Boo-to-You parade.
- You are a Hocus Pocus fan.
- You’re traveling with younger children who will be absolutely delighted by the classic Disney characters and atmosphere.
Choose Oogie Boogie Bash if…
- You LOVE Disney villains.
- You want more elaborate trick-or-treat experiences.
- You love immersive environments.
- You want Halloween theming throughout Disney California Adventure.
- You prefer a slightly darker (but NOT scary), more atmospheric Halloween vibe.
- You love unusual and less-common Disney character appearances.
Which Disney Halloween party would I choose?
If you forced me to pick? Oogie Boogie Bash. Yes, I realize I am probably going to make some Walt Disney World people mad by saying that. When I posted about it in my private Facebook group, I even made a point to joke that I was not under duress or being held hostage. I think Oogie Boogie Bash has a little more personality. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is classic Disney Halloween perfection.
The parade, fireworks and Hocus Pocus show are fantastic, and there is something incredibly nostalgic about celebrating Halloween in Magic Kingdom. Oogie Boogie Bash feels a little more unique. The villains. The treat trails. Villains Grove. The atmosphere of Disney California Adventure. The Halloween overlays in Cars Land. The opportunity to see characters you don’t typically encounter. It just feels like an experience that you can’t quite recreate anywhere else.
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I’m a little bit of a Disneyland evangelist anyway. I have a very hard time arguing against Disneyland when it comes to the details.
Choose The One That Fits You & Your Family
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party = classic Disney Halloween.
Oogie Boogie Bash = immersive, villainous, slightly edgier Disney Halloween.
Neither is wrong. They’re just different. That’s actually one of my favorite things about Disney: the right choice isn’t necessarily the one with the longest list of things to do. It’s the one that fits your family best.
If you’re planning a Disney Halloween vacation and aren’t sure which party makes the most sense for you, that’s exactly the kind of thing I love helping my travelers figure out. Because sometimes the answer isn’t “Which party is better?” It’s “Which party is better for YOU?” And those are two very different questions and that’s exactly the kind of thing I love helping my travelers figure out. So book a discovery call with me for free.
