Hello and welcome to planDisney, Melissa! It looks like it's Oogie's turn to boogie!
I just had to answer your question because
Halloween is near and dear to my heart. It's my favorite season at the Disneyland Resort. Both Parks are so wonderfully decorated and everything just brings you into the Halloween mood, from character costumes to special food dishes. After-hours Halloween parties have been offered at the Disneyland Resort since 2005 ("a long time ago, longer now than it seems") and they've been called various names, from Mickey's Halloween Party to Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party. Perhaps the Disneyland Resort wanted to differentiate itself from the the Walt Disney World Resort and took the next step.
Oogie Boogie Bash debuted in 2019 to huge success and been a staple ever since. Disney has not made any announcements about the return of Mickey's Halloween Party but I think that Oogie Boogie Bash is here to stay. It's just as family friendly as Mickey's party even if there is an edgier vibe to it. In the course of my research, I listened to an interview with some of the creators of Oogie Boogie Bash and learned some fascinating facts about the event. There's such a rich backstory to the Party and I would highly encourage you to attend if you haven't already!
Oogie Boogie considers himself the king of Halloween and didn't like seeing Mickey have his own party, so he "stole" the party from Mickey and moved it over to Disney California Adventure. In the ads for Oogie Boogie Bash, you might see "The spell is cast!" This refers to the spell that Oogie Boogie cast to summon all the Villains into our universe. He created chunks of each Villain's domain in our world and it burst up through the ground. Each domain belongs to a different Disney Villain, which is why the interactive treat trails will feature a throne-like structure for the Villain. Also, you can see where our world broke because the ground around the Villain is often cracked and upheaved.
Each Villain's Treat Trail is designed to be unique to that Villain too! If you visit Ernesto de la Cruz, he is cursed to sing his song for all eternity. However, he does not see it as a punishment just as long as he has fans to sing to. But if you look around, the white roses are dying at the edges and the statues are beginning to crumble from age. His song, "Remember Me," is also sung in a haunting, minor key.
The Villains entered our world through a portal at the back of the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, which was transformed into the
Villains Grove through the energy of each Villain as they walked through the woods. The trees were twisted accordingly and the wisps, normally caretakers of the woods, now guide you through a dream-like sequence. They will repeat each Villain's sentiments and you'll hear music representative for that Villain. For instance, Judge Claude Frollo's section features trees with a stained glass appearance and the wisps whisper "Guilty!" As you exit the Grove, you will walk through a light tunnel and the wisps will "wake you up" from the nightmare. This scene is actually called "The Resolution of Dawn" as you return to our world and was inspired by the Ave Maria sequence in "Fantasia."
Phew! I hope you enjoyed that deep dive into Oogie Boogie Bash, Melissa! I've attended the party multiple times and there is no question in my mind that they have a hit on their hands, given how quickly tickets sell out each year. From the music to the decorations, it is truly an immersive party!
Hauntingly Yours,
-Al