How to get tickets for Disneyland and Disney World’s Halloween parties

Even though Halloween is months away, this is the time of year when theme parks start releasing information on their fall spooky season offerings — and also begin putting tickets on sale. It may seem early, but we can assure you it is not. Popular dates sell out quickly, so you need to plan ahead if you don’t want to miss out.

The fastest to sell out is usually Ooogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure Park. Tickets go live June 27 at 11:45 a.m. EDT (8:45 a.m. PDT), and you want to jump in the virtual queue as early as possible to snag your tickets.

Read on for more details on after-hours Halloween festivities at Disney World and Disneyland, including how to secure your tickets before they sell out.

Oogie Boogie Bash ticket information

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Oogie Boogie Bash. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

Last year, Oogie Boogie Bash sold out well before the parties even started, and given the event’s popularity, we wouldn’t be surprised to see high demand again this year.

Oogie Boogie Bash will occur on 27 select nights in August, September and October. Ticket prices range from $134 to $189 and vary based on date. The party typically runs from 6 to 11 p.m., but you can enter California Adventure as early as 3 p.m. with your party ticket.

The virtual waiting room to purchase tickets for this year’s event opens June 27 at 11:45 a.m. EDT (8:45 a.m. PDT). With so many guests trying to get tickets simultaneously, the system has been known to crash. Even when technology works how it’s supposed to, the wait can be lengthy, so be prepared to stay in front of your phone or computer for an hour or more.

For the best chance of getting a ticket, make sure you are logged in to your My Disney Experience account before the virtual waiting room opens. As the on-sale time approaches, open the Oogie Boogie Bash event page, and if you refresh the page at 11:45 a.m. EDT (8:45 a.m. PDT), you should see a link to enter the virtual waiting room. Disney lists these times as “approximate,” so if you don’t immediately see it, keep trying.

Once you are in the queue, you should see an option to be digitally notified when it is your turn to enter the store and make your ticket purchase. Choose the “Notify me” option, and enter your email address if you want to use this option. You’ll receive an email with instructions when it is your turn to purchase tickets.

Here are the official Oogie Boogie Bash dates:

• Aug. 25, 27 and 29
• Sept. 3, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 29
• Oct. 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29 and 31

Related: Best Disneyland hotels in and near the park

You can expect top-notch villain appearances, themed treats, a trick-or-treat trail, special parades, spooky decor and more. Your ticket also includes unlimited digital photo downloads from the party.

Must-do activities include the Frightfully Fun Parade, the spooky Villains Grove trail at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and, of course, trick-or-treating. You’ll spot some of your favorite Disney baddies while you wait for your candy.

You can come dressed as your favorite Disney villain if you want to stick with the theme, but any costume will do. It’s one of the few times adults can come to the parks dressed in costume, so we highly recommend you take advantage.

If you want to stay at a hotel with a special entrance directly into California Adventure, consider Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa or the new Pixar Place Hotel. Both are connected to the park, which makes attending the evening parties a breeze.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket information

At Disney World, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will once again take over the Magic Kingdom this fall. You’ll get special access to Disney meet-and-greets and exclusive Halloween-themed entertainment, photo ops, ride overlays and treats during the nighttime event. You can also enjoy nightly viewings of the spellbinding Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, led by the Headless Horseman and featuring the infamous Haunted Mansion graveyard gravediggers.

Related: How to rent Disney Vacation Club points and save hundreds of dollars on your vacation

This year, Disney revealed Mickey and Minnie will have new neon, spiderweb-adorned attire and that even more villains will be roaming the park. Party guests can also attend the new DescenDance Party at Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland, and for the first time during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party, guests can meet Bruno from “Encanto” along with Mirabel at their Casita in Fairytale Garden. Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade will also get an earlier start so those who can’t stay up until the witching hour can enjoy the show.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a special after-hours event at Walt Disney World that requires a paid party ticket and your regular Disney theme park admission.

You could get one regular theme park ticket for the daytime hours and then purchase admission to this party for the evening. However, it is in your (and your wallet’s) best interest to rest during the day and reenter Walt Disney World with the party ticket as early as allowed — typically 4 p.m.

The festivities run from 7 p.m. to midnight on 38 select nights between Aug. 9 and Oct. 31. Ticket prices vary based on the date you select but start at $119 per person (discounted tickets are available for Disney World annual pass holders and Disney Vacation Club members on select nights).

Related: The best credit cards for your Disney vacation

Tickets are on sale now, and only Halloween (Oct. 31) was showing as sold out when this story was published. The least expensive dates are in August, starting at only $119 per person, and the most expensive are in October, with prices up to $199 per person.

Here are this year’s dates for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party:

• Aug. 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 and 30
• Sept. 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27 and 29
• Oct. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29 and 31

You can purchase tickets directly from Disney or via a third-party site like Undercover Tourist. You may want your ticket-only purchase to code as travel so you can earn extra points in that category on your credit card or use up an annual credit card travel credit. In that case, Undercover Tourist is the way to go since ticket purchases directly from Disney typically don’t code as travel.

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Bottom line

If you love everything slightly spooky at Disney, start making those Halloween season travel plans now. Party tickets generally don’t sell out on the first day they go on sale, but availability dwindles quickly, especially at Disneyland.

So, start making arrangements to get your Disney World and Disneyland Halloween party tickets now.

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