This may be my last Oogie Boogie Bash for a while

I think I’m done with Disney’s Oogie Boogie Bash.

Before my first horror movie. Before my first haunt. Before I was a scareactor. And before I was the Editor-in-Chief of an independent horror news website… I was a Disney kid, and I loved Halloween time at Disneyland. So naturally, as I aged into a “Disney adult,” Oogie Boogie Bash (or whatever Halloween event was being offered at the time) wasn’t just a consideration, it was a critical, permanent piece of my Fall plans.

But here lately, the appeal has waned. So much so, in fact, that this year I initially didn’t plan on attending until my family universally expressed a desire to go. I agreed, but I wasn’t exactly brimming with excitement.

The thing is, I believe the juice needs to be worth the squeeze, and this particular lemon seems to be just about dried up.

Starting first with buying tickets. For many of us, entry is often purchased with a hope and a prayer. It wasn’t too long ago that getting tickets was akin to buying badges to San Diego Comic Con, selling out within hours or days (although extended dates seem to have mitigated the demand). Still, if you want to secure a peak day, you’re best served to be in that initial ticket rush.

That’s all before you're faced with the next daunting prospect – ticket prices.

Yes, this is Disney we are talking about, already one of the most expensive attractions in town on a normal day. But by comparison, Knotts Scary Farm tickets start at $65, with passes at $164. Halloween Horror Nights starts at $77, with Frequent Fear passes at $179 and Ultimate Fear Passes at $299 (and yes, I realize express is $259+, but at least you’re in the door). Oogie Boogie Bash starts at $139.

Mind you, I’ll give credit where credit is due: that price point includes a couple hours early entry into the park, and should you choose to go around collecting candy at each of the treat trails, you are sent home with a king’s ransom.

But as far as attractions inside the event go, not a whole lot has changed. Usually, the event adds a new featured character or two (often at the expense of another), teased and officially announced a month or so before opening night.

And herein lies my biggest gripe: I just don’t feel the characters have been worth it in the past several years.

Sure, you have favorites like Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty and Ernesto De La Cruz from Coco. The flamboyant Hades has been a gem. Judge Doom was a welcomed surprise addition a few years ago (though I do wish he could still do his Dip demonstration).

But other characters, like Dr. Doofenshmirtz, sometimes feel past their time; like, “This would have been awesome 10 years ago, but now is just taking space for something else I’d rather see.” Others, like Mickey, Donald, and Goofy dressed in their Kingdom Hearts attire, or Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle dressed as the Sanderson Sisters, feel like their novelty has worn out (and by the way, can you believe Oogie Boogie Bash has yet to get proper Sanderson Sisters?!?).

This year’s new entry was Yzma, from Emperors New Groove. For all the hype surrounding her arrival, I’d say she was just alright; nothing mind-blowing. She’s sassy, but not in a location that really promotes any sort of prolonged exposure. She also has a lever that - as best I can tell - does nothing. I would not be surprised if she is a flash in the pan that’s around for a year or two before being replaced, much like Sid from Toy Story or Sword in the Stone’s Mad Madam Mim.

That’s not to say that my entire visit was a bust.

The other big new addition to this year’s event was Madam Leota’s Swinging Wake – A Haunted Mansion Street Party, which replaced the popular Frightfully Fun Parade.

I was disheartened to hear the Frightfully Fun Parade would not be returning this year, as it was often my biggest draw to Oogie Boogie Bash. I became even more skeptical when word began to spread that Madam Leota’s Swinging Wake wasn’t so much a parade, but more akin to a cavalcade with multiple dance stops.

But let me tell you, this entertainment offering goes HARD. The costumes, floats, cast of characters, and specifically the CHOREOGRAPHY can only be described in the word “spectacle;” the only downside being that your viewing experience is highly dependent on where you sit, and if the party happens to stop in your general vicinity.

Overall, this isn’t a sentiment I wanted to express. Like I said, I’m a Disney kid at heart; I want the “Happiest Place on Earth” to be a part of my yearly spooky traditions.

But as it stands now, I’m not sure I can justify keeping it in the rotation when it’s felt so rinse and repeat for so long. It’s a lot of money, time, and preparation for an event that – at this point – feels tired and phoned in.