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Solo Oogie Boogie Bash Tips

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Are you considering taking a solo Oogie Boogie Bash trip? Then, here’s a post for you!

Solo Oogie Boogie Bash

Solo Oogie Boogie Bash

Disneyland‘s annual Halloween party began on Sunday! So, you may be planning or contemplating attending this year’s event by yourself! If so, I have some experience that I can use to tell you about to help put you at ease!

My Experience

I attended the 2024 OBB by myself and had an excellent time! In fact, I may be heading there by myself again this year. 😉 Suffice it to say, I really enjoy myself at this seasonal party. I love seeing the park decked out in Halloween decor and getting to meet the characters dressed up for the occasion! I also love the parade at this party! Let’s not forget the treat trails and Villains Grove!

Last year, I had a light dinner and a peanut butter coffee to start my night! I relaxed around Pixar Pier while eating my dinner on a bench and people watched. Finally, at 6 o’clock the party began! I headed over to the plain treat trail nearby (the one without a character) to get a good start on filling my bag. Then, I hit up the Sid treat trail (which had a pretty good wait at that point in the night). I decided then and there to attempt to visit all 12 treat trails in one night.

Next, I enjoyed some snacks at the dessert party and watched the parade. I then beelined it towards Villains Grove before everyone else had the chance to head over after the parade. Then, I ran around hitting up the other 10 treat trails! Once I finished those, I decided to ride Radiator Springs Racers! There wasn’t much of a wait around the second parade and it was nice to see it at night.

After that, I was pretty tired and decided to call it a night. I headed back to the room with a bag overflowing with treats!

Tips for Attending by Yourself

  • Have an idea of what you want to do – I decided early on in the night that I wanted to attempt to hit up all 12 of the treat trails. So, that set the tone for the night. I ran around the park just to hit them all up.
  • Go fast or go slow – Being alone, you can move much quicker than when you have to wait for someone else or discuss plans. However, the opposite can also be true. You set the pace and you can decide to sit and rest for a bit. It’s up to you how fast you go.
  • Don’t be afraid – People are enjoying themselves and don’t care if you are by yourself. The characters won’t care either. Although, if you attend the dessert party, you will be seated with other single folks or couples.
  • Consult the map or app – Most of the party will happen after sunset. So, you may need to consult a map or the app to figure out where things are. It can be helpful to get an idea of what you want to do in the daytime and then try to find it beforehand.
  • Have fun! – It’s your night! Do what you want! Enjoy it!

Attending Oogie Boogie Bash Solo

I love traveling by myself. I get to enjoy things without worrying about someone else. It can get lonely at times, but there’s lots of opportunities to interact with other guests and the characters at this party. So, are you considering attending or have you attended OBB by yourself?

The Best Halloween Theme Park Events

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It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost time for Halloween theme park events to begin for the year! So, I thought I would do a little overview of some of the various options for people who are trying to decide which one(s) are right for them.

Halloween Theme Park Events

The Best Halloween Theme Park Events

I will start this post by saying that the best Halloween theme park event is highly subjective. Not every event is for everyone. Before purchasing tickets to visit any of these experiences, I recommend you consider:

  • Location – If you don’t have the means to fly across the country, then maybe choose a smaller event closer to home.
  • Budget – Some of these experiences are included with a regular theme park ticket, but most are not. Don’t go into debt just to see something spooky.
  • Comfort with spookiness – I know that lots of people love the horror events. However, not every person has the capacity to endure muchless enjoy these events. There are loads of people and it can be sensory overload. Know your boundaries. If you don’t like being scared, then don’t go to a scary nighttime event.
  • Know your objectives – Do you want to be scared? Do you want some holiday decor and treats with some characters? Those are totally different events. Know what you desire from an event before buying a ticket.

Now, on to the actual events themselves.

Daytime Halloween Events on a Budget

If you have children, don’t want to be scared, and are on a tight budget, then I recommend visiting a SeaWorld or Busch Gardens for Halloween Spooktacular. I wrote a SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween post a couple of years ago going over what you can expect at that event. Think fun sea themed characters and trick-or-treating. Plus, it’s all included with your daytime ticket! So, it’s easy on the purse. However, you will have to purchase a bag to trick-or-treat with.

Nighttime Scary Events on a Budget

If you are on a tight budget, I will once again recommend SeaWorld and/or Busch Gardens. In fact, you can enjoy Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Howl-O-Scream with a daytime ticket! The other two locations require the purchase of a separate ($40-$50) event ticket. Another event that I haven’t attended but have heard pretty good things about is Knott’s Scary Farm. It seems like a good time on a ~$50 budget. Full disclosure: I’ve never attended any of these events and can’t vouch for the quality of them.

Nighttime Scary Events With a Higher Budget

These next ones are a little more expensive for a general ticket. However, it can get really expensive for skip the line privileges and private tours. I’m talking about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Parks. Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood both have HHN, but there are some differences. Hollywood’s tends to be smaller with fewer houses. However, it still has the same attention to detail as Orlando. They tend to share at least a few IP houses each year, however they each also have unique houses. I’ve never attended the one in Hollywood. However, I wrote a Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips post as well as Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Tips for Anxious Folks. I’ve even done a 2023 HHN Daytime Houses Tour Review. Personally, I attend HHN for the food and vibes. As such, I will probably only attend if there’s an IP that speaks to me.

Nighttime Halloween Parties

Finally, we come to the most expensive event tickets: Disney. There’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney’s California Adventure at Disneyland. I’ve already compared the two parties in a separate post: Disney Parks Halloween Parties Compared. However, suffice it to say these are nighttime events that aren’t scary. They are more about the characters, parades, and candy! At these pricey events, everyone (yes, even adults) can trick-or-treat around the park! I’ve attended both parties multiple times now and have enjoyed it each time! The worst things about these events are the crowds and prices.

The Best Halloween Theme Park Events

While I think Disney and Universal dominate the discussion on Halloween theme park events, they aren’t your only options. SeaWorld/Busch Gardens or even Cedar Fair parks can provide a more affordable alternative for the season. However, you can’t go wrong with Universal or Disney either. It really comes down to your individual preferences and situation.

So, what is your favorite Halloween theme park event?

The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

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It’s finally time for the last of my best of series at Walt Disney World – The Best Things in Hollywood Studios!

The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

I previously covered my favorite things in Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot. Today, I’m discussing the last remaining theme park at Walt Disney World – Hollywood Studios! Hollywood Studios is supposed to be Disney’s attempt to take you into the movies. However, one could argue it’s kind of drifted away from the concept in recent years. Nonetheless, it’s become the go-to park for your Toy Story or Star Wars fix (among other things). It’s also a good theme park to grab some basic comfort food. So, here’s what I consider the best things in this park.

The Best Ride

I think the best ride here has to be Rise of the Resistance. It’s so immersive and technologically advanced that it’s hard not to be impressed. My mom is not a Star Wars fan. Yet, she really enjoyed this ride at Jollywood Nights in 2023. We also enjoy Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway here. I also like Slinkydog Dash here. So, I think there’s a ride that suits everyone in this park.

Best Table Service Restaurant

I have to admit, I’m a little lacking in restaurant experience in this park. Prior to Covid, I enjoyed Minnie’s Seasonal Dining at Hollywood & Vine several times. I love that the theme and character outfits change out seasonally. It’s a great way to celebrate the various seasons in this park that doesn’t decorate for anything besides Christmas. However, it’s a buffet and can be pretty pricey. On a future trip I want to try Roundup Rodeo BBQ or 50’s Prime Time Cafe.

I also enjoyed the Fantasmic Dining Package at Sci-Fi Dine-In. Sidenote: I highly recommend you make time in your schedule to see Fantasmic! It’s a great nighttime show!

Best Quick Service Restaurant

I think there’s a couple of good quick service restaurants in this park. My favorite is probably Woody’s Lunchbox or Ronto Roasters. I enjoy getting a kids meal at Woody’s since it’s a smaller portion size and comes with fruit. Ronto Roasters is good for breakfast or lunch with its unique offerings.

The Best Snack

This park has a couple of good snack options as well. Nothing groundbreaking, but pretty good. For instance, there’s the Num Num Cookie. It’s essentially a huge chocolate chunk cookie/bar. I haven’t had one in years, but it was good when I had it way back in 2020. You can currently find it at Neighborhood Bakery or Market in Pixar Plaza. I also enjoy trying the seasonal lunchbox treats at Woody’s Lunch Box. Some are better than others, but they are still fun to try.

What are the best things in Hollywood Studios?

These are some of my favorite things in Hollywood Studios. What are some of yours?

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular Review and Tips

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Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to watch the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular while visiting New York City! Seeing as how tickets are already on sale for a new season, I thought I would post a review along with some tips for attending the show. Also, I thought it made for a great little Christmas in July post!

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular

I’ve grown up seeing the Rockettes on tv since I was a little girl. However, I never thought that I would actually get to see them perform live. Back in early January, my husband and I took a quick 48 hour trip to New York City so that I could finally experience NYC at Christmas. While there, I had to see the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular! It was a wonderful evening that I won’t soon forget.

Buying Tickets

Tickets are nonrefundable. So, I waited until we were sure we were going to purchase tickets. I bought two tickets for the 8 PM show on January 2nd in November. I was able to use a discount code from QVC to save some money. Based off of my own research, I decided to go with seats in the first mezzanine in order to be able to appreciate the whole show. While we may not have seen every little detail, it was great for watching the drones and seeing various effects. I really enjoyed our view and have no regrets about my choice.

Arriving at the Show

We stayed at a hotel right beside Radio City, so we simply walked over for the show. I couldn’t imagine trying to find parking in that area. We arrived about 1 hour and 15 minutes ahead of time since they won’t allow late entry to interrupt the show. After going through some security, we had plenty of time to admire the building and find our seats.

The Experience

I had only seen the girls perform on television while advertising for the show, so I had no real idea what to expect. I was surprised by the length of the show and the scale of it. I really enjoyed the holiday tunes and wonderful choreography. The drones and other effects were really neat too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this show. There’s a reason it’s a classic must-do when in NYC at Christmastime. I think my husband may have even enjoyed the show.

Tips

  • Buy tickets in advance – The earlier you book, the better the selection of seats.
  • Look out for discounts – Last year, QVC put out a nice discount code that I was able to use on our tickets to save a good bit.
  • Give some thought to where you want to sit – If you want to see the little details on costumes, then maybe sit in the orchestra section in front of the stage. If you want more of an overall view, then a mezzanine seat is perfect!
  • Arrive early – They won’t allow you to interrupt the show if you are late. So, arrive early to appreciate the historic building you are in and to find your seats.
  • Eat before the show – They don’t allow outside food or beverages in the venue. So, eat a nice dinner before the show.
  • Put the phone away – They have a strict no photography/videography policy for the show. I took a few photos of the building and then put my phone away. Besides, I don’t know that a phone would do a good job of capturing the show anyways.

Should you attend the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular?

If you are someone who grew up watching these ladies perform on tv, then I think it’s a must-do. If you are someone who wants to do the classic NYC Christmas experiences, then it’s definitely a must-do. If you don’t appreciate shows, art, or Christmas, then maybe you can skip it. I’m not sure if I will make the effort to see the show again. However, it did make me want to take a tour of the venue just to see how that stage works.

Charleston Tea Garden Review

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Back in April, my mom and I visited the Charleston Tea Garden. I couldn’t find many posts or videos about it online. So, I thought I would provide a brief review as well as some tips for anyone considering a visit.

Charleston Tea Garden

Charleston Tea Garden

After spending a few days in Myrtle Beach, my mom and I headed down the road to visit Charleston for 24 hours! One of the things my mom really wanted to do was visit the Charleston Tea Garden. In part because she works in a beverage bottling factory and also because we’ve enjoyed attending tea parties since I was a little girl.

It’s named after Charleston, but it’s actually located on Wadmalaw Island. So, it’s a good bit outside of Charleston proper. Thankfully, we had our own car and my mom drove us. However, there were signs about needing to making prior arrangements to get transportation back to wherever you came from since the garden is pretty far removed from the more populated areas.

Trolley Tour

It’s free to visit the gardens and try some tea. However, there’s also a trolley tour of the gardens that costs $16-18/adult. The website says you can save a few dollars by booking the tour online in advance, so that’s what we did. We ended up arriving a little early and they allowed us to move our tour time without charging anything extra.

The tour takes about 30-45 minutes as you are shown around the gardens. The tour does a good job of telling the history of the garden as well as giving general information on tea. Our guide was quick to point out that this is the only commercial tea garden in the United States! So, all of the tea you purchase from them is tariff free! You also get to visit the greenhouse during the the trolley tour. It was neat to see how they cultivate the plants to make other plants. My mom and I both really enjoyed and recommend doing the trolley tour.

Free Factory Tour

Following the trolley tour of the gardens, we headed inside for the free factory tour. Unfortunately, we were a little too early in the year to see any tea being processed. However, we were able to look at the equipment and watch videos depicting the process. It was really interesting to be able to see the tea being grown and then go inside to see how it’s processed. It’s a real start to finish experience.

Following the factory tour we visited the gift shop and tried various tea samples! I ended up purchasing two boxes of tea to bring home as well as some hand cream. I enjoy thinking about our visit when I drink the tea or use the hand cream.

Tips for Visiting

  • Book the Trolley Tour in Advance – Booking in advance saves you a little bit of money. Plus, then you are guaranteed a seat and don’t have to worry about it selling out.
  • Drive yourself – This is definitely a place to visit when you have a car or if you are traveling on a bus with a tour group. It’s apparently very difficult to get a ride share to leave the gardens.
  • Try the free teas after the tour – You will have a new appreciation for tea after the tours and it will feel much more leisurely after the tour. Plus, there’s no restroom on the trolley or in the gardens.
  • Arrive ready to learn – This is such a unique learning experience. Every employee is friendly and eager to answer your questions.

Should you visit the Charleston Tea Garden?

We saw at least one retiree tour group here. So, I think this experience is ideal for adults on vacation who want to learn something. Also, keep in mind the issue with transportation before deciding to visit. However, it was a wonderful highlight of our trip for my mom and I. We enjoyed learning about tea and its history. It ended up being a gorgeous day that made the visit all the more pleasant. Overall, I recommend a visit (and the trolley tour) to anyone with an interest in tea/agriculture/history.