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Oogie Boogie Dessert Party Review

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I just got back from a trip to Disneyland to kick-off the Halloween season with my mom. I was lucky enough to secure tickets to their separately-ticketed seasonal event at Disney’s California Adventure (I intend to publish a review of the event later this week). We also decided to book the Oogie Boogie Dessert Party to give us a seated view of the Frightfully Fun Parade. Here’s my review to help others decide if it’s worth the additional cost.

Oogie Boogie Dessert Party

Oogie Boogie Dessert Party

As I said above, this is an add-on to an already expensive separately ticketed event. However, I really enjoyed the World of Color – One Dessert Party that I attended in May and wanted to try another dessert party at Disneyland. Plus, my mom really liked the idea of having a chair to sit in for the parade. Due to the pricing, it took a little convincing, but my mom finally warmed up to the idea.

The Food

For this dessert party, we each received a plate of goodies and some beverages. The treats included: chocolate mousse cake, pumpkin bundt cake, cookies & cream tart, caramel cheesecake, orange dreamsicle crispy, salted caramel macaron, and some gummy worms. The best treat was the pumpkin bundt cake. It tasted like pumpkin, instead of just cinnamon like some treats do. The caramel cheesecake was our second favorite item. The caramel flavoring made it a less tart/sour cheesecake. The cookies & cream tart was a little hard to cut, but tasted good. The macaron was also good. The gummy worms were fun to look at, but not much to eat. The worst item had to be the orange dreamsicle crispy treat. It was really hard and left my fingers black from just picking it up. I don’t think anyone at our table finished this treat.

There is a specialty mixed drink as well as non-alcoholic beverage. The mixed drink was really strong. I took one sip and was done. The non-alcoholic drink was fruity and sweet. I enjoyed it. We were all served a small bottle of water too, which was nice given the high temperature.

2025 Update

I was able to do this dessert party again in 2025. There were some updates to the experience. For starters, instead of a plate of desserts, you are now given a box of various goodies. There’s some meat and cheeses, freeze dried fruits, and some sweets now. I think that is a better balance of food versus just sweet treats previously. The box also makes it easier to take your goodies to go. In fact, they even brought around some OBB bags to pack things up!

Also, included in the box is a special OBB Dessert Party Pin! There are three different pins with two being considered “rare” and “ultra rare”. I have no idea what that means in actual percentages, but it’s neat to see which one you get.

I think the addition of the other foods, pin, and box make it even more worthwhile now! Although, it has gone up in price from $89 in 2023 to $94 in 2025. Although, that really is a slight difference when you look at Disney’s pricing in recent years and the addition of the aforementioned food and pin.

The View

Sitting in chairs gave us an elevated point of view of the parade over sitting on the ground. I’m sure some will argue that you can get a similar view by standing, for free. However, after walking 8.9 miles the previous day and similar mileage this day, sitting in a real chair was a fabulous thing. My mom really appreciated sitting in a chair comfortably instead of on the hard ground. Plus, it was nice to sit and enjoy a few treats while we waited for the parade begin.

Is it worth it?

At $89/each, this is an expensive add-on. However, it was worth it for my mom and I. Standing for long periods of time hurts her back and feet. So, being able to sit down at the end of the night was a great thing. Plus, we enjoyed trying the treats. Overall, it was one of the highlights of the trip. Although, if you are on a budget, you will probably have to skip this experience. Plus, there are loads of places to watch the parade around the park without paying extra. So, I guess it depends on what you value: comfort or time/money.

Disneyland Package: Should You Book Room and Tickets Together

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In my Sheraton Park Hotel Review I mentioned that I booked the room as part of a Disneyland package. That means that I booked the hotel through Disney and added on park tickets to make it a combo deal. Today, I’m going to look at the pros and cons of doing it that way.

Disneyland Package

Disneyland Package

You can book a Disneyland package either by booking an official resort or a Good Neighbor Hotel through Disneyland’s website and adding park tickets. On my trip in May I stayed at a Good Neighbor Hotel, however I chose to book through Disneyland for the ease of simplicity, among other reasons. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of doing so.

Pros

  • Easy – Honestly, it’s easier to access my hotel information and tickets all on one website or app.
  • Ability to make payments – Typically, hotels require you to pay a deposit and then pay the remainder of the bill prior to departure. However, Disney requires the full amount to be paid a month in advance. The good news is that you can make payments towards your trip anytime you want! That makes it especially useful if you are planning a trip with another person and are splitting costs (like when I travel with my mom).
  • Cancellation/Modification Policy – After booking my May trip, I decided to change my hotel to a cheaper one and add a night on. With a few clicks, this was easy to do. I also like that Disneyland has a more generous cancellation policy than some hotels have when you book direct. Personally, I find the peace of mind to be priceless.
  • Free pin and lanyard – This certainly shouldn’t be a reason to book a package, but it’s a nice perk. I received the free pin and lanyard shown in the image above for booking a package! It’s a nice souvenir to remember my first solo trip to Disneyland and the Disney100 celebration at Disneyland.
  • Trustworthy – I’m sure individual hotel sites are trustworthy. However, I just feel more confident dealing with the Disney website. I also like the assurance they might be able to help me if something were to go wrong.
  • Extra Savings – I didn’t use it, but you receive a voucher to save 10% off at select dining and merchandise locations at Downtown Disney.

Cons

  • More Expensive – The package was a little more expensive than booking the hotel directly and purchasing park tickets separately.
  • Limited Availability – There seems to be a limited number of rooms available for the packages. For instance, I was seeing availability on hotel’s websites but not on Disney’s website. So, if you have a specific hotel in mind, you should book early.

Should you book a Disneyland package?

Honestly, I think it comes down to what is most important to you. If the budget is tight, it may be better to book direct and buy tickets separately. Although, I would encourage you to check for any deals before booking anything. However, if you value the ease and cancellation policy, than a package may be best. So, have you ever booked a package or do you prefer to book things separately?

Fall in Orlando Theme Parks

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While it may seem a little early for this post, the theme parks are beginning to celebrate the autumn season later this week! So, I thought I would do a fall in Orlando theme parks post to kick-off the fall season. If you are wondering about summer in the theme parks, here is my post on it from two months ago.

Fall in Orlando

Fall in Orlando

Personally, fall is one of my favorite times to visit the theme parks! You can typically expect a bit cooler temperatures, which I consider a huge win. However, I would encourage you to keep an eye on the extended weather forecast if you plan a fall trip as it’s prime hurricane season. I’ve been lucky in that only one trip has been impacted by a hurricane. It is something to keep in mind though. On another note, I love fall and all of the theme parks have some fun/Halloween events to look forward to! So, I think it’s worth planning a trip during the fall months as long as you pay attention to the weather.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival

If you are visiting Walt Disney World in the fall, you can expect to experience the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! Taking place from August 29th to November 23rd in 2024, it’s a fabulous festival with lots to enjoy for fellow foodies! I don’t drink much, but I love eating! I enjoy walking around this festival and trying different dishes. They also have some cool concerts planned as part of their Eat to the Beat series. If you are visiting during these months, I highly recommend a visit.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

If you are visiting Walt Disney World from August 9th to October 31, 2024, then on select nights you can attend the separately ticketed event Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. I was supposed to attend last year, but the hurricane cut-off my WDW portion of the trip. Unfortunately, I haven’t attended this party since 2019. However, prior to that I attended it several times. It’s one of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World! I love the special parade as well as fireworks! I’m hoping to attend this year’s bash. FYI: it’s not a scary event. It’s a family-friendly event including trick-or-treating for kids of all ages!

SeaWorld Orlando Halloween Spooktacular

Last year, I was lucky enough to visit SeaWorld Orlando and enjoy their Halloween Spooktacular event. In fact, you can read my SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween post from last year to get a better idea of what to expect at this event, including my review of the Count von Count Spooktacular Breakfast. This seasonal event takes place on weekends from August 31 to November 3rd. This is one of the few Halloween events included with regular park admission. It also takes place during the day, which has its pros and cons. It’s a family friendly event with mermaids and dancing scarecrows. You can also trick-or-treat around the park for an additional cost.

SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream

Now, we are moving on to the scarier, more adult Halloween events in Orlando. While SeaWorld is child friendly during the day, it takes a turn for the scary on select nights from September 6th to November 2nd with their Howl-O-Scream event. A separately ticketed event meant for adults, it features several haunted houses, scare zones, shows, roaming haunts, and themed bars. It is cheaper than the OG scary event at Universal, but seems to be in the same vain. I haven’t ever attended this one, but I’ve heard good things about it.

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights

Lastly, we have the premiere Halloween theme park event, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando. This is the top tier scare event. It features 10 highly themed haunted houses, including popular IPs. It will take place on select nights from August 30th to November 3rd.

As of May 2024, Universal hasn’t officially announced any IPs for this year’s event. If you are on the fence, I recommend reading my Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Tips for Anxious Folks post. I attended in 2023 by myself and did a post Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips for anyone considering doing the same. I also booked a 2023 HHN Daytime Houses Tour and reviewed it. Lastly, I posted a separate Halloween 2023 at Universal Orlando Resort Guide to give you an idea of what to expect.

Orlando Theme Parks in Fall

As you can see, there are several fun events taking place in fall in Orlando theme parks. From the haunts to the scary good food, there’s something for everyone! So, which of these events are you planning on visiting this year? Or, which of these is your favorite to visit each year?

You can view my other seasonal theme park guides here:

Last Minute Disneyland Trip Tips

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As you may know, I booked a last minute Disneyland trip a few months ago. Having done that, I thought I would share a few tips in case someone else decides to do the same.

Last Minute Disneyland Trip

Last Minute Disneyland Trip

I planned and booked my last minute Disneyland trip about 5 weeks out. Seeing as how the Wondrous Journeys fireworks show is showing for the last time this year later this month and Halloween starts next month, I thought now was the perfect time to create this post. I know lots of people plan their trips months in advance. That’s why Disney allows you to book dining reservations 60 days in advance. However, that’s not who this post is for. I’m talking 3-6 weeks out in this post. Here are my tips for planning your last minute trip!

Tips

  • Check park availability. As of 2023, Disneyland is requiring a park reservation to enter a theme park. So, before you book your trip, make sure that you can actually visit the park by checking their availability calendar linked above.
  • Book a room and buy tickets. If your dates at the parks are open, then you should get to booking your trip asap. You can stay at one of the Disney’s 3 official resorts or off-site. For my most recent trip, I stayed at the Sheraton Park Hotel, which you can read my review of there. You should know that the hotels closest to the parks (including Disney’s hotels) cost more. Additionally, there are homeless people around the Katella Avenue and South Harbor Boulevard corner. As soon as you buy your tickets, make the park reservations as well.
  • Book dining reservations. In my limited experience, only the most popular restaurants get booked up 60 days out. That includes Blue Bayou and Lamplight Lounge. Others may have availability a few days or weeks out. If you can’t get one you want, I recommend setting up a reservation finder. I’ve had some success with Touring Plans (more so with their WDW one, but still valid) and Mouse Dining. Additionally, you can continue to check back yourself. If all else fails, try some quick service locations for meals.
  • Book flights. Generally speaking, flights are cheaper 6-8 weeks out than they are 2 weeks out. So, book the flights asap as well.
  • Remain calm. Disneyland is typically seen as a locals park, versus the tourist parks of Florida. A Disneyland trip is typically more relaxed than a WDW one. Securing reservations is typically easier. Plus, the people at Disneyland are usually (not always) calmer than at Disney World.
  • Pack and enjoy the trip. A last minute trip can be stressful to figure out. However, you should make an effort to relax and enjoy the trip once you arrive!

Final Thoughts

In my opinion, it’s much easier to plan a last minute Disneyland trip than a Walt Disney World one. I had a much easier time getting dining reservations. Plus, Lightning Lane was very beneficial at Disneyland for skipping the ride lines. So, do you have any other tips?

Universal Orlando Tips for First Time Visitors

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I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me sooner to write a Universal Orlando tips post. However, I am finally posting it in case anyone needs help planning their first trip!

Universal Orlando Tips

Universal Orlando Tips

As of this writing, I have visited UO five times! So, while I won’t claim to be a true expert on the resort, I do have some experience in visiting it. Thus, these are things I keep in mind when visiting or wish I had known when I first started visiting.

General Information

As of 2023, Universal Orlando Resort consists of two theme parks and a highly themed water park. They are currently building a third theme park, scheduled to open in 2025. The resort also currently has two value resorts, two prime value resorts, one moderate, and three premiere hotels. I’ve visited both theme parks and stayed in all but one of the resorts. You can read my reviews of the Universal Resorts to see what I think of most of them.

Pro tip: I highly recommend staying on-site at one of their resorts as the free transportation is very useful. I feel safe using it, especially as a female traveler at night. Plus, you get additional time in the parks when you stay at a resort hotel.

Do You Need a Park-to-Park Ticket?

I suspect lots of people ask this question as theme park tickets can be expensive. Honestly, if it’s not in the budget, don’t fret. The only thing you miss with a single park per day ticket is riding the Hogwarts train between the two parks. While it’s a must-do for any Harry Potter fan, it’s not necessary for other folks. As a passholder I must admit that I enjoy starting at whichever park has early entry and then heading to the other one. However, that’s because I’ve visited several times now and have done most of what I want to do by now.

Now, if you can only afford one day at one park, that is trickier. Personally, I have spent the most time in Universal Studios Florida. However, that is also where the majority of seasonal events take place. It’s also where the new Minions Land just opened up. However, I also love Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure. I would recommend checking out the rides and lands in each park to determine which one is most appealing to you and your group.

Seasonal Events

If you are looking to add a little more entertainment or food options to your trip, then you may want to consider visiting during a seasonal event. There are three seasonal events at UO: Mardi Gras from early February to April, Halloween Horror Nights from early September until the end of October, and Christmas from early/mid-November to early January. I have written posts on each of them previously and they are linked above for further descriptions of each. Needless to say, I highly recommend visiting during these events if once catches your eye.

Universal Orlando vs Walt Disney World

Personally, I visited UO after WDW. So, if that’s you, then this section is for you. First, you should understand that UO is much smaller and more relaxed than WDW. No need to make dining reservations 60 days out here. However, you should make reservations for the more popular restaurants such as Mythos or character dining a few weeks in advance. Logistically, a UO visit is much calmer than a WDW one.

I would like to point out that UO has more thrill rides than WDW. UO rides also tend to be screen heavy, i.e. they rely on screens to show you stuff versus animatronics like at Disney. It’s definitely easier to experience motion sickness at Universal. While it’s never been a problem for me, I believe Universal’s rides may not be as accommodating for larger folks. So, if you get motion sick easily or are of a bigger stature, this may not be a place you want to spend several days in.

Additionally, I think it’s worth pointing out that Universal can be edgier than Disney. While it’s still a family-friendly park (aside from HHN), you can expect to see things here that Disney would never do. For instance, you may see some humor in the rides or on signs with jokes that Disney would never allow.

Final Tips

It’s impossible to condense my Universal Orlando tips into a little list. Nonetheless, I hope you found some helpful ideas here. For what it’s worth, I think 2-3 days is an ideal amount of time to spend at this resort. So, have you ever visited Universal Orlando Resort? Do you have any tips?