We headed to Salem on our Recent trip to the East Coast, to hunt out our favorite spots from the film. Salem is the perfect spooky Halloween location and hinting out some great Filming locations is the perfect addition to your Halloween plans in the City. Here are the 10 Hocus Pocus Filming locations in Salem that you can visit today.

1. House of Seven Gables

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• 115 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970
• Visit The House Of Seven Gables | Salem MA Historic Homes & Tours (7gables.org)

The House of Seven Gables is a restored 1668 home that inspired Disney Imagineers when building the Sanderson Sister’s House. Yes, unfortunately, the exact Sanderson Witch Museum from the Hocus Pocus movie was built especially for the movie on a Disney soundstage and it no longer exists. However, the film Set Director herself credits the House of Seven Gables as THE inspiration for the Sanderson Sisters’ home. If it’s good enough for the Disney Imagineers then it’s good enough for us! This house is practically now known as the Sanderson Sister’s House location in Salem so it is a must-visit.

Of course, the inspiration was taken from the exterior of the House of Seven Gables only, but the grounds and mansion are open daily for visits if you wish to learn more about the history of the house, outside of its film connections.

2. Max and Dani Dennison’s House

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• 4 Ocean Ave, Salem, MA 01970

Any scenes that were filmed as the inside of Max and Dan’s house were filmed in a sound studio (considering the mess the Sanderson Sisters make when they come to get Dani, it is easy to understand that a homeowner did not want Disney Studios wrecking their home)

However, the house used as the exterior of the Dennison House is located at 4 Ocean Ave Salem. The white house with its turret is easily recognisable from the street as is the corner of Ocean and Shore Ave. The current residents do not mind Hocus Pocus fans admiring their house from a distance but please respect their privacy when visiting and keep in mind that the filming location is private property. Take all the photos and selfies you want but be respectful and keep your distance.

3. Pioneer Village AKA Salem Village

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• 98 West Ave, Salem, MA 01970
• www.pioneervillagesalem.org

The scenes at Thackery Binx’s village were filmed at the historical site Pioneer Village. This recreation of a 16th-century village is a living history of a colonial village and looks just how Thackery’s village would have looked way back when. The Pioneer Village is open at weekends from 12th June- 29th October only so if you really want to visit this filming location, you will need to plan your trip to Salem within those dates accordingly.

4. Governor’s Faire House AKA Binx’s House

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Pioneer Village, 98 West Ave, Salem, MA 01970
• www.pioneervillagesalem.org

Binx and Emily’s House in the opening scene of Hocus Pocus is also located within Pioneer Village in Salem. Look out for the Governor’s Faire House which is the building used as Binx and Emily’s house. Make sure you check it out during your visit to Pioneer Village.

5. Old Burial Hill Cemetery

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Marblehead, MA 01945

Not far into the film, we see Max’s new neighborhood kids give him a ‘not-so-friendly- welcome’ to Salem in a cemetery. This scene was filmed in nearby town Marblehead, at the Old Burial Cemetery. Although this little town is not in Salem, it is one of the oldest New England Cemeteries and was part of Salem until granted independence in the 1640s. There is a memorial to Marblehead’s resident who was killed in the Salem Witch trials, cementing its connection with Salem.

It’s worth mentioning at this point that it was just the day cemetery scene that was filmed at the Old Burial Hill Cemetery. The graveyard scenes for Billy Butcherson’s grave were not filmed on location in Salem. Unfortunately, the night cemetery scenes were filmed at Stage 2, a very famous Walt Disney Soundstage that has also been used to film Mary Poppins and Pirates of the Caribbean.

6. Allison’s House

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Ropes Mansion, Peabody Essex Museum, 318 Essex St, Salem, 01970
• https://www.pem.org/visit/historic-houses/pem-walks/ropes-mansion

The exterior of Allison’s House is located at a building within the Peabody Essex Museum. The Ropes mansion within the museum’s grounds is instantly recognizable from the film as Max and Dani approach the house while trick or treating. The filming location for the interior scenes is not the actual insides of the Ropes Mansion, which was filmed elsewhere in California. The mansion is registered as a National Historic Place and is open for tours 5 days a week. The grounds and gardens behind the house are open all year round free of charge, making them worth a visit.

If you visit during Halloween, the house really embraces its Haunted Heritage and decorates itself really nicely for the Season, but it gets even better once the sun goes down as the house is lit up in demonic red light, really adding to its spooky credentials.

7. Jacob Bailey High School

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• 56 S Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970

The filming location for the High School in Hocus Pocus was actually an old Elementary School which closed down a year earlier. The Phillips Elementary School closed down in 1992, leaving a perfect empty space for a filming location. The building is still there on South Washington Street opposite Salem Common. You can not go into the building but you can take pictures of the highly recognisable exterior.

8. Halloween Party

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA 01970

The Halloween Party scenes are probably the best scenes of the whole Hocus Pocus film, especially Bette Midler’s rendition of ‘I Put a Spell on You’ where she bewitches the whole town including Max and Dani’s parents. The outside shots for this iconic scene were filmed at the Old Town Hall on Derby Square. The inside scenes of the party were filmed in California but the exterior of the building features towards the end of the film when Max and Dani go looking for their Parents.

The Old Town Hall is a National Historic Site and the oldest municipal building in Salem. The Town Hall is nowadays used for public events including re-enactments of the Salem Witch trials- definitely worth a look!

9. Ocean Avenue/ Shore Avenue

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• 2 Ocean Avenue, Salem, MA 01970

If you stand opposite 2 Ocean Ave, you are actually stood at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Shore Avenue. With the sea out in front of you and 4 Ocean drive to your left, Shore Avenue begins on your right. This corner is used in the scene where the children are walking, following the sound of Sarah Sanderson’s singing. You will also see this filming location from an aerial view as Sarah flies over it to approach the Dennison House. Again, if you visit this filming location please remember that all the houses are residential and therefore private property. Please keep this in mind and be respectful when visiting.

10. The Town Park

• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Salem Common, N Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970

Near the beginning of the film, Max heads to the Town Park after school where he bumps into Allison. Here, Allison hands him the note back containing his phone number. The Town Park filming location is Salem Common, at Washington Square. The High School building used for filming is also here, when watching the scene, if you look closely, you can see the High School building in the back behind them. In real life, if you face South Washington Square, you can see the High School from the Town Park just like in the movie.

Other Key Filming Locations

If you love Hocus Pocus as much as we do, you may be wondering about a few key scenes that are not mentioned here in this article. Unfortunately, not all scenes for Hocus Pocus were filmed in Salem.

The Bus Scene where Sarah Sanderson runs over Binx the cat is filmed on the Warner Brothers Ranch in California on Blondie Street. The big house she drives past was also used as the Griswold’s family home in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. More recently, it was used as Wanda’s House in Marvel’s WandaVision- another witchy’ connection!

The Trick or Treat Scenes with Dani and Max were also filmed at Warner Brothers Ranch in California. When the Sanderson Sisters roam the streets, they find the ‘Devil’s’ House (a poor unsuspecting homeowner and his wife). This house is actually located on Friends Street on the Warner Brothers Ranch.

The Fountain

After the Sanderson Sisters have been lured into the oven, Max, Allison, Dani, and Binx are seen celebrating in the Town’s central Park. This again, was filmed back in the 90’s at the Warner Brothers Ranch including the large fountain behind them that is also the fountain from the Friends credits. Now, the fountain has been moved to the Warner Brothers Tour circuit, so if you are ever in California and visit the Warner Brothers Tour, you may be able to see it!

Have Your Say

Did you enjoy this article about the Hocus Pocus Filming Locations? Have you visited Salem yourself and found some locations we have missed? Let us know if we have in the comments box below. Perhaps you are planning your Salem 2023 trip and are researching the filming locations to visit yourself; if so, we hope you have found this article useful. If you have any questions regarding the locations of Hocus Pocus please ask us by writing them in the comments box below.

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100 Years of Disney

First off, it’s important to note that 2023 was the 100-year Anniversary of Walt Disney Studios. That’s right, the animation studios of Walt Disney have been thrilling us with their entertainment for over 100 years now, and boy are we thankful! This rightly deserves a Celebration and as any die-hard Disney fan is aware, the Walt Disney Company knows how to put on a Celebration! The 100 Years of Wonder celebrations ran across all Parks in the world for the entirety of 2023 and into 2024. This of course includes new Nighttime shows and Fireworks!

Disneyland California had 2 new Nighttime shows at its park for 100 Years of Disney Celebrations:

Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland Park and World of Color: ONE at Disney California Adventure Park.

You can read about the Nighttime Show World of Color: ONE in our Nighttime Shows at Disney California Guide but here, we are focusing on the fireworks show at Disneyland.

Along with Wondrous Journeys, Disneyland Park also has the following Nighttime shows throughout the year:

• Fantasmic
• Mickey’s Mix Magic
• Halloween Screams (seasonal)
• 4th July (Independence Day)
• New Year’s Eve (obviously only shown on 31st December)
• Believe in Holiday Magic (seasonal)

The bottom four shows are clearly only available at certain times of the year so it’s best to check if any of these seasonal shows are running during your visit before you go!

Nighttime Shows mean Fireworks, right????

Well… Unfortunately, NOT necessarily … Let us explain:

This is where the bad news part comes in… Disneyland sometimes only has Fireworks on select nights.

So does this mean you won’t get to see Fireworks Shows during your trip? To answer, YES and NO.

To be clear, Disney pretty much has Nighttime Entertainment every night. Fantasmic and Wonderous Journeys both show daily but are only accompanied by fireworks usually at the weekends. So generally, on weeknights, you will still be able to see the nighttime spectaculars but they won’t be accompanied by the amazing pyrotechnics. Confusing and disappointing, we know.

Now, Disney does like to keep us on our toes so every now and then there will be nighttime shows during the weekdays WITH fireworks. This is usually reserved for holiday dates and special celebrations and can be for a limited time only. There is often little or no notice about whether there will be fireworks at Disneyland Park in the week so it’s really hard to try and plan your trip around this factor. As you get close to your visit date, you can always check the Entertainment Schedule for any updates.

Here is a breakdown of all the Night-time Shows at Disneyland California, when they are on, and if they usually include the magical Disney Fireworks.

Wondrous Journeys

• Duration: 13 mins
• Location: Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street USA
• Time 9:30 PM
• Variations: Wondrous Journeys with Projections and Wondrous Journeys with Fireworks
• check Entertainment Schedule for details

As already mentioned, this nighttime spectacular was created by Disney to celebrate 100 years of animation storytelling by Disney Animators. Beloved Disney characters are brought to life with stunning state-of-the-art projection technology, accompanied by classic Disney music to engulf you in the 100 years of Disney Magic all in one show! Our only complaint about the show was that it is too short, 13 minutes is NOT enough to fully celebrate all the magic and wonder the Walt Disney Company has created in the last 100 years. Still, I teared up as my favorite Disney moments appeared on the screen, accompanied by my favorite Disney music and the all-important Mickey-shaped fireworks high above the castle. The projections and music alone are enough to delight any die-hard Disney fan but the fireworks just add that extra level of magic. And Wondrous Journeys is set to return in Spring 2024.

Fantasmic!

• Duration: 25 mins
• Location: Frontierland, Rivers of America
• Time: 9:00, 10:30 PM
• No Variations, Projection Show Only
• check Entertainment Schedule for details

Returning in May 2023, Fantasmic is back!! After a long break since an unfortunate technical difficulty in February 2023, Fantasmic has finally returned to Disneyland. The show is a thrilling almost half-hour featuring Disney’s best villains. Mickey’s sweet dream as the Sourcerers Apprentice takes a dark turn when he is pulled into the Magic Mirror and the Evil Queen sets her Disney villain pals on poor Mickey. Featuring a fantastical array of live performers, enhanced special effects, and state-of-the-art projections, Mickey has to do his best to banish the Villains from his dream. Since the fire that broke out last year, the dragon sequence has been removed from the show and the new Fantasmic now features scenes from Peter Pan. This is added to the already memorable moments from The Lion King, Tangled, Aladdin and more Disney classics.

Mickey’s Mix Magic

• Duration: 10 mins
• Locations: Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street USA, It’s a Small World
• Time: 9:30 PM
• Variations: Mickey’s Mix Magic Projections and Mickey’s Mix Magic with fireworks
• check Entertainment Schedule for details

Get ready to Party with DJ Mickey! Well, for 10 minutes anyway. Shown at 3 different locations across the Park, DJ Mickey spins a playlist of remixed Disney songs including Friend Like Me, Let It Go and I wanna be like You. Mickeys Mix Magic is a spectacular show with kaleidoscopic projections, exciting lights and lasers all set to some of your favorite Disney song classics. Mickey’s Mix is due to return on January 8th, 2024.

Seasonal Shows

• Halloween Screams
• Sweethearts Nite
• 4th July
• New Year’s Eve
• Believe in Holiday Magic

To celebrate various Holidays, Disneyland has seasonal shows that are only available around the holidays and for a limited time only. Depending on when you are planning your visit, you may be able to see some of the shows mentioned above. With the exception of the New Year’s Eve fireworks show, the seasonal nighttime entertainment can run for a couple of weeks or even more depending on the Holiday. Halloween Screams and Holiday Magic shows can run for up to 8 weeks. Again, during the week, these shows tend to be Projection only, with Projection and Fireworks only available at the weekend. Check the Entertainment Schedule before you go to see if any Seasonal shows are running.

So I can only see Fireworks at Disneyland on the Weekends?

Pretty much, Yes. Nighttime Entertainment is projection-only on weekdays at Disneyland California, or at least this was the case until June this year when they started showing Fireworks on select weekdays too. Until then, apart from special Holiday dates or celebrations, you could only see Fireworks at Disneyland California at the weekends.

If watching Fireworks over the castle is a MUST- DO then you did need to plan your trip to Disneyland for during the weekend days. There is no guarantee that there will be Shows with Fireworks during the weekdays when usually they are scheduled for the weekend days. You can check the Entertainment Schedule for more accurate information nearer the time but as most people book their Disneyland trips way in advance, this does not give enough previous information when booking your trip. To be safer, it’s best to book a Disneyland trip over the weekend so you have a better chance to see Fireworks.

Only being able to see Fireworks at Disneyland at the weekend brings with it a major issue that all Theme Parks suffer with; Weekends are busy. Apart from Holidays, Weekends are the busiest time at Disneyland as most Guests visit when they are off work or school, etc. And more Guests means a fuller park. And a fuller Park means long wait times for the rides.

However, if seeing those fireworks is non-negotiable then you are going to have to visit at some of the busiest times. But don’t panic, you can visit the Park to see the Fireworks at the weekend AND still get the most out of your trip all while enjoying yourself too. Here are some tips on how to still get the most enjoyment out of your visit to Disneyland Park on the weekends:

How to get the most out of your Trip to Disneyland at the Weekend

• Select Dates: Yes, traditionally weekends at Disneyland are busy. But if you plan strategically, you could pick a Weekend date that will be quieter than your typical weekend. If you visit off-peak the Park is quieter during those months compared to others. January and February are traditionally quieter than the rest of the year. Likewise, if you pick a weekend after a major holiday, the Park will have been rammed the week before so it’s likely that numbers will drop considerably right after.

• Use Genie+: Using Genie+ in Disneyland Park is the most time-effective way to get the most out of your trip when it is busy. Yes, it comes at a cost but using the Genie+ system is really the only way you are guaranteed to achieve everything you want to do during your time at the Park. Read more about how to use the Genie+ system effectively HERE

• Purchase Lightening Lanes: In the same concept of purchasing Genie+, paying for Lightening Lanes could be the only way you can get on a certain ride without a long wait time. Skipping the queues is time-effective and allows you to do more in your day, especially when the Parks are busy. Unfortunately, Lightening Lanes are not cheap so it really depends on your budget on whether this is a viable option for you. Read more about Lightening Lanes HERE

• Use Single Rider: Some rides at Disneyland operate a Singer Rider lane, which typically queues are shorter. If you and your party are willing to ride separately, it could be a good way to beat the long wait times when the park is busy. Please read our article about the Single Rider system at Disneyland to learn more.

Time to watch the Fireworks!

Hopefully, if you follow some of our time-saving tips, you will have enjoyed your day at Disneyland California with plenty of time to spare to watch the Fireworks. Because that’s what you came for, right?

Have Your Say

Do you think visiting Disneyland at the weekend is worth witnessing the fireworks show? Or are you planning to visit sometime in 2023 on a weekday now they have opened up the schedule? Let us know what you think of the Fireworks in our comments section below. Or perhaps like us, you agree that the projection stand-alone shows are just as good. If so, let us know in the comments section below! If you have any questions on how to watch the Fireworks at Disneyland please ask in the comments section and we will get back to you.

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Whether you are a believer, skeptic, or somewhere in between, these Ghost Tours in San Francisco are a fun, unique way to spend a night in the city as well as deeply informative of its dark historic past. Here in our ‘Best Ghost Tours in San Francisco- Ultimate Guide, we review the top Ghost Tours available in San Francisco and if they are any good and worth your time and money.

Ghost Hunting?

In our opinion Ghost Hunting Tours are really just a form of entertainment. There is a huge range of beliefs that run amongst the people that may consider these tours, from true believers to devout skeptics. When our guide quizzed our group at the beginning of our San Fran tour, this range was evident, and often split between individual groups. The universal rating of thumbs up or down was asked to display your level of belief and it was roughly split 33-33-33% with equal numbers thumbing up, down, and horizontally, suggesting an open mind.

What is more universal is the fact the Tours are mostly about fun. You do not really have to 100% believe in the tales of the undead and the reading from any instruments, to get into the mood and feel the sense of creepiness from the eerie street and tales of dark times in the distant past. There is a definite energy going on in the streets, be it imaginary or very much real.

We joined our tour as one skeptic and one moderate, and while we left less convinced than when we started, our increased skepticism was more towards the methodology used by Ghost hunters, than to the existence of Ghosts themselves. However, we both left absolute converts to the fun and knowledgeable tour guides that provided us really entertaining and enlightening tour around the shadier parts of San Francisco. Did we see ghosts…No? Did we feel a presence… No. Did things happen we can’t explain…Yes, Does that automatically mean it was a ghost…No? But we had fun, that cannot be denied!

To be clear these tours are 100% real, as in nothing is faked. There are no jump scares and no one controlling things. No set pieces with people controlling lights or making noises. Instead, the guides are simply out on the real streets looking for events, clues, and anomalous readings on the tools by focusing on locations of past events to suggest the cause of these events and reading is infact supernatural.

There are no Seances’ or calls to the occult, outside of some small readings, that are referred to as spells. It’s all quite science rather than witchy although some would insist we say Psudo-Sciency…

Ghost Hunting Tools:

Some of these tours are Ghost hunts, and they use certain tools to try and contact or detect the spirits, others are more ghost walks with just tales of the dead and history about the dark past of the City. For those that use the tools, there are a few types.

EMF Detectors

These are nifty little tools designed for use by electricians to help detect electricity circuits in walls and faulty components. It is essentially a detector for all Electro Magnetic Frequencies which are given off by large-scale electric currents. However, these have been used by Ghost Hunters to detect energies from the other side.

These are really interesting, as you walk around the City the spike can be detected as you pass over subterranean Electricity Substations and such like. The guide helpfully points out when and where these expected readings will occur. But other times, in a totally benign location meter, will Spike heavily, and there is no obvious reason why.

Ghost hunters jump to the conclusion this is due to a presence, we are a little more open-minded, but it certainly adds to the feeling of unease as your EMF meter turns red and spikes right up to 100+ …

Divining Rods

At known sots or when the EMF Meters spike the guide often stopped and pulled out the Devinign rods, these are used to ask spirits yes or no questions with the movement of the rods used to indicate answers. When the Rods moved to yes when asked if the spirit wanted us to Go-Away…we duly obliged…

Ghost-Box

The Ghost-Bos or S-box was the most eyebrow-raising tool. This little box scans random radio frequencies and delivers short bursts of each to the speaker. This produces essentially a load of nonsense. However, every no and then that can form lumps of coherent dialog. For example, were got told “100 grant” when making a “spirit” where it was…we were stood at 100 Grant Street!

Whether this is our brains finding patterns where there are non or ghosts communicating with the living is beyond our pay grade (but we could hazard a guess) but we found this a little tenuous and “out there” as far as evidence went.

The Tour guides also used flickering Streat lights and strong feelings from the group as a way to channel the spirits but overall most of it felt circumstantial and well practiced…was the flickering street light a ghost or just faulty electrics?

If you go expecting full formed apparition or any kind of answers you will be disappointed. These tours are fun tours of the darker side of San Francisco’s past and jolly good fun. But they are definitely entertainment first and serious Supernatural investigation, if such a thing exists, second.

Best Ghost Tours In San Francisco:

5. San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour

• $30 plus tax
• $90- 2 hours
• No Ghost Hunting Tools are available
• www.sfghosthunt.com

The San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour is the oldest Ghost Walking Tour in San Fran, founded in 1998. Their founder Jim Fassbinder experienced several Ghost encounters himself and visited many Ghost Tours around America and in the U.K. before deciding he could do better and create one in his very own native San Francisco. Jim long since retired, the Tour is now in the capable hands of another San Fran native, famed magician Christian Cagigal.

The original San Francisco Ghost Hunt Tour is a walking tour of the Pacific Heights district of San Fran and allows you to visit the city’s famously haunted sites with a knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide. The tour is the standard 90 mins – 2 hours and operates 5- 7 days a week. During the tour, you will cover a distance of just over a mile and while the location does include a moderate-sized hill to walk up the pace is easy (this is San Fran after all, hills are common!)

It’s worth mentioning here that there are no bathroom breaks or entering any indoor locations while on this walking tour. This means any haunted sites you will visit are only to be viewed from the outside. This is a general rule of most Ghost Walking Tours as many of the locations are privately owned.

The San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour may be the original but is also the most expensive option for Ghost Tours in San Fran. This is despite its duration being the same amount of time as other tours available.

Also, the Tour names itself as a self-proclaimed ‘Ghost Hunt’ but unfortunately, is more of a historical information Tour of San Fran’s darker history while sprinkled with spooky stories and frightfully fun anecdotes. There are no Ghost hunting tools featured let alone rented or included in the ticket price so for us, it is less of a Ghost Hunt and more of a live-action Ghost storytelling- a fun-packed and entertaining ghost storytelling nonetheless!

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4. Ghosts, Boos, and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

• $29
• 2 hours
• over 21’s only
• Haunted Pub Crawl – SF Ghosts

This is a traditional Ghost tour with a twist, or should we say tipple! This is US Ghost Adventures Adult-only Ghost tour of the haunted pubs in San Francisco. The itinerary is a combination of the non-boozy ghost tour where you will visit some of San Fran’s most affluent yet haunted areas Knob Hill and Union Square. The classy façade of Knob Hill hides a traumatic and frightening side of San Francisco’s history, most of which was flattened in the 1906 earthquake and fires.

As well as these many spooky locations, this tour also includes 3 stops at haunted bars or pubs. Enjoy a drink while listening to the stories of these ghosts that still haunt the buildings to this day. But drink quickly, each pub is limited to 15 minutes per location which is not a lot of time to enjoy a drink and seems quite rushed (maybe the tour guides really are afraid of ghosts?) The drinks purchased are also not included in the Ghost, Boos, and Booze Ghost Tour ticket price but this is standard with any guided pub crawl (haunted or otherwise).

For us, enjoying a drink while sitting comfortably in a warm location is one of the best ways to enjoy ghost stories. As you will be visiting the haunted pubs on the tour, bathroom breaks are provided, and let’s be honest, needed. One downside to watch out for is that the Tour aims to run at its 15-person capacity and if the capacity is not met then the tours do, unfortunately, get cancelled. They do offer to rearrange the tour for another date but when you are travelling this isn’t always an option.

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3. Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl in San Francisco

• $25
• 2 hours 30 mins
• over 21’s only
• Walk with Spirits: A Haunted Pub Crawl
• operated by Mick’s Bootique Tours

Another San Francisco Ghost Tour centered around the haunted Pubs and Bars of the City. Walk with Spirits is run by Mick’s Bootique Tours, a small business that exclusively sells its tickets through TripAdvisor.

Walk with Spirits is cheaper and longer than the other ghost and booze tours mentioned and you get longer in each pub or bar too. The drinks are not included in the ticket price but here is where the similarities with the Ghost, Boos, and Booze Ghost Tour end. Walk with Spirits starts off in downtown San Fran, in one of the only areas that was not destroyed by the 1904 quake and fires. Don’t let this fool you into thinking that the area doesn’t have a connection with the city’s dark and violent past, as the first 3 locations you visit were all popular haunts (get it?) back in the Gold Rush Era. The tour ends with a visit to old pubs in Chinatown, another area of the city that has witnessed a lot of crime, violence, and death.

This tour combines a great knowledge of San Fran’s history, Ghost Stories, and Good pubs with a great atmosphere with fab drinks. The tour is set at an easy pace and you are not rushed in any of the locations you visit. In fact, tours can last longer than the 2.5 hours as advertised which means you get a great tour experience (just be aware if you are on a tight time frame). Walk with Spirits is definitely our favorite San Francisco Booze and Ghost Walking Tour.

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2. San Francisco Ghosts, Gold, and Ghouls Tour

• $30
• 90 mins (extended tour optional)
• Haunted Pub Crawl – SF Ghosts
• Ghost Hunting Tools $7 extra (optional)
• Ghost Plush Souvenir Toy $6 extra (optional)

The San Francisco Ghosts and Ghouls Tour is US Ghost Adventures’ non-boozy Ghost Tour. So if a Ghost Tour is what you are looking for rather than a haunted pub crawl, US Ghost Adventures has this tour with you in mind.

The Tour is 90 minutes and includes several haunted stops. That’s a lot more haunting for your bucks! Just like the haunted pub tour, the tour focuses on Union Square, Knob Hill, and the affluent areas surrounding it, many of which were destroyed in the 1904 earthquakes and fires that followed.

If simply listening to ghost stories at famous haunted locations is not enough interaction with San Fran’s spooky residents for you, then you can choose to rent an EMF detector, which uses electromagnetic pulses to alert you to any possible paranormal activity. This is an added fee of $7.

However, if Ghost Hunting is more your thing than just listening to stories, then we really recommend the next Tour…

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1. The Haunt

• $55
• INCLUDED on Go City San Francisco Pass
• 90 mins
• Individual Ghost Hunting Tools included
• The Haunt

So far, the Ghost Tours on the list have mainly been learning about San Francisco’s dark history and the poor souls that still roam its streets. Even the Tours which claim to be Ghost Hunt Tours are still heavily focused on history and storytelling with very little ghost hunting going on.

This is where The Haunt comes in. Our number-1 San Francisco Ghost Tour choice was founded in 2008. It is a relatively new Ghost Tour which has quickly become Trip-Advisor’s Number 1 attraction in San Francisco. And it’s not hard to see why: The Haunt is so much more than a Ghost Tour, it really is a real-life Ghost Hunt.

The Haunt‘s team are themselves passionate paranormal investigators with an avid interest in ghost stories committed to not just talking ABOUT those who have passed but also TO them. That’s right, the main feature of this Ghost Tour/ Hunt is to try and connect with the poor souls of the ghost stories.

Starting in Downtown, you wander the old streets popular in the Gold Rush Era, the areas devastated by the 1904 earthquakes, hear stories of those who perished in the great fires, and learn about the city’s unsavory habit of exhumation. The guides are knowledgeable about the city’s dark history but also in its paranormal activity: or rather, the exact location of known and frequent paranormal activity. In several locations, the guide will use a Spirit Box or Divining Rods to make contact with the well know Ghosts in that area.

While on the Tour each of you will also have your very own Ghost hunting tool: each person will carry around your own EMF Detector for you to hunt down Ghosts yourself. As you walk around the city you will see the detector spike at different locations, if the signal is strong enough on many of the detectors then the guide will stop to try and make contact with the deceased soul nearby.

Audience participation is a must to fully enjoy The Hunt, as is an open mind. Not everyone fully believes in paranormal activity and even the die-hard enthusiasts may not be able to explain some of the experiences but The Haunt is so fun and entertaining that even the most hardened skeptics will have a good time and even walk away questioning their previous beliefs. You will find it hard to not keep watch on your EMF as you walk around the city, shouting out in excitement whenever the device spikes. This is why we chose it as the Best Ghost Tour in San Francisco for 2023.

The Tour concludes in Chinatown, another part of San Francisco with a violent and bloody history. After more ghost hunting, you will conclude the tour in Chinatown at a location with a tragic and devastating history and conduct a closing ceremony to honor all the spirits encountered.

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Now, you may be temporarily distracted by the price of The Haunt: at $55 per person, it is the priciest tour on the list. However, The Haunt is one of the attractions available on the Go City San Francisco Pass. The GO CITY SAN FRANCISCO PASS is $119 per person, which means you would only have to take advantage of a few of San Fran’s amazing attractions before The Haunt becomes free! We have included an Example Breakdown here:

Hop on Hop Off 1 day Big Bus Tour (including Golden Gate Bridge) $63

Escape From the Rock Trip to Alcatraz $47

The Haunt Ghost Hunting Tour is $55

= $165

Pass Price $119 = $46 saving!

Full Go City San Francisco Pass Review

This is a very basic use of the GOCity Pass, only using 3 attractions available to you. As you can see just by this small example, it’s very easy when using a GOCity Pass to save on lots of money on visiting Tourist attractions, and the more you do then the more you save! Check out our YouTube video below to see how much money we saved on our last Trip to San Francisco including our ghost hunting with The Haunt:

We would highly recommend The Haunt as the Best Ghost Tour in San Francisco, a must-do for your trip in 2023. While it is as informative as other Ghost Tours available, its interaction between participants and the paranormal makes this more than a walking tour: it’s a hunt! The Guides are so passionate that their excited energy rubs off on you and it’s hard to not have fun no matter the level of your belief in the supernatural. The fact that is available as an attraction on the Go City San Francisco Pass is an added bonus which means The Haunt Ghost walking tour simply HAS to be in your itinerary for your next San Francisco trip!

Have Your Say

Have you done a Ghost Walking Tour in San Francisco? Was The Haunt your favorite or did you prefer another tour we mention in the article? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

If you have any questions about The Haunt or any of the other Ghost Tours we mention, please ask us by writing in the comments box below.

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New York City features so heavily in Sex and the City that it’s more than just a filming location, it’s practically the 5th character. And you can still visit most of the iconic filming locations from Sex and the City in New York City. So pack your favorite pair of Monolos, round up your girlfriends, and use our Ultimate Guide to all the Sex and the City Filming Locations for your next NYC vacation!

On-Location Tours – Guided Tour

This list is perfect for those wanting to DIY the Filming Locations and you can mix in the SATC siites with other New Your Filming Locales as well, but if you are looking for a tour you will be hard-pressed to beat On Locations Sex And The City Hotspots Tour. There are not that many stops on the tour but you get all the highlights and a hugely informative guide who really lets the gossip slip on the whole filming of the Show and the cast and crew.

We highly recommend this tour and you can read all about it here. But if you just want to find the best sites yourself…read on.

Carrie’s Apartment

• 66 Perry St, New York
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Multiple Episodes

Probably the most famous Brownstone stoop in the world! Over the last 25 years, Carrie has never been able to say goodbye to her East 73rd Street which is actually on Perry St in the West Village. With far too many iconic scenes to mention, this is the ultimate filming location for any SATC super fan. The apartment is a private residence so we advise that you bear this in mind when you visit, but the current owners are more than happy for fans and tour groups to take photos outside the building, however, this can change and only a few years ago the residents were very grumpy and we witnessed first hand them shouting at tourists outside their house.

Magnolia Bakery

• 401 Bleecker St, New York, West Village
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 3 Episode 5

The scene where Carrie and Miranda are sitting talking about her new love Aiden is only a short scene but has made cupcake history! Ever the supportive friend, Miranda is empathetically listening to Carrie while eating a now-famous cupcake from the bakery behind; The Magnolia Bakery. This 30-second long scene put Magnolia Bakery on the map as THE place to go for cupcakes, which also happen to be delicious! Re-enact this famous scene with your very own Carrie Cupcake!

This whole area is very SATC and you can visit Sarah Jessica Parker’s actual Show shop, where she makes regular visits, and various other cool little boutiques and shops that all play to the SATC vibe!

Jefferson Market Garden

• 10 Greenwich Ave New York
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 6 Episode 14

After you have enjoyed your yummy cupcake you can head over to the filming location of Steve and Miranda’s wedding which is also in the West Village. This tree-filled garden complete with a koi pond was the perfect location for Miranda’s dream non-traditional wedding to barman, Steve Brady.

The Meatpacking District

• New York, NY 10014
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Multiple Episodes

Next up on the Sex and the City Filming Location Ultimate Guide is the super trendy home of Samantha. When Samantha moved into her new apartment in Season 3 she was very proud to live in the neighborhood as she says, before it was cool. Since then, the Meatpacking District has maintained its trendy reputation with hip stores, bars, and restaurants. Spend some time exploring the ultra-trendy area including the start of the High Line walk, with amazing rooftop views of the city.

SoHo House New York

• 29-35 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 6 Episode 10.
• Soho House New York | Members’ Club & Hotel

Located in the Hip Meatpacking District, Soho House New York was featured in Season 6 soon after it opened in 2002. The Soho House Pool appeared to be the only place our favorite PR guru Samantha could not get into. Memberships are still highly coveted but you can always visit as a hotel guest or book to dine in one of their restaurants.

Charlotte’s Gallery

• 141 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Multiple episodes, seasons 1-3

Charlotte York’s beloved Art gallery is actually named the Louis K. Meisel Gallery, located in Soho, and is still open for you to visit today. Before leaving to become a wife and eventually mother, the Louis K. Meisel Gallery was the filming location for Charlotte’s original baby, her place of work.

ONieal’s Bar AKA Scout Bar

• 174 Grand Street Soho NY 10013
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 4 Episode 5

In the series, Aiden and Steve’s new bar was located on Mulberry Street. Its filming location is actually 1 street over at ONieal’s Bar on Grand Street in Soho. The current owners love welcoming SATC super fans and are happy to make you the perfect Cosmopolitan to raise a glass to your favorite show in one of the most iconic filming locations. Cheers!

Loeb Boathouse

•  Central Park E 72nd St & Park Drive North, New York, NY 10021
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 3 Episode 18

Who can forget the moment in Season 3’s finale when Big and Carrie both fall into the lake? This scene was filmed at the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park and unfortunately, the restaurant where they ate closed in December 2022 citing rising labor and costs of goods. But as of July 2023, the Loeb Boathouse has re-opened with a café style offering which you can visit and enjoy a drink and some food by the lake 7 days a week (just maybe try not to fall off the dock!)

Charlotte’s Apartment

• 930 Park Avenue NY 10028
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Multiple Episodes from Season 3 onwards

Charlotte’s Upper East Side Park Avenue Apartment is actually the only location in the series with its true address. This building has been used as the Park Princess’s place of residence since season 3 when the character herself married Trey. The most memorable scenes belonging to this filming location include Charlotte’s Elizabeth Taylor moment in Episode 12 of Season 6 and the bridal party leaving for Carrie’s non-wedding in the first SATC movie.

This is pretty out of the way and not really worth a visit…But it’s very Close to the Metropolitan Museum Of Art, which oddly is never featured, but well worth a visit on its own.

Tiffany & Co

• 610 Fifth Ave New York NY 10020
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 3, Episode 9

And staying with Charlotte for a minute, who can forget her re-proposal from Trey outside Tiffany’s in Season 3? Visit the filming location of this iconic Sex and the City moment on Fifth Avenue while reminiscing this most Charlotte-worthy proposal (definitely beats an ‘alrighty then’!)

Remember to Check out the Blue Box Cafe for a real Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Brooklyn Bridge

• New York NY 10038
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Sex and the City Movie (2008)

Nothing says New York like the views of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge. Brooklyn Bridge was used in the Sex and the City movie as the meeting place Miranda and Steve choose after their marriage counseling was over. A halfway place between their two worlds symbolizes their meeting in the middle and reconnecting in their marriage. What better place to have a romantic reunion than that with breathtaking views of New York City surrounding you? If you want to walk in Miranda and Steve’s footsteps, we suggest you get the subway over to Brooklyn and walk back over the bridge towards Manhattan with the amazing skyline in front of you.

Full Guide to Walking The Brooklyn Bridge HERE

The Plaza

• 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 2 Episode 18

It was Big’s Engagement to Natasha and Carrie just couldn’t stay away. Of course a man like Big would have his Engagement Party at the exquisite Plaza Hotel, so this was the filming location for one of the most famous scenes in the love story of Carrie and Big. The scene was specifically shot outside the hotel but that doesn’t stop you from going inside to have a look around or even grab a Cosmo at the Palm Court or enjoy afternoon tea.

You might recognize the hotel from a certain other New York Based Film…

Columbus Circle

• New York NY 10019
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 4 Episode 12

From one relationship ending to another, this break-up scene between Carrie and Aiden in season 4 still hits us hard 12 years later. Visit Columbus Circle and remember Carrie and Aiden’s heart-breaking scene where they break up for the second and final time (or is it?) The Columbus Circle Fountains provided a beautiful filming location for this iconic moment.

Trapeze School

•  Pier 40 Roof 353 West St NY 10014
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 6 Episode 8
• Trapeze School New York – Home

In this fun episode, It is the run-up to Harry and Charlotte’s wedding and Carrie has to face her fear of ‘the catch’ In the end, our girl learns to trust and reach for the catch, and even if things don’t exactly go to plan, she was proud she tried. The Trapeze school scenes for the episode were filmed at the actual New York Trapeze School down on Pier 40. The good news is that it is still open and you can book your very own flying trapeze session and make the jump just like Carrie!

The New York Public Library

• Bryant Park 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• Season 6 Episode 4 and Sex and the City Movie (2008)

The New York Public Library has been used twice as filming locations for 2 BIG and iconic scenes of Sex and the City.

The first time the Library featured was in Season 6, Episode 4 which coined the now infamous quote ‘he’s just not that into you‘: a phrase that has since spawned a best-seller book and movie adaptation.

But arguably, the New York Library’s most important use as a filming location was in the 2008 Sex and the City Movie as Big and Carrie’s upcoming wedding location. As a writer, it made sense that Carrie chose this location for her wedding as in her words it’s ”the classic New York landmark that housed all the great love stories”; the perfect combination of her love of New York and literature. Even if they did end up getting married in the end, we SATC super fans will never forget those heart-wrenching scenes both inside and outside the Library when Big stands Carrie up on their wedding day. Nor will we forget how amazing that dress looked as she fled down the library steps (Carrie Bradshaw: a true fashionista even in her saddest moments)

And Just Like That…

It had been 23 years since the show had first aired and claimed a piece of our hearts. The Sex and the City series had spun two spin-off movies but with the second movie in 2010 receiving bland responses at best, we thought we had said goodbye to our favorite Manhattan girls forever. But in a time when we could all do with the nostalgia and familiarity of our best NYC girlfriends, HBO announced in 2021 that there would be another series of Sex and the City. And Just Like That… we had our girls back (minus Samantha).

Here are a few of the filming locations used during the new seasons of And Just Like That which you can visit in New York City.

Whitney Café

• 99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• AJLT Season 1 Episode 1
• Whitney Museum of American Art

And the first glimpse we get of our girls is, of course, waiting for a table for brunch together. The filming location for this now iconic scene is actually the Whitney Café located within the Whitney Museum of American Art. You can visit the museum itself as well as all the other beloved SATC locations mentioned earlier that are also located in the trendy and hip Soho area. It made sense that our first scene back with the girls would be at a brunch together and in an area that they have so frequently visited in the past, bringing their past right back to the present.

The East Pole Restaurant

• 133 E 65th St New York NY 10065
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• AJLT Season 1 Episode 3

In September 2021, Willie Garson tragically passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. HBO revealed that Willie was meant to play his beloved character Stanford in all 10 episodes of the new series but due to his progressing illness, he unfortunately could only film 3 episodes.

His last scene with the girls was a lunch filmed at The East Pole Restaurant, a farm-to-table brown house building not far from Fifth Ave. In this scene, Carrie’s supportive friends are concerned about her since the passing of Big which of course included Sandford (not that it was so obvious to Charlotte!) Sadly, this restaurant scene was not meant to be the last time we saw Sandford but Willie’s illness meant he could not continue further. Therefore this small scene is one of the most iconic moments of the new series. In Episode 4 we learn that Stanford has moved to Tokyo. He is also mentioned in Season 2, keeping Sanford alive and well in the SATC universe.

Bethesda Terrace

• New York NY 10024
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• AJLT Season 1 Episode 3

In a tailspin of grief, after Big’s passing Carrie finds herself unable to sleep and the only thing that helps is to keep walking. A lot of walking. So utterly heartbroken at the sudden loss of her husband, Carrie walks for miles around the city for hours all whilst wearing high-heeled shoes (of course). The iconic New York landmark Bethesda Terrace in Central Park is one of the filming locations used for one of Carrie’s many walking routes.

Lyceum Theatre

• 149 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• AJLT Season 1 Episode 1

I couldn’t help but wonder… If only Carrie had not attended her goddaughter Lily’s piano recital- perhaps then Big would still be alive? The fate of our beloved Mr Big was sealed however and John James Preston suffered a heart attack while Carrie was at Charlotte’s Daughter’s recital. The recital was set at the Manhattan School of Music but the filming location for the outside scenes were actually at the Lyceum Theatre. The Lyceum Theatre is Broadway’s oldest and continuously open theatre. The production team changed the sign on the wall outside and the inside scenes were actually filmed in a music hall of the Manhattan School of Music.

Lobster Place in Chelsea Market

• 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
• VIEW ON GOOGLE MAPS
• AJLT Season 1 Episode 8

Another day and another lunch with the girls, again in the hip and trendy Soho area. In episode 8, the girls meet for lunch at The Lobster Place which is located inside the very cool Chelsea Market. Here, Miranda announces she is going to ask Steve for a divorce but is somehow upstaged by Charlotte’s blow job talk.

You can visit Lobster Place yourself and enjoy Lobster Place prepared meals including delicious lobster rolls, chowder, and sushi (blow job talk optional). We visited her on our last trip and shared the chowder to start and then a lobster roll, both of which were amazing. This was prior to the location appearing in the Series, so we were pretty excited to see our lunch stop being used in the Show!

After your visit, don’t forget to pop into the FatWitch Bakery and pick up some brownies just like Carrie did for her hip new neighbor.

Have Your Say

Have you visited any of the Sex and the City filming locations mentioned here? What was your opinion of them? Perhaps you have visited other iconic Sex and the City filming locations that we have missed in our article. Either way, let us know in the comments section below! Also, if you have any questions regarding the Sex and the City filming locations mentioned here please put them in the comments box below and we will get back to you

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I (Katie) am a BIG Sex and the City fan and after we got home from our December 2021 trip, And Just Like That was released, with even more recognizable New York locations (and ones less so). So I convinced Steve to add the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour to our itinerary for our trip in October 2023. By this time, And Just Like That had released a second season using even more of the amazing New York City backdrop as filming locations. On Location Tours actively promotes film locations from the old series as well as the new revival to keep things up to date with current filming. Sounds like a no-brainer for any SATC fan, but is the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour worth it? Read on for our full Review to find out.

Who are On Location Tours?

First off, who exactly are On Location Tours?

On Location Tours is a Movie and TV film Location Tour company whose main passion is helping fellow movie buffs seek out locations from their favorite on-screen moments. With Tour companies in LA, Boston, Chicago, and South Carolina it’s New York City where On Locations REALLY know their stuff: there are 28 Movie and TV On Location Tours in New York to choose from. You can see the full list HERE

From Infamous TV shows such as Friends, Sopranos, Gossip Girl and Big Movie Blockbusters such as Avengers, When Harry Met Sally, Ghostbusters, Elf, Home Alone 2, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s; On Location Tours have filming locations from them all! Whether it is a walking tour or bus tour, you are guaranteed to see filming locations from your favorite movies and shows. But the jewel in their crown is the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour, a whole tour lasting 3.5 hours focusing on all the film locations used in the franchise.

Sex and the City Hotspots Tour

• Price: Adults $66 Premium Seating $76
• Adults Only, Not Suitable for Under 18 Years of Age
• Duration 3.5 Hours
• Thurs- Monday Only
• Tour Type: Bus
• Wheelchair Chair Accessibility available upon request
• Included with GoCity Pass- NO- But GoCity Pass Holders get 10% off when booking https://gocity.com/en/new-york/attractions
• Pre Booking is Advised
• Private Tours Available

Booking the Tour

We booked our places on the tour several weeks in advance as we know that the tour is extremely popular and sells out fast. The Tour only runs Thursday- Monday and weekend tours can get booked up pretty quickly. There is usually just one tour a day either at 2pm or 2:30 so availability is limited. It’s best to be mindful of the days and times the tour runs when planning your trip: you don’t want to plan space in your itinerary for a day when the tour is not on!

This Tour is not included with the GoCity Pass but pass holders get 10% with a valid GoCity Pass number. GoCity Passes are great for saving money on your vacation by getting discounted entry at most big attractions in New York. Two other On Location Tours are even included in the Pass as well as many other attractions in the City. This and the 10% off the Sex and the City Hotsports Tour make getting a GoCity pass worth the value. You can see a full review of the Go City New York Pass HERE

But back to booking the Tour. We had read on Trip Advisor that it can be hard to hear the Tour Bus Guide towards the back of the Bus so we paid the extra $10 for the Preferred Seating option at the front of the bus. Again, the 10% off we got with our GoCity Passes helped offset this cost. This guaranteed us seating in the first 5 rows of the minibus, meaning we would also be first off at all the film location stops.

Also, be mindful of the length of the tour as well as the drop-off spot at the end when thinking about your plans after the tour ends. The Tour drop-off point is different from the meeting place and the tour ends at 9 West 57th Street at the Cucina 81/2 Restaurant. Our tour was moved by half an hour the day before and we had only 15 minutes to make it to our next plan for the day which was a boat trip over in Hudson Yards now due to leave only 15 minutes after we arrived back to the drop-off point! Make sure when you are planning your day that you leave room to get to your next activity.

The Tour Meeting Spot

On Location Tours advertise the meeting spot as Near 5th Ave and 58th Street with exact location details given after purchase. Put simply, the meeting spot for the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour is in front of the Pulitzer Fountain outside the Plaza Hotel. They are very clear that the pick-up spot is not outside the Plaza Hotel itself but in front of the Pulitzer fountain and opposite the Apple Store.

They advise that you get to the meeting spot 15 minutes early and look out for an On Locations Tour Guide carrying a blue umbrella. We were actually a few minutes ahead of our tour guide and could also see a few groups of people milling around who looked like they were waiting for a tour of some sort. It wasn’t long until we saw our Tour Guide Lou with the blue umbrella and approached her with our tickets. As we had preferred seating, she asked us to stand to the side with 2 other ladies who had preferred seating too.

TIP: If you have not paid for preferred seating then we would advise getting to the meeting spot AT LEAST 15 minutes before the tour starts as the line for the rest of the minibus is on a first come first served basis. The earlier you arrive, the nearer the front to the bus you will be.

The Tour Bus turned up pretty much at 2:30 on the dot so while we waited we chatted with the other ladies in the preferred queue, learning that they were from Australia and that they too wanted to do the Boat Trip from Hudson Yards after the tour and were worrying about how to make it to the boat! (more on that later)

The Tour Bus

The Tour Bus on the day of our tour was a single-decker coach with onboard toilets. The seats were plush and comfortable with either AC or heating depending on the climate during the tour. The Bus driver navigates the traffic of the big city with ease and parks in designated areas for the tour stops (more on that in detail in the tour review) Apparently, the bus size can depend on the amount of people on the tour each day. Private Tours are a smaller group so therefore get a smaller private bus or even a Limo if you want to go all out!

Our On Location Tours Guide

For our Sex and the City Hotspots Tour, we had Tour Guide Lou. Lou is an aspiring actress who has lived in New York for several years including when the Sex and the City series was being filmed. She is also a massive Sex and the City fan and this showed in her knowledge of the show and her enthusiasm during our tour. She was a fountain of knowledge, shared industry secrets, and fun facts about the series, and made sure everyone had a good time on the tour. Read on for the full review of our experience of the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour with Tour Guide Lou!

The Tour

Once we boarded the bus, we sat behind the tour guide’s seat on the left of the bus and we were ready to go! We always ask the guides which is the best side to sit on and Lou said she preferred the views on the left. The Tour advertises seeing up to 40 film locations from the series, the movies, and the new reboot. However, a lot of these locations are seen from the tour bus.

For example, as we were ready to depart, Lou pointed out The Plaza Hotel, which we had all seen at the meeting point and was used in the series. We drove up Fifth Avenue where she continued to point out more filming locations such as Bergdorfs, Tiffany’s, and then the New York Public Library. Lou explained where in the series these locations were used but the big fans already knew the more famous locations.

As we left midtown and headed through the traffic toward Greenwich Village Lou filled in the journey by sharing stories of the cast filming in the city and even attempted to clear up the rumors around the famous feud between Kim Cattrall and the rest of the ladies. She also pointed out where Sarah Jessica Parker lived while filming and the street they often used to film on, all to make SJP’s schedule as an actress and then producer more manageable. It was really interesting to hear how the series was filmed in such a busy city and the little industry secrets that happened behind the scenes. Before we knew it, we were parked up and ready to get off at our first stop.

Carrie’s Brown Stoop- West Village

As we exited the tour bus, Lou explained that we were about to approach the building used for the outside scenes at Carries Apartment. She was very clear that our safety was paramount as the street was not pedestrianized and that we should be respectful of the current residents on the street. As a result, we would all cross the road in small groups and once we had our photos we were to walk ourselves down the street the our next stop and all meet up later at an assigned time.

This made sense to us as we had an unpleasant experience when we visited Carries Apartment on our own in 2016. Back then, as we approached the building we heard other fans being very loud and as a result, the current owner of the apartment came outside to ask them to be quiet and behave more respectfully. We often visit filming locations on many of our visits across the county and we are very mindful when we visit private homes not to trespass or be a nuisance to the current residents.

As we had Premium Seating, we were one of the first off the bus and in the first group to have our photos taken outside the famous stoop. Lou offered to take photos and even provided props too. With our photos taken, we walked down the street which happened to be during the Halloween Season so lots of the houses were decorated all in a big way!

SJP Collection and Magnolia Bakery

At the end of the street, along Bleecker Street stands high-end boutiques such as LuLu Guinness, Marc Jacobs, Mulberry, and now the newly opened flagship of The Sarah Jessica Parker Collection. Tour Guide Lou mentioned that SJP herself has often been seen in her own store, helping customers try on shoes. Sadly, SJP was currently in London doing her theatre show ‘The Plaza Suite’ so there was little chance we would see her. Still, we went in for a while to look at her beautiful creations and some of the tour guests took advantage of the 10% discount and purchased a pair.

Across from the SJP Collection is BOYAR Gifts, which stocks memorabilia and souvenirs from the Sex and the City series, and tour guests also get 10% off during and after the tour.

We then continued down Bleeker to the Magnolia Bakery. The small scene in season 3 with Miranda and Carrie talking about Aiden and eating a cupcake led to the Bakery’s notoriety which resulted in opening more locations and having pop-ups all over America. More recently, Magnolia Bakery has become famous for its Banana Bread Pudding. As it was Halloween season I purchased a Pumpkin Spiced Cupcake and Steve opted to try the Banana Bread Pudding. We made our way across the road to a small park area to eat our treats.

My cupcake was yummy, with plenty of frosting just how I like American Cupcakes. Steve shared his Banana Bread Pudding with me as it was so large. It was very creamy and sweet with only a hint of banana but it was worth its fame! We then went back to the corner to meet Lou who had a free mini red velvet cupcake for each tour guest. Feeling suitably full and full of sugar we boarded the bus to our next stop.

Buddakan

As we drove through the rest of Greenwich Village, into the West Village, and towards SoHo Lou kept us entertained by pointing out more filming locations from the series and sharing stories from behind the scenes. She also pointed out where other celebrities have been spotted such as Taylor Swift, Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper, and of course, SJP herself, who all live in the area.

Soon we arrived at our next stop; the restaurant called Buddakan which is used in the first movie as the location for the now ill-fated wedding rehearsal dinner. Lou explained that the owners of Buddakan let us have exclusive access to the restaurant before dinner opening hours while the staff set up for the evening. This was one of the filming locations across the city that On Location Tours has built and maintained a relationship with to offer private access to their groups.

Again, we were one of the first off the bus and into the building. The private function room and bar area looked exactly as they did in the movie and were instantly recognizable. We were all given the opportunity to take photos, and even get a photo of ourselves at the bar where Carrie asked Big for her ‘last single girl kiss’ (sob!)

As we left the restaurant, Lou pointed out the world-famous Chelsea Market which was used for scenes in season 1 of ‘And Just Like That’. There was not time to actually go into the Market hall but we had previously visited early December 2021 before the scenes were aired! We had Lobster Rolls and Chowder at The Lobster Place where the scene with the girls having lunch and Charlotte shocks everyone with an announcement that she still blows Harry was filmed!

O’Neils AKA Scout

Back on the bus and on to our next stop: O’Neil’s bar which was used to film Aiden and Steve’s bar Scout. Lou delighted us with more behind-the-scenes info during the drive. In the series, Scout is on Mulberry Street which is why Carrie brings Aiden a Mulberry Bush as a peace offering. O’Neils is in real life, situated on Grand Street. However, just 2 streets over is Mulberry Street so it still shares a connection.

O’Neils is the last stop before the final stop of the tour and it is a good one! Here, for just $25 you can raise a glass to your favorite show with the drink they made iconic: a Cosmopolitan. The tour guide calls ahead to let O’Neils know they are arriving and pre-orders the drink. The price of the cocktail also includes the gratuity, so $25 for a classic Cosmopolitan in New York City is not a bad price! There was no pressure to purchase one of the drinks if you did not wish to, everyone was still welcome to relax in the bar, take photos, and use the facilities. While we sipped our drink, Lou continued to share film secrets about the series before everyone headed back onto the bus.

Now, remember our time constraint issue regarding the boat cruise we had booked for after the tour? We spoke to Lou at the beginning of the tour and she suggested that after O’Neils would be a good time to leave if we needed to as there would be no more stops before the bus headed back to the drop-off point. We made the decision then to leave the tour after our drinks and head over to Hudson Yards. Our 2 new Aussie friends wanted to come with us so we shared an Uber to the Pier and enjoyed the Harbour Lights Sightseeing Cruise together! It was so lovely to meet new people and end up sharing part of our trips together.

The Meat Packing District and Drop Off- for info

Obviously, as we left the tour early, we did not experience the end of the tour ourselves. However, after the tour bus leaves O’Neils it travels through the Meat Packing District, home to many more Sex and the City film locations which the tour guide points out from within the bus. You pass by many more filming locations before heading back to the drop-off point in Midtown at Cucina 81/2 Restaurant at 9 West 57th Street. Here, Tour guests can get a discount but there is no obligation to stay and eat there.

Is the Sex and the City Hotspots On Location Tour Worth it?

The Tour is over 3 hours long which we consider a lot of time for one activity in New York City; there is just so much to do in the Big Apple that any activity that takes up a lot of time, can mean you are forfeiting another activity or landmark that might be worth more to you. However, if you are a massive Sex and the City Fan then we would say that the Hotspots Tour is DEFINITELY worth it. The 3 and a half hours flew by and we had so much fun (not to mention a well-needed rest for our feet thanks to the coach driving us to each stop!)

Sure, you see lots of New York landmarks that you might have already seen. You may have even been to some of the more famous locations before on your own. But what really makes the Tour worth it is the Tour Guide. Lou was absolutely amazing and shared information that we wouldn’t have found out if we hadn’t taken the tour.

She also pointed out lesser-known filming locations so still managed to surprise us, even though we consider ourselves film location buffs! Her knowledge and enthusiasm are contagious and it’s hard not to have fun on the tour, you feel you are with another fan of the series and that’s because she is one! Gaining access to locations closed to the public also makes it worth it as well as the special price of the Cosmo and the discounts at the boutiques on Bleeker. And they constantly add in new locations from Just Like That, keeping the tour up to date.

We highly recommend any Sex and the City fan add the On Locations Hotspot Tour to their itinerary for their next visit to New York. And if the rest of the Tour Guides are as fanatical as Lou is about film locations, then we bet that any of the other Film Location Tours by On Locations Tours will be just as good!

< Book Your Sex And The City Tour Here >

Want to do the Tour for FREE?

at $66 each these are no the cheapest of tours and for a family it can add up quite a bit, and for the mos part there is very little on the tour that cannot be accessed for free (the exception being the Buddakan, which while open to the public you would need to pay to dine there). For your money you are getting the transport around the City and the incredibel tour Guide, along with a few perks and dicounts aling the way. These are well worth the cost, but if you just want to see the locations there is nthing stopping you hunting ut the sights yourself, it’s actually very rewarding.

We have a full list here, inclusing a few not on the Tour, We complied this list before we did the tour so it’ all our own reserach and we are not ripping off or letting the any cats out of the bag. But if you don’t want to do a full tour and just see some of the best sites for yourself then follow our guide and you can see all of the best locations from the Show.

Have Your Say

Have you ever done the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below! Did you do another On Location Tour and enjoy it more? Let us know what you think in the comments section. Also, if you have any questions about On Locations Tours and the Sex and the City Hotspot Tour, ask away in the comments section below and we will get back to you!

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Not Actual Fireworks…

First off, there are NO Fireworks at Disney California Adventure!

And by that, we mean that there are Nighttime shows at Disney California Adventure but these are usually just music and projection shows without pyrotechnics.

Disneyland Park has their own nighttime music and projection shows daily, with Fireworks on the weekends and special dates. So if you are visiting Disneyland California and have a 2-Park Pass, there is a chance you can still catch the magical Fireworks in the sky! Learn more about Disneyland Fireworks in our article HERE

Disney California Adventure’s Nighttime Entertainment since 2018 has been World of Color. Despite there being no fireworks, it’s a pretty popular show seeing as it’s the ONLY nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure and it shows twice a day!

And World of Color has just got even better in 2023 with Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder Celebrations. To celebrate a whole century of Disney Magic, Disneyland had Wondrous Journeys- a daily projection nighttime show with Fireworks on select dates. To celebrate the 100-year Disney Anniversary at Disney California Adventure, Disney created a special version of their nighttime show; World of Color: ONE.

World of Color: ONE

• Location: Paradise Gardens Park at Disney California Adventure
• Time: Daily, 9 PM and 10:15 PM.
• Duration: 24 minutes.
• Note: projection Show Only, no Fireworks.
• Show times can alter without notice. Check the Entertainment Schedule for more Info.

World of Color: ONE celebrates Disney’s storytelling legacy that started 100 years ago. The show is based at the waterfront of Paradise Gardens and is a twist on the traditional World of Color water show. Using over 1000 fountains, each with its own LED ring, World of Color: ONE, tells the story of how a single action (such as a ripple of water) can lead to a wave of change and magic.

The new version is also the only nighttime entertainment show which features classic Disney, Pixar, LucasFilm, and Marvel all in the same show. Using the surrounding buildings to project images and water special effects to bring the Disney universe to life, this spectacular show celebrates all our favorite characters who dared to make waves and change their own worlds for the better. Expect to witness spectacular moments from your favorite movies such as Lion King, Moana, Star Wars, and Avengers.

With a duration of 24 minutes, it is way longer than the usual 10-minute Fireworks shows at other parks, allowing you to fully immerse yourselves in the Disney magic and celebrate the 100 years of true wonder.

How to watch World of Color: ONE at Disney California Adventure

Now that your disappointment of no fireworks has been replaced by the intrigue of the spectacular lights and water show, it’s time to work out how to watch World of Color: ONE.

The official viewing area for World of Color: ONE is outside The Little Mermaid’s Journey on the waters of Paradise Park at Disney California Adventure. First thing first, a valid park ticket and reservation are needed to enter the park and watch the show. You can find out where best to get your Disneyland Resort tickets HERE.

The World of Color Show is HUGE. It spans the whole of Paradise Park with different viewing areas, some not so good as others. So which is the best way to watch the show and where? There are 5 ways to watch World of Color: ONE at Disney California Park:

• Standby Viewing
• Virtual Queue
• World of Color: ONE Dining Package
• World of Color: ONE Dessert Party Package
• Alternative Viewing Options

Below we go into each option in detail.

World of Color: ONE Stand-By Viewing

The oldest and most traditional way to get to something you want is… Queue. If this is your only option then it’s best to arrive as early as possible at the viewing areas and speak to a Cast Member about joining the walk-up list. Like, 1 hour- 1 and a half an hour before the first show begins at 9 PM early! Our Top Tip though, the 2nd show at 10 PM is not as busy so you will not have to arrive that early to get into the viewing areas to see the 2nd show. The Stand-By viewing areas do tend to change so best to ask a Cast Member for more advice and directions on the night. The bridge to Pixar Pier is a good but popular option to see the show without being too close to the water to get wet. The area by the Golden Zephyr is often used but again, get there early as the area does have a few obstructions as the best viewing spots are given to those in the Virtual Queue!

This is really a backup option if you don’t have a mobile phone to join the virtual queue or if you do not get a space reserved in the virtual queue. Just because it’s the oldest system, doesn’t make it the best! We consider our time in the parks a precious commodity and wasting over an hour, standing on tired feet, is not a good use of time. Luckily, there are other options.

Virtual Queue

Last year, Disney California Adventure launched the Virtual Viewing Queue for World of Colour. To join this you must have a mobile phone, access to the Disneyland App, and be in either Park to join the Virtual Queue selection at Midday. The Virtual Queue selection is highly competitive and does not guarantee the ability to watch World of Color: ONE. Once the first showing is filled up, it will then start to designate entry to the later showing. If you have been selected to join the virtual queue you will get a notification on the app to enter one of the designated viewing points Blue or Yellow. Blue and Yellow are the color of the entry points of the viewing area, it is all one big area. You do not get to choose which entrance you are assigned (Blue or Yellow) but they both lead to the same area. You do not get to pick the show time either.

As the Virtual Queue viewing area is so big, it is advised you arrive 45 minutes before show time. But if getting a front view is important to you, we would suggest you arrive an hour before the start time. The Blue entrance is on the Pier and the Yellow is next to the Golden Zephyr.

You can read more on Disneyland’s new Virtual Queue Section HERE

World of Color: ONE Dining Package

Booking a World of Color: One Dining package ensures that you get to see the show. Sounds great, right? Of course, there is one obvious con to this option: Cost.

There are 2 World of Color: ONE Dining Package options:

Lunch or Dinner at Wine Country Trattoria – Napa Valley-inspired food in a Mediterranean setting

Lunch: $59 for Guests, ages 10+; $35 for Guests, ages 3 to 9 ($10 upcharge for those ordering the rib eye steak)

Dinner: $59 for Guests, ages 10+; $35 for Guests, ages 3 to 9 ($10 upcharge for those ordering the rib eye steak)

Price does not include tax, gratuity, or alcohol.

The Wine Country Trattoria is located within Disney California Adventure Park and each lunch or dinner Dining Package includes one voucher for the viewing area at Paradise Park 9the viewing area is not at the restaurant). Both meal options are a 3-course pre-fixe menu so you can either enjoy a relaxed sit-down meal before you watch the show or you can book a chilled-out Lunch to rest your weary feet and then use your voucher later to enter the viewing area. Being able to choose when you enjoy your meal allows you more freedom to plan your day how you want it but still guarantees a decent World of Color: ONE viewing spot.

Here’s the tricky part; you can not book reservations for the World of Color Dining Package online or on the app. It is highly recommended that you book a lunch or dinner reservation at the Wine Country Trattoria and mention to your host or server that you are interested in the Dining Package. They will then be able to upgrade your booking to the Dining Package and you will get your voucher for later.

HOWEVER, World of Color Dining Packages have limited availability and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Therefore, you are more likely to be able to upgrade your reservation if you have an early lunch reservation slot. Which kind of messes up the idea of having an idyllic Napa-inspired evening meal prior to the show! A way around this may be to go to the restaurant earlier in the day and explain you have a reservation for dinner and would like to upgrade to the Dining Package. We have never tried this but you never know, a cast member might just sprinkle some pixie dust on you!

Storyteller’s Cafe – Californian Feast Dinner Buffet at Disney Grand Californian Hotel

• Dinner Buffet: $59 for Guests, ages 10+; $35 for Guests, ages 3 to

Price does not include tax, gratuity or alcohol.

Reservation Slot Times
First Show – Dining Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Second Show – Dining Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

On dates with only one World of Color show, the suggested dining time is 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

The Storytellers Cafe Dining Package runs the same way as at the Wine Country Trattoria, except this is a dinner buffet option only. It is also located at the Disney Grand Californian Hotel, not in Disney California Adventure Park. However, Storytellers Cafe is located just inside the parks Hotel entrance and Guests dining at Storytellers Cafe will receive 3 hours of parking (a choice of valet or self-parking) at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa with validation.

Again, you can not book reservations for the World of Color Dining Package online or on the app. It is highly recommended that you book a dinner reservation at the Storybook Cafe and mention to your host or server that you are interested in the Dining Package. They will then be able to upgrade your booking to the Dining Package and you will get your voucher for later to access the separate viewing area in the Park. As dining packages are limited again, it is advised that you book an early dinner reservation slot to have the best bet of being able to upgrade your reservation.

There are a couple of downsides to booking a World of Color dining package to see World of Color: ONE. The first is obviously the cost. You are paying to have a meal to ensure you will get a viewing spot. Now, if either of the restaurant options fits into your food requirements for your day at the Parks then this isn’t too bad an option. Everyone has to eat right, and you may be wanting to try out one of the restaurants anyway.

However, the fact that your reservation does not guarantee you a Dining Package upgrade, then you highly run the risk of turning up for your meal and not being able to upgrade: leaving you with no voucher to the viewing area for World of Color: ONE! By this time, the virtual queue system will have long closed, leaving you left with the only option of the stand-by queue (which you might not have the time required to do successfully!) We don’t know about you, but the disappointment and frustration of this would definitely put a dampener on the meal we have booked- rendering the whole idea pointless and an unnecessary cost.

Unfortunately, we do not know how limited the Dining Package upgrades really are, this could just be Disney’s way of letting us know that there isn’t an unlimited amount of upgrades. Disney likes to make sure they do not disappoint unnecessarily, so this statement could just be a term and condition, rather than an actual restriction. But as there is no way of knowing this for sure, it still means there is no guarantee that you can upgrade your dining reservation to include the viewing voucher.

World of Color Dessert Party – Review

World of Color Dessert Party – $89

• A delicious selection of desserts and cheeses
• 2 alcoholic beverages for adults, age 21 and older
• Unlimited soft drinks and bottled water
• Reserved seating in the World of Color preferred viewing area at Paradise Gardens Park, where you can sit at a table with folding chairs or a high-top table with director chairs
• Reservation Time is 1 hour before the show starts
• Must have a Reservation

World of Color Dessert Party combines 2 of our favorite things at a theme park; sweet treats and sitting down!! And the fact that they are Disney-shaped snacks and treats is even better. This dining experience is by no way cheap but as with many Dining experiences at Disney, it is the once-in-a-lifetime experience you are paying for, not just the food.

We also feel that the Dessert Party has a lot of positives to it; the first is that you can pre-book a reservation for this just like you would with any other dining reservation on your Disney App. Once you have your reservation, you have a guaranteed place to sit (very important) and watch World of Color:ONE. Unlike the uncertainty of being able to upgrade to the Dining Package, once you have your Dessert Party Reservation you are guaranteed a place to watch the show. Top Tip; arrive early before your reservation to ensure you can choose a good spot. The high table tops in the middle are perfect! If your reservation is for the 10:15 showing, turn up at the previous show check-in time to ensure you bag a good spot and then go off and enjoy the rest of the Park (be aware that some rides temporarily close while the show is on).

The second positive about the Dessert Party is that it is the ONLY way you can watch World of Color:ONE while sitting down! Resting your feet while at a Theme Park is in our opinion, invaluable, you really can’t put a price on it. We feel the same way about this as we do about saving time. There are only so many hours in a Disney Day just like there are only so many steps you can do in a Disney Day. Ensuring you have a Dessert party reservation means you do not need to stress or worry about getting a good spot by wasting your valuable time standing for over an hour before the show starts. You can enjoy your time at Disney California Adventure knowing that you have a spot saved, with a chair, and Disney treats!

Time-saving is just another bonus of getting the Dessert party Package and it is a really nice and relaxing way to end your day at Disney. There are even take-away boxes available for you to take home your Dessert leftovers if you are too full to eat them all (perfect for your day-2 Disney breakfast the next morning!)

Our Full Review of the World Of Color Dessert Party

Alternative Viewing Options

Pixar Pier

If you have been unable to get a dining package, virtual queue selection or into the standby viewing area, the last option for you to get a decent view of World of Color: ONE might be Pixar Pier. The area of Incredicoaster is dark so is a perfect place to see the lights and hear the music. You will, however, not get to see the projections well or the Incredicoaster light up but you will still see the fountains, colors, and lights. It is also less crowded in this space so if you are not a fan of crowds then this might be the place for you.

TOP TIP: If a perfect view is not a priority for you, anywhere to the left of the Park offers better views than to the right. You will see way more if you are standing to the left of the show rather than the right.

Lamplight Lounge

This might just be an unofficial World of Color: ONE dining viewing area of sorts. If you time your dinner reservation right and are seated at the edge of the outside patio, you will get to see the show while you have your dinner. However, that is a lot of big IFs, even if you do book your dinner for while the show is on, there is no way to guarantee you will be sat outside, let alone at the edge of the patio with a decent view. Unfortunately, there are just no guarantees with this option.

So where is the best place to watch World of Color: ONE?

In our opinion, the BEST place to watch World of Color: ONE at Disney California Adventure is at the World of Color Dessert Party. It includes food, a place to sit, and a good spot to see the show. It saves time-saving your spot an hour before the show, rests your feet and once you have your reservation, you can spend all day safe in the knowledge that you have a good spot to watch the show from (just make sure you book your reservation online or via the app when the 60-day window opens!)

However, at $89 per person, that is a lot of Disney dollars that could be spent elsewhere. If this is out of your budget then we highly recommend you use the Virtual Queuing system to ensure that you get a place in the reserved standing area. Ultimately, without spending money, standing around waiting for a Nighttime Show (with or without Fireworks) is all part of the Disney experience.

We would recommend the Dessert Party for a special treat or celebration and only if it is within your budget.

Considerations

World of Color is a wonderful display of nostalgic Disney magic and while some are disappointed there are no actual fireworks we find the giant water projections even more engaging than the castle projections while the fireworks are a miss, the other elements help make up for it. Would we choose this over the classic Castle Fireworks, no, but we would choose this over the non-fireworks Castle projection shows! If you are there for two days we do recommend seeing one of each.

The Show does take a chunk out of your day and this could be used for other things, especially during the show when the queues in the area drop sharply. But it’s an essential part of the experience and a chance t relax for a while rather than storming around the park.

Finally, one thing people often do not mention. The show does pump an awful lot of water into the air. That water does not stay there. It comes tumbling down as rain, and with a breeze in the wrong direction, you are going to get wet. Those at the back get a little moist, those at the front can get absolutely sodden. It does depend upon the wind, but you never relly know hoe bad the rain fall will be, and when it’s bad you will be drenched. It’s not something to be taken lightly!

Have Your Say

Please let us know what you think of our recommendations. Perhaps you know of a viewing spot that was better than those we mentioned. Or maybe you have done the Dessert Party and didn’t think it was worth it. Either way, we would love to hear from you. Share your experiences and opinions on World of Color: One at Disney California Adventure below in our comments section. If you have any questions about anything regarding World of Colour, please ask us by using the comments section below!

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After a year-long wait for the much-loved classic area to re-open, expectations were high when Mickey’s Toon Town re-opened. But has the newly refurbished Toon Town lived up to expectations? Here is our full Mickey’s Toon Town Disney California review for 2023.

What is Mickey’s Toontown?

Mickey’s ToonTown has been at Disneyland since 1993. With its bright, colorful cartoon exteriors, it has always been the perfect area of the Park for families with young children. In 2019 Disneyland announced a refurbishment period for ToonTown, where the existing rides and attractions of GADGETcoaster, Goofy’s Play Yard, and Donald’s Duck Pond would be reimagined.

CenTOONial Park, Goofy’s Play Yard, and Donald Duck’s Pond are all areas in ToonTown where younger Guests can have fun, play in their own way, and choose to play together. This Land was designed with an environment that allows Kids to see, hear, feel, and interact with one another in many different ways. The Walt Disney Imagineers designed this area with kids’ play in mind, removing any barriers to play, creating lots of open green for kids to play and the land is curb-free to help guests with different abilities.

The General feel of the land is really cool. When you walk in the feeling of being inside a Cartoon is pretty strong. The tall facades of Rolling Hills blend perfectly with Los Angeles’s perfect Blue Skys to just make you feel you are in a cartoon. The Old Toontown was a little more than a few cute houses where you could Meet Mickey, Minnie, and Friends, but the re-imagining is next level. This feels like a real corner of Walt’s imagination and has really utilized his rules of never being able to see another part of the park.

It’s a really cool achievement and really helps celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Company.

While at first sight, the area does seem to be aimed at younger guests, Mickey’s ToonTown has both Mickey and Minnie’s Houses where you can meet the main mouse himself, therefore becoming a much-visited area by any Disney Guest who wants some one-on-one time with either Mickey Mouse. The Houses and the Meet and Greets were missed by Guests during the refurbishments and wait times for the Houses can reach ****

If that wasn’t enough of a reason for Disney Adults to visit the area, Disneyland has opened a new ride specifically designed to be fun for all ages: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad. The ride has been designed specifically with no age/height restriction, so families can travel together, whatever their age or height.

Mickey and Minnie’s Houses

Ignoring the elephant in the room that Mickey and Minnie don’t actually live together despite being a couple for nearly 100 years (but then again, maybe the secret to their successful lengthy courtship is having separate houses?!), here in ToonTown you can visit the homes that each belong to the worlds most famous cartoon couple.

The self-guided tour leads you through each house which each reflects the personality and hobbies of its owner. Minnie’s house is decorated in soft pinks, lavender, and cream, with little hearts in the decor all throughout the house. The kitchen is clearly her favorite room in the house and she also has a wishing well in the back garden where you can make your very own wish.

Mickey’s house is just as brightly colored and is filled with mementos from his career including the Broomstick from Fantasia. There is even Plutos Dog House outside as well as Mickey’s Movie Barn where you can watch short screenings of cartoons and meet the main mouse himself! This is every Disney fan’s chance to interact, take photos, and hug the mouse that started it all.

Character Meet and Greets

As well as the Mickey Mouse meet and greets over at his house, there are many of their friends roaming around ToonTown for guests to meet, interact, and take photos with! For the first time ever at Disney Park, Mickey Mouse’s arch nemesis Pete makes an appearance. Be sure to keep an eye on the villain, he will be no doubt up to mischief!

Other Character Meet and Greets in ToonTown include:

• Minnie Mouse
• Donald Duck
• Daisy Duck
• Clarabelle
• Goofy
• Pluto

Depending on the popularity of the character, these wait times for the Meet and Greets can reach 60 minutes!

Rides

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway – Review

A relaxing train ride turns into a chaotic journey through different cartoon scenes on this newly opened dark ride. With no height restrictions this fun-for -all ride is super popular so wait times can get pretty high. Individual Lightning Lane entry can be purchased if the line is too long for you – read more HERE As you queue for the ride you are guided through ‘Mickey through the Ears’ where you can explore this magic movie star’s career with movie props and memorabilia.

The Ride Itself is a seriously impressive feat of imagining. We knew this was a really family-orientated ride, so didn’t have high hopes, We are not the target audience really, but we were actually pretty blown away. The tech deployed to create this ride is pretty monumental, For a basic dark ride the Imagineers brought out all their biggest guns. This is nearly on the scope of the Rise Of The Resistance, with their very expensive Trackless Ride Syatem and just fantastic sets that immerse you into a cartoon world with seamless 2-D Screens and Real 3-D Modelling. It all brings the Vartoon to life and is far more impressive than we imagined.

Read Our Full Review Here

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin

This ride is so loved by Disney fans that Disneyland chose to include it in the newly refurbished Mickey’s ToonTown. The classic ride based on Who Framed Roger Rabit is a really fun experience. The dark ride is very zany, as you career through the sets and scenes based on the Roger Rabbit film. The unique part of the ride is the cars themselves can spin around the track independently controlled by the Steering wheel. This adds a different and fun element to the ride making the whole experience pretty whacky as you would expect.

Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster

Aimed at the little ones, this is another ToonTown classic that remains after the re-opening. Chip and Dale’s GADGET Coaster is a fun Family coaster themed on the Chip ‘n’ Dales Cartoon. Do not expect too many thrills as the coaster is very child-friendly but it’s a smooth ride with some fast feeling turns as you enter the spiral dives. If your kids want to ride rollercoasters but are not quite up to the Mountain rides in the park yet this is a great stepping stone and will keep them entertained for hours (or as many times as you can face queuing!)

Attractions

CenTOONial Park

As you enter ToonTown Land, you are faced with CenTOONial Park, centered around a beautiful water fountain, designed for sensory play and for kids to enjoy. Nearby is a dreaming tree- which is a replica of the tree Walt Disney used to sit under in Missouri while dreaming up his great ideas. The tree roots provide a perfect play area for Kids and the open space is perfect for older guests to relax.

Goofy’s How to Play Yard

Another attraction aimed at the little ones is another play area for kids in Toontown, but a lot drier than over at Donald’s place (see below)! In Goofy’s neck of the woods, a sound garden awaits with Goofy’s clubhouse high up in the sky. Up there, the kids can enjoy a birdseye view of Mickey’s Toontown.

Donald’s Duck Pond

The home of Donald Duck has been turned into a fun water-filled play area for duckings and human kids alike! With towering water lilies, balance beams, and giant rocking toys this is the perfect adventure play area for your little ones. Be warned though, the kids will get wet at this attraction!

Food and Beverages

There are 2 new eateries in Mickeys ToonTown featuring family-friendly, comfort food.

Cafe Daisy

• Quick Service
• Price: $14.99 and Under
• Mobile Service Available
• Menu

Get your fill of comfort food with a menu with food for Families, Adults, and Kids alike, all acclaimed by the amazing Chef Daisy Duck. This menu has diner classics for all ages including hot dogs, cheesy pizzas, corn dogs, and mac n cheese. Remember to save room for Daisy’s famous homemade donuts with cinnamon sugar!

Good Boy! Grocers

• Grab and Go
• Price: $14.99 and Under
• Mobile Service not Available
• Menu

Located in ToonTown Farmer’s Market, Good Boy! Grocers sell healthy snacks and treats to refuel after all that playtime. This snack menu’s highlight is the Perfect Picnic Basket, which includes a choice of three snack-sized items for the kids to enjoy alfresco.

Shopping

Engine Ears Souviners

It would not be a Disneyland without a souvenir shop and of course, Disney would never miss an opportunity to sell you something! The Engine Ears Souvenir is a bit of a mouthful, but just say it out loud and you will get the clever joke.

The Store is Filled with Mickey, Minnie, and Friends merchandise including lots of stuffed toys, clothing, and a cute Radio-controlled Runaway Railway

Overall

Overall the newly re-imagined Toontown is a lot of fun for the younger audiences. But there is still lots going on for the big kids among us. The New Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway blew our expectations out of the water, and the whole way the land immerses you into a Cartoon world.

The renovation and Re-Imagining of the land was designed to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of Diney and it really has captured the essence of the original Dinsey Ethos perfectly.

Toon Town used to be a “skip-it” kind of location, reserved for the younger audiences, but we feel it’s now an essential part of the Park!

Have Your Say

Let us know your thoughts on the all-new Toontown at Disneyland California. What did you do on your visit to the land? Did you ride Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway? Did you meet the Mouse himself? what else did you get up to here? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and if you have any questions just free away in the comments

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Halloween and Candy go together as well as Mickey and Minnie, Buzz and Woody, and Disneyland and Snacks (obviously!) So it’s no surprise that Disney seriously up their treats and snacks game during Halloween time. Pretty much every yummy mickey shaped treat gets a spooky update for a limited time each year during the Halloween season.

From early September right up until the arrival of Christmas in the parks (early November), there is an abundance of tasty, spooky Disney-themed treats for you to enjoy during your visit to the Parks. With so many limited treats on offer, it can be hard to fit all those treats into your time at Disneyland. So here is our Top 10 Disneyland Halloween Time Treat list, your ultimate guide for 2023. If Disney calories don’t count then Halloween Treat calories definitely don’t, so go on; enjoy all 10, they are after all available for a limited time only!

10. Oogie Boogie Halloween Rice Crispy Treat

Price: $6.49. Location: Candy Palace and Trolley Treats

Mr. Oogie Boogie himself has his very own treat! This rice crispy treat is unfortunately just that: Rice crispies molded into the shape of Oogie Boogie with a sugar fondant topping. There are no extra ghoulish add-ons to this treat which makes it rather bland for a Disney treat. Still, Oogie Boogie gets a spot on our list because it IS his Bash after all. New for 2023 is the Oogie Boogie Do-Nut

9. Poison Skull Apple

Price: $12.49. Locations: Candy Palace, Trolley Treats, and Poohs Corner

Candy Apples are a Halloween Candy staple. And boy, Disney delivers with these Halloween treats! There are multiple Disney Candy Apples available at multiple locations during Halloween Time at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. These include Fantasia Mickey, Minnie Witch, Mickey Pumpkin, and even a HUNNY apple. But for us, the best Candy Apple treat has to be the Poison Apple version from Snow White. All of the candy apples look amazing but the Poison Apple resembles the actual Evil Queen’s poisonous fruit that it definitely deserves a spot on our Top 10 Halloween Treats at Disney.

8. Pumpkin Chai Cream Puff

Price: $8.79 Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. Mobile Order Available.

We don’t know about you, but come to Halloween Time, we are Pumpkin Spiced OBSESSED! And Disneyland has created a Pumpkin Chai Cream Puff to satisfy these pumpkin cravings. You can get this creamy, fall-spiced mousse for a limited time only until Halloween at the Jolly Holiday Bakery. The Top Ten Halloween Treats list just wouldn’t be complete without a Pumpkin Spiced Chai Cream Puff or a visit to the Jolly Holiday Bakery.

7. Halloween Brownie

Price: $5.99 Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. Mobile Order Available.

With the exception of the Poison Apple, the Halloween Treats in our list so far have not been, well, very spooky. Look no further than the Halloween Brownie. This rich, chocolate brownie cake is decorated with a spider web and a MASSIVE SPIDER! Ok, it might not be that big, and the spider might actually be a gummy sweet but still, it looks pretty spooky! Luckily, it didn’t look too spooky for me to eat it which just as well as the decoration is not the Halloween Brownies’ major selling point. As you cut into the brownie, tiny colored chocolate candy spills out from the middle. This really is a Halloween treat that looks as good as it tastes!

6. Halloween Churros

Price: $5.75 Locations: Multiple Churro Carts throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park

No visit to Disneyland is complete without a trip to a churro stand. 4.4 million churros are eaten at Disneyland Resort every year and they are so popular that they also rank highly on our Top Ten Snacks and Treats at Disneyland list as well as this Halloween Treat list too! For the spooky season, Disney has created 5 new limited-edition churro flavors for you to try. Which of the yummy Halloween-themed churros are you going to have (maybe all of them!)?

• Peanut Butter Candy Churro- Grizzly Peak Churro Cart, DCA
• Orange Citrus Churro- Buzz Lightyear Astro Cart, Disneyland
• Maleficent Churro – Sleeping Beauty Churro Cart, Disneyland
• Trick or Treat Churro- Haunted Mansion Churro Cart, Disneyland (Pictured)
• Candy Corn Churro- Flo’s Cafe, DCA
• Pumpkin Spiced Churros – Cozy Cone Motel, DCA (Pictured)

5. Mickey Reeces Crisped Rice Cereal Treat

Price: $6.49 Location: Candy Palace, Trolly Treats, Pooh Corner.

Rice-crisped treats can be considered slightly dull in terms of Disney-themed snacks. However, make it Mickey shaped and we are there! Throw on some Reece’s pieces and this rice crispy treat has gone from bland to peanut butter flavored with one of our favorite American candies! These treats are obviously popular with other Disney Guests too, as they are found at several candy stores in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks. The first Mickey-shaped treat on our Top 10 Halloween Treats list, this one definitely deserves its spot in the top 5!

4. Poison Apple Macaron

Price: 5.99 Location: Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. Mobile Order Available.

Narrowly missing out on the Top 3, here’s another well-loved Disneyland treat with a Halloween twist. Macarons are always on our Top 10 Snacks and Treats list at Disneyland so obviously, they feature on the Halloween Treat list. This sweet and slightly scary Halloween version is salted caramel flavored with an apple filling. It may be so sweet it made our teeth hurt but not too sweet to stop us from eating it for breakfast! A great Halloween limited edition of the classic Disney Macaron- get it while you can!

3. Schmoozies Mummy Shake

Price: $10.49 Location: Schmoozies, Hollywood Land, DCA. Mobile Order Available.

Schmoozies are well known for their delicious tasting and incredible-looking shakes and their Halloween edition is no different! Their Mummy Shake is as Instagram-friendly as the rest of their offerings, so be well prepared to be constantly asked where you got it while trying to eat (drink?) it. The shake looks so good, it’s almost a shame to eat it. The shake is chocolate flavored and topped with 2 cream-filled Mickey ears and Snickers crunchy candy. Not very scary but delicious and fun all the same, well deserving of a Top 3 spot!

And check out the Ursula Sahake too, Tropical Coconut and Taro with Cotton Candie and BLue Sugar, and don’t worry you can’t taste the Taro, it’s just for color.

2. Grave Stuff Cake

Price: $6:49 Location: Red Rose Tavern Quick Service Restaurant, Disneyland. Mobile Order Available.

Try the Grave stuff, it’s delicious. See what we did there? The Grave staff cake is Disneyland’s Halloween version of their famous Grey Stuff cake from Beauty and the Beast. Only available at the Red Rose Tavern in FantasyLand, the usual Cookies, and Cream Mousse covered Red Velvet cake literally tells you to ‘dig in’ on the tombstone. And who are we to argue?! It really is a deliciously spooky treat but don’t believe us, ask the dishes!

I literally can not eat a Grey Stuuf/ Grave Stuff cake without singing ‘Be Our Guest’ but there can be only one more Ultimate Halloween Time Treat at Disneyland that could deny the cupcake its top spot on our Top 10 Halloween Treats at Disneyland list…

1. Mickey Pumpkin Spiced Beignets

Price: $4.99 for 3. Location: Royal Street Veranda. Mobile Order Available.

Our Number 1 Halloween Time Treat at Disneyland is Mickey Pumpkin Spiced Beignets. Mickey Beignets are an absolute must-eat at Disneyland. We love Mickey Beignets so much that it only missed out on the Top spot of our Top 10 Disneyland Treats Ultimate list to the legendary Dole Whip.

Now, the Dole Whip does not have a Halloween version at Disneyland this year, therefore making way for these soft pillowy Mickey-shaped Pumpkin- spiced goodies to take the Number 1 Halloween Treat spot. Our love for pumpkin-spiced treats has already been mentioned and the only thing we love more than Mickey Beignets is Pumpkin Spiced Mickey Beignets! The rich caramel dipping sauce only complements the pumpkin spice flavors more and they are coated with the usual copious amount of sugar dusting, guaranteeing a messy but delightful eat.

 

 

 

 

 

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All Mickey Beignets fans simply HAVE to try these during your Halloween visit to Disneyland. They are extremely popular though and we Highly recommend you put through a mobile order as soon as you enter the park for the day. You can pick a later time to suit your plans, however, they sell out fast so pre-ordering is a priority to ensure you get your beignets.

Have Your Say

Do you agree with our Top 10 Halloween Time Treats at Disneyland list? Do you think something is missing from our list or that another delicious spooky treat deserves the Number 1 spot? Let us know in the comments section below. If you have any questions about any of the Halloween Disneyland treats mentioned, please ask below in the comments section.

You May Also Like

• Disneyland Dining Guide
• Oogie Boogie Bash Guide
• Best Treats in Disneyland

When is Oogie Boogie Bash?

Oogie Boogie Bash is Disneyland California’s Halloween Party so the event happens in the fall. More specifically, Oogie Boogie Bash is held at Disney California Adventure Park on select nights during September and October. This year, for 2024 Oogie Boogie Bash Party nights start even earlier on the Saturday 25th August until the 31st of October. That’s 27 party nights- 2 more than in 2023! Tickets won’t be available until late June then but you will be able to start planning your trip to Disneyland and the Oogie Boogie Bash once you know which nights the Party is on.

How do I get Oogie Boogie Tickets?

Oogie Boogie bash 2023 tickets went on sale to the general public on the 29th of June, no earlier than 9 am PST. As previously mentioned, Oogie Boogie Bash is extremely popular, with its popularity growing each year. Magic Key Holder Pre-Sale was on 27th June 2023, no earlier than 9 am PST. Tickets for 2023 sold out super fast so make sure you set your alarm to purchase tickets the moment they go on sale! And be aware of time zone differences: tickets are due to go on sale from 9 AM Pacific Time, but depending on where you are in the world, this could be a different time of day for you!

Oogie Boogie Bash tickets are ONLY available from the Disneyland Official Site where date information along with other event info can be found nearer the time. We follow DisneylandNews.com website and on social media for early access to information when the dates are available.

Once you know which nights the Oogie Boogie Bash is on, plan your trip and pick the party night of your choice. Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 dates are available to view at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disney-california-adventure/oogie-boogie-bash-halloween-party/#drawer-card-tickets-dates (until the ticket release date, this is for info only)

TOP TIP: make sure you are logged into your Disney Account before the ticket release time so that you are ready to purchase the tickets as quickly as possible before they sell out.

How much do Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 tickets cost?

Prices for Oogie Boogie Bash 2023 tickets range from $134 – $189 (plus tax) depending on which party night you pick. The highest-priced nights at $189 are for the Halloween weekend. The lower-priced dates tend to be the earlier dates in August or early September and on weekdays. If you want to attend Oogie Boogie Bash without the premium price tag, do your research and plan your trip for one of the cheaper dates. And while price increases are becoming more and more a fact of life (especially at Disney!), the 2024 tickets do not seem to have increased much in price. With the record speed the tickets sold out last year, Disney could have really hiked this price with little consequence to ticket sales.

Prices for specific dates can be viewed HERE

Oogie Boogie Bash History

Honestly, it’s hard to believe that the Oogie Boogie Bash has not been around for decades. The star Character, Oogie Boogie (From a Nightmare Before Christmas) is now 30 years old (it hurts to say that out loud), and Halloween parties are such huge business now it’s easy to assume this party has just always been. That’s not the case though and Oogie Boogie is only hosting his 5th bash in 2024 (not being allowed one in 2020) after only starting in 2019!

Before this, Mickey hosted the Halloween Party (2005-2018) and it never really caught on like the much-loved Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party over in Dinsey World Florida. So Disney Brought in the Arch Villian, Oogie Boogie, to really ramp things up and he really has done so!

Can I dress up for the Oogie Boogie Bash- A Disney Halloween party?

One of the highlights of the Oogie Boogie Bash is that this is one of the only times that Adults can dress up at Disney! As the Disney Halloween Party is a special event, anyone over the age of 14 is allowed in the park in costume. We saw lots of amazing costumes both Halloween-themed and full Disney character cosplay. Disney state that costumes must be family-friendly, not offensive, or include weapons or props that might resemble real weapons (although Lightsabers are permitted of course!) Adults are also not allowed to wear full face masks, other than that, you are encouraged to let your creativity flow and really embrace the spooky season! Full Costume Guidelines are available HERE

You are also not allowed to pose as a Disney Character. Meaning if you come as Mikey, Minie, a Princess, or any other Disney Character, that is fine, but no posing for photos with guests or signing autographs. If you have spent time at a Dinsey park and seen how the Disney Characters interact with guests it’s pretty obvious what is ok and what is impersonating a character.

Finally, you do not HAVE to dress up. Lots of people just come in standard Disney outfits, or just shorts and a t-shirt. No one cares just come and have fun! But at the least try and wear something a bit themed, even if it’s just a Mickey Pumpkin Tee!

What time does the Oogie Boogie Bash start?

The official start time for Oogie Boogie Bash is 6 pm. This is when the special event starts and any guests in the park without an Oogie Boogie Bash ticket/ wristband are asked to leave. However, the line for Oogie Boogie Bash admission opens at 3 pm, so you can arrive anytime between 3 pm and 6 pm to ensure you are at the Park for the official opening time.

Now, prior to our visit, we researched a lot of Disney Blogs on Tips to do Oogie Boogie ‘Right’. One of the recurring Top Tips was to get to Disney California Adventure as soon as the admission opens at 3 pm to enjoy the rest of the Park before the event attractions open after 6 pm. As we had a Park Hopper ticket, we entered Disney California Adventure around 2:30 pm using our Park Hopper ticket to avoid the event queues from 3 pm. Once inside the park, a Cast Member was happy to give us our wristbands, maps, and goodie bags before 3 pm and we were good to go!

At this point, 2 things became apparent. The first was that it was unseasonably warm (although this may often not be the case). We were dressed in black Halloween-themed clothes and we were melting! The second issue was the wait times for all the rides. As non-event Guests are not asked to leave until 6 pm and event Guests are allowed to enter from 3 pm, this only resulted in one outcome: Crowds! The Park was really busy and wait times were really high. As we had a Park Hopper ticket, in hindsight, we would have probably been better off spending a few hours in Disneyland Park before the Oogie Boogie Bash started at 6 pm.

Now, this is not to say that the advice from the Disney bloggers was necessarily bad advice. If you are visiting Disney California Adventure on an Oogie Boogie Bash ticket alone, then arriving at 3 pm is an absolute must so that you can get the most Disney out of your visit. You can do all the rides and attractions that are not Oogie Boogie Bash related before the event starts and then enjoy the event after 6 pm. However, if like us, you have a Park Hopper ticket or Park admission the previous day, it is most likely that you have ticked off the usual DCA attractions before the event.

Ultimately, our advice would be only to arrive at 3 pm if you only have an Oogie Boogie Bash ticket. And if you have a park-hopper spend the time (3-6 pm) in Disneyland Park as once the Party starts, the queues are much lower for most of the open attractions in DCA.

Oogie Boogie Party Entertainment:

Treat Trails

Trick or treating is a staple activity at Halloween so Trick or Treating at Disney is a major part of the Oogie Boogie Bash. When you arrive at the Disney Halloween Party, a Cast Member hands you a small plastic bag for your loot. Warning: this bag is waaay too small for the number of treat trails and candy on offer! Make sure you bring an extra bag along to fit all the treats you can!

The 2024 Treat Trails and Villians have not yet been announced yet. However, in 2023 there were 13 Treat Trails at the Oogie Boogie Bash: 3 more than last year and with 2 new exciting villains! That is always a lot of treats, as you will receive 6-7+ handfuls of mini-treats at each trail! There are also healthy snacks available at the cauldrons and if you have any allergies, you can let a Cast Member know. The trails are all villain-themed with immersive music and most feature a Disney villain.

• Madame Mim
• Mother Gothel
• Ernesto de la Cruz
• Oogie Boogie
• Yokai from Big Hero Six at San Franokyo Square (new for 2023!)
• Maleficent
• Judge Doom from Who Framed Rodger Rabbit (New for 2023!)
• Agatha Harkness
• Sid
• Cruella
• Paradise Gardens Park (no Character)
• Cars Land (no character)
• Buena Vista Street (no character)

The queues for the Treat Trails can get pretty big but don’t despair, there is plenty of candy for everyone! If you are finding it hard to hit all the trails and do everything else you want to do during the Bash, then we would advise prioritizing the Treat Trails by the villains we want to see most. Our Top 3 for 2023 were Ernesto, Agatha and Yokai in the new San Fransokyo area which are all set to be very busy so plan accordingly!

Treat Trail Guide

Villians Grove

Come Party time, the Redcreek Challenge Trail is transformed as if by magic into Villians Grove. There are no actual characters in Villians Grove, instead, you walk through several spooky, villain-themed areas such as Scars Elephant Graveyard, Maleficent’s Will, and Queen of Hearts Garden. Villians Grove is best walked at night, as this enhances the magical special effects, spooky surroundings, shadows, and lighting. No candy is available at Villians Grove but it is a must-do at Oogie Boogie Bash.

Meet and Greets

All your favorite Disney characters and villains will be out to celebrate the Disney Halloween Party. Meet and greets are back, with characters in special Halloween outfits and villains ready to take their photos with you. The Villian Meet and Greets for 2023 were:

• Bruno
• Minnie, Daisy, and Clarabelle Cow as the Sanderson Sisters
• Captain Hook and Smee
• Russell from Up (new for 2023!)
• Lotso the Bear (mew for 2023!)
• Mickey and Minnie with Friends
• The Avengers
• The Incredibles
• Residents of Radiator Springs

Just like the Treat Trails, lines for the Meet and Greets can be very long, especially for the most popular characters. Ex[ect the longest queues for Bruno, the Sanderson Sisters, Russell and Lotso. Again, it’s important to plan ahead with your priorities but also keep an eye out on wait times as you may get lucky with a shorter line.

Top Tip: Treat Trails and Meet and Greets have shorter lines while the Parades are on. Again, think strategically and pick the best parade time for you while hitting the shorter lines during the other parade show.

The Frightfully Fun Parade

Oogie Boogie Bash guests were overjoyed that the Frightfully Fun Parade was back in 2022 and of course, it’s scheduled again this year! Led by the Headless Horseman from Sleepy Hollow, Mickey and Minnie follow with a cavalcade of Disney Villians including Ursula, The Queen of Hearts, Maleficent, Jack Skeleton, and the Cheshire Cat.

The Parade times are 7:45 pm and 10 pm. Both travel in the same direction from Silly Symphony Swings ending towards Guardians of the Galaxy and last for around 20 minutes. To get a good viewing spot, we advise you to get into place 45 minutes before the parade starts. This sounds like a long time but the headless Horseman actually arrives 15 minutes before the parade starts so you are really only waiting for 30 minutes before the entertainment begins.

Waiting for Parade times can be considered a large waste of time at the parks so you need to consider if the parade is a priority for you and if so, which viewing time suits your plans best. Remember if you do skip the parade the queue times on most rides and attractions will be lower as people flock to the parade route.

However, it is a pretty epic spectacle so you really should try and see the parade at least once!

There are two paid reserved seating options: a Dining Parade Package at Wine Country Trattoria and the Oogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party at Sonoma Terrace.

• Dining Parade Package $62 Adult $37 Kids https://disneyland.disney.go.com/entertainment/disney-california-adventure/frightfully-fun-parade/
• Oogie Boogie Bash Dessert Party $89 https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disney-california-adventure/oogie-boogie-bash-dessert-party/

Both options are very pricey and require you to check in during the Bash time from 3 pm which means you can be waiting up to an hour to check in that’s a lot of precious Bash time taken trying to check in! Also, they may require you to be at your reserved seating area at least half an hour before the parade starts so you end up wasting a lot of time waiting for the parade anyway. Our tip is to save your Mickey Money for other treats or oggie Boogie Merch and just grab a good spot early and wait.

Mickey’s Trick and Treat Show

This show is really for younger audiences with PG-rated spooky (but not scary) fun. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald entertain the little ones with dancing, music, spooky tales, and of course lots of candy! Show times are 6 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 7 pm. The show is less than 20 minutes long but it’s a perfect way for younger Disney fans to get their Halloween fix.

Special Rides

In addition to the spooky meet and greets, Treat Trails, and special Parade, there are also special themed rides at Disney California Adventure for Oogie Boogie bash: a Disney Halloween Party.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Monsters After Dark.

For the Halloween season, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout gets a scary update with a seasonal overlay.

If you recall or are not aware, the story for the regular ride involves Rocket shutting down the containment systems on the Collectors …erm, collection. During the timeline of the original ride, this is fine as you and the Guardians escape off into space. However, the After Dark overlay tells the story of what happens after. With the containment systems down, the collection, which largely consists of giant alien monsters, tears the facility apart.

It really is pretty clever and the ride takes on a more sinister tone. Like the original once on the ride, the various cut screens are random and every ride is unique and different (well up to a point). We have to be honest our scenes were a little drab, and on the whole, we have had better rides during the regular overlay, but it is still a lot of fun and your cut scenes will likely be different and could be fantastic. What doesn’t change one bit is the Ride mechanics, which are frankly amazing!

Rides at Disney are no strangers to seasonal overlays but what is really clever about this one is that Mission breakout changes daily in the afternoon, ready for the Oogie Boogie Bash (after dark; get it?) Until 2 pm, the Guardians Ride is the traditional Mission Breakout and after 2 pm, the ride becomes Monster After Dark.

This is a win for all those Disney California Adventure Guests WITHOUT an Oogie Boogie ticket. As long as they get on the ride before 6 pm, they can experience the seasonal overlay before the Oogie Boogie bash starts. As a result, wait times for the ride between 3 pm- 6 pm are very long due to the limited time frame and the popularity of the ride. Even after 6 pm with limited park capacity, expect to wait to get on this ride as it is one of the bash highlights, but it’s a pretty short queue compared to the regular wait times for Guardians.

Radiator Springs

During Haloween Time the whole of Radiator Springs gets a spooky overlay with mesmerizing Halloween decor and lights. Expect your favorite Cars characters to also be dressed up in Halloween costumes for special meet and greets. The little kid-friendly rides Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters also have their own Halloween overlays and become Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree and Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween. The rides are mainly for little guests but adding in all the spooky decor, Radiator Springs is truly transformed into an immersive Halloween experience.

Make sure you take time during your Oogie Boogie Bash Party to visit Radiator Springs in the dark or even better, time your visit for sundown to experience Radiator Springs really light up!

You can also Ride the Radiator Springs Racers in the Dark, which is something you can do on a regular visit, but the hills and surrounding scenery are just a bit more illuminated and spooky.

Haunted Mansion – Holiday Overlay

NOT PART OF THE OOGIE BOGIE BASH

Ok, we know this is not part of the bash or even the same Park! and people with bash tickets only will not be able to ride this, but it’s worth a mention, as it’s all part of Halloween. Over in Disneyland Park, one of Walt’s classic rides, Haunted Mansion gets a super spooky Holiday overlay. Courtesy of Jack Skellington, and the Nightmare Before Christmas.

We love this overlay and actually think the ride is all the better for it. The original is a little dated and while it’s still a real favorite and cult classic, the Nightmare Before Christmas just adds a little oomph.

Also as this Overlay is only part Halloween and Part Christmas, Disney leaves it on right through the Holiday season!

Oogie Boogie Food and Treats

Disneyland is known for its food. The Disney Parks have so many yummy snacks and treats that you can almost spend a whole visit just trying out the delicious Mickey-shaped food! And that’s not even counting the seasonal treats that Disney creates just for special events and seasons. Of course, the chefs at Disney treat us with unbelievable Halloween-themed food just for the spooky season. Every Mickey, Minnie, Oogie Boogie, Jack Skeleton cookie, cake, and dessert is Halloween themed. Remember, Disney Calories do not count! Which, given the number of steps done during the day at the Parks, is technically true! There are simply way too many Disney Halloween Snacks available to mention so check out our Disney Halloween Treats article HERE.

If that’s not enough snacks to tempt you, our Top 10 Snacks and Treats at Disneyland California – Best Disneyland Snacks article lists the best treats at Disneyland California which are also available during the Halloween season and during the Oogie Boogie Bash.

Is going to Oogie Boogie Bash – A Disney Halloween Party worth it?

With a ticket price of $139- $189 (plus tax), the price for Oogie Boogie Bash- A Disney Halloween Party is not cheap. But is it worth it? Worth and Value are always subjective but for us, we would say YES. There are a few reasons why:

As massive Disney fans, we often find it easy to put worth and value on a steep price when visiting the Parks. $6.99 for a cookie I hear you say? Yes, but it’s Mickey-shaped! Joking aside, the fact is that Disney continues to offer experiences and attractions that you simply can’t get elsewhere. Oogie Boogie Bash is another example of this, after all, how often do you get to dress up and go Trick or Treating within a Disney Park? You are paying for an experience and one that is exclusive to a limited amount of people.

Being from the U.K., Halloween is not that big, the Brits tend to see it as an American Holiday. However, personally loving most things from across the pond, our fascination with Halloween added to Disney magic was too hard for us to resist. Likewise, anyone who loves Halloween and Disney will not want to miss out on the opportunity to go to a Halloween Party at one of the Parks.

The Oogie Boogie Bash Ticket Price can be cheaper than the cost of a 1 day only 1 park admission so Oogie Boogie Bash is also a good way for people to get their Disney fix and also enjoy the spooky magic of the season with limited guest numbers at night. We are also semi-serious when we say the amount of free candy practically outweighs the cost of the ticket!

While we probably would not attend the Oogie Boogie Bash every year, it was the highlight of our last Disney trip, and would consider it a must-do for any Disney and Halloween-loving fan!

Have Your Say

Have you been to Oogie Boogie Bash: A Disney Halloween Party? What did you think of the event? Do you agree that it is worth the ticket price or found it lacking something? Please let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. If you have any questions about Oogie Boogie Bash 2024 please write them below in the comments section and we will get back to you.

You May Also Like

• Disneyland Guide
• Disneyland Dining Guide
• Disneyland Ride Guide
• Disney California Adventure Ride Guide

Sometimes during your day at Disney, all you want is to rest those weary legs with a ‘proper’ meal (and if you wish, a proper drink) complete with table service so you can relax and enjoy your surroundings. LampLight Lounge is one of the table service options available at Disney California Adventure- but is it any good? Here, we review the LampLight Lounge so you can decide whether to add it to your all-important Disney Dining Reservations!

What is the LampLight Lounge?

The Lamplight Lounge is a themed table service restaurant located in Disney California Adventure just off Pixar Pier. Lamplight Lounge opened in 2018, replacing the old Cove Bar. If the location does not give the theming away, then the name LampLight should; this restaurant is themed around Disney Pixar, named after Pixar’s original Lamplight character. The menu is gastro-pub-themed and the downstairs location means you are right on the water with stunning, panoramic views of the pier. Their Non- alcoholic and alcoholic beverages list is extensive, with specialty cocktails named after Pixars’ famous filmmaking skills. The Lamplight Lounge is one of our favorite restaurants at the whole of Disneyland California and we make sure we include a reservation in our trip every time we go!

How can I visit The LampLight Lounge?

It’s important to note at this point that to visit The Lamplight Lounge you must first have a Park Reservation for Disney California Adventure on the day you want to go. Tips on how to get Disneyland/Disney California Adventure Tickets can be found HERE

Ok, so now you have booked your trip to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure and you are ready to book your Lamplight Lounge dining reservation. The single best way to get the reservations that you want is to be ready and prepared for when they go live. Disneyland and DCA dining reservations go live 60 days in advance at 6 AM PST on the Disneyland Website/App.

The LampLight Lounge is one of the more popular dining experiences at the Parks and can sell out fast. If you really want to eat at the LampLight Lounge during your visit to Disney then your best bet is to be as organized as possible and be online and ready to book your reservations at the time they go love. Remember to account for any time zone differences so that you log on at the correct time!

If you do not manage to secure a reservation at the time of release then do not give up hope, there are other chances. One thing you can do is regularly log on and check for any cancellations, right up until the day of your park visit. Other options include walk-ups and signing up for Reservation Alerts, more info on how to get that all-important Disney Dining experience can be found HERE

Dining Experience and Theming

The Lamplight Lounge Restaurant is a tribute to all things Pixar. In the early days of the Disney-Pixar relationship, the collaborations always began with an animated short of the little Pixar Lamplight. Since Disney officially purchased Pixar in 2006, the 2 companies have created some of the best movies and characters in the world of Disney. Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, Monsters Inc., and UP are all Disney Pixar movies that are loved just as much as the original Disney Animation Studios classics.

Situated just off Pixar Pier, the restaurant interior is decorated all over with Disney Pixar memorabilia, iconic quotes, and original animation sketches. It’s the perfect place to sit, relax, eat, and enjoy all things (Disney) Pixar! And if the inside of the restaurant is not appealing enough to you, the Lamplight Lounge has an outdoor seating area right on Pixar Pier with panoramic views of the water and of course, the iconic Mickey-Pal-Around Wheel. As massive Disney fans, we find the Lamplight Lounge is the perfect place to celebrate all the amazing movies and characters from what we like to call ‘the Pixar Era’ of Disney.

Menu

It’s not just the decor and views that the Lamplight offers that keep us coming back, we are massive fans of their menu too! Lamplight Lounge offers a Brunch Menu, a Lunch/Dinner Menu, and an AMAZING drinks menu. We break these down below:

Brunch

• Friday – Sunday 9 AM- 1 PM ONLY
• $15.99- $34.99

Brunch at the Lamplight Lounge is only served 3 days a week on Fridays and the Weekend. Brunch in the Disneyland Parks is hard to find, possibly as many guests tend to spend the morning trying to beat the queues and get as many rides under their belt as early as possible. To be honest, this is our strategic plan on our first day at the parks. We always opt for Park hopper tickets and we spend our first day at the parks from opening to close, ensuring we get on as many of our favorite rides on the first day. This then leaves us will a more relaxed, second day with a later start and more time to enjoy other parts of the park including a dining reservation! Will most of our MUST DO’s completed by day 1, we are ready for a calmer day at the parks including a nice meal, and at weekends, we choose brunch at LampLight Lounge.

The food is American gastro-pub style and the Brunch Menu includes brunch classics including:

• Spiced Ham Benedict
• Brunch Burger
• Indulgent French Toast
• New York Avacado Toast

The kid’s menu is a little limited with only 2 options available: mini versions of the brunch Bruger and the Indulgent French Toast. There are, however, plant-based and low-calorie menu options available. Seasonal offerings are also available for a limited time and change regularly. The full brunch menu can be viewed here.

Lunch/Dinner

• Lunch: 11:30 AM- 3:55 PM
• Dinner: 4 PM- 8:30 PM (opening times vary for special ticketed nights)
• Lunch/ Dinner: $15.99- $34.99

First off, the Lunch and Dinner menus at the Lamplight Lounge are the same. The only different menu is the brunch menu available 3 days of the week (Fri- Sun). So whether you visit the Lamplight Lounge for lunch or later in the evening for dinner, then the same menu items are available. We have visited Lamplight Lounge for lunch but the meals available are perfect for an evening meal in the park too (and the view of Pixar Pier at night from the outside seating is not to be missed!) The small bites and entrees are both big enough to share between 2 people or if you are really hungry, you can purchase 2 different items and share! Menu highlights include:

• Lobster Nacho’s
• Salmon Poke
• Pipers Clams
• Cheddar Burger
• Al Pastor Pork Chop

Again, the Kids menu is pretty limited but has more options than the brunch menu:

• Pasta
• PB&J Roll
• Meat-Bread-Meat Sandwich

There are also several plant-based meals and low-calorie options to choose from. Full Lunch/Dinner Manu can be viewed here

The only Dessert option available is Donuts but, during the Halloween season at the parks, there is a limited offer of Pumpkin Spiced Donuts to try! We do feel that this is a pretty poor dessert offering in general for a restaurant, however, as you are at Disney you are never too far away from a shop that sells yummy sugar-filled mickey-shaped treats so you are not going to go hungry!

Drinks

One of the things we love about Lamplight Lounge is that it has an extensive non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks menu all inspired by the Pixar creators and imagineers. Whether you simply want a refreshing ‘soft’ drink to rehydrate you after a busy time in the parks or you want to celebrate your visit with something a little ‘harder’ then the Lamplight Lounge has you covered!

Non -Alcoholic Drinks ($7- $7.50)

Forget your average soda drinks, Lamplight Lounge has refreshing mock-tails and soft drinks with amazing Pixar-inspired names:

• Falling with Style: orange juice with mango puree
• 2319: frozen mocktail with coconut, pineapple juice and strawberry puree
• Mint to Be: Limeade, Mint, Watermelon, Berry puree and soda
• Goofball Island: fruit punch, lemonade and Raspberry puree

The 2319 frozen mocktail is our favorite but we dare you try and say its name without shouting it!

Alcoholic Cocktails ($17- $20)

One of the highlights of DCA is how many places offer ‘Adult Beverages’ compared to Disneyland Park. Disney California Adventure feels a little older with the bigger rides and more table service restaurants, which of course offer alcoholic beverages. We personally love nothing more than raising a glass to Walt himself and celebrating another magical trip with an alcoholic drink, and if that drink also happens to have a Disney-inspired name then even better! The Lamplight Lounge has an extensive list to do just that! Highlights include:

• Open Ocean with a Splash: a Frozen Cocktail made with Bacardi Raspberry Rum, Bols Blue Curaçao, Liquid Alchemist Orgeat (Almond), Agave Nectar, and fresh Lime Juice
• Scream Canister: Bacardi Reserva Ocho Rum, Cream of Coconut Pineapple, and Orange Juices with a mist of Angostura Bitters
• Over Budget: Grey Goose Vodka, Liquid Alchemist Passion Fruit, fresh Lime Juice, Agave Nectar and Ginger Beer
• Abstract Thought: Cold Brew Coffee, Heavy Cream, Frangelico, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua, and Agave Nectar topped with Cinnamon

The Scream Canister is our personal favorite (can you tell we are big Monster’s fans?!) but we have also chosen the coffee-based Abstract Thought as a dessert before! The prices of the cocktails are a little steep but no more than expected inside a theme park, especially a Disney theme park! They are also good quality and made with top-shelf ingredients.

The Lamplight Lounge also has a large selection of beers available to purchase including Ales, Lagers, and IPAs ranging from $9.50- $13.25. Wine is also available including several wines from Napa Valley, the rest of the USA, and an Italian Prosecco. Prices start around $19, making the cocktail prices look more reasonable!

The full beverages list can be found here

Overview

For us, Lamplight Lounge is where we like to relax, recharge, and enjoy a good all-American style meal while we rest our weary bodies and enjoy the Disney Pixar surroundings. It is hard to choose between outdoor and indoor seating as the outdoor views are spectacular but ultimately, for us indoor seating wins as we are surrounded by memorabilia from some of our favourite films. The food portions are a good size, even the ‘small bites’ are big enough to share between 2 and the cocktails are all made with top-shelf brands. Good food, good drinks, and a good atmosphere are everything we want for our precious (and limited) downtime at the Disneyland California Parks!

Have Your Say

Have you visited the Lamplight Lounge? Did you enjoy it as much as us or do you have another Disney California Adventure favorite restaurant? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Also, if you have any questions about the LampLight Lounge then pop them in the comments section and we will get back to you.

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