Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood are two amazing theme parks, but while there are some absolutely amazing Universal Studios rides that everybody should experience, the best time to go is actually after they're closed.
Halloween Horror Nights is an after-hours event which is the marquee event of the year for Universal's parks. It's so popular that every year the Halloween season seems to get longer and longer. Now Universal Studios Hollywood has found a new way to expand, with a brand new event that takes the structure of HHN, but builds non-scary experiences.
USH's Fan Fest Nights brings together Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons, Wicked, and more in what promises to be an incredibly fun event. Here's everything we know about the inaugural experience.
When Is Universal Studios Fan Fest?
Universal Studio Hollywood Fan Fest Nights will run on select nights. from April 25 to May 18. The event runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night between those dates as well, Wednesday night May 15. That last date was added later, so it's possible additional dates could also be added if demand is strong enough.
A variety of ticket options are available. Express Pass can be added, which gives guests a shorter line. Early access can also be purchased, giving guests access to the park for a few hours before the event starts, if you want to get some rides in as well. Although several rides will be available throughout the event as well.
Wicked
One of the biggest new franchises of the moment is Wicked and Universal is wasting no time in using these popular characters in its theme parks. Elphaba and Glinda made their debut as meet and greet characters at Universal Orlando a few months ago, and the pair will make their Universal Studios Hollywood debut to get pictures with fans during fan Fest Nights
Star Trek: Red Alert
Star Trek has to be one of the biggest franchises in the world that doesn’t have a significant theme park presence. But Star Trek: Red Alert sounds just like what fans would love to see. Including giving fans a chance to truly stand on the bridge of the Enterprise.
This will be a walk-through attraction, similar to an HHN house. The story is set in the Star Trek: Picard era and will see guests visiting the Starfleet museum that appeared in Picard Season 3. While guests are “touring” the ship an alien entity attacks, leading to guests moving through various well-known sets, including a rebuilt version of the Enterprise-D bridge as seen in Picard. Guests will leave by beaming out. Universal is teasing that particular effect, so we can’t wait to see how it works.
Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley
It’s remarkable how popular Back to the Future still is today considering that no sequels or reboots have ever been released. Perhaps part of the reason for its continued life is the fact that Universal Parks have kept Back to the Future at front of mind. You can see the Delorean and meet Doc Brown at Universal Orlando and the Hill Valley Clocktower set from the original Back to the Future is still visible every day as part of Universal’s Studio Tour.
That set will be the centerpiece of Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley. The “Fan Tram” will take guests down to the set, where a recreation of 1955 Hill Valley will be on hand, including characters, music, and more. Guests aren't usually allowed to walk around the backlot like this, so this one will be special.
Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets Of Waterdeep
Dungeons & Dragons is a game that requires players to use their imagination, but that will be less necessary with Secrets of Waterdeep. The walkthrough attraction will see guests join the Harpers, the network of spies, and foil a plot by the gangster beholder named Xanathar. The high point of this is likely to be Xanathar himself, as the multi-eyed monster will be brought to life through a creation from the Henson Creature Shop.
As a D&D fan who has DM'd games using Xanathar before, I can't wait to see him come to life. It's the closest thing to a sequel to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, I'm likely to get.
One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering
One of the most fun elements of Halloween Horror Nights are the scarezones. The areas are wide open spaces built to different themes that guests can simply walk around at their leisure, meeting characters, getting photos, or just enjoying the vibes. One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering will bring the iconic anime to life in this same way, letting guests become part of the pirate world.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Hunger of the Cursed
Another popular anime will also be represented at Fan Fest Nights. Jujutsu Kaisen: Hunger of the Cursed is a film that has previously only been available to see at Universal Studios Japan. During Fan Fest Nights the Dreamworks Theater, which normally shows a Kung-Fu Panda 3D movie, will screen this popular movie experience instead.
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
Fan Fest Nights Fun isn’t limited to brand new experiences as some of Universal Studios Hollywood’s most popular lands are also getting in on the fun. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be open during the event and will give guests the ability to meet several of Newt Scamander’s favorite magical creatures, including a Niffler, a baby dragon, and grand Occamy. In addition, Hogwarts Always -- a projection show that takes place on Hogwarts castle that debuted at Universal Orlando Resort last year -- will debut in the West Coast Park.
Super Nintendo World: Let’s Go, Yoshi
The newest addition to Universal Studios Hollywood is Super Nintendo World, and while most of the core characters in the world of Super Mario can be found there, one that has been conspicuous by his absence is Yoshi. The character has his own attraction at Universal Studios Japan and he will have one at Epic Universe's Super Nintendo World, but due to space limitations, there's no Yoshi in Hollywood.
The little dino will make his debut during Fan Fest Nights, and will be available for meet-and-greet opportunities. A new game, which will see guests hunt for Yoshi eggs, will be available, and “celebratory drone moments” will be taking place throughout the night.
Fan Fest Food
As somebody who always enjoys a chance to eat and drink my way through a theme park, I'm quite excited by the offerings at Fan Fest Nights. Several locations throughout the park will be transformed into appopriate locations.
Mel's Diner will serve Back to the Future food without even needing to change much. However, Hollywood &Dine will become Quark's bar, while Laemmle Courtyard will host the 10 Forward bar. Dungeons & Dragons food will be available at theFirst Roll Tavern in Jurassic Cove. Cocina Mexicana will become Sanji's Galley and the the DreamWorks concession cart will be rethemed to offer items inspired by Jujutsu Kaisen.
In addition, a special three course meal, (reservations required) will be available in the Three Broomsticks of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Fan Fest Merchandise
Of course, it wouldn’t be a theme park if there weren't plenty of merchandise opportunities on hand. Each of the new elements of Fan Fest Nights will also have its own themed merchandise to help fans complete the experience.
Whether Fan Fest Nights will be as popular as Halloween Horror Nights remains ot be seen, but there's a lot to like about this first event and if it is a hit, we can expect bigger and better events in the future.
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