Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights kicked off its the first day of the event for the Universal Parks and it was incredible! Here are some highlights and also some tips if you plan to go. It began on April 25 and will run to May 18th, check the Universal Studios website for tickets and availability, there are a number of days that are sold out. There are a number of ticket options After 2 p.m. Day/Night, Early Access, Universal Express, and Express Unlimited. I didn’t wait longer than 20 minutes or so, didn’t use any benefits from the Express pass, and would go with General Admission.
Cosplay is encouraged, I saw a few One Piece cosplayers, some Star Trek uniforms. The most number of coplayers were for Back to the Future which was basically an orange vest, that’s it, I saw a Marty in radiation suit, and some with the rainbow hats from Back to the Future II. It was like a comic convention in a way, but no cosplay contests, or signings. I haven’t been to Super Nintendo World, but missed the 5:30 p.m. closing time and it would reopen for the start of Fan Fest at 7 p.m. I was told that Dungeons & Dragons: The Secrets of Waterdeep was open and walked over there. It was at Stage 12 which was a walk around Transformers: The Ride-3D.
Beauty is not in the eyes of this Beholder!, Dungeons & Dragons: The Secrets of Waterdeep, Universal Fan Fest Nights, photo by the author.
The queue has groups enter Waterdeep so the time for my group was 6:54, just before Fan Fest opening. You enter the building and are separated on two sides. An introduction is shown about Waterdeep, this is the well known setting of D&D for Forgotten Worlds, also Harpers are the group that you join. Merch ideas: Harpers pins and cloaks. Your quest is to take on the Beholder, giant, floating head with multiple eyestalks that shoot beams, named Xanathar. Another room has a Tiefling who represents the Rogues and Fighters. The side I was in was led by a Dwarf, he reminds me of Elwood from the early Dungeons & Dragons (2000) movie; bald head and red beard. He is the guide for Clerics and Wizards.
Then, a Elf with long hair has someone activate a sphere on the shelf of weapons. In one room is a Mimic, what looks like a treasure chest, opens to reveal a slobbering, toothy monster! Next is the impressive Xanathar that was built with the help of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop! It sends out a yellow Disentegrate ray, but is put to sleep. There isn’t too much for the Harpers to do, just move from room to room. The Rogues could go behind some boxes and touch panels on the wall to set up a magical shield to block the Beholder’s rays. The Fighters could pull on a net that would free the Tiefling. The Clerics could just stretch out with their hands to heal the Dwarf. Finally, the Wizards can reach out to use magic against the Behonlder.
Yoshi meet and greet!, Super Nintendo World, author’s photo.
In terms of merch, there was a cup, and t-shirt. There could be dice special for the Fan Fest, miniatures, and even rulebooks. It didn’t seem there was a tie-in to the role-playing game. Also, books like the Young Adventurer’s Collection like Beasts & Behemoths (2020) by Jim Zub. Next was Super Nintendo World, my first time there, there is walk through the tunnel of strobe lights. I like the look of the world, kinda contained like Toon Town, colorful. I kept looking for Yoshi’s Adventure, but the only ride is Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. I took the single rider line which was a climb up steps. It did have a good overview of the land. The ride itself is in a kart vehicle, you get a hat like a golfer’s visor, then there is a visor that looks like a welder’s visor on the kart that snaps onto the hat. It is so complicated that I lost my glasses on the ride, but the ride ops were able to find them.
You drive the kart with a wheel that turns right or left, on top is triggers that shoot targets that appear on the visor. My weapon was pointed downwards where there were few targets. The kart moves, it doesn’t feel like a race, more a shoot-`em up like Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. It is ok, there isn’t a sense of fun like Astro Blasters, a little interactivity with animatronics and mini-volcanos. I would have like a racetrack and tunnels or something that passes overhead. I went to the meet and greet with Princess Peach. Next to it was the meet and greet for Yoshi! He was in a parade at Universal Studios Japan, but this is the first time meeting him in person! There was a scavenger hunt with a paper hat, kinda like the Burger King crown, find Yoshi’s eggs around Mushroom Kingdom. I didn’t understand where was the hat and just left kinda bored.
Flux Capacitor Patty Melt, Mel’s Diner, photo by the author.
The First Roll Tavern was at the Jurassic Cafe location, it had theming with backdrops, I was really interested in the Gelatinous Cube. It was a blue raspberry gummy dessert with candy bones and weapons. Waited in line, ordered, and then a little while later was an announcement that they ran out of food. Got a refund, disappointment, it really wasn’t bad for a first event night. I would recommend first thing if you go, find the food items that you might want to try, the First Roll Tavern sold out in the first hour. It may change over time, but I would still make it a priority if you are interested. Still hungry, I went to Mel’s Drive-in to get the Outtatime Cookie, but it was sold out. It had candy flame trail, license plate, and grey chocolate malt. Maybe next time. I did get the Flux Capacitor Patty Melt. Beef patty, onions, and the sourdough has the flux capactior mark on top.
Next, I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, it was unusual since the entrance was very dark. I don’t think you might find it, if you didn’t already know its location. The other unusual part was that it was kinda empty. I really wanted to go to Three Broomsticks and try the Toad in the Hole; Vegan Yorkshire pudding with plant based sausage. I thought it was reservation only which I couldn’t get to work as well as mobile ordering on the app. Still, guests just walked in so this may be an exception for going early. The area that divides into the alleyway and the path to Hogwarts had the Niffler. The lil’ beastie from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) has a platypus beak and black fur like an otter. He was in a box with a beaded necklace around him and the rest of cart had boxes.
Marty McFly and Marvin Berry and the Starlighters perform at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance, Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley, author’s photo.
There is a show with its keeper getting the necklace free, funny. Other magical creatures, a baby pink dragon and an Occamy were not there. There was a castle projection show, Hogworts Forever, but I only caught the end. Kinda bored and left even though I brought along my wand. The tram takes you down to Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley. Kinda cold ride down at night so I recommend dress warmly. Doc Brown on the video screens invites you to Hill Valley and caustions you not to disrup the time continuum. You walk into Hill Valley and are welcomed by the Lyon Estates sign which promises homes that will become the McFly house. Then, you enter the courtyard square that was used to film Back to the Future (1985). This may be part of a VIP tour, but this was the square from the film come to life, with games, popcorn, and your favorite characters wandering the square!
Another meet and greet was Elphaba from Wicked, long wait, but worth it since there’s a good chat with Elphaba. One of the best meet and greets of the night for me. I didn’t see Glinda. I moved on to Star Trek: Red Alert! This was in the Minion Land area. I was told that this was the worst experience at Fan Fest, but it was one of my favorites. You are at Starfleet Spaceport Los Angeles. You are at the Starfleet Museum and tour the Enterprise-D. The latest version of the Starfleet Museum over Athan Prime was in the Star Trek: Picard episode, "The Bounty" (2023). There are controls of a shuttle as it goes to warp. Then, an officer shows you view outside of the spaceport, she explains that it is containment field that protects you from space, but an entity appears and disrupts the tour! This leads to Sickbay where the doctor tries to analyze the anamoly.
Next, the Engineering Room, where there is the cool, pulsing engine. Two crewmembers try to find out what is happening with the anamoly. Then, the ship goes into red alert and you are evacuated to the turbolift. After some mishaps with the ship malfunctions, this opens to the bridge!, this is the bridge that was used in Star Trek: Picard. The anamoly says that like itself, the crew and guests are “born from the stars.” Love the story! The cast were the best at getting the style of Star Trek and superior to Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas which closed in 2008. I did ride the attraction, Klingon: Encounter, but Red Alert is a better experience. I always saw Klingons at conventions and events, were they drive away by Tribbles? I wasn’t in time for the One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen maybe next time. There are some bumps for the first night of Universal Studios Fan Fest Night, but it is too much fun if you are fan of any of the franchises.
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