This is the second year for Universal Fan Fest Nights and it was crowded with fans! There is still May 9th, 14, 15, and 16th left for the event. Check out: https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hhn/en/us/things-to-do/events-and-seasonal-activities/fan-fest-nights. The comic convention look was missing. The lanyards were a paid item. The cosplay of course had Harry Potter robes, a few Luffy Straw Hats and bounding-type outfits, and I saw a great group of D&D cosplayers. The mobile food ordering didn’t seem to work, but I found it was working towards the end of the night. I was a little late due to traffic so this threw my schedule off, I missed the One Piece show. So I thought I would try for the meet and greets.
The Sailor Moon's photo op was confusing, one line was ending and the other was full, so what about the next?, dunno team members didn't make it clear. So I decided to go to Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (the Japanese name): The Miracle: Moon Palace Chapter Deluxe. This 4D film (without the 3D) like the previous one, Jujitsu Kaisen was from the Japan theme park. The outside curtain above the entrance showed Sailor Moon and Chibusa, who apparently is a little girl who time travels from the 30th century (the time of Legion of Super-Heroes?) to Sailor's time.
I think there is also Luna, a talking cat?, couldn't tell because it was just a sphere. I thought it was a robot. Sailor in her teen form, Usagi Tsukino, with Chibusa is planning a celebration on the moon with Mamoru Chiba, the guy who becomes Tuxedo Mask. Queen Nehelenia is in the background looking for the Silver Crystal. They head to the Moon Palace and are joined by the other Sailor Guardians; Sailor Venus, who has metal powers using her Wink Chain, Sailor Mercury with water powers, Sailor Mars, she can control fire, and Sailor Jupiter, she brings the lighting and thunder.
Tuxedo Mask dances with Sailor Moon. Queen Nehelenia appears and drains the power of Sailor Guardians to use against them! Chisbusa arrives with the Outer Guardians; Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Pluto. They power up Sailor Moon to take on the queen and they need you to make the heart symbol to break her staff. They take a group pic at the end. It's an ok show, only one setting, the Moon Palace, the Sailors sweep past you, yup, but it just doesn't use the full effect like the Jujitsu Kaisen show.
Next to the exit of Sailor Moon was the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, one thing just led to another all night. I saw a handler for a dragon with no name. Then, I headed to Hogwarts, to the right is the roller coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff. So I was a little confused that entrance to Forbidden Forest: Search fro the Hippogriff, was not there, but the entrance is in Hogwarts. You have to note to team member that you don't want to go on Forbidden Journey and then go to another entrace.
The general wait time was 60 minutes, I had the express pass so went right in line with my handy wand. You are led in the back area of Hogsmeade into a forest. This part gets very Horror Nights, spooky, but there are many team members at every part to guide you. You reach the Hogwarts professor and cast the first spell, an easy one, "Lumos" to lead you in the darkness. He leads you to a bunch of books torn apart by Cornish Pixies and another easy spell "Immobulus." They are frozen and the professor sets down the Monster Book of Monsters after a guest touches its spine.
Then, it’s off to a part of the forest filled with webbing (netting). I'm not certain how the Acromantula, giant spider, was handled. There was a creature, but it looked too much like the tree for me. Then, there was an encounter with a centaur, I think this was an animatronic, Wow. The professor says they are only looking for the Hippogriff. Next, some Devil's Snare blocks the way, but the professor untangles the plant with sunlight from the Lumos Solem spell, didn’t know this one.
Finally, there is more Devil’s Snare that has trapped the Hippogriff. Another Lumos Solem parts the Devil’s Snare fully revealing the Hippogriff, Fleetwing, bathed in light. I was immediately bowing to respect him. Impressive. Once I left, right there was the tram, so took it without any rest. The express pass got me on the tram. A video plays on the monitors explaining that a movie is being filmed and you are an extra. The mystery is to find the identity of the Phantom Director with help of the Scooby Gang.
From the tram video I thought it was the Art Director, I think that was who it was at the Big Reveal. The tram lets you off at Little Europe where the horror films were made. This was the cool part, Frankenstein made giant shadows on a wall. Dracula was at the fountain of the Court of Miracles. The Universal Monsters, Dracula, Frankenstein, the Bride, and Wolfman just cameo. They do have glow stick light ups around their costumes so the monsters stand out.
There is a guide, the Mystery Inc. Manual, that is at the tram loading area and also copies when you exit the tram with pencils. You have to go around and find clues, everything I heard about it on YouTube is that the clues were too confusing, so I just went around to find characters. Shaggy was at the Snacks by Shaggy tent, kinda funny, and Velma was at a video village with monitors and clues to track the Phantom Director.
Daphne was at the Wardrobe Dept. tent, Wolfman moved right past me to find her, no reaction from me because I think werewolves are cool. She outwitted him with a stick that had his face on it! I was exhausted going round and round in circles, signage is needed for different areas with character faces on them. So I headed to the Big Reveal had the Scooby Gang on a stage that was behind all of the tents. The Universal Monsters chase them overhead on screens and finally the trap catches the Phantom Director! It was an ok show, though the area is kinda small.
I took the tram back and it was 4 minutes to the One Piece show so instead I headed for the Lower Lot. Dungeons and Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep was the only returning experience. I used the express pass and went to a single line, took about 15 minutes, I knew to stay on the right side with the book shelves of magic items. So I was able to activate the crystal ball. The hostde was a Human Bard, not a Dwarf like last year, and the host on the other side was the devlish Evilina. The last time, the Mimic, the monster like a treasure chest with teeth, was on the left side near the entrance.
This time it was on the right, I don't know what was special on the other side. The Dragonstaff is found in the treasure room that also has the Beholder. I was so busy taking pics of it that the group moved on, not this time, I rushed forward to see the last part of the show. Laralay Starshadow, who amazingly looks like the Elf at the beginning shows up ready to take power. Evilina uses the Dragonstaff on her and saves the day! Fan Fest still doesn’t have shirts with the logos of the attractions so merch is still weak.
The next part was a little tricky, trying to find Jurassic World: Journey Through The Eras. It wasn’t next to the Jurassic World ride and I kept getting directions from team members. The walk through was actually around the corner of the elevators! Once you pass the elevators overhead, there is the Jurassic Park sign and under it, none other than John Hammond! The founder of Jurassic Park was complete in white, straw hat, and cane, spot on! Inside the park was the T-Rex from Jurassic Park (1993).
Next to her, was the InGen convoy truck from The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). I later saw Dr. Henry Wu there! On the side was Dr. Ian Malcolm, this actor was brilliant, really the character of Ian Malcolm just like Jeff Goldblum! I think one of the best actors at Fan Fest. He is in front of a Jurassic Park jeep. Next to him is Ned Ledry, very funny!, he has the yellow jacket. After the photo I said, “We’re dino food.” Behind Ned is the Brachiosaurus.
In the center is the Gyrosphere from Jurassic World without windows. At the end was the InGen river boat from Jurassic Park III (2001) towing a cage with a Velociraptor on top! There is a small area for a show with trainers trying to contain Velociraptors, very crowded so I didn’t see it. Instead of a show, they should recreate moments from the first film. All of the characters from JP1 were there, maybe the hunter is needed, then it would be on the level of Back to the Future: Return to Hill Valley!
When I reached the Upper Lot, I hustled over to the last showing of One Piece Grand Pirate Show. This is at the same location as Waterworld, but I think I mistakedly passed it. It was actually a One Piece street, right around the corner of Sanji’s Galley, there was the bar, One Piece: Grand Pirate Den, to the side was the meet and greet. Every seat is a good seat since the characters walk every side next to the seats and the railing. The Marines in the pre-show were funny looking for pirates.
A Marine boat passes by complete with gatling gun.Most of the same sets and vehicles as Waterworld. Tashigi is also looking for pirates at the railing. Admiral Borsalino is looking for the Straw Hat Crew. Usopp with the suspenders and Sanji in black suit are on the dock at Midori Island. They are searching for Pop Greens which will give them powers. Monkey D. Luffy arrives on a boat piloted by Nami. The boat maneuvers and Luffy jumping around are kinda crazy. Luffy is dropped off at the dock and is of course hungry with a growling stomach.
Zoro in green gi walks along the railing and then Nami. On the other side, she fights off Marines with her staff, but ends up captured. Nami is fighting for the people of the island. On a tower, Zoro battles Tashigi. On the dock, Sanji back flips and kicks two Marines. Then, it is Zoro’s turn with his swords! The stunts are fantastic. Usopp flies over in a basket. Next, it is Luffy’s turn to hold onto a cage. He reaches Usopp and Nami, then the gatling gun blasts him! He takes the bullets and projects it back, throwing two Marines into the water!
Luffy faces the villain at the railing. Usopp uses his sling shot to blast the Marines on the other side. At the tower, Buggy the Clown has shown up! Tony Tony Chopper struggles with a Marine, funny! Sanji appears with his leg in flames! He flips and kicks Marines. Then, Tashigi takes control of gatling gun to shoot at Zoro who deflects the bullets with his swords! Admiral Borsalino has an energy sword to try to stop Buggy, but he can split himself apart. Luffy joins the fight. The Pop Greens have become unstable, the Straw Hat Crew, and even Buggy escape.
The island explodes and gouts of fire right next to you give a spectacular finish. This show is thrilling, more topical than the almost forgotten Waterworld so I hope it returns and maybe take over Waterworld. There was a Meet and Greet outside, but it was already closed, you have to dedicate the night to get to the Meet and Greets. Sanji’s Gallery had long lines, but more reasonable towards the close, so I was able to order Nami’s Tangerie Breeze, tangerine and lime juice, club soda and honey with a tangerien slice and mint sprig, $12.00, it was good.
I would probably go for a cheaper drink, the alcoholic drinks were of course more expensive, a fountain drink. I chose Franky’s Loco Moco Burger, one of my favorite Hawaiian meals, it was a burger with slices of pork (made me think of Spam), fried egg and onion rings with “miso cola gravy.” It came with “star-shaped tater tots.” $18.99, a full meal, by the way just get one item and a drink, it becomes pricey! I also got the One Piece Floating Bottle, $20, it’s a nice collectible. It ended up a little more than twice the price of the three course meal at Hogwart’s. The One Piece show is a can’t miss, Jurassic Park experience was great, and the Forbidden Forest, all highlights. There was much to do at Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights, except rest, memorable and exhausting fun!
#UniversalStudiosFanFestNights, #PrettyGuardianSailorMoon, #TheMiracleMoonPalaceChapterDeluxe, #SaolorMoon, #Chibusa, #TuxedoMask, #QueenNehelenia,
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