Universal Fan Fest Nights - Coming 2025

[chris.g]

Not sure how this would play out with its current stateside streamer, but Doctor Who would also be perfect for this event.

 

[BriefCasey]

Rope drop the Yoshi Egg Hunt right after D&D. We did that and our wait for pink Yoshi was about 30 seconds.

Appreciate it, good to know I was on the money there. (Now I need to figure out how to explain the urgency of this to my friend without spoiling much, my friend's going in kind of blind into this. Maybe phrase it as "A special thing to see after the egg hunt is completed" and that the line for it got long when I first went?)

As for Arcane, I'm not sure if that is particularly likely to be at the event. By the time Fan Fest Nights 2026 rolls around, it will have been a year and a half since the show ended. They'd have to negotiate with both Netflix and Riot Games to make it happen, and it seems that Riot has been more difficult to collaborate with recently, as they've publicly stated they will not allow the Arcane Fortnite skins to return.

Christ, Fortnite fomo is one thing but it's even worse if the collaborators don't want the skin returning period. I feel bad for any fans who play Fortnite who missed out on these. Side note, it'd be kind of funny if Fortnite got meet and greets of its OCs in the future like Jonesy, Peely, Cuddle Team Leader, etc. Pretty sure the Battle Bus appeared for some promotional photo op at CityWalk a few years back.

Also, support got back to me on if the passholder discount applies to the dining pass, and supposedly, it does not. Oh well, at least the two additional sides saves me a good $20-30 compared to if I bought them separately, even with the discount.

 

[mccgavin]

Side note, it'd be kind of funny if Fortnite got meet and greets of its OCs in the future like Jonesy, Peely, Cuddle Team Leader, etc. Pretty sure the Battle Bus appeared for some promotional photo op at CityWalk a few years back.

I feel like that would be more likely to occur at Disney at this point. Disney has been heavily pushing for brand synergy within Fortnite lately, and they have a moderate financial stake in Epic Games as of now.

 

[BriefCasey]

I feel like that would be more likely to occur at Disney at this point. Disney has been heavily pushing for brand synergy within Fortnite lately, and they have a moderate financial stake in Epic Games as of now.

That is true, that slipped my mind, along with how the current season is even heavily focused on Star Wars right now.

 

[Rideguy70]

I was surprised to discover that they are taking AP discounts for food at Universal's Fan Fest, even on the specialty items.

By comparison, there are no AP discounts for food at HHN.

Not that it's needed, but would an Platinum Express pass technically be good at Fan Fest?

 

[Jerroddragon]

Went on Saturday Night

EA
Got in line 20ish mins before Star Trek opened, was on the second flight out of EA. My wife just really enjoyed the Star trek attraction, I still think its good/fine.

15 Mins for D&D after that, still such an great fun show. Only thing I will say if I wish you could try to get into a different group, my group for D&D is always the Elf and want to try the other side

The SNW area opened around 6:45 but only for a small group then more people were let in 5-8 mins after that, we went right into collecting the eggs and maybe 15 mins waiting for the Pink Yoshi, they made this a little easier now letting you exit after taking a picture (when I went before you had to wait for everyone to get a picture then you all left the area)

Green Yoshi is still kinda a mess, he was done left and they would not allow lines to form before the line opened...so I just jumped in. Yoshi came out when he was suppose to and went to D&D again and 10 min wait

We were going to get to BTTF but the line got to 20 and then 30 mins, so we saw the castle show and some fantastic beasts
Watched over 30 mins of the Flux Capacitors, they played the Power Rangers theme, and some other fun songs. The crowd was bigger this time, so the times and Voggers videos about them seem to be helping get more people to that area (also they seem to be booked in the summer...so doubt they will be back for summer but hopefully we get someone playing live music)

Walk on Star Trek and waited 10 mins for JJK

Went to the BTTF when it was a walk on, Biff just got decked when we got there so listened and danced to some music then went back to the offloading area after the projection show to greet Marty. We watched the Car cleaners music show, its super cute and was much longer then expected. Might want to put up the next time for this show to draw more people. The line for Einstein was very long (I have a picture with him) and my wife was ok with waiting until the summer event to get a picture with him. We watched the full under the sea dance and that was really fun and left after that.

Saw the wicked characters and one piece characters but didn't stand in line to meet them, I did see some videos of late at night when they are closing of them just making a big line and you can do a kinda short meet with each character. Kinda like how dispense did when you could take a picture with Maul/Vader or the droids at the Tomorrowland stage which is a good idea to make sure if you stay late you are guaranteed a picture over closing the line an hour before closing.

I'm going back Thursday and Sunday.

For me this event is just so much fun. HHN allows you to live out fears and just focuses on those while Fan fest for me is about people being happy, they are embracing the Fandoms and just talking to people, listening to music and I think is overall a positive. I would not be upset if they add more, another fan zone in the Paris area for next year makes sense and hopefully something at Water world

 

[Wesker69]

HHN allows you to live out fears and just focuses on those while Fan fest for me is about people being happy, they are embracing the Fandoms and just talking to people, listening to music and I think is overall a positive.

That's a very bold statement. Getting scared also let's people be happy (guest & scareactor). Plenty of people embrace what they're in line for & chat. It's very bold to say you can't have an overall positive fun time at HHN

 

[Horror Lover]

Too bad we don't have an indoor theater anymore, a Karate Kid/Cobra Kai-themed stunt show for Fan Fest Nights would go hard and it taps into that 80's nostalgia IP quotient that BTTF does..

 

[Jerroddragon]

That's a very bold statement. Getting scared also let's people be happy (guest & scareactor). Plenty of people embrace what they're in line for & chat. It's very bold to say you can't have an overall positive fun time at HHN

lol

HHN is my favorite event of the year. But the focus is on fear

I'm not saying you can't talk to people in line but this event is about people dressing up as characters and meet and greets and characters interacting with you, Its whole point is having other human contract

Which is also why before I said it also is bringing in what you bring....you watch all the shows and movies you can talk and interactive with more. Not saying you can't have fun but would be surprised if someone who has never watched BTTF or one piece would have more fun then people who love those series

 

[malice]

After much thought I decided to skip this event. The interactions and cosplay element does not appeal to me and watching some videos confirmed the cringe factor of some over zealous guest behavior. Glad they are enjoying it but I don’t want to be there to see it haha.

 

[Wesker69]

Yea. As much as I wanted to experience Jujutsu Kaisen, I decided this event was a "no go" after seeing the 2 walk-throughs & especially BTTF. Couldn't justify the upcharge. If this event was included as regular park limited time offerings (like Mega Movie), it'd be a no brainer.

 

[Freak]

Yea. As much as I wanted to experience Jujutsu Kaisen, I decided this event was a "no go" after seeing the 2 walk-throughs & especially BTTF. Couldn't justify the upcharge. If this event was included as regular park limited time offerings (like Mega Movie), it'd be a no brainer.

Yet Disney can get away with charging twice as much and offer nothing but meet and greets. I would say the event is a dang good deal considering the alternative.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Yet Disney can get away with charging twice as much and offer nothing but meet and greets. I would say the event is a dang good deal considering the alternative.

The new escape rooms are 50 bucks at Citywalk...to me this feels like a steal

I plan on going for 49 bucks this Thursday but even at 60ish bucks a ticket for the two night package isn't that bad

1) No Lines on any rides
2) Flux Capacitor's Play 30+ mins set and they are different each showtime...no repeats
3) BTTF area.....need i saw more its amazing and not only has the characters but two live musical shows (one 7-8 mins and the other 15 mins long) plus a projection show
4) JJK at dream works
5) The new castle show
6) Star trek Walk Through (also not to mention this mostly has no wait the entire night)
7) D&D Walk Through (also not to mention this mostly has no wait the entire night)
8) The Fantastic beasts, Wicked, Yoshi and One Piece meet and greets

Luckily most people going are having a blast and like HHN most who have went are already dreaming up next year.....that with most Anime merch being sold out and the restaurants having lines most nights all night's it feels like at least this should be a successful and a beginning to a new yearly event

 

[Wesker69]

This isn't about Disney's after dark events (or OogieBoogieBash). My post is strictly in regards to FanFest. And lets be realistic, outside of a few things, FanFest is also mostly meet-n-greets & themed food.

This event had the appeal when first announced, but the execution wasn't enough to warrant going at the added cost. Not everything is a "win" for everyone.

Also, the "list" is completely unnecessary. Glad you are easily hyped by the event, but as I said, not everyone is willing to spend the money for it.

 

[mccgavin]

This isn't about Disney's after dark events (or OogieBoogieBash). My post is strictly in regards to FanFest. And lets be realistic, outside of a few things, FanFest is also mostly meet-n-greets & themed food.

This event had the appeal when first announced, but the execution wasn't enough to warrant going at the added cost. Not everything is a "win" for everyone.

Also, the "list" is completely unnecessary. Glad you are easily hyped by the event, but as I said, not everyone is willing to spend the money for it.

It's worth considering that this event isn't exclusively tailored for APs or SoCal residents. My family usually only makes a yearly trip to LA for HHN, but what was on offer was enough to incentivize us to drive from out of state to visit, and we were very impressed.

The extremely short waits for rides was a major draw, and I personally really enjoyed all of the offerings (sans Star Trek), even for Jujutsu Kaisen, which I had no familiarity with. As a huge Back to The Future fan, the Hill Valley experience was well worth the trip alone.