We take a day out to Universal Studios to check out the limited run of Universal Fan Fest Nights 2025
It is no secret that I love Universal Studios Hollywood, which is why when the first advertisements for their Fan Fest Nights 2025 were advertised, I leapt at the opportunity to secure tickets. It also coincided well with my first anniversary, and my wife is a diehard Back To The Future fan. Talk about kismet.
This year Universal Studios did something I feel they should have done all along – opened up the vault of all the IPs they have on file and put on an event for those who are not horror enthusiasts, which we here at Aggrogamer definitely consider ourselves, given that we trek out every year for Horror Nights. Having the Universal Fan Fest Nights provides an opportunity for those who may not have that dark and spooky appreciation to engage in the fandoms that are near and dear to their hearts – which this year consisted of Back To The Future, Dungeons & Dragons, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Star Trek, and appearance from Glinda and Elphaba of Wicked fame.
The Events
Of course, being gamers (big shock here!), one of our first stops would be the D&D event, Secrets of Waterdeep, created in the iconic Soundstage 15. This was a fun immersive experience with three performers, a quest line, and so many nods to the world of the Forgotten Realms that any fan would find something to enjoy. Two members of the Harpers lead you through a heist to take an artifact, the Dragon Staff of Ahghairon, from the Beholder crime boss, Xanathar himself, only to find out there was another nefarious force at play. Our first walk through the performers were more interactive and engaging with the crowd, though I imagine as the crowds grew, this was harder to do. We enjoyed both the times we visited it and the appearance of Xanathar, an impressively well-done puppet created by Jim Henson Studios. The other notable piece was the mimic chest, which gave a fun surprise and again a nod to the IP. This was my favorite for sure.
The nod to the Star Trek franchise was the offering of Red Alert, which takes goers on a tour of the Fleet Museum and the iconic U.S.S. Enterprise D. Incorporating engaging set design, with a trip to the Warp Core, the Medbay, and the Bridge where they used set pieces from the show Star Trek: Picard, it created a nice slice of life in Starfleet and what happens during some “First Encounters.” This was a fun nod to an optimistic future that many of us have grown up watching. It wasn’t the only Star Trek offering though, as there was a fun photo-op outside the “Ten Forward” bar and a nod to Quark’s Cafe.
While not huge fans of One Piece or Jujutsu Kaisen (though we did watch the Netflix series for One Piece and it was amazing) I would be remiss to not mention there were offerings for these IPs. Photoshoots, tasty treats, meet and greets, as well as some immersive experiences, highlighted why these two anime franchises have such a following.
The last of the experiences to touch on was the backlot Back To The Future experience. Taking the lower lot tram in a time-warping journey, we were transported to 1955 “Hill Valley, California.” A fully immersive experience, there were opportunities to interact with Doc Brown, Marty, Biff, and a show of Doc ensuring Marty would get back to 1985 through the clock tower event. Live music and numerous photo opportunities made this something not only truly special but also time-consuming. Fans, such as my wife, could just bask in the atmosphere that the Universal team carefully crafted to bring this franchise to life.
Merchandise
Holy Smokes, they had so much to tie in with this event. Countless T-shirts, hoodies, and dedicated Universal Fan Fest Nights wares were in abundance. My wife picked up a great sweat jacket that leaned into the Star Trek fandom, and while I couldn’t find one in my size, sadly, hers brought no end to enjoyment. I am hoping they will address sizing and availability in future Universal Fan Fest Nights offerings.
Food
We didn’t die too much into the food offerings, though we did stop at The First Roll Tavern, the D&D themed eatery (at the Jurassic Cove), which had so many options for cocktails, food, and desserts. Our party ordered the Beholder’s Brew Fondue, the Traveler’s Rations, and the Gelatinous Cube. All three were delightful, as were the drinks, and I appreciated that they offered non-alcoholic versions as well. The smoking Red Dragon’s Breath was a tasty beverage!
Overall, I really hope that Universal continues with the Fan Fest Nights. I know that they have already announced the next one for Spring 2026 (the team would love to cover it as Press!). There are so many amazing movies and shows that Universal could draw from, and the creative team there at the park is able to really create anything. Giving folks an opportunity to engage with their non-horror-related media appeals to a wider audience. Also, encouraging the Fan Fest goers to dress up and cosplay their favorite characters and IPs gave so much to the overall experience. Still trying to track down the Karlach and Shadowheart who gave us the 3D printed Mind Flayer tadpoles!
Universal Fan Fest Nights — Really GO There