Guests at Universal Fan Fest Nights will have the opportunity to experience several different fandoms brought to life, one of which is Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep. This guided walkthrough adventure brings the beloved tabletop game to life in ways that players have never seen before. From embarking on a quest to retrieve the Dragon Staff to coming face-to-face with a Beholder, there is a lot that D&D fans are going to geek out about.

This may be the first year for Universal Fan Fest Nights, but chances are it will not be the last. Showcased fandoms other than Dungeons & Dragons include Star Trek, Back To The Future, One Piece, and Jujutsu Kaisen. Currently featured at only Universal Studios Hollywood, there are always opportunities to expand. Universal Fan Fest Nights run on select nights from April 25 to May 18 and is a separately ticketed event.

ScreenRant was given the exciting opportunity to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and preview two of the experiences that will be featured during Universal Fan Fest Nights. Accompanied by Stephen Siercks, Senior Director, Entertainment Production, Universal Studios Hollywood, we were given a peek behind the curtain and a behind-the-scenes look at Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets Of Waterdeep.

Universal Teamed Up With The Jim Henson Creature Company To Create A Beholder That Will Take Your Breath Away

“[Xanathar] Is Quite The Impressive Figure For Us”

Anyone who has played Dungeons & Dragons before knows that a Beholder is one of the most dangerous creatures that you can encounter. So it makes perfect sense that one is the star of Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets Of Waterdeep. In collaboration with Jim Henson Creature Company, Universal created a mᴀssive puppet that will make fans squeal with glee. The level of detail is beyond impressive, so much so that there is no way to accurately describe the feeling of coming face-to-face with this mᴀssive creature.

“This has been an amazing collaboration between the Universal Studios Hollywood Entertainment team, the Wizards of the Coast, the Hasbro team, and Jim Henson Creature Company,” Siercks admits. “Seeing this scale of a creature come to life in front of us, and to have that surprise reveal moment.” While we will not reveal exactly when you will meet Xanathar, we can let you know that there will be a battle that takes place in which guests are able to actively participate.

Xanathar is fully puppeteered, but here comes the shocking part – it takes just one puppeteer to control him. Xanathar has mouth movement, eye movement, and he fully lights up, making him “quite the impressive figure” says Siercks.

Guests Will Experience The World Of Dungeons & Dragons Like Never Before

Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets Of Waterdeep Delivers “Something That Any D&D Fan Has Wanted To Experience”

Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep is a structured experience that gives guests the opportunity to play along and participate in, depending on which clan they are within. Yes, that’s right. At the beginning of the experience, fans will be split into four different groups that hold four different types of powers. They will be pulled out and interacted with along the way. While they will also be given classes, Siercks opted to keep which ones a secret for now.

The attraction starts in a “rather generic-looking room celebrating the game of Dungeons and Dragons” and offers a true pre-show experience. “Someone who appears and sounds like a Dungeon Master comes overhead and starts talking about who you are, what you’re doing, why you’re there.” Essentially, the Dragon Staff has been stolen by Xanathar the Beholder, and you are tasked with getting it back.

Siercks reveals that this pre-show room is there to help provide that “moment of playing the game to being thrust into the game.” From that room, guests will be transported into the curious past in a way that is “going to be a really fun moment and something that any D&D fan has wanted to experience.” This is where fans will meet Lanalay Starshadow, a High-Elf Cleric, who sends them on their mission.

Secrets of Waterdeep is a quest-style adventure that takes guests through several rooms, giving them puzzles to solve along the way. They are escorted by Throckary Heartsong, a Dwarf Bard, and Evalina Kempflina, a Tiefling Fighter. “The cool part about that is that Throckary and Evealina are going to stay with us for the rest of the experience,” Siercks explains. “So we get to know those characters a little bit more.” This is a really fun way of continuing to develop fan experiences in ways Universal Studios has never been able to do before.

Dungeons & Dragons Easter Eggs Can Be Found Throughout The Entire Experience

“It’s Been Really Great Working With The Wizards Of The Coast Team And The Hasbro Team In Developing Those Easter Eggs”

Each of the many rooms of this experience is filled with iconic Dungeons & Dragons Easter Eggs that fans will be able to pick out. “One of the most impressive things about this space is the amount of set dressing and the amount of Easter Eggs,” Siercks details. “In each room, if you look closely, there’s Easter Eggs to Dungeons and Dragons.” There are multiple dice placed in rooms, as well as other easily recognizable items that bring authenticity to the experience.

“It’s been really great working with the Wizards of the Coast team and the Hasbro team in developing those Easter Eggs to really make sure that for those fans of D&D, you can pick them out easily and often throughout the experience.” Siercks adds. “Our set dressing and props team does such an amazing job with a lot of this and this is a great example of that.“

Keep your eyes peeled for one of D&D’s most recognizable monsters, the mimic, as you make your way through Secrets Of Waterdeep. For those who do not know, a mimic is a chest that comes to life. The one that Universal has built is a fully animated part of the attraction and will be included in the storytelling. Siercks teases.

More About Universal Fan Fest Nights

Really Go There with Interactive and Immersive In-World Experiences

Universal Fan Fest Nights is an exciting, all-new seasonal event, featuring interactive and immersive in-world experiences inspired by sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and anime, based on Star Trek, Back to the Future, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, ONE PIECE and Jujutsu Kaisen, as well as special interactions with Wicked characters, Elphaba and Glinda. Theme park favorites, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD will also offer special additions and introduce character and interactive elements during Universal Fan Fest Nights.

Guests will really go there as they tap into their inner fandom and join forces with their favorite characters while sharing their enthusiasm with like-minded fans and engaging in cosplay.

Universal Fan Fest Nights 2025 at Universal Studios Hollywood runs on select nights from April 25th to May 18th.

Tickets can be purchased here, as it is ticketed separately from general admission to the park.