Universal Studios Hollywood’s Universal Fan Fest Nights has officially kicked off, but which experiences are the ones that you should make sure you absolutely do not miss? While this will, of course, depend on which fandoms run through your veins, each experience has something for casual fans as well. We rank all seven of them here so that you can make a more informed decision when you check out this special event.

Showcased fandoms include Dungeons & Dragons, Star Trek, Back To The Future, One Piece, Harry Potter, and Jujutsu Kaisen. Each experience is different from the others, tailor-made for fans while still entertaining enough for those who just came to have a good time. Universal Fan Fest Nights run on select nights from April 25 to May 18 and is a separately ticketed event. This may be the first year for Universal Fan Fest Nights, but chances are it will not be the last.

ScreenRant was invited to attend the opening night of Universal Fan Fest Nights, along with several other media outlets. We participated in every experience so that we could let you know which ones you can’t miss. Chances are, guest rankings will vary a lot depending on what their favorite fandoms are. This is why we were sure to include a short description of what each experience actually entails. It should also be noted that while not an official experience of Universal Fan Fest Nights, Wicked‘s Glinda and Elphaba rotate out near the entrance to the park, meeting and speaking with guests. They are both as lovely as you would expect, and a fun interaction if you have the time to stop.

7

Super Nintendo World

Nothing Exceptional Is Added To A Regular Experience

Super Nintendo World is open for the a few hours at the beginning of Universal Fan Fest Nights, but it is essentially the same experience that guests can get during regular hours. The major exception is that you can meet Yoshi, who is absolutely adorable, but know that this was closed down by 10:30pm on opening night (of course this could vary on other nights). This land also offers a couple special menu items to celebrate Yoshi: Yoshi’s Fettucine Alfredo and Yoshi’s Apple Melon Smoothie.

6

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter

Meet & Interact With 3 Magical Creatures

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter’s rides remain open throughout the evening, but that isn’t all that Potterheads can experience during Universal Fan Fest Nights. Straight out of Magical Creatures And Where To Find Them, you can interact with three different animals while visiting: a Niffler, a baby dragon, and an Occamy. The Occamy and baby dragon roam the land while the Niffler stays put outside one of the shop entrances and, with the help of a local wizard, puts on a hilarious performance as it is caught having stolen several shiny things.

These interactions are a lot of fun, and it is really special to see these creatures up close. There are also a few new menu items available (we suggest getting house churros early in the night to avoid having ones that have sat out for hours) and a show displayed on Hogwarts called Hogwarts Always. The show can be seen on regular nights as well.

5

Jujutsu Kaisen

Fans Of This Anime Will Have A Blast During This 4D Show

If you are a fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, you are sure to have a great time during this experience. Taking place in the DreamWorks Theater, where the Kung Fu Panda show can be seen during the day, a ten-minute-long show takes fans into the world of the anime. The chairs move as you feel like you are a part of what is happening on screen, although it does feel like this was made to also have a 3D element that is not offered during this screening. This is the same show that can also be seen at Universal Studios Japan.

4

One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering

The Characters Take A Long Time With Each Fan & Really Look The Part

One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering is filled with fun pH๏τo opps and the chance to meet your favorite pirates. Luffy and his Straw Hat Crew, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji, are on hand to say hello and take some pictures. While the lines can get quite long throughout the evening, this is because the characters take ample time to speak and interact with fans. When Universal Fan Fest Nights started, Luffy and Sanji were at their own meet-and-greet locations (close by to one another) while the other three were grouped together. By the end of the evening, if you want to wait, you can meet all five together for some amazing group pH๏τos.

Guests can also join the ranks of the most wanted pirates with the help of sketch artists, i.e. get wanted poster caricatures done. There are also some delicious menu items available, including Franky’s Cola Barbacoa and the Chopper Cupcake.

3

Star Trek: Red Alert

A Fun, But Very Quick, Experience

Even without knowing much about the Star Trek world, it is easy to get swept up in the engaging story of Star Trek: Red Alert. As guests are brought into space to tour the Starfleet Museum and the iconic Enterprise-D, things go all wrong when an unknown enтιтy seemingly attacks the ship, causing the electronics to go haywire. As you are rushed from room to room, you meet many characters that showcase different races from the many Star Trek series, before finally stepping foot on the actual set-used bridge from Star Trek: Picard.

The experience overall is really fun. There is a lot to see, some of which can be missed as the urgency of the story line causes parts of it to feel rushed. Red Alert is more interactive than the Halloween Horror Nights mazes, while still allowing guests to be completely immersed in the world.

2

Back To The Future

Step Into The Film For An Immersive Experience

The Back To The Future experience is the most unique of all the Universal Fan Fest Nights elements and is sure to be the favorite for many. Guests take the studio tour tram onto the actual set of Back To The Future where the grounds surrounding the clock tower have been transported back to Hill Valley 1955. Characters like Doc Brown, Marty McFly, and Biff can be found wandering around and recreating iconic scenes from the film.

You can interact with them and truly become a part of the movie. Overall, this is about a forty-five-minute-long experience, but you can choose to remain there and watch the events more than once. Because there is so much to do and see, this is not a bad idea to ensure you don’t miss a thing, although it should be noted that there are not a lot of food options in Hill Valley, just simple snacks.

1

Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets Of Waterdeep

A Life-Size Beholder Easily Puts This At The Top Of The List

Players of Dungeons & Dragons are going to lose their minds when they step into the game itself and come face-to-face with a giant Beholder. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop teamed up with Universal to come up with something that is so incredibly impressive, words will not do it any justice. On top of this main event of Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets Of Waterdeep, characters lead guests through an interactive experience that incorporates a lot of Easter Eggs from the world of D&D and references that will have players internally screaming with glee. Help cast spells and solve puzzles as you go on a mission to take back a stolen staff and set things right in Waterdeep.

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.