Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 - Speculation & Rumors

[Viator]

I admittedly heavily wonder if Nintendo's thing for FFN will be Rosalina.

With Super Mario Galaxy releasing a few weeks before the event begins, I can easily see Universal wanting to roll out a Rosalina M&G, and have it "Premiere" at Fan Fest Nights first, before moving to daytime ops. Combine that with the return of the drone show concept, and that'd be a easy win for SNW at FFN.

 

[chris.g]

I think you might be onto something @Viator.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Come on, man.

I mean....BTTF...Wicked and HP beasts (which is not owned by Universal) came back in the summer

Nintendo for sure has be a big part of the reason we are lacking on the Drone show, Yoshi was only at fan fest nights and why for some reason the characters don't do anything for the Holidays

I like Nintendo but they are weird on certain things and we see with Terriffer that if the creators/owners are cool the sky is the limit with what you can do

I just wish Nintendo would push for Holiday costumes, getting more characters in the land, more merch outside of Mario and Yoshi coming back when its busy to me makes wayyyy too much sense. Yoshi lines were insane and would be great to soak up more guests during the summer and holidays

 

[Viator]

I think you might be onto something @Viator.

If it wasn't for Super Mario Galaxy Movie this year (and Donkey Kong potentially 2027), it's definitely something that makes sense. Also allows them to repurpose plans for 2025 with relative ease.

I mean....BTTF...Wicked and HP beasts (which is not owned by Universal) came back in the summer

Nintendo for sure has be a big part of the reason we are lacking on the Drone show, Yoshi was only at fan fest nights and why for some reason the characters don't do anything for the Holidays

I like Nintendo but they are weird on certain things and we see with Terriffer that if the creators/owners are cool the sky is the limit with what you can do

I just wish Nintendo would push for Holiday costumes, getting more characters in the land, more merch outside of Mario and Yoshi coming back when its busy to me makes wayyyy too much sense. Yoshi lines were insane and would be great to soak up more guests during the summer and holidays

I think the difference is that Nintendo is likely an element where they might actually see the value in being more hesitant, because of the potential value of making the experiences limited. Making them, essentially a draw, in it's own unique way.

Not to say stuff couldn't transition over, that's why I think Rosalina would probably be the one to do that, but I think there's strategy to exclusivity for Nintendo (Especially when expansion options are more limited as a byproduct of USH's location).

 

[Jerroddragon]

I think the difference is that Nintendo is likely an element where they might actually see the value in being more hesitant, because of the potential value of making the experiences limited. Making them, essentially a draw, in it's own unique way.

Not to say stuff couldn't transition over, that's why I think Rosalina would probably be the one to do that, but I think there's strategy to exclusivity for Nintendo (Especially when expansion options are more limited as a byproduct of USH's location).

I'm not saying all the Yoshi's, just the green one

But if it was true they see value in limited time stuff then why no Halloween Costumes? No Holiday costumes? The characters also didn't dress up for fan fest....

Mario and friend's have a billion outfits now, would be nice to have them dress up int he park as well

 

[Tillsy]

It will not be the only thing FanFest will have. It's just the only thing that's been announced so far.

Apologies - there were a metric craptonne of laughing with tears emojis in that post. I didn't realise this forum filters them out.

Means what was a total and utter joke has been taken as a very serious comment.

That or, I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet... but your kids are going to love it.

 

[Clive]

I mean....BTTF...Wicked and HP beasts (which is not owned by Universal) came back in the summer

Nintendo for sure has be a big part of the reason we are lacking on the Drone show, Yoshi was only at fan fest nights and why for some reason the characters don't do anything for the Holidays

I like Nintendo but they are weird on certain things and we see with Terriffer that if the creators/owners are cool the sky is the limit with what you can do

I just wish Nintendo would push for Holiday costumes, getting more characters in the land, more merch outside of Mario and Yoshi coming back when its busy to me makes wayyyy too much sense. Yoshi lines were insane and would be great to soak up more guests during the summer and holidays

I'm not going to do this with you today, but I'm specifically objecting to your assertion that Nintendo "hate their fans for some reason," which you didn't address in this response because I assume you know it was sophomoric and embarrassing to say with any level of seriousness.

The drone show didn't happen for logistical reasons. It was approved and ready to go until things beyond everyone's immediate control went sideways. We did get holiday decorations.

Yoshi was only at Fan Fest because he's meant to be a draw for Fan Fest, that was literally the entire point.

You just spent a bunch of posts complaining about how the Terrifier creator doesn't do sufficient quality control or allow enough flexibility in IP activations. Like, within the last 48 hours. Not to mention, there is a massive difference between an indie horror breakout that's controlled by a handful of producers and a multi-billion dollar brand controlled by a much larger and older corporate entity.

There hasn't been a broader push for more characters because they are already struggling to manage the ones they have in the land's tight footprint. They don't have places to put people for special characters in the summer or holidays, which is when they need extra space for general crowd control and Mario Kart's extended queue for that ride.

Once again, it's nice to play Roller Coaster Tycoon, but you are in over your head.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I'm not going to do this with you today, but I'm specifically objecting to your assertion that Nintendo "hate their fans for some reason," which you didn't address in this response because I assume you know it was sophomoric and embarrassing to say with any level of seriousness.

The drone show didn't happen for logistical reasons. It was approved and ready to go until things beyond everyone's immediate control went sideways. We did get holiday decorations.

Yoshi was only at Fan Fest because he's meant to be a draw for Fan Fest, that was literally the entire point.

You just spent a bunch of posts complaining about how the Terrifier creator doesn't do sufficient quality control or allow enough flexibility in IP activations. Like, within the last 48 hours. Not to mention, there is a massive difference between an indie horror breakout that's controlled by a handful of producers and a multi-billion dollar brand controlled by a much larger and older corporate entity.

There hasn't been a broader push for more characters because they are already struggling to manage the ones they have in the land's tight footprint. They don't have places to put people for special characters in the summer or holidays, which is when they need extra space for general crowd control and Mario Kart's extended queue for that ride.

Once again, it's nice to play Roller Coaster Tycoon, but you are in over your head.

You mean the FNAF creator

The Terriffer creator was the one who suggested Art Roam the park, he's a G. Seems like someone who understands and loves his fans and wanted Art to be the star and it payed off big

I've been a Nintendo fan all my life and they are weird on so many things. You can look up how they try to take profits from people streaming there games which is not standard

Also Mario can be in a Holiday outfit without more space, same with Peach and Toad. The Hello Kitty, Shrek and other characters get outfits for holidays.

For Yoshi, he met where Toad does and Toad is not always out so they could switch off.
On Yoshi being made for only Fan fest...we got three yoshis and rumored more colors are coming just have the standard Green out for busy times and the rest can be exclusive but to say Yoshi was only made for the event when HP creatures were as well but they came back....

As for the Drone show, I wish they could make it work but if not then a projection show like when the land Opened

 

[Clive]

You mean the FNAF creator

The Terriffer creator was the one who suggested Art Roam the park, he's a G. Seems like someone who understands and loves his fans and wanted Art to be the star and it payed off big

I've been a Nintendo fan all my life and they are weird on so many things. You can look up how they try to take profits from people streaming there games which is not standard

Also Mario can be in a Holiday outfit without more space, same with Peach and Toad. The Hello Kitty, Shrek and other characters get outfits for holidays.

For Yoshi, he met where Toad does and Toad is not always out so they could switch off.
On Yoshi being made for only Fan fest...we got three yoshis and rumored more colors are coming just have the standard Green out for busy times and the rest can be exclusive but to say Yoshi was only made for the event when HP creatures were as well but they came back....

As for the Drone show, I wish they could make it work but if not then a projection show like when the land Opened

You are right, I did mean FNAF. It's almost as if every property comes with different personalities with vastly different priorities and willingness to cede control, which was the substance of my point.

I also don't dispute that Nintendo can be prickly, but you've got to get away from this flattening idea that the people who do things you personally like = they love "the fans."

Great, you want Mario and friends to have holiday outfits. Who is paying for these new outfits? Where is the money coming from? Have you spoken to Nintendo about this proposal? Have they signed off?

Hello Kitty gets a holiday outfit because it's a priority for Sanrio, who clears the costume. The Shrek characters get holiday costumes because they are a Universal-controlled property, meaning getting the necessary approvals is easier.

You want Yoshi out there instead of/alternating with Toad? Great, okay. Again, has Nintendo approved this plan? Are there sufficient Yoshi costumes available? Who is making up the roster to play Yoshi? Are the resources available to do another round of casting and on-boarding?

Drone show getting cut was last-minute. There was no time to put together a projection show.

It's very easy to say "they should do this, duh" and not have any understanding at all of what you're proposing actually requires.