Universal Fan Fest Nights - Coming 2025

[Jake S]

Ahhh, my bad! Understood.

 

[Viator]

Adding something in; May 28th is a Grad Bash night. So unless if they worked something out with school groups, then that final date might be a club and it might be for May 27th as the final date instead.

Heads up: FFN is being extended to May 28th. Ads are rolling out right now.

So if I was living in LA, I'd be taking metro if I could to confirm it; but I had to settle with calls.

Got confirmation that the event is ending on May 18th, and not May 28th. This one seems to be a mistake when Universal extended the dates originally, as a result of not proofreading. Shame, but I am hearing WoM is very strong for this year.

 

[Jerroddragon]

So if I was living in LA, I'd be taking metro if I could to confirm it; but I had to settle with calls.

Got confirmation that the event is ending on May 18th, and not May 28th. This one seems to be a mistake when Universal extended the dates originally, as a result of not proofreading. Shame, but I am hearing WoM is very strong for this year.

I mean its hard, they might need to push it up a year because making your park close at 6 PM on a holiday weekend after opening a new coaster would also not be the best call

 

[Freak]

HHN Construction crews right now:

 

[BriefCasey]

Does anyone know if the pass holder discount works for buying the dining pass? I'm legit contemplating it when I go with a friend in a week, but in case it doesn't, I wonder if it might just be cheaper to buy your desired food items with the discounts.

 

[AriGoldenstein]

I attended the event and overall had a positive experience. It was clear this was their first year organizing it, and I had a few ideas that I thought could help improve the experience in the future. Then I received an email from Universal inviting me to complete a survey—but the first thing it asked was for me to give up all rights to any ideas or feedback I shared, effectively handing everything over to them. At that point, I figured, nope—nothing to contribute.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I attended the event and overall had a positive experience. It was clear this was their first year organizing it, and I had a few ideas that I thought could help improve the experience in the future. Then I received an email from Universal inviting me to complete a survey—but the first thing it asked was for me to give up all rights to any ideas or feedback I shared, effectively handing everything over to them. At that point, I figured, nope—nothing to contribute.

Did you want a finder fee?

I could be wrong but pretty sure this is standard on any survey

 

[SnideRemarksDept]

I attended the event and overall had a positive experience. It was clear this was their first year organizing it, and I had a few ideas that I thought could help improve the experience in the future. Then I received an email from Universal inviting me to complete a survey—but the first thing it asked was for me to give up all rights to any ideas or feedback I shared, effectively handing everything over to them. At that point, I figured, nope—nothing to contribute.

Yeah, this is pretty standard. It seems kinda harsh to read, but it's a way for Universal to protect themselves from legal trouble. If someone takes the survey and makes a suggestion and Universal winds up using it, then the person/people who made the suggestion would have grounds to sue. Even if Universal had planned to do that thing anyway, it could still open themselves up for a lawsuit. I've read stories about authors and screenwriters who outright refuse to read any fan submissions or fanworks simply to avoid any possible accusation of stealing an idea. That disclaimer at the beginning basically just means "We appreciate your feedback. Check this box to acknowledge that you can't sue us if we decide to include your favorite anime in next year's Fan Fest."

 

[kingcooger]

Does anyone know if the pass holder discount works for buying the dining pass? I'm legit contemplating it when I go with a friend in a week, but in case it doesn't, I wonder if it might just be cheaper to buy your desired food items with the discounts.

Any recommendations as far as food?

As well, does the dining pass work for the specialty items?

 

[saint.piss]

Dudeeee... I would freak if we got Arcane next year. I absolutely love that show. I don't know if you know this but they actually did a LARP event similar to the offerings at FFN (BTTF, Star Trek and D&D) for Arcane in 2021. I attended it and it was really cool. Sadly they didn't bring it back for the final season. But if they did something similar to this for FFN that would be AMAZING, I would be going every night if it happens

Here's some pictures I took from that event
(The quality sucks but this was nearly 4 years ago so my phone back then wasn't as good as it is now. Also they weren't allowing many pics/videos to begin with so I was limited in what I could take pictures of)










And here's an article about it with better pictures

‘Secret Cinema’s Arcane: Enter the Undercity’

Arcane: Enter the Undercity Art Direction of Secret Cinema’s 'Arcane: Enter the Undercity' immersive theatre event in Los Angeles.

jhdgroup.net

 

[Clive]

Hey all,

A reminder that if a survey is marked confidential, we can't discuss its contents here on the forums.

With that said, Arcane seems like a cool idea for a future Fan Fest experience, and the IP is clearly open to collaborating on immersive offerings. Punchdrunk, the production company behind Sleep No More, has announced they're opening an Arcane-themed show in Shanghai sometime next year, for example.

 

[BriefCasey]

Any recommendations as far as food?

As well, does the dining pass work for the specialty items?

If by specialty items you mean the FFN food, pretty sure. I think that's the point of the pass in the first place.

I recommend the Yoshi smoothie at the very least. It's heavy but the flavor is good. Haven't tried anything else yet since I had lunch plans that fell on my first visit opening night.

Curious to hear what everyone suggested for the next year's event.

I suggested JoJo's Bizarre Adventure with emphasis on how this could take advantage of the impending part 7 anime like I said before. I'd be over the moon if it got the Dreamworks Theater. It's all I ask for.

I also suggested Splatoon, relevance be damned. If they expand the budget for more fan zones I think it could be a good unique offering for universal plaza considering they already do music there.

 

[ParkExplorer9513]

If the Pokémon theme's being played in the Plaza, then there's no excuse. Pokémon has to be featured at SOME point in a future FFN! It's the highest-grossing media franchise in the world, and this is a prime opportunity to feature it Stateside!

And I know MHA's last season airs this year, but I'd love to see the USJ be ported here as well! (albeit preferably dubbed instead of subbed, since the subtitles distracted a little from the Jujutsu Kaisen show experience)

 

[BriefCasey]

Hey all,

A reminder that if a survey is marked confidential, we can't discuss its contents here on the forums.

With that said, Arcane seems like a cool idea for a future Fan Fest experience, and the IP is clearly open to collaborating on immersive offerings. Punchdrunk, the production company behind Sleep No More, has announced they're opening an Arcane-themed show in Shanghai sometime next year, for example.

Didn't see this before I posted....oops.

I hope what I said still is fine in the sense of just talking about hopes. I'm scratching my head on what got mod edited though. It must have been very minor.

(Just a side note though, I don't think that's gonna stop random people from talking about it on other social media platforms. That's probably how rumors spread in the first place)

 

[saint.piss]

I still can't get over how good this event is. I'm really sad I couldn't go more than one night but unfortunately I could only make it for one day. I'm really curious on how similar it'll be if they bring it back next year. I know we'll most likely get new IPs but I hope they continue with the D&D stuff. I want a sequel/continuation to Secrets of Waterdeep. Besides that and BTTF, everything else can change imo. If Star Trek does come back I hope they improve it. ST was one of my least favorite offerings for this year's FFN. It wasn't bad at all but it was too short and the ending was anticlimactic. Needed more personality too. It was still fun just not great.

FFN 2026 wishlist:
- D&D Secrets of Waterdeep sequel (SS15 or UBE)
-If D&D doesn't come back, ARCANE. SS15. Need a Vi/Caitlyn M&G too!!!
- BTTF: Destination Hill Valley (Focus on BTTF 2 instead) and original BTTF ride overlay for Simpsons
- One Piece show (WaterWorld)
- Detective Conan Jewel Under the Starry Sky show in DWT (this is so good, I've been dying to do it again since I experienced it at USJ. It would be perfect for FFN)
- Rosalina activity/M&Gs (Luma hunt) and do the drone show in SNW
- Anything relating to Sonic. It's a Paramount IP so it's possible, right? Not sure how they would handle a walkthrough experience for Sonic but I think M&Gs or something else is possible.
- More Wicked experiences. Maybe have it be one of the walkthrough experiences.
- New HP fireworks show exclusive to USH

 

[Wesker69]

Curious.... did anyone try this dining pass option when they went?

 

[Viator]

I imagine we’ll have a dedicated 2026 Spec thread when the time comes, but right now I am in the mindset of this for idle spec of FFN

• That Godzilla 1.0 Film = Toho has expressed that a new Godzilla based experience will be roaming about all over the world. It is a new 1.0 film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki. Assuming Toho has already localized the film for American markets, which they are good of doing—I can easily see the new film slot itself in as the DreamWorks Theater overlay for 2026.
• Potter Wands 2.0 - With the 10th Anniversary of the land looming and the 2.0 haptic wands debuting this year in Orlando—I feel like they are gonna use the budget of FFN to roll out the new wands. Would make a lot of sense that they would be able to figure something out as I think it’d be a solid new addition that’d make a ton of sense for FFN.
• A Third Walkthrough - So this is in relation to another bit of spec, but I think they need one more walkthrough to pad things out. One more experience alongside that of the two other walkthroughs feels like a natural element (like how HHN 2007 had 4 houses in comparison to HHN 2006 only having 2). Anything more and I think you could cripple things a bit further.
• XR - Okay. So this one’s gonna get me hell. I think a XR overlay feels needed. I think they need a additional unique overlay ontop of DreamWorks Theater—and I think it is XR. Be if it’s an overlay for DMMM, an overlay for Revenge of The Mummy; I think a XR based experience is actually needed. And I think with Hollywood Drift being operational by FFN, Mummy’s going to be in a unique situation now more than ever.