Universal Fan Fest Nights has officially taken over the park, and it is a massive, high-energy event that brings some of the most iconic fandoms to life. I just wrapped up my first experience, and while the atmosphere is 10/10, the logistics can be a challenge if you don’t go in with a plan.
The event runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, and with only two weekends left (the final night is May 16th!), now is the time to lock in your strategy. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking for a unique night out, here is my honest guide on what to prioritize and how to maximize your experience.
1. The Pro Move: Early Entry & Universal Express
If you want to see everything, you have to plan ahead.
• Early Entry: I highly suggest buying the Early Entry ticket if you can. It allows you into the park at 6:00 PM (general admission begins at 7:30 PM), giving you a massive head start on the Lower Lot before the main crowds arrive.
• Universal Express: This is a total game changer. It works for almost every ride and attraction in the park. However, important note: Universal Express does not work for the character meet-and-greets. For those specific photo ops, everyone has to wait in the standby line!
2. Start in the Lower Lot: Jurassic World & D&D 🦖🐉
• Jurassic World: Journey Through the Eras: This is a must-see. The show recreates iconic raptor scenes and it truly feels like you’ve stepped right onto a movie set.
• The Characters: Meeting John Hammond and Dennis Nedry (the guy in the yellow raincoat!) was a total nostalgic trip. The actors are incredibly spot-on.
• Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep: This is a sleeper hit. The actors are remarkably talented and stay fully in character. Thanks to our Express pass, we walked right into the adventure.
3. Super Nintendo World: The Yoshi Highlight 🌈
The energy here is pure joy, even late at night.
• Yoshi Celebration: Seeing a literal rainbow of Yoshis in every color—including a rare purple one—makes for some incredible, colorful photos.
• The Strategy: This area is the perfect spot for high-energy shots, but keep an eye on the clock because this land typically closes earlier than the rest of the event!
4. The Scooby-Doo Mystery (The Backlot Trek) 🔍🚐
The backlot has been completely transformed into “Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot.”
• The Experience: You actually travel via tram to “Little Europe” to engage with the monsters and hang out with Velma and the gang. It’s highly immersive and a core memory for any Scooby fan.
• The Reality Check: It is a trek to get to the backlot. Between the tram travel and the mystery-solving itself, budget at least 60–90 minutes for this section alone.
5. Harry Potter: The Forbidden Forest 🪄
The Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff walk-through takes place in the heart of the Wizarding World.
• What to Know: It is located right where Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey usually is. Because they’ve built a literal immersive forest in that space, that specific ride is closed during the event.
• The Trade-Off: Wait times for the forest were averaging 80–90 minutes.
• My Advice: If you are a die-hard Potterhead, use your Express pass here. It is a beautiful experience and I don’t want to give away the surprises, but if you don’t have Express and the line is over an hour, I would honestly suggest skipping it to prioritize the One Piece show.
6. One Piece Fever & Sailor Moon 🏴☠️🌙
• One Piece: This is the hottest ticket in the park. The food at Sanji’s Galley looked incredible, but the lines were massive, so we skipped the “Meat on the Bone” to save time for attractions. Warning: Even with Express, the live show hits capacity fast. If this is your #1, get to the theater way earlier than you think!
• Sailor Moon: The meet-and-greet area is stunning, and wait times were averaging about 30 minutes. However, because I’m not yet familiar with the character and Express doesn’t work for the line, I didn’t want to spend my limited time there. That said, I’m so intrigued that I’m actually binging the show this weekend so I can go back and appreciate the meet-and-greet properly next time!
Final Survival Tips:
• Wear Comfy Shoes: I finally rode The Mummy for the first time (an absolute rush! 🎢), but between that and the backlot trek, my feet were feeling it.
• Limited Dates: The event only has two weekends left, running Thursdays through Sundays until May 16th.
• Prioritize: Pick your top two “must-dos” and hit those first. Everything else is a bonus!
Universal Fan Fest Nights is a marathon, not a sprint and you can currently get discounted tickets through my TikTok post. Plan ahead, move fast, and don’t forget to enjoy the magic!