Attended Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 as media on opening night. Here's my take.
I attended Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 on opening night as media for Theme Park Magazine. For anyone on the fence about going, here are my thoughts:
Is it worth it? Absolutely. Several times throughout the night, I overheard people say they preferred Fan Fest Nights to Halloween Horror Nights. And it's more affordable than most other after-hours theme park events, which makes a real difference.
What was the best experience? Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep. The story, effects, acting, sound, and lighting all came together in a way I didn't expect. The Xanathar puppet built by Jim Henson's Creature Shop is genuinely impressive. It's not just a photo op, it's a full performance.
If you're a One Piece fan, the live show may be your personal highlight. It was packed every show, and the longest food lines in the park were for the One Piece themed items.
What had the longest wait? The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Forbidden Forest hit 110 minutes at one point. Get there early if that's a priority. Two situations where you may not love it: if you've attended one of the professional Forbidden Forest experiences happening in cities worldwide, this is a scaled-down version. And if you're not a huge Harry Potter fan, a 45+ minute wait probably isn't worth it.
What's the most unique experience? The Scooby-Doo backlot mystery because you're walking through the actual outdoor sets where Universal's original monster films were shot in the 1930s and 40s, solving a mystery alongside the Mystery Inc. gang. You're given a booklet to write clues and determine the culprit, then attend a reveal. If you love solving mysteries, you'll have a great time. If you prefer story-driven dramatic experiences, it may not be your favorite. I heard several people say this was their favorite of the night, and several others who didn't care for it.
What about the rides? The rides were one of the best parts of the whole night. Most rides were walk-on or close to it. I rode Jurassic World seven times in a row with zero wait. The lack of lines alone adds significant value to the ticket price. While most rides were open, a few were not. That includes one of my favorite dark rides: Secret Life of Pets.
Unsung hero? The Jurassic World experience, not an "official" part of the event, was really incredible. It was my second favorite experience of the night, next to Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep.
Sailor Moon? Weakest of the six if you're not already a fan, IMHO. If you are a big Sailor Moon fan, move it up your list. You'll enjoy it.
I wrote a full review for Theme Park Magazine. I've already seen great answers to questions, but if you have any more, I'd be happy to answer here.