What if there was a scare-free version of Halloween Horror Nights for fraidy cats (like me)? That’s the quickest way I can sum up Universal Fan Fest Nights, an after-hours event at the L.A. theme park that debuted last spring and is returning this year.
The open-till-1:30am, specially ticketed series runs on select nights from April 23 to May 16 and brings together an unexpected mix of franchises for walk-throughs (Harry Potter, Dungeons & Dragons, Scooby-Doo), live shows (One Piece, Sailor Moon) and lots of special menu items. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has a new immersive experience, “Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff,” for the occasion, where you’ll face an acromantula and pixies to save the majestic creature. And Super Nintendo World sees the return of meet-and-greets with multicolored Yoshis.
Elsewhere, the Dungeons & Dragons walk-through is back—featuring an excellent Xanathar puppet crafted by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. And though last year’s standout Back to the Future experience won’t be returning this time around, there are a couple of brand-new attractions in its place, including interactive whodunit “Scooby-Doo Meets the Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot,” which finds you solving clues on the backlot where the original monster movies were filmed. Afterward, fuel up with a sky-high club sandwich and Scooby Snacks.
Last year, food and photo op lines were a little all over the place. (You’re welcome to come in costume, by the way, as long as you follow these guidelines.) During my visit, I excitedly waited less than 15 minutes for the debut of Yoshi, who you could pose for photos with just inside the entrance of Super Nintendo World. That’s also where you picked up a paper crown for a scavenger hunt that sent you searching for Yoshi eggs around the land. That took about 15 minutes to complete, and after I’d stickered all of the empty slots on my crown, I was able to join a mystery line—that I ended up being in for an hour, and it was ultimately just to meet a pink variant of Yoshi.
On the other hand, wait times for rides were basically nothing. And since the price of admission is as much as $60 less than a daytime ticket, that alone is a good reason to attend. So if I were to do it all again? I’d for sure make sure to tackle the Mario Kart, Harry Potter and Jurassic World rides (those all close a bit early).