Dungeons & Dragons Returns to Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios has announced that Dungeons & Dragons will be one of the featured IPs for the upcoming season of Universal Fan Fest Nights. Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep will return for a second year, sending visitors on a collision course with a massive 30-pound Xanathar puppet. The walk-through experience will feature a "few new enhancements," although Universal Studios Hollywood declined to give details. Other IPs featured during the Fan Fest Nights include One Piece, Scooby Doo, and Harry Potter.

Universal Fan Fest Nights started in 2025 as a nighttime experience featuring various IPs and experiences found in the park. Dungeons & Dragons was featured last year, with the focus being a Xanathar puppet created by Jim Henson Studios. Fan Fest Nights will run for four weekends in April and May.

The walkthrough experience is one of two currently featuring Dungeons & Dragons. Dungeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest is another walkthrough experience currently running in Texas.

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

Wow! I'd like to see the Xanathar up close.

 

[JDazzle]

I went last year and it was REALLY well done. The experience itself was brief, but well done and all the actors were GREAT in their roles.

One of the great but likely unintentional parts was how the Tieflings tale would keep smacking people as she turned around.

Overall, the only weak part of the experience was that the "exclusive" merchandise was kind of lame and not very exclusive (and you could get it all at their outlet store a few weeks after the experience ended for HUGE discounts)

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

I never "got" immersive experiences until I went to OmegaMart in Vegas, and once I did I was mad that I missed the last D&D setup in Hollywood. It might surprise some of you to find out that I'm a "Disney adult" and naughty word love themeparks, so I'm probably going to make an excuse to check it out this year.

 

[JDazzle]

I never "got" immersive experiences until I went to OmegaMart in Vegas, and once I did I was mad that I missed the last D&D setup in Hollywood. It might surprise some of you to know find out that I'm a "Disney adult" and naughty word love themeparks, so I'm probably going to make an excuse to check it out this year.

Definitely go if you haven't been to Universal in a long time (and maybe consider going "early entry" so you can experience the tour that doesn't happen during FFN)

The only thing that had a time constraint on it was the Mario Kart ride as that closed 2 hours before the event did... kind of a bummer but if you prioritize that it won't be an issue.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Definitely go if you haven't been to Universal in a long time (and maybe consider going "early entry" so you can experience the tour that doesn't happen during FFN)

The only thing that had a time constraint on it was the Mario Kart ride as that closed 2 hours before the event did... kind of a bummer but if you prioritize that it won't be an issue.

I used to go to universal LA a lot, but basically hadn't visited a theme park since the pandemic until I went to Orlando last year. Half of the reason I'm so keen on going is because I think I'm overdue.

 

[aco175]

Nice to see it did well enough to come back for another go. Maybe I'll see it when it goes 'off-Broadway' and comes to my neck of the woods.

 

[MNblockhead]

Nice to see it did well enough to come back for another go. Maybe I'll see it when it goes 'off-Broadway' and comes to my neck of the woods.

Do these events ever go "off Disney" and on the road? Seems like they may not be that practical for traveling shows.

 

[JDazzle]

Do these events ever go "off Disney" and on the road? Seems like they may not be that practical for traveling shows.

They can visit other theme parks of the same franchise... As an example, last year at Universal's Fan Fest Nights they showed the Jujutsu Kaisen movie that is an attraction at the Universal Studios Japan theme park

But otherwise, no.

 

[Dire Bare]

I went last year and it was REALLY well done. The experience itself was brief, but well done and all the actors were GREAT in their roles.

One of the great but likely unintentional parts was how the Tieflings tale would keep smacking people as she turned around.

Overall, the only weak part of the experience was that the "exclusive" merchandise was kind of lame and not very exclusive (and you could get it all at their outlet store a few weeks after the experience ended for HUGE discounts)

I picked up the Bag of Holding and the dice scroll bag and I love them! Fun, pretty well made! I don't use the Bag of Holding because, ironically, it won't fit all the stuff I bring to my D&D games, but I've been using the dice bag ever since last spring.

I was disappointed in the t-shirts and other apparel available, they weren't bad, but also didn't seem unique enough to the event to worry about.

I would have loved to pick up the Bag of Holding and dice bag at a discount, but like many visitors, I'm not from the area (I'm assuming the outlet store is a physical place, not an online retailer).