Universal Fan Fest Nights Is Just Around The Corner, And It Is AMBITIOUS, Here Are Some Cool Behind-The-Scenes Facts
TL;DR If you're a Halloween Horror Nights fan (like yours truly) and also a ~nerd~ (also like yours truly), then this will be like heaven for you. And, FYI, it's a limited-time, seasonal event, so if you haven't already, you should get your tickets STAT, right here. The event's dates are April 25–27, May 2–4, 9–11, and 15–18, 2025.
But, before you dust off your Starfleet uniforms, here are some fun behind-the-scenes facts and details about one of the biggest and most ambitious attractions at the event: "Star Trek: Red Alert!"
1."Star Trek: Red Alert!" is actually a story-based "pulse attraction," which means you'll be put into groups and get to stop and dwell in each of the rooms during the experience.
2.Because it's a "pulse attraction," that means you'll get a longer, fully immersive experience that will take about 10–12 minutes to go through.
For comparison, during Halloween Horror Nights, you're consistently walking (or for a lot of people running LOL) through the attractions, so you really only spend a few minutes in each one. So, this is a lot longer and more engaging.
3.The experience will take place during the Star Trek: Picard (the recent Paramount+ series) era of the franchise.
4.And the concept is that you, the visitor, take a shuttlecraft up to the Starfleet Museum (which is an in-world element in Picard).
5.And at the museum you go on a "tour" of the iconic U.S.S. Enterprise-D starship from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
6.You'll get to see iconic Star Trek locations like the shuttle bay...
7....sick bay...
8....the engineering room...
9....and, OF COURSE, the command bridge.
10.In fact, the bridge in the attraction is an actual screen-used set that was recently filmed for Star Trek: Picard Season 3. So, yes, you'll actually be setting foot on a REAL Star Trek set.
11.But it's not just a walk-through of cool sets, as the story places you in the midst of a ~dramatic~ event where, during the middle of your "tour," a strange "being/entity" interrupts, things go off the rails, and the ship goes into "red alert" (the name of the attraction!).
12.BTW, in the sick bay, you'll want to look out for a fun Easter egg in the replicator over in the corner: a cup of "tea, Earl Grey, hot."
This is a nod to the particularly unique way Jean-Luc Picard would order his favorite beverage in almost every episode of Next Generation.
13.Also, this is a more subtle Easter egg, but a lot of the media (the audio and video) used in the attraction was taken right from the original franchise. So, like the "swish" when the doors open are straight from the series.
14.You'll also get to experience another iconic aspect of Star Trek — the transporters. Using a vapor current effect, the attraction will make you feel like you're passing through a transporter to get back to Earth.
15.And, in case you are wondering, sadly, no, you won't get a chance to sit in the Captain's chair on the bridge inside the attraction. HOWEVER, there will be a fun replica photo op outside in the park. So be sure to practice saying, "Engage!"
16.Of course, outside the attraction itself there's also a TON of fun Star Trek-themed food and merch (in addition to food and merch celebrating all the other fandoms at the event!), like Vulcan fritters...
17....a Tribble truffle trio...
18....and even a Ceti eel margarita.
So if you wanna get DEEP into the Star Trek fandom (or one of the other iconic fandoms at the event like Back to the Future, Dungeons & Dragons, One Piece, or Jujutsu Kaisen) Universal Fan Fest is calling you...
Visit Universal Fan Fest Nights to purchase tickets NOW. The event's dates are April 25–27, May 2–4, 9–11, and 15–18, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
When does 'Peacemaker' Season 2 come out? Premiere date, time, cast, where to watch
John Cena is back to spread more peace with Season 2 of "Peacemaker." Based on the character from James Gunn's 2021 film "The Suicide Squad," the series follows the "explosive escapades" of Peacemaker, "a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it," according to HBO. In Season 2 of the series, Peacemaker "discovers an alternate world where life is everything he wishes it could be." However, it is also puts him in a position where he is forced "to face his traumatic past and take the future into his own hands." Cena, during a Season 2 panel for the action-comedy series at Comic-Con, said Peacemaker 'is going through a rough patch in life and thinks the grass might be greener on the other side.' 'That's something people can relate to," the actor had added. All eight episodes of "Peacemaker" Season 2 have been written by James Gunn, who also directed three episodes this season, including the first. "Peacemaker" is also the first original DC show to have its series premiere on HBO Max, according to HBO Max Head of Original Content Sarah Aubrey. Gunn, meanwhile, at Comic-Con teased that Season 2 is more extreme than the first and is definitely not for kids – there's a very sexual situation in the first episode that made actor Steve Agee (John Economos) think 'it's insane we're showing it on cable.' Watch 'Peacemaker' with Sling + Max Here's what to know about Season 2 of "Peacemaker," including the release date and cast. 'Peacemaker' Season 2: John Cena, James Gunn tease new season We've got room on the couch! Sign up for USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter for more recaps of your favorite shows. 'Peacemaker' Season 2 release date Season 2 of "Peacemaker" is scheduled to premiere Thursday, Aug. 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Max. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle How to watch 'Peacemaker' Season 2 Season 2 of "Peacemaker" will be available to stream on Max, weekly on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Season 1 of "Peacemaker" is also available to stream on HBO Max. Watch 'Peacemaker' with Sling + Max How many episodes will 'Peacemaker' Season 2 have? Season 2 of 'Peacemaker' will have eight episodes, according to HBO Max. 'Peacemaker' Season 2 cast New cast members include: Watch Peacemaker' trailer Contributing: Brian Truitt, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
When does Episode 3 of ‘South Park' come out? Release date, time, where to watch
After a two-week break, Season 27 of 'South Park' is set to return to screens following an intense start to the season that included digs at the White House. Since the season's debut on July 23, the series has taken aim at the current administration with portrayals and jokes at the expense of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. The last time a new episode was released was back on Aug. 6, when episode 2 was released to screens. Then, the show went on a break to celebrate its 28th birthday, with a marathon of fan-favorite episodes that aired on Wednesday, Aug. 13, which the network marked as "South Park Day," according to Paramount Media Networks. Here is what to know about Season 27 of 'South Park." More: 'South Park' sets ratings record with Trump-skewering premiere What time does episode 3 of 'South Park' air? Season 27 Episode 3 of "South Park" will air on Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central. The episode will also be available to stream on Paramount+ the following day, Thursday, Aug. 21 at 6 a.m. ET/3 a.m. PT, according to the streaming platform. How to watch new episodes of 'South Park'? The next episode of "South Park" airs on Comedy Central and will then be available for streaming on Paramount+. Paramount+ offers two subscription plans. Paramount+ Essential is just $7.99 per month and gives you access to thousands of episodes, movies and live NFL on CBS (with limited ads). Paramount+ Premium is $12.99 per month and includes everything in the Essential plan plus Showtime originals, blockbuster movies and live TV with fewer ads. USA TODAY's Anthony Robledo contributed to this report. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Every day can be Halloween: Why theme parks are going big on year-round horror experiences
I turn a bend and see a figure in a cornfield. The gray sky is foreboding, a storm clearly on the horizon. When I take a step forward, I'm hit with a gust of wind and fog. Suddenly, it's no longer a silhouette in the haze but a scarecrow, shrouded in hay, lurching toward me. Only I am not on a Midwestern farm, and there is no threat of severe weather. I'm in a warehouse in Las Vegas, walking through a maze called "Scarecrow: The Reaping." I jump back and fixate my phone's camera on the creature, but that only encourages them to step closer. I'm hurried out of the farmland and into a hall, where giant stalks now obscure my path. Welcome to Universal Horror Unleashed, which aims to deliver year-round horrors and further expand theme park-like experiences beyond their hubs of Southern California and Central Florida. Horror Unleashed, which opened Aug. 14, is an outgrowth of Universal's popular fall event, Halloween Horror Nights, which has been running yearly at the company's Los Angeles park since 2006 and even longer at its larger Florida counterpart. Like Halloween Horror Nights, there are maze-like haunted houses - four of them here themed to various properties such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "The Exorcist." Their more permanent status allows for a greater production factor - think disappearing walls and more elaborate show scenes - and they are surrounded by brooding bars, a pop-up rock-inspired dance show and a host of original walk-around characters. "Hey, sugar," said a young woman as I near the warehouse's main bar, a wraparound establishment themed to a large boiler. The actor's face was scarred with blood, hinting at a backstory I didn't have time - or perhaps the inclination - to explore. Horror Unleashed is opening just on the cusp of when theme parks and immersive-focused live experiences are entering one of the busiest times of the year: Halloween. The holiday, of course, essentially starts earlier each year. This year's Halloween Horror Nights begins Sept. 4, while Halloween season at the Disneyland Resort launches Aug. 22. Horror shows and films are now successful year-round, with the likes of "Sinners" and "The Last of Us" enrapturing audiences long before Oct. 31. Culture has now fully embraced the darker side of fairy tales. "You can make every month horrific," says Nate Stevenson, Horror Unleashed's show director. That's been a goal of David Markland, co-founder of Long Beach's Halloween-focused convention Midsummer Scream, which this year is set for the weekend of Aug. 15. When Midsummer Scream began in 2016, it attracted about 8,000 people, says Markland, but today commands audiences of around 50,000. "Rapidly, over the past 10 or 15 years, Halloween has become a year-round fascination for people," Markland says. "Halloween is a culture now. Halloween is a lifestyle. It's a part of people's lives that they celebrate year-round." There will be challenges, a difficult tourism market among them, as visits to Las Vegas were down 11.3% in June 2025 versus a year earlier, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. And then there's the question of whether audiences are ready for year-round haunts that extend beyond the fall Halloween season to winter, spring and summer. I entered Horror Unleashed for a media preview on an early August night when it was 105 degrees in the Las Vegas heat. It's also been tried before, albeit on a smaller scale. Las Vegas was once home to Eli Roth's Goretorium, a year-round haunted house that leaned on torture-horror and shuttered after about a year in 2013. But Universal creatives are undaunted. More than a decade, of course, has passed, and Horror Unleashed is more diverse in its horror offerings. A maze themed to Universal's classic creatures winds through a castle and catacombs with vintage-style horrors and a mid-show scene in which Frankenstein's monster comes alive. Original tale "Scarecrow: The Reaping," which began at Universal Studios Florida, mixes in jump scares with more natural-seeming frights, such as the aforementioned simulated dust bowl. TJ Mannarino, vice president of entertainment, art and design at Universal Orlando, points to cultural happenings outside of the theme parks in broadening the terror scene - the success of shows such as "The Walking Dead" and "American Horror Story," which found audiences outside of the Halloween season, as well as "Stranger Things," which he says opened up horror to a younger crowd. Theme parks are simply reflecting our modern culture, which is craving darker fantasies. Universal, for instance, recently opened an entire theme park land focused on its classic monsters at its new Epic Universe in Florida, and even Disney is getting in on the action, as a villains-focused land is in the works for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. "We think our audience really wants this," says Mannarino, noting theme park attendance surveys were prodding the company to give horror a permanent home. And at Universal's Orlando park, Halloween Horror Nights starts earlier, beginning in late August. "Just a couple years ago, we started in August, and we were selling out August dates," Stevenson says. "On a micro level, we're seeing that, boy, it doesn't matter if you extend past the season or extend out before the season - people are coming. People want it." Universal is betting on it, as the company has already announced that a second Horror Unleashed venue will be heading to Chicago in 2027. Smaller, more regional theme park-like experiences are once again something of a trend, as Netflix has immersive venues planned for the Dallas and Philadelphia regions, and Universal is also bringing a kid-focused park to Frisco, Texas. There are antecedents for what Universal is attempting. Disney, for instance, tried an indoor interactive theme park with DisneyQuest, for which a Chicago location was short-lived and a Florida outpost closed in 2017. Star Trek: The Experience, a mix of theme park-like simulations and interactive theater, operated for about a decade in Las Vegas before it shuttered in 2008. "I know there's horror fans and Halloween fans who are always looking for something to do," Markland says. "What (Universal is) doing is very ambitious and big, and so I'm nervous along with them. We'll see how it goes. I'm sure people will go as soon as it opens and through the Halloween season, but after that, I don't know. ... They've definitely invested in Halloween and horror fans. They're all-in." Horror, says author Lisa Morton - who has written multiple books on the Oct. 31 holiday, including "Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween" - is thriving in part because today it is taken more seriously by cultural critics. The genre also has metaphorical qualities - the struggle, for instance, that is life, art and creativity in "Sinners" or the underlying themes of PTSD that permeated the latest season of "The Last of Us." That makes it especially appealing, she says, for today's stressful times. "I suspect that's part of the reason horror is booming right now," Morton says. "Everything from climate change, that we seem to have no voice in, and our politics, that don't seem to represent us. Many of us are filled with anxiety about the future. I think horror is the perfect genre to talk about that. When you add a layer of a metaphor to it, it becomes much easier to digest." To step into Horror Unleashed is to walk into a demented wonderland, a place that turns standard theme park warmth and joy upside down. Don't expect fairy tale-like happy endings. The space's centerpiece performance is twisted, a story centering on Jack the Clown and his female sidekick Chance, who have kidnapped two poor Las Vegas street performers and are forcing them to execute their acts to perfection to avoid murder. The deeper one analyzes it, the more sinister its class dynamics feel, even if it's an excuse to showcase, say, street dancing and hula hoop acrobatics. The space has an underlying narrative. Broadly speaking, the warehouse is said to have been a storage place for Universal Studios' early monster-focused horror films. That allows it to be littered with props, such as the throne-like chair near its entrance, and for nooks and crannies such as a "film vault" to be renamed a "kill vault." Somehow - horror loves a good mystery - the space has come alive, and don't be surprised to be greeted by a vampire or a costumed swampland figure that may or may not be related to the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The goal, says Universal creatives, is to give Horror Unleashed a bit of an immersive theater feel, something that can't really be done among the chaotic scare zones and fast-moving mazes of a Halloween Horror Nights event. But here, guests can linger with the actors and probe them to try to uncover the storyline that imbues the venue. One-to-one actor interaction has long been a goal of those in the theme park space but often a tough formula to crack, in part because cast members are costly and in part because of the difficulty to scale such experiences for thousands. "As we've evolved this style of experience, we have given more and more control of the show to the actors," says Mannarino on what separates Horror Unleashed from Halloween Horror Nights. "It's less programmed. It's less technology. I've had conversations with tech magazines, and they'll ask me what is the most critical piece, and I'll say it's the actors. ... The lifeblood of our all stories - we can build all of this, but it doesn't go without the actors. "It's what really drives this whole animal," he adds. It extends a bit to the mazes as well. Audiences should expect to spend about five to seven minutes in each of the four walk-through attractions, but unlike a Halloween Horror Nights event, where guests are rushed from room to room without stopping, in Las Vegas there will be one dedicated show scene per maze. Here, groups will be held to watch a mini-performance. In the "Exorcist" maze, for instance, that means witnessing a full exorcism, complete with special effects that will have walls give way to demonic specters. In the '70s-themed "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" haunt, look out for a bloody scene designed to drench guests. The mazes are intended to be semi-permanent. Stevenson says there's no immediate plans to swap them out in the near future but hints that Horror Unleashed will be an evolving venue and, if all goes according to plan, will look a bit different in a few years. Thus, he says the key differentiator between Horror Unleashed and Halloween Horror Nights is not necessarily the tech used in the mazes, but the extended time they can devote to unwrapping a story. "When Universal builds a haunted house, the level of story that starts that out is enormous," Stevenson says. "There's so much story. All of our partners need that because they base every little nuanced thing off of that story. Unfortunately, we don't always have the chance to tell that story, and all our fans tell us they want to know more story." Story percolates throughout the venue. Flatbreads, for instance, are shaped like chainsaw blades. Desserts come on plates that are mini-shovels. Salad dressing is delivered in syringes. In the past, says Mannarino, no one wanted their food to be played with. '"Don't do horrible things to my food!'" he says in mock exaggeration. "But now, people really love that." Little, it seems, is obscene, when every day can be Halloween. ___________ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
