Grab your flashlights and get ready to say “Zoinks!” This spring, Universal Studios Hollywood is blurring the lines between the silver screen and reality. As part of the highly anticipated Universal Fan Fest Nights, guests are invited to step onto the legendary backlot for an all-original, interactive adventure: Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot.
Lights, Camera, Chaos!
In this first-of-its-kind experience, you aren’t just a spectator—you’re part of the cast. After boarding the iconic Studio Tour trams, you’ll be deployed as an “extra” in a new monster movie. But the production takes a dark turn when a villainous Phantom Director hijacks the set, unleashing cinema’s most famous icons:
- Frankenstein’s Monster
- Dracula
- The Bride of Frankenstein
- The Wolf Man
With filming at a standstill and the backlot in shambles, it’s up to you to save the movie.
Solve the Mystery with the Gang
Armed with a Mystery Manual, you’ll join forces with Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma to hunt for clues. The investigation takes you on foot through the cobblestone streets of Little Europe and the eerie Court of Miracles—the actual filming locations for horror classics like Frankenstein (1931).
Between hunting for the Phantom Director, you’ll have the chance to snap social-media-ready photos with the Mystery Inc. crew, the Universal Monsters, and the legendary Mystery Machine.
Plan Your Investigation
Universal Fan Fest Nights is a specially ticketed, after-hours event celebrating the best of fandom. Tickets are on sale now for a strictly limited 12-night run:
- April: 23–25
- May: 1–3, 7–9, 14–16
Beyond the mystery, the event features live entertainment, cosplay, and curated “fandom-themed” food and merch.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83