Universal recreated ‘Back to the Future’ for fans on the real 1985 set

Fan Fest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood near Los Angeles, Calif. comes to life from the minds of Halloween Horror Nights’ creators, with temporary attractions and pop-up experiences throughout the theme park connected to beloved franchises.

In my mind, the single greatest experience at Universal Fan Fest Nights is the one closest to my own heart: “Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley.” I have been a diehard “Back to the Future” fan since I first saw the movie on a bus ride home from my 8th-grade French class trip to Quebec, and since that day, I’ve held this movie as close as one possibly could.

When I heard one of the centerpiece attractions for FFN would be themed to my favorite movie of all time, I was intrigued. When I heard it would be located on the actual Courthouse Square set — still standing from the filming of the 1985 movie and typically off-limits to theme park visitors — I was cautiously optimistic. After all, even if it was a themed photo-op area, it would still be kind of neat to just walk around that set (up until this night, the closest I’ve ever gotten is driving by on The World-Famous Studio Tour).

As the event drew nearer, word started to trickle out that the “Back to the Future” experience was going to be more than just a mere photo opportunity. When we arrived to the set, having traveled via “Fan Tram,” I found myself not just transported to Hill Valley, but possibly to heaven itself. 

To put it succinctly, “Back to the Future: Destination Hill Valley” is a scaled-down version of the immersive character experiences that existed on the ill-fated Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, putting you in the middle of the action from the last third of the film itself.

While you’re there, you’ll get to meet the characters you know, like Doc, Marty, Lorraine, George, and Biff, but also other citizens of Hill Valley might enlist your help in preparing for the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. I was brought onto the Hill Valley High Speech and Debate team by a member of the dance committee and was tasked with helping Principal Strickland prepare for a speech he was giving at the start of the dance. Later, I helped Goldie Wilson create a slogan for his future mayoral campaign. Sure, you could watch Doc and Marty talk about the importance of getting back to the DeLorean before the fateful lightning strike, but you could also help a member of the Hill Valley Preservation Society collect signatures to save the clock tower! 

The entire loop for this experience takes about 45 minutes, and honestly, I could have stayed through three or four of them. In fact, we doubled back later in the evening and followed a few characters that we didn’t see the first time around!