We Were Right About Universal's FNAF Restaurant. Unfortunately.
Our prediction of a themed overlay came true, but early previews reveal a shockingly low-budget execution that has fans concerned.
ORLANDO, FL – On August 2nd, we published an article speculating that the most logical way for Universal to handle the immense demand for a Five Nights at Freddy’s culinary experience was to re-theme Louie's Italian Restaurant for the duration of Halloween Horror Nights. As of this week's first HHN team member previews, it appears we were right. Universal is, in fact, transforming Louie's into a FNAF-themed restaurant "experience." Unfortunately, it also appears our worst fears about the execution are coming true, as the initial results are deeply and shockingly disappointing.
While the confirmation of unique FNAF-themed food and bakery items, including specialty cupcakes, is a welcome and exciting development, the actual "re-theming" of the restaurant is lackluster at best. Based on first-hand reports from the previews, it seems Universal Creative was given a budget of roughly $30 and a single afternoon to complete the job. The much-hyped transformation currently consists of only two elements: a few cardboard cutouts of the animatronic characters placed near the front of the restaurant, and updated graphics on the digital television menu screens.
And that appears to be it. There are no immersive props, no eerie lighting packages, no animatronic figures, and none of the atmospheric details that guests have come to expect from a Universal themed experience. The result is less of an immersive pizzeria and more of a standard theme park restaurant with a handful of temporary decorations, a far cry from the deeply themed dining overlays seen at Universal Studios Hollywood's version of the event.
Now, it is important to add a major caveat: this is an early preview. The event does not officially open to the public for a few more days, and it is entirely possible that this is not the final form. More substantial props, or even animatronics, could still be in the process of being installed before the first official night. The current setup could simply be a placeholder for a much more impressive experience to come.
However, the current state of the restaurant has led to a more cynical theory circulating among fans: did Universal see the rampant online rumors and speculation about a potential re-theme and decide to put something—anything—together at the last minute to capitalize on the hype? The low-budget feel of the decorations certainly lends credibility to this idea. It feels less like a planned, integral part of the event and more like a reactive, minimal-effort attempt to meet fan expectations on the cheap.
We will know for sure in the coming days as Halloween Horror Nights officially ramps up for the 2025 season. But for now, what should have been a slam-dunk, immersive dining experience is looking like a significant missed opportunity. The food will likely be a hit, but the theming of this highly anticipated location is, at present, anything but scary good.
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