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Universal Studios Hollywood | Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift | Intamin Spinning Launch| 2026

Does anyone think this will be open by early June? I might be in town that first week. I'm optimistically hoping Summer in Universal-speak is Memorial Day.
 
There's rumors/hopes of a mid to late May opening, but I don't know... not only is there still a lot to do, I feel like there have been an alarmingly few number of tests done where all the cars are rotating correctly and consistently. So I'm not going to be surprised if it's more mid-summer, and even then, it'll probably have a fair amount of downtime.
 
rideguy70 said:
There's rumors/hopes of a mid to late May opening, but I don't know... not only is there still a lot to do, I feel like there have been an alarmingly few number of tests done where all the cars are rotating correctly and consistently. So I'm not going to be surprised if it's more mid-summer, and even then, it'll probably have a fair amount of downtime.
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Those tests could also be done on purpose where they are purposefully testing cars like that. We have never seen a coaster like this on a large scale to my knowledge where they have a controller rotation. So maybe they test our every single scenario with the coaster to make sure all safety systems are working correctly.
 
While there's likely some truth to that, the fact of the matter is they need to do the most testing with all the cars spinning... and there's been very little of that.
 
rideguy70 said:
While there's likely some truth to that, the fact of the matter is they need to do the most testing with all the cars spinning... and there's been very little of that.
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Out of interest how do we know that? I assume only a few actual test runs have been filmed and there will have been many that haven't, plus I assume they can run tests after hours too (many parks do but in unsure here due to the sound regulations)
 
I didn't understand the need for spinning cars in the first place, knowing what we know as enthusiasts, it just screamed initial issues and a maintenence nightmare down the road.

Overcomplicating something that didn't need it in the first place, the layout is just fine as it is.

I wonder if somewhere down the line they'll just remove the spinning altogether and keep the cars stationary.
 
CaliAngel said:
I didn't understand the need for spinning cars in the first place, knowing what we know as enthusiasts, it just screamed initial issues and a maintenence nightmare down the road.

Overcomplicating something that didn't need it in the first place, the layout is just fine as it is.

I wonder if somewhere down the line they'll just remove the spinning altogether and keep the cars stationary.
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I doubt it, it's sort of the main selling point for the ride, it even has drift in the name!

It's a prototype, of course it'll have teething issues at first. Intamin will figure it out and all will be fine.
 
CaliAngel said:
I wonder if somewhere down the line they'll just remove the spinning altogether and keep the cars stationary.
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Hot take, this layout is kind of really mid without that spinning cars feature. Yeah it's huge and modern and straddles the terrain, but the ratio of block zones to actual track elements is too even and it doesn't have the same crazy transitions/moments as Velocicoaster and Stardust. That ride i made to have the cars spin and be a 10.
 
Have been watching the updates on various channels/X accounts as its been built. Looks like a really exciting and interesting coaster to me. The huge size of the trains makes it all look a bit slow but I think on-ride it'll feel faster.

Was asking for trouble having Intamin make it though I think - no doubt the spinning function will have issues for a while. Seen many testing videos filmed by youtubers recently showing cars being stuck at odd angles all the way into the brake run.

Orlando's is going to be even more of a risk with it having 2 switch tracks for the split station and 2 switch tracks mid course...
 
Just saw a billboard online that was recently put up by Universal showing fast & furious in SUMMER 2026…wtf is going on at this point🤣

www.instagram.com

Universal HIGH 🌎 on Instagram: "A NEW billboard for Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift has been put up just outside of Universal Studios Hollywood on Barham Blvd 🎢👀 @UniStudios Summer 2026 ☀️"

1,368 likes, 16 comments - universal_highhh on May 19, 2026: "A NEW billboard for Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift has been put up just outside of Universal Studios Hollywood on Barham Blvd 🎢👀 @UniStudios Summer 2026 ☀️".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
Also, there seem to have been team member previews happening already. Perhaps we are closer to a soft opening than was expected. Rumors are saying they could happen in June. Believe me, I'm shocked, too 😄
 
rideguy70 said:
Also, there seem to have been team member previews happening already. Perhaps we are closer to a soft opening than was expected. Rumors are saying they could happen in June. Believe me, I'm shocked, too 😄
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Hoping so bro..really wanna get on this thing, I did see a video of the team members riding it and the charger did unfortunately get stuck sideways:(
 
Neighbors are already complaining about noise levels from the coaster, which has yet to open. They say that the ride itself is incredibly quiet but what riders it has had scream too loudly;

www.cbsnews.com

Universal Studios neighbors complain about noise from new Fast and Furious ride

Universal Studios said crews are still testing the roller coaster and are reviewing sound levels.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

A friend of mine was lucky enough to experience it a few times during a commercial shoot and left a review (anonymous);
More than anything, this ride feels like it prioritizes proving the drift coaster concept over anything else, and for the most part, it works really really well. Without going into each element individually, the airtime moments are all great, especially in the first half, the drifting added onto that just makes it incredibly unique and memorable. All of the inversions having their own unique spinning moments in different cars really amplify those stand out moments. Both rolls are so much fun, the dive loop gives great backwards airtime, and the stall in cars 2 and 4 is up there as one of my favorite inversions.
I have a few very nitpicky critiques when it comes to the ride, the escalator dive does not really do anything in any row but row 1, its still a cool visual moment, but its a noticeable moment where theres no force whatsoever. The 3 launches are on 3 of my 4 rides did not do much, for some reason on my last ride at night, especially launch 3, it just hit different. The midcourse is a strange pause in an otherwise well paced ride, and the ride itself feels just a bit too short. Some of these issues can be attributed to it not being the final product, there was no on ride audio, and I am sure that will help with pretty much all but one of these nitpicks.
But regardless this is a fantastic attraction. I would be very excited for the version coming to Orlando, because if this prototype is THIS good, that bigger model will be insane. Think a jump in quality like Time Traveler to Ride to Happiness. 8/10, Top 25 worthy. Not better than Velocicoaster, but it smokes Maverick.
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