I hope Rip Ride Rockit's replacement isn't an Intamin

Edited: August 27, 2025, 11:12 PM

A while ago, there was a notice of commencement for Intamin to do some ride work in USF. While it could be maintenance work on Gringotts, many are speculating that Intamin is bringing F&F to Florida.

But why would you put an Intamin dual launch coaster between Velocicoaster and Mummy? Especially because it would be similarly colored to velocicoaster and similarly set low to the ground like Mummy. Not to mention stardust racers. . . should each park really have a multi launch?

Also, the removal of HRRR means that Universal is tearing down the tallest chain-lift coaster at the resort. Now, the new largest chain lift coaster is Minecart Madness. I'm saying that Universal should put a classic chain lift in Studios.

Another thing Universal is missing is an invert/wing coaster. Something where your feet dangle off the track would contrast with stardust and Velocicoaster.

You probably know where I'm going with this- a B&M floorless, wing, flyer, or invert. While I would love one of these in universal, it doesn't have to be a rattly B&M. I'd also take a Vekoma, S&S, or Mack coaster. I see no benefits to Fast & Furious when it could be something Universal needs more.

Replies (2)

Edited: August 28, 2025, 9:57 AM

I see where you're going Velocicoaster fan, but even if this new coaster is from Intamin, it would be a different experience if it is indeed similar to F&F Hollywood Drift. That coaster has unique trains that will allow individual cars to spin/drift, and if USF's new coaster has that same feature, the only thing like it in Orlando will be GotGCR. I think comparing Mummy to these other coasters in not a fair comp given that it is probably closer to Escape from Gringotts than anything else at Universal Orlando.

When it comes to chain lifts, I have ZERO issue with parks moving away from those antiquated designs, particularly at a highly themed destination resort like Universal Orlando where maintaining sightlines and immersion is important. You can't build a particularly thrilling coaster with a chain lift that's <100 feet tall, so LSMs provide a way to crank up the thrills while still keeping the track closer to the ground. Yes, chain lifts create tension and anticipation, but they're just not practical for coasters where you want to generate high forces and speeds in parks where you don't want tracks that can be seen from miles away.

August 28, 2025, 11:06 PM

Universal Orlando currently has four Intamin coasters across the resort: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Hiccup's Wing Gliders, and VelociCoaster. All four of those provide very different ride experiences from each other, and three of the four were crafted with significant customization from Universal Creative (VelociCoaster was more a standard Intamin design adapted to Universal's needs). It's logical to assume whatever Intamin is cooking up for the new project will be very different from any of Universal's existing attractions, and it's a logical fault to assume that even if it is a dual launch coaster (which is not confirmed) and it has a similar color scheme to other attractions (also nowhere close to confirmed) it will feel just like other attractions from that manufacturer existing at the resort.

I do get the desire for a coaster featuring a lift hill (which is something Intamin could very easily provide), but at the same time the Universal properties are not coaster parks. Sure, they include rides of that type throughout their properties, but every attraction at Universal is in service to the story that is being told for that experience. Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit was an anomaly as one of the few attractions at the entire resort not tied into an IP, and given how the audience visiting the resort has changed over the couple decades since it was built, it's safe to assume that some IP (possibly Fast & Furious, possibly something else) will be tied to this new attraction. If it's an IP that meshes well for a coaster with a traditional lift hill, it's absolutely possible Universal could go and do something like that. If they don't feel that's a good fit, they'll take advantage of other technology on the market. Launches are becoming a standard in the industry, with about 50% of major coasters being built in current times choosing that method of propulsion (for reference, ten years ago only about 15% of new coasters were launched), so something with a lift would definitely be a way to set the new ride apart.

As far as B&M goes, SeaWorld Orlando has a family, floorless, flying, hyper and surf model from the company, while Busch Gardens Tampa has dive, family, inverted, and sitting models. Effectively, that means a wing would be the only viable candidate for Universal, and again...it would have to make sense for the story. For this project, that's not going to be it. Could a B&M wing be something they've got lined up for a future project with a different IP? Absolutely. As for the other manufacturers, Universal doesn't really have any working relationship with either S&S (who you wouldn't really want building coasters at a destination park anyway) or Vekoma (as Disney pretty much holds a Florida monopoly on their designs), and while Mack is definitely someone they work with and will probably continue to work with, it seems that Intanmin is just a better fit for whatever they've got planned regarding this project.

This discussion has been archived and is no longer accepting responses.

Plan a Trip

Subscribe by Email

Subscribe by RSS

New Attraction Reviews

News Archive