It's take two for Universal's Hollywood Drift

So in 2027, one USF attraction opens and one USF attraction closes.

We went to F&FS last summer. And while the ride itself is quite weak, there was a young woman who was on stage in the second pre-show. She was hilarious -- "I got this job off Craig's List".

Anyways, great news for USF and Comcast.

I'm so hyped! Here's a few things I'm thinking:

1. The "spike". . .is it a backwards spike (like hagrid's)? It this one going to have backwards sections?

2. No inversion count or top speed has been released yet, but I'm guessing about four and 75 respectively.

3. What's replacing supercharged? There have been photos of some kind of track onsite covered in blue tarp. . .is that the culprit?

4. Why is it called Hollywood drift if it's in the NY themed section of a park in Orlando? NY or Orlando drift would've been much better names.

@VelocicoasterFan - Whatever will be replacing Supercharged, needs to be an IP that isn’t already represented. Personally, I’d love something Ghostbusters or BTTF. Just please no more Harry Potter stuff!
As for the Hollywood Drift name, it was called Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and I don’t remember much of a fuss made over that. Or was there and I just don’t remember. I agree it’s odd to have a NY facade though.

@VCfan, i was also hoping for NY drift but i am very happy with this move and excited to have another awesome intamin in my backyard!

I think I heard somewhere that the story is that we get a backstage look of the filming of a new Fast & Furious movie, it's an easy, fitting (and extremely cheap) solution as the coaster is going between studio buildings. As for the Hollywood part we can be sure they'll fix it in post.

I really can't complain too much about Universal Orlando getting another top tier Intamin, but I do question if this is really the best choice for the park. I know the layout is going to be different than Hollywood's, but will it be different enough from VelociCoaster to still hold its own amongst guests riding both in the same day? The IP choice is also a bit iffy with the future of the franchise in limbo, though I will acknowledge that it's probably the strongest brand Universal owns for a high speed thrill ride. I guess we'll see...it's probably not something worthy of a special trip when I live right next to USH, but is something I'll definitely look forward to checking out on my first visit after it opens.

Regarding your questions, VelocicoasterFan, the prediction video I saw based on the footer schematics estimates three inversions (barrel roll, top hat, zero-g stall) and a 70 mph max speed. If accurate, the ride would run from the park out to CityWalk, have a spike with a quick switch there similar to Hagrid's, then return along a different track. This would result in the trains reversing direction each cycle, but due to the rotating vehicles it would not be necessary to have a second reversing point at the end of the ride. Why Hollywood Drift? Probably just to get more mileage out of the same design work done for the California attraction.

The Fast and Furious ride will soon be dead! The Fast and Furious ride will soon be here! Long live the Fast and the Furious ride! Long live the Fast and the Furious ride!

The sun never sets on the Fast and Furious empire.

To paraphrase Thanos, “The Fast and the Furious franchise is….inevitable”

(Sets last infinity stone in gear shaft and peels away)

"You never give up on Family" -Universal, apparently

I was hyped for them to announce New York Drift. Wasted opportunity for individual identity for each F&F Drift installation. Universal Studios just can't shake the decades-long reputation for being cheap and unsophisticated.

"Universal Studios just can't shake the decades-long reputation for being cheap and unsophisticated."

I don't understand that criticism. For "decades" Universal has gone toe to toe with Disney to be regarded as the best themed entertainment experiences in the industry. Universal has spent billions in the past decade alone to improve and expand their business. Sure, you can criticize specific attractions and decisions made along the way, but you can make many of the same critiques of Disney, and I don't see anyone coming on here and claiming that they are "cheap and unsophisticated".

I would tend to agree that Universal missed an opportunity to better differentiate this coaster from the one opening at USH later this year, but it is clear that they layout will be different enough to satisfy coaster fans' detest for clones. It seems pretty clear that Universal is trying to save some money here by reutilizing the same ride system, IP, and name (and probably similar theming elements and pre-show videos), but this is no different than what they did previously when porting Hogsmeade to USH or what Disney did when they built nearly identical versions of Galaxy's Edge on each coast.

I do lament the loss of Supercharged, not because it was a good attraction, but because closing it will reduce overall park attraction capacity - I doubt this coaster will have a throughput greater than the dark ride. It will take Universal at least a year or 2 following its closure in 2027 to develop and build a new attraction to take Supercharged's space. Perhaps Universal will have the Springfield replacement ready to go or will be ready to do something with the Fear Factor stage by 2027, but it seems unlikely that Universal will be able to fully offset the capacity lost when this new coaster opens.

You have to remember the cost of attractions - Universal already has the design of the cars, track and computer operating system for F&F in Cali - so this is a great addition to Orlando.

This will keep the cost down and it adds a much needed ride to USO.

The coaster is now proven as it’s being tested in Cali right now…

So it was obvious it was going to be F&F. My father in law use to say you can wish in one hand and Crap in the other, see which one gets filled first. HAHAHAHAHA

You wished for Ghostbusters or BTTF… But you got what was cost effective.

And it looks like a decent ride.

Russell, growing up in the Los Angeles area in the 1970s and 1980s, Universal Studios had a reputation as a second-tier park behind Disney for actual reasons related to the park's design, content, and growth pattern. These include the use of soundstages as a conceit for having unthemed show buildings, opportunistic juxtaposition of attractions without surrounding substantiating themed environments, screen-based attractions that were perceived as less richly immersive and cheaper than attractions filled with 3D sets as found at Disneyland, unthemed food and beverage locations, and a haphazard layout that felt unconsidered. Techniques like thematic transitions, sightline mitigation, and other "sophisticated" aspects of theme park design were not part of the Universal approach. Cumulatively, these characteristics imparted a perception that the brand was cheap (looking to cut corners and save money, leaning on conceits) and unsophisticated (not demonstrating a deep and consistent excellence in the design of themed environments and experiences).

Being on the West Coast, I am speaking as someone who grew up with the "Universal Studios" brand in its formative decades, before Orlando. These brand perceptions are real, and remain latent. By that I mean, congratulations to Universal on much of its recent works. But when they do things cheaply, opportunistically, seemingly unconsidered or unsophisticated, these latent brand perceptions come to the fore. That's the nature of brands and consumers.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Orlando. Rolls off the tongue.

@DangerGoat:

Well played. Although to be fair, the fast and the furious franchise doesn’t exactly have the most elegantly worded succession of movie titles lol. So the mouthful of a title suggested above would be in perfect keeping with the movie titles…

Anyhow, color me excited that we’re getting our own version of this coaster. I don’t really care what it’s themed to personally. I’m just glad we’re getting the same technology here on the East Coast. Watching test run videos of the California version I was lamenting the fact that I had to go cross country to ride it. I know that universal Orlando had placed a couple of Easter eggs regarding the Ghostbusters franchise on that side of the lot so a lot of fans presumed that maybe this would be a Ghostbusters coaster. I definitely would champion bringing back that IP to this park, but I would rather it be implemented in an indoor setting where they could really let the effects run wild and do justice to the supernatural themes inherent in the movies.

"These brand perceptions are real, and remain latent."

Perhaps that might be true with older folks who have followed the industry for decades, but I strongly dispute that's true with anyone under 40. Sure, you can critique USH's and USF's design as a "cop out" by using lightly themed soundstages to house major attractions, but it works and certainly fit perfectly with the original concept of USH, which was borne from an actual production studio and its OG attraction that toured guests around those working sound stages and production facilities. The USF concept was a copy of the USH concept only by creating a studio environment that was more of a facade than an actual working studio, and whether that design choice was made to cut costs or to accurately replicate that look of USH on the east coast has never been suggested by the company or industry experts - FWIW, Universal worked hard in the early days to ensure working productions originated from USF to maintain the validity of the concept on the east coast.

When Universal hinted at the USF concept, Michael Eisner immediately put the wheels in motion to try to beat Universal to the punch with Disney's own version of the concept that similarly presented a production studio facade but also presented some actual productions originating from the park including a full animation team that was relocated from California. If the critique of Universal was that they were "cheap and unsophisticated", then why would the industry leader and standard bearer try to copy Universal the second they thought Universal was infringing upon their crown jewel?

Again, I would offer a similar critique of this attraction as a bit "lazy" because Universal appears to be recycling so much of what is being done in Hollywood, but this is par for the course in today's industry and if you're going to point the finger of shame at Universal, Disney should be given the same criticism , particularly when they sought to save hundreds of millions of dollars in the duplication of Galaxy's Edge in DL and DHS and many other clones of attractions and lands they've introduced around the world. This idea of Universal theme parks having a "brand perception" that you're suggesting is a farce with the modern consumer, and is a fringe opinion of the company.

@dangergoat

The worst part is that we're doing to different the other one by calling it "Hollywood drift Hollywood."

@DrStarlander

There was nothing "cheap" about the Wild West Stunt show, Conan, Miami Vice, Kong, Earthquake, Battlestar Galactica, ET, BTTF, T23D and more. Universal has always been on the cutting edge of what they do.

Russell speaks the truth.

I'm just shy of 40, UOAP (no surprise there based on my handle), and think extremely highly of Universal. Now I'm also East Coast and never lived in easy driving distance of any of the Mouse parks.

For those with a similar background, my lived experience is that we dont get the constant Universal takedowns. And Disney doesn't exactly always win in a park to park comparison.

My wife - a massive Star Wars fan - doesn't care for Galaxy's Edge. Which is just so damning.

And Universal made us fans for life when we got invited for a private Dual Wand Ceremony at Olivander's.

Apparently its a semi-secret variant for couples on a honeymoon or anniversary trip. One of the most happy and magical moments at my life. All because a Universal Orlando Resort TM near Gringotts noticed I was crying (happy) tears, so checked to make sure everything was OK. And of course, no charge (unlike the lightsaber experience....).

I hear and hear about the magical moments and pixie dusting at Disney. After ~10 years of visits and literally thousands spent at US Disney parks, I have never had anything like that. Only at Universal. And multiple times to boot. And the private wand ceremony was by far my favorite experience. Literally tearing up rn thinking back on it.

Anyway. That's my 2 cents.

@Russell Meyer

First, I am scathing in my criticism of Disney, easily 50-fold what I've ever said about Universal, and you can find that all over the theme park internet.

Second, though I am over 40, I still consider myself a "modern consumer" and in fact I have the money to pay for family vacations.

Mostly though, I would encourage you to consider that Universal is operating in different markets, on the East coast and West coast and those are entirely different offerings and largely different customers. They have probably invested 10 to 14 billion dollars in their Orlando resort: Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, Epic Universe, Dragon Alley, and a resort complex of hotels.

But in Hollywood, it has been a different story altogether. There is nothing beyond the Tour, which is 60 years old, that I can think of at USH that doesn't exist at Universal's other properties. My brand impression of "Universal Studios" is formed by the company's flagship park which has been in operation for over half a century in a major market of LA/Cal. And it's largely tired and still evidencing the time before Universal "stepped up its game." That is a real, legitimate brand perception. A customer does not need to experience all of a company's offerings to form a brand perception. If Universal wants me to have a different brand perception, then they should bring some of the Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay and Epic Universe level creativity and investment to the home park.

The F&F coaster was finally going to be a significant, unique attraction for USH. And, boy, it was clever. Use an IP associated with LA and California car-culture, and even put "Hollywood" right in the title as a bold, brash celebration of where this unique attraction is located: Hollywood! Universal Studios Hollywood. Finally, some respect. Something special. And the poetry, the marketing, the salute to where it all began for Universal: genius.

Until this week. When they announced this same attraction would (of course) be built in Orlando, opening the next year. (And even Universal insiders immediately theorized it was to save money on logo T-shirts.) And, in the ultimate "kicker," which is a kick in the shin, they are going to also (arguably inexplicably) call it "Hollywood Drift" and steal all the thunder from Universal Studios Hollywood. No soup for you!

Regardless of the splurge on creativity and investment at IOA, VB, EU, there is some reason, or curse, that at the Universal Studios parks in particular, and Hollywood especially, that they are not allowed to quite play in that sandbox. They are not allowed the loftiest levels of theming, immersion, and uniqueness that Universal offers elsewhere. (Yes, I know, Diagon Alley in Orlando. But beside that.) Why they would want the flagship brand "Universal Studios" -- the flagship park especially! -- to be the least-great of their parks, I have no idea.

You're right, Universal can do great things. And many people who know Universal through Orlando feel that way. But on the West coast I'm not feeling it yet, and feeling less hopeful this week.

OK, you seem to discard the uphill battle Universal has when dealing with rules and regulations in California, and the need of Universal's original theme park to still balance the needs of a working production studio with those of a modern theme park. The entire Evolution Plan that was finally put into motion a few years ago is a culmination of a decade's long effort from Universal to make USH more of a theme park and less of a backstage tour experience while serving the needs of the production side of the company. The fact that Universal was able to build Super Mario Land, Hogsmeade, and is building a roller coaster along some of the most impractical terrain is a testament to Universal's desire to make USH more than just some lightly themed soundstages housing indoor attractions and the core tram tour. I don't think putting F&FHD steals USH's thunder, any more than RotR opening at DHS months before DL's version even though Galaxy's Edge in California opened first.

You seem to forget that the original Jurassic Park attraction was built at USH, and differentiated itself from the IOA's version with the Jurassic World overlay. Waterworld is still the absolutely best stunt show in the world, and was born at USH. Transformers, while often rumored to originally have been planned as a clone of IOA's Spiderman, was originally built at USH and ported to USF. I can see why it may be frustrating that USH versions of attractions are always hamstrung or kneecapped compared to versions installed at other Universal parks, and F&FHD being announced for Florida was yet another slap in the face to USH fans, though they should know the effort and resources that went into Evolution and the company's commitment to make USH as much of a jewel of the portfolio as their other parks.

Disney is dealing with many of the same issues, though for slightly different regulatory reasons (mostly because of space constraints), with Disneyland, arguably the best theme park in the world, often not treated as such with regards to resources and improvements/expansion compared to WDW, which clearly is the focus of Disney's efforts and attention.

Everything that has happened at USH as a result of the Evolution Plan should be a massive boost of confidence for fans, and while it's disappointing to not see truly unique concepts coming to the park, it's a major change in the development of the park to allow it to go toe to toe with other parks in the region.

@ DrStarlander...totally get it. Another reason why i was really hoping for a NYC theme, not only since it's in that section of the park but to differentiate it from Hollywood. BUT USF will never have a mountain so USH at least has that going for it and that alone will get me out there to ride the west coast version ;)