Walk Time: What's up at Universal, Disney, and Knott's
In theme parks and entertainment, "walk time" is the name for the final paid minutes of your shift, when you gather your stuff and start heading home. At Theme Park Insider, "Walk Time" is our weekend look back at the past seven days in theme park news.
The big news this week was the official grand opening of Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal struck out getting any franchise celebrities to show up for its ceremony, but the park seems to have delivered a hit with its first major outdoor coaster. Hollywood Drift packs speed and airtime into its relatively compact setting on a Universal City hillside, filling what had been perhaps the biggest gap in the park's attraction line-up. Here is my review, ICYMI: Universal crosses the finish line with a new world-class coaster.
And if you would like to watch the complete reverse POV of my initial ride on the coaster, just for the LOLs, here ya go:
The night of the official public opening, Universal celebrated the debut of Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift by lighting up LA's famous Hollywood sign.
Knott's Scary Farm opened this week for its 2026 season. Jake was there to see Knott's Disney-coded maze, which he thought was a highlight, along with Knott's scare zones: 'Inked,' good vibes highlight strong year at Knott's Scary Farm.
On the Theme Park Insider Podcast this week, we talked with Disney Legend and former Imagineer Joe Rohde, who shared some of the insights from his new book, "Floating Mountains." You can subscribe to the podcast via Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or get it via email each week via our free newsletter subscription.
In other Disney news this week, Tokyo DisneySea announced its new Broadway Music Theatre production, to debut next fall (2027), "Bring the Rhythm!" And Disneyland Paris announced several changes for its Disney Village district. Rainforest Café will close at the end of the year, as the new Casa Giulia Italian restaurant opens at the other end of the Village by the close of 2026. Annette’s Diner will reopen in the first three months of next year, as a redesigned Pathé Cinema takes over the Gaumont theater location next year.
The Disney Cruise Line this week announced that the first of three gigablocks for the new Disney Believe cruise ship has floated out from its German shipyard, as Imagineers and shipbuilders work on toward the Believe's debut next year.
Photo courtesy Disney Signature Experiences
This gigablock is the midship of the Disney Believe, which is home to the Grand Hall. The next gigablock to be constructed will be the ship's forward portion, followed by the aft.
Replies (2)
We talked about that on the podcast. Betcha anything it's a cast salary dispute with the studio over the next film.
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WOW not One F&F cast for the Opening?
Not even:
Michelle Rodriguez as Letty Ortiz
Rick Yune as Johnny Tran
OR Ludacris who now does - State Farm, and Endurance crappy car Warranty Services commercials...
Maybe if they had a Pontiac Fiero on the ride it would help....