Universal Unveils Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Coasters for Hollywood and Orlando Parks

2026-01-21 companies

Orlando, Tuesday, 20 January 2026.
Marking a strategic shift to physical thrills, Universal debuts drifting coasters featuring a 170-foot vertical spike, set to replace the screen-based Supercharged attraction in Orlando by 2027.

Strategic Pivot to Physical Thrills

Universal Destinations & Experiences, a division of Comcast (CMCSA), has officially confirmed a major recalibration of its attraction portfolio with the announcement of ‘Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.’ This new high-speed roller coaster is scheduled to debut at Universal Studios Hollywood later in 2026 and at Universal Studios Florida in 2027 [1][3]. The announcement underscores a decisive move away from screen-based immersion toward physical engineering, highlighted by the confirmed 2027 permanent closure of the ‘Fast & Furious – Supercharged’ attraction in Orlando [5][8]. This strategic pivot follows the closure of the Fast & Furious-themed tram stop in Hollywood in 2025, signaling a comprehensive rebranding of the franchise’s presence within the parks [2].

Engineering the Drift

The new hardware promises to deliver a distinct mechanical experience compared to its predecessors. In Orlando, the ride will replace the ‘Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit,’ which ceased operations in August 2025 [5][8]. The ‘Hollywood Drift’ coaster is designed with vehicles capable of 360-degree rotation, simulating the drifting maneuvers synonymous with the film franchise [3][5]. A key structural feature of the Orlando installation is a 170-foot (52-meter) vertical spike that will propel riders nearly 17 stories into the air above the Universal CityWalk district [2][5]. This new peak represents a slight elevation increase over the former Rip Ride Rockit, which stood at 167 feet, a difference of 3 feet [8].

A Tale of Two Coasts

While both parks will share the ‘Hollywood Drift’ moniker, the ride layouts will differ significantly to accommodate their respective topographies [8]. The Hollywood iteration, set to open first in 2026, features a track that weaves above and below the park’s StarWay escalators, connecting the upper and lower lots [3]. Operational testing is already underway in California; on January 19, 2026, a second train was observed cycling through the track, revealing cars that differ from the standard four-car designs seen in previous iterations [4]. Conversely, the Florida version is currently under construction on a plot situated between the former Blue Man Group building and the CityWalk entertainment complex [5][8].

Capitalizing on Momentum

This expansion is part of a broader capital investment strategy by Comcast to fortify its theme park assets following the opening of Epic Universe in May 2025 [8]. The introduction of ‘Hollywood Drift’ aims to bolster a Florida coaster lineup that already includes the ‘VelociCoaster’ and ‘Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure’ [3]. By replacing the ‘Supercharged’ ride—which opened in 2018 and utilized screen-based technology—with a physical coaster, Universal appears to be responding to consumer demand for more visceral, high-octane experiences [8]. The ‘Supercharged’ attraction will conclude its nine-season run in 2027 to make way for this new era of ride mechanics [2][5].

Sources

Entertainment Theme Parks