What the Hollywood 'Fast & Furious' Coaster Tells Us About the Rumored Orlando Ride
With themed cars and a massive movie prop now visible at the Hollywood construction site, we have a clearer picture of how the Orlando version will be both similar and strikingly different.
ORLANDO, FL – As construction continues at a rapid pace on both coasts, the future of the Fast & Furious franchise at Universal parks is finally taking shape, and it appears to be a tale of two very different coasters. Recent, exciting developments at the Universal Studios Hollywood construction site for "Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift"—including the arrival of themed ride vehicles and a massive, iconic movie prop—are giving us the best look yet at what to expect from this new attraction, and more importantly, what it means for the version heavily rumored to be replacing Rip Ride Rockit in Florida.
For months, the project in Hollywood has been a tangle of steel on the studio's famous upper lot. But now, key thematic elements are being installed, and they confirm a deep connection to the blockbuster films. Construction watchers have spotted the arrival of the coaster's ride vehicles, which are designed to look like the iconic cars from the franchise, complete with custom paint jobs. More strikingly, a massive, spherical prop resembling the giant "wrecking ball bomb" from the film Fast X has been placed within the coaster's layout, strongly suggesting it will serve as a dramatic, near-miss show scene for riders.
These details confirm that the Hollywood coaster is not just a ride, but a large-scale, story-driven experience. The attraction is a first-of-its-kind "drifting" roller coaster, built by manufacturer Intamin, with a unique ride system that allows the car to rotate and slide laterally as it navigates the track, simulating the signature driving style of the films. It features a sprawling layout that wraps around the park's central escalators.
Meanwhile, in Orlando, the "Rocket Project" taking over the former Rip Ride Rockit plot is pointing towards a completely different ride experience. While it is almost certainly themed to Fast & Furious, the permits and foundation work suggest a high-speed, multi-launch coaster. The layout is more compact, focused on raw speed, multiple launches, and airtime moments, rather than the controlled, story-driven drifting mechanic of its Hollywood counterpart. The ride will launch from a new, warehouse-themed station located in a formerly backstage area behind the New York facades.
This raises the central question for fans: will the Orlando coaster be a clone of the Hollywood version? All evidence now points to a definitive "no." Instead of being identical twins, the two attractions are shaping up to be spiritual cousins, sharing an IP and a blockbuster ethos but delivering fundamentally different experiences.
This is a common and effective strategy for Universal. One only needs to look at the "Revenge of the Mummy" attractions at both parks. While they share a name and a theme, they are completely different rides. The Orlando version is a high-speed launch coaster with a fake station and extensive fire effects, while the Hollywood version is a more traditional dark ride-coaster hybrid with a different layout and unique show scenes. Universal has a long history of tailoring its attractions to the specific space and audience of each resort.
This fundamental difference in both ride system and location also brings up the question of the attraction's name. With the coaster being built in the New York section of the park, the "Hollywood Drift" moniker is almost certainly a non-starter for Florida. Universal will need a new name that reflects the ride's unique, high-speed launch experience and its East Coast setting. Speculation among fans has pointed to several possibilities, from the straightforward "Fast & Furious: New York Street Race" to the more generic but energetic "Fast & Furious: Full Throttle." An intriguing, and perhaps clever, option would be "Fast & Furious: Supercharged Launch," a name that would cheekily acknowledge and differentiate itself from the park's other, less thrilling Supercharged attraction. While the final name remains a secret, it will undoubtedly be something that emphasizes raw speed and power, further cementing its identity as a distinctly different ride from its California cousin.
So, what do the new details from Hollywood tell us about the Orlando project? While we shouldn't expect a drifting coaster or even the same show scenes like the "ball bomb," the developments are incredibly encouraging. They show that Universal is committed to a high level of thematic detail, using large-scale, practical props and intricately themed ride vehicles to bring the franchise to life.
Fans in Orlando can likely expect that same level of blockbuster detail applied to a different kind of ride. The focus in Florida will be on the raw, adrenaline-fueled speed of a launch coaster, likely simulating a high-stakes street race. While Hollywood's coaster is about the style of the drift, Orlando's will be all about the thrill of the launch. It seems Universal is building two unique, and equally compelling, ways for guests to finally ride with the Fast family.
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