Universal Studios' first high-speed, outdoor coaster set to open in 2026

07.05.2024 - 00:37 / thepointsguy.com

Universal Studios Hollywood has decades of history as a working movie studio and is home to more than a dozen rides and attractions that make you the star of your favorite film franchises. But there is one thing it doesn't have yet — a high-speed, outdoor roller coaster.

That won't be the case for long, though.

On May 3, Universal Studios Hollywood announced that its first-ever high-speed, outdoor roller coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, will open in 2026.

As you may have surmised, Universal Studios Hollywood's newest installation draws inspiration from the blockbuster "Fast & Furious" series. There are currently 10 installments in the "Fast & Furious" saga, with an 11th action-packed movie on the way. The original film, released in 2001, pulled up the curtain on the world of illegal street racing but has since evolved to include high-stakes heists, undercover spy operations and, of course, family.

When Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift opens in 2026, you'll become a part of that lightning-fast family as you zip over and around the park on a winding aerial track. The coaster will utilize a state-of-the-art ride system with 360-degree rotating vehicles that recreate the sensation of "drifting." Universal has not yet announced a top speed for the coaster, but we can only assume it will be both fast and furious.

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Universal Studios Hollywood's small size is likely a factor as to why the park has waited until now to add an outdoor coaster. Though the destination is now part-movie studio, part-theme park, the space was originally founded in 1915 purely to create films — a coaster of this scale wasn't in the plans at the time. Additionally, the property sits on a relatively small lot and is beholden to local noise regulations. (Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will utilize sound reduction technology.)

"As a premier entertainment theme park destination with a rich history in immersing guests in incredible rides based on today's most inspiring movie, television and gaming properties, we are excited to introduce our very first, high-speed outdoor roller coaster," Scott Strobl, executive vice president and general manager of Universal Studios Hollywood, said in a press release. "As Universal Studios Hollywood continues to evolve, the arrival of 'Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift' will be a powerful game changer that will infuse a new level of thrill into our already dynamic theme park, and we look forward to welcoming guests when it races onto the scene in 2026."

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This won't be the park's first roller coaster. That honor goes to Revenge of the Mummy — The Ride, though