Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon™
Universal Studios Florida · New York
Overview
Race Through New York opened in 2017 with a virtual line: you collect a return time instead of standing in a physical queue, and the waiting area is a Tonight Show-themed lounge. It replaced Twister...Ride It Out, which had simulated tornado conditions in the same New York building since 1998, and sends you racing against Jimmy Fallon through Manhattan in what Universal calls a 'flying theater': rows of moving seats in front of a giant screen.
ParksLog verdict
Check the app early for how the line is running — this isn't a walk-on attraction. Tonight Show fans will get the most mileage from the IP. A solid optional stop, not a must-do for guests without Fallon fandom.
About this experience
Face Jimmy Fallon and all your favorite characters from NBC's "The Tonight Show" in a fun-filled race through, below and above New York City. Board the unique "flying theater" and you'll speed through the busy streets of midtown Manhattan, soar over skyscrapers, even dive into the East River as you hurtle neck and neck towards the finish line.
Best for
- Jimmy Fallon and Tonight Show fans
- Guests seeking a medium-intensity simulator experience
- Families with children 40" and taller
- New York City setting enthusiasts
Tips
- The ride has used a virtual line with return times since it opened; check the Universal app for how it's running on your date.
- The Tonight Show–themed pre-show waiting area has entertainment worth exploring before your window is called.
- Express Pass is accepted — check the Universal app for current entry options.
Details
History
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon opened April 6, 2017, replacing Twister... Ride It Out, which had operated in the New York area since 1998. The attraction introduced a virtual queue (timed reservation) system to Universal Studios Florida — one of the earlier large-scale deployments of virtual queuing at a major US theme park.
Fun facts
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon introduced a virtual queue (timed reservation) system to Universal Studios Florida in 2017 — one of the earliest large-scale deployments of virtual queuing at a major US theme park.
- The ride replaced Twister... Ride It Out, which had simulated the experience of being near a tornado and operated in the New York area from 1998 to 2015.