Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift (Soft Opening)
Universal Studios Hollywood · Upper Lot
Overview
Full-size vehicles from the Fast & Furious franchise anchor this Intamin launch coaster, each spinning a full 360 degrees along the track to simulate the sensation of drifting at speed. Riders launch out of a garage-themed queue building and race across an elevated track built into the hillside between the Upper and Lower Lots, passing directly over the Starway and within view of the Studio Tour route, reaching top speed through three inversions. The ride vehicles are themed after Dom Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger, Han Lue's Mazda RX-7, and Brian O'Conner's Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra, giving each train its own distinct look.
ParksLog Verdict
Shaping up to be the park's marquee new coaster — a genuinely fast, novel spinning launch coaster with real Fast & Furious pedigree. It's still running only intermittently during soft opening, so don't build a whole visit around it just yet; treat any ride as a bonus until it settles into a regular schedule.
About this experience
High-speed outdoor launch coaster with 360-degree spinning vehicles themed to the Fast & Furious franchise, launching riders across an elevated track above the Starway.
Best For
- Coaster enthusiasts chasing the fastest launch at any Universal park
- Fast & Furious franchise fans
- Thrill-seekers looking for the park's most intense ride
Tips
- It's still running only intermittently ahead of its official opening, so check the Universal Studios Hollywood app for same-day availability before counting on a ride.
- The single rider line is a good option once standby settles in, given the mandatory double-sided lockers slow down loading.
- The elevated track is visible from the Starway and the Studio Tour route, so you'll likely see it in action before you ride it.
Details
History
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift was built on the Upper Lot site formerly occupied by Universal's Animal Actors and the Special Effects Stage, both of which closed in January 2023 to make way for it. It soft-opened for limited technical rehearsals on July 27, 2026, ahead of a planned official opening later that summer.
Fun Facts
- At 72 mph, it's the fastest coaster at any Universal theme park.
- Its ride vehicles rotate a full 360 degrees along the track, a mechanism new to any Universal coaster.
- It replaced Universal's Animal Actors and the Special Effects Stage, which both closed in January 2023 on the same Upper Lot site.