Track installation is complete for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Florida. New aerial photos from Bioreconstruct show the final pieces of the coaster’s track are now installed. The route runs from the load/unload station in New York to the ride’s tallest element near CityWalk. Hollywood Drift will open next year at Universal Orlando. Here’s a closer look!
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Track Fully Installed at Universal Studios Florida
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Track installation is complete across the full length of the new roller coaster
- A closer look at the load and unload station, switch track, and maintenance building
- Speculation about a possible show scene ahead of the ride’s launch
Completed Track Stretches From New York to CityWalk
The blue steel and grey track for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift now forms a continuous loop. It connects the load and unload station behind existing facades in New York to the ride’s tallest element near CityWalk. Aerial photos posted this weekend show the track weaving past the Hard Rock Cafe and the Universal globe. Supports and track sections are now joined across the entire footprint.
The coaster’s route follows the general path of the former Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. It winds through backstage areas before reaching its 170-foot spike near the CityWalk lagoon. As we reported when Universal first announced the attraction, that spike sends riders nearly 17 stories in the air over the outskirts of CityWalk. It’s a feature unique to the Florida version of the ride.
Load and Unload Station Takes Shape in New York
Photos from this past weekend show the load and unload station surrounded by track, positioned behind existing facades in New York. The return track curves around the building. Earlier photos from June 26th and August 1st show the station’s progress at different stages. The surrounding steel framework and support columns filled in around it over the following weeks.
A switch track sits near the exit of the load station and leads toward a nearby maintenance building. Photos show block brakes and additional track hardware installed along that switch. There is some speculation that the maintenance building could house a show scene before vehicles launch toward the CityWalk portion of the circuit. Universal has not confirmed any details about the ride’s onboard story sequence.
Ride Footprint Spans Backstage Areas and CityWalk
A wider aerial photo taken July 24th, before track installation finished, outlines the coaster’s full footprint. The route begins near the load and unload station and maintenance building in the New York area. It threads past several soundstages, then extends toward the CityWalk lagoon before looping back. The photo below gives a clear sense of how much ground the coaster covers.
Universal Studios Hollywood’s version of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift shares a name and general concept with the Florida attraction. It soft opened in July ahead of its own public debut. The two versions are not identical. Florida’s edition includes the 170-foot spike element that isn’t part of the Hollywood layout.
Universal Orlando previously moved up the closing date for Fast & Furious – Supercharged to make way for a new experience. Ahead of the Hollywood version’s summer debut, Universal Creative revealed the coaster’s four ride vehicle designs. That reveal confirmed the Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, and Toyota Supra as the lineup. We expect to learn more about Florida’s version in the coming months and into the new year.
Story So Far
- Universal first confirmed Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift was replacing Supercharged as the marquee attraction for the IP, as we reported in January, with an opening targeted for 2027.
- Universal Creative later revealed the coaster’s ride vehicles ahead of the Hollywood version’s summer debut, confirming the Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, and Toyota Supra as the four vehicle designs.
- Universal Orlando moved up the closing date for Fast & Furious – Supercharged to August 16th
- Universal Studios Hollywood’s version of the ride soft opened in July ahead of its own public debut.
Universal has not announced a specific 2027 opening date, and whether the maintenance building near the switch track houses a show scene remains unconfirmed.
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