'fast & Furious' Coaster Is Not Delayed By 'noise Complaints,' Universal Studios Says

Universal Studios Hollywood has agelong been slated to person nan biggest taxable parkland opening of 2026 pinch its caller high-speed coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift. But pinch nary officially announced opening date, questions person started to intensify and rumors person begun to swirl arsenic to what whitethorn beryllium causing nan parkland to spell power silent connected what is expected to beryllium its centerpiece attraction.

According to Universal, location is nary request for concern.

Yet speculation has zeroed successful connected nan imaginable sound of nan coaster arsenic being a problem for residents of nan adjacent of Toluca Lake. Rumors were fueled Friday by Fox 11 Los Angeles reporting, via a since-deleted station connected societal media web X that Hollywood Drift’s opening had been delayed astatine slightest until nan extremity of twelvemonth owed to vicinity complaints. Videos of audible screams of riders connected nan coaster person gone viral successful caller weeks.

A spokesperson for Universal said reports that nan coaster’s opening is postponed until nan extremity of 2026 are “not accurate” and disputed nan conception that nan coaster has been delayed. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, nan spokesperson said, is still connected target to unfastened earlier nan extremity of summer.

“We expect to denote an opening day soon,” publication an charismatic connection from nan company. “The accusation online is incorrect.”

The summertime play lasts done nan extremity of September. The parkland originates its celebrated autumn Halloween Horror Nights connected Sept. 3. Tickets for nan second are presently connected sale, and Universal is promising access to Hollywood Drift for those who acquisition its line-skipping definitive pass, which starts astatine $259.

Sources acquainted pinch nan coaster’s operations person besides disputed nan conception that sound is simply a origin for nan coaster having not yet opened, alternatively pointing to much regular mechanical issues that person arisen during its trial and accommodation phase. One taxable parkland insider, however, stressed that erstwhile Hollywood Drift does open, it will apt beryllium a considered a “top-5, aliases top-10 coaster, successful nan world.”

The position of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift from Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is unsocial successful that it is simply a 72 mph thrust pinch vehicles created to rotate 360 degrees done aggregate inversions. Designed to mimic nan consciousness of stunt cars, its four-seated vehicles will twist and move done banks successful nan way successful an effort to create a drifting sensation.

Universal’s ain website earlier this summertime posted June 26 arsenic an opening date, and while that was erstwhile nan targeted launch, nan day was quickly removed from nan site. Universal began hosting media for walkthroughs of nan coaster successful May.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift has been successful nan useful for than a decade. Built fundamentally connected a cliff betwixt nan park’s precocious and little lots, nan ride’s beingness is simply a feat of engineering, and Universal has described it arsenic among nan astir aggravated attractions successful its world parkland portfolio.

Before onshore was moved, Universal began a bid of tests to way really sound would recreation done nan surrounding neighborhood. Universal placed speakers connected nan aged typical effects and stunt buildings to spot really thrust screams traveled down nan hill.

Ultimately, nan tracks would beryllium complemented pinch aggregate sound walls and shields, nan second clear structures designed to artifact coaster rumbles and assemblage screams. And because nan cars tin rotate 360 degrees, Universal tin successful mentation nonstop rider yells distant from nan workplace beneath and nan vicinity nearby. The existent way has been filled pinch pea gravel, designed to minimize sound from immoderate reverberations.

“It’s incredibly quiet,” said Jon Corfino, nan lead imaginative astatine Universal Studios Hollywood. “We were capable to do that by putting materials wrong portions of nan way to deaden nan sound. I’m not judge we would person needed it, but it was important to do nan correct thing. It’s pea gravel and rocks. It’s quieter than I ever thought it was going to be.”

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift isn’t nan only notable coaster slated to unfastened successful Southern California this year. Buena Park’s Knott’s Berry Farm initially intended to motorboat its reimagined Montezooma’s Revenge, now known arsenic Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress, connected Monday. Late past night, nan parkland indefinitely delayed its nationalist unveiling, pinch a spokesperson citing further fine-tuning that surfaced during its last days of testing.

The hold is not expected to beryllium a prolonged one.

“We admit everyone’s knowing and look guardant to welcoming media and guests successful nan coming days erstwhile we tin showcase nan attraction precisely arsenic intended,” publication a connection from nan park. Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress has been successful improvement for nan past 4 years.