We’re checking in on the construction of the intense new coaster Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood, which has most of its exterior track almost complete and has a new entrance sign.
Queue Building Mural & Entrance
The mural on the attraction building has been completed: the name now boldly stands out in white, and the Dodge Charger got motion streaks to give it the appearance of drifting across the road.
The ride entrance is now visible. It is a gray, industrial-looking archway with “ENTRANCE” in white.
Flat stretches of track curve in and out of the building directly above the entrance, possibly where the vehicles enter and exit the queue building.
Last month, we reported on the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift mural breaking the immersion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade by being visible through the land’s entrance archway. Unfortunately, now with the queue entrance revealed and also fully visible, Universal doesn’t seem to have plans to obscure the coaster from the Hogsmeade sightline any time soon.
With the track completed in April, we’re now starting to see theming elements take shape. We can still barely see into the queue building, but what appear to be industrial-style catwalks and warehouse lights are now visible.
The track exits the queue building and passes by this new brick wall with cylindrical structures. It also passes over the structural pylons in the foreground, which will support what could be future theming that has yet to be installed.
This concrete pad in front of the pylons and to the right of the track may also potentially be the foundation for additional theming or other structural elements.
In its most dramatic maneuver, the coaster track curves underneath and then over the glass-roofed escalators connecting the Upper and Lower Lots, coming quite close to guests. The 4,100-foot track was “meticulously constructed with sound reduction technology for a breathtaking experience.”
The coaster continues down the hill over service roads.
The park’s Executive Vice President & General Manager Scott Strobl said Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is a “powerful game changer for Universal Studios Hollywood that will not only transform the topography of our destination but will infuse an entirely new level of adrenaline to our already dynamic theme park.”
The track uses the natural environment of the park to provide a more dynamic experience, especially with the steep hill leading down to the Lower Lot.
We spotted workers on a flat stretch near the middle of the track in this section.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is slated to open next year and will be the first ever high-speed outdoor roller coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as one of Universal’s fastest coasters overall at 72MPH. Check out a concept video of the coaster, including a look at the car-themed ride vehicles that seamlessly spin a full 360°.
The nearby Fast & Furious merchandise store just recently opened ahead of the attraction, though it has a surprising lack of Fast & Furious merchandise at the moment.
Are you excited to experience Hollywood Drift when it opens? Let us know in the comments and on social media.
For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.