‘Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift’ Scintillates with a Supercharged Media Day

The long-awaited opening of Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift has finally arrived at Universal Studios Hollywood. From early morning rides, to a reception and a chain-cutting ceremony, the day was filled with all things Fast and Furious.

Universal Studios Hollywood invited The Nerds of Color to attend its Media Day preview of the brand new coaster Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift, marking several milestones for the theme park and Universal Destinations & Experiences as a whole. Not only is it Universal Studios Hollywood’s first high-speed outdoor roller coaster, but it is also the fastest roller coaster of any Universal theme park across the world.

Our day started with a walkthrough of the attraction’s queue. Just past the arched entryway, guests will find mounted screens that depict various scenes from the Fast and Furious franchise. Further into the queue, we transition into a covered exterior section where several picture cars are on display, mounted at unique angles that give them the appearance of the front end flipping upward after a burnout or a vehicle tipping on its side. Throughout this section, different QR codes are posted, which link to videos that explain some of the behind-the-scenes work that went into various stunts in the films.

As a part of the Media Day experience, press and creators had the opportunity to have their rides recorded with GoPro cameras, offering a complete look at our reactions before, during, and after the experience. The front car of each train, Dom’s Dodge Charger, was mounted with single POV setups, allowing for individual frames of the recordings. The third car of each train, Brian’s Nissan Skyline GT-R, was mounted with dual POV setups, allowing for a two-person frame. I personally enjoyed the dual POV more, as I found it far more entertaining to compare reactions between you and your seatmate.

In the evening, we were treated to a reception in Universal Plaza, followed by the official opening ceremony outside of the ride’s entrance. The Street Racer Dancers performed a Latin and Hip-Hop fusion showcase to a medley of songs from the franchise, followed by opening remarks from Scott Strobl, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood and Mark Woodbury, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences. After a quick countdown and an official chain cutting, invited guests were then invited to ride (or re-ride) the coaster to close out the remainder of the evening.

With three Toretto-approved drifts under my belt, I still hold the opinion that this is one of the best roller coasters of all time. I’m amazed at how incredibly smooth the entirety of the ride is. The immediacy of the attraction’s high speeds, drops, and drifts inform you from the get-go that this ride will take you through thrills and heights you might not have experienced before. The attraction’s second launch that catapults you to that whopping 72 miles per hour speed is unrelenting in an incredible way, with the ride concluding shortly after with a beautiful, weightless drift over and under the Starway. The Universal Creative team has outdone themselves, and this is a must-ride attraction for visiting guests. Universal Orlando Resort will be opening their version of Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift in 2027.

Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift is now officially open at Universal Studios Hollywood. The attraction is included in guests’ theme park ticket. Ride wait times and availability are subject to change.