Fast & Furious coaster enters soft opening at Universal
Universal Studios Hollywood has moved Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift into technical rehearsals, which means some visitors are already getting on the coaster before its official opening. Time Out Worldwide first reported the soft opening on 28 July after checking with Universal, and described it as a limited run rather than a full launch. For a ride that has been one of the park’s most watched construction projects, that is the clearest sign yet that public debut is close.
That early access has already produced a review episode: Orlando ParkStop’s ParkTalk Episode 16: Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift Review was published on 4 August and is built around thoughts after riding the attraction while it is still in technical rehearsals at Universal Studios Hollywood. The practical takeaway is simple enough. If you are hoping to ride right now, you may be able to do so, but availability is still not guaranteed from one visit to the next.
What Universal has confirmed so far
Universal Studios Hollywood’s own attraction page places Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift in the Upper Lot and lists it as coming in summer 2026. The park describes it as its first-ever high-speed outdoor roller coaster, with ride vehicles that rotate 360 degrees to create the drifting effect and speeds of up to 72 mph. That lines up with the ride now appearing in technical rehearsals, where Universal can fine-tune the operation before a wider debut.
Time Out’s report is also a reminder that technical rehearsals are not the same as a full opening. The coaster may be running, but that does not mean it will operate all day or every day, and Universal has not yet announced a final opening date. For guests, that leaves the ride in an awkward middle ground: open enough to try, but not settled enough to plan around with certainty.
Why it matters beyond Hollywood
For theme park watchers, this is the point where months of construction footage turn into something more concrete. The attraction is no longer just a project on a hillside; it is now carrying guests, even if only intermittently, while the park works through the last operational checks. That is why early reviews matter, and why Universal’s soft-opening approach tends to generate so much attention.
For Bedford readers following Universal’s wider expansion plans, the value of this story is the process rather than any direct project tie: it shows how a major Universal ride moves from construction into public operation. Until Universal sets a date, the only firm update is that Hollywood Drift is in play, but still in transition.
Update: 11 August 2026
Passenger testing is now under way for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood, according to Attractions Magazine, which first reported the latest ride details. The new coaster is still on track for a 2026 opening, and the reporting also points to ongoing attention on noise concerns around the attraction.
Update: 2 September 2026
Universal Studios Hollywood has now set an opening date for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, with the ride due to welcome guests on Wednesday, 16 September. Blooloop first reported the announcement. Universal says the coaster is the park’s first high-speed outdoor coaster, and it has been in technical rehearsals and previews for the past month.
Based on Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furious film franchise, the attraction uses a dual-launch split-ride track that stretches 4,100 feet and reaches speeds of up to 72 mph. Riders will board one of four vehicles — a Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R or Toyota Supra.
Update: 6 September 2026
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is now close to completion at Universal Studios Florida, with much of the coaster’s track already in place, according to WDW News Today, which first reported the latest construction milestone. The ride’s layout is nearly complete, suggesting the project is moving deeper into its finishing phase ahead of its planned opening period.
Update: 6 September 2026
Another track support structure has risen for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Florida, adding to the growing footprint of the new coaster. WDW News Today first reported the development.
