Hollywood Drift Riders Will Launch Under a Jackknifed Truck's Trailer, and the New Coaster Skips the Ghostbusters Firehouse Rip Ride Rockit Used
Last month, aerial photos of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift showed a burgundy truck cab parked beside the track. New photos add detail on how it fits into the ride. According to WDW News Today, cars on the new Universal Studios Florida coaster "will drive under the trailer of the jackknifed truck when they launch."
That detail comes from a fresh set of aerial photos by bioreconstruct, which WDW News Today published on Sunday, September 13. They show crews starting to install themed set pieces around the coaster, and one notable change from the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit days.
Corrugated panels in rust red, green, blue and gray line the launch area, with the truck cab at the far end. Photo: bioreconstruct, via WDW News Today
A wall of shipping containers
New theming is going in along the launch. A run of steel frames has been clad in corrugated panels, so the walls read as a stack of shipping containers. WDW News Today says this container wall sits ahead of the Peterbilt-style truck that went in a few weeks ago, and that both are part of the theming for the launch. The overhead track along that stretch carries cars back to the station.
The truck cab on its platform, framed by scaffolding and coaster supports. Photo: bioreconstruct, via WDW News Today
Hollywood Drift skips the Ghostbusters firehouse
Here is the change fans of the old coaster may notice. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit went through the Ghostbusters firehouse facade. According to WDW News Today, Hollywood Drift does not. Instead, steel is rising for a new facade right next to the firehouse.
Crews are also adding steel in and around the station. WDW News Today says the cars that wait there to unload will eventually be hidden behind facades and themed elements. Riders will board close to Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, toward the back of the park.
New steel columns go up beside the Ghostbusters firehouse, with coaster track curving behind. Photo: bioreconstruct, via WDW News Today
A new sidewalk by the lagoon
Out by the CityWalk lagoon, near the ride's 170-foot spike element, the walkway is being reworked too. Going by WDW News Today's labeled photo:
- A temporary ramp leads to a new sidewalk that runs under part of the coaster track. That sidewalk has not opened yet.
- Barricades are staged to soon close the current bypass sidewalk.
- Both the new walkway and the open one have unthemed temporary concrete for now. The red concrete that can already be seen at the ramp, and at one end of the new sidewalk, shows the permanent finish.
- New supports are going in. WDW News Today says they are likely meant to hold a net that will one day stretch over the sidewalk.
WDW News Today's numbered aerial of the lagoon-side sidewalk work under the spike. Photo: bioreconstruct, via WDW News Today
Where things stand
Hollywood Drift is going up on the old Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit site, between the park and Hard Rock Cafe. Crews finished installing track last month, and the latest photos show work on set pieces, facades and walkways.
Fast & Furious: Supercharged, the resort's other ride based on the franchise, closed last month. WDW News Today says some props from its queue may be kept and reused at Hollywood Drift.
Sources
- WDW News Today, Shipping Container Theming, Entrance Facade Under Construction for Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Florida
- Parks Magic, A Burgundy Peterbilt Style Truck Cab Sits Beside the Hollywood Drift Track
Image credits: All photos by bioreconstruct, via WDW News Today.
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