Seventy-two miles per hour, four launches, and a track that runs through the queue. Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift opens September 16, 2026.
It’s the fastest coaster in the Universal Destinations & Experiences lineup.
Quick Summary
- Opens September 16, 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood
- Located on the Upper Lot
- 72 MPH, up to 3.6 Gs, along 4,100 feet of track
- Four launches, an inverted dive loop, pretzel loop, and inverted stall
- Ride vehicles rotate 360 degrees and drift independently
- Four car choices: Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra
- All belongings must go in lockers, with metal detection before boarding
The Ride
A dual-launching, split-ride track alternates trains from dispatch, sending guests over and under portions of the multilevel Starway escalator.
The stats:
- Four launches
- Inverted dive loop
- Twisted pretzel loop
- Inverted stall
- Up to 72 MPH
- Up to 3.6 Gs
- 4,100 feet of aerial track, built with sound-reduction technology
- 360-degree drifting in individual ride vehicles
The franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and a new film, Fast Forever, arrives in theaters in March 2028.
The Drifting Is the Whole Point
This is the ride Fast & Furious fans have wanted since 2018, and it’s worth being explicit about why.
Fast & Furious: Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida closed permanently on August 17, 2026 after eight years as the resort’s most criticised attraction. Its central problem was that guests sat on a stationary party bus watching screens simulate speed — a Fast & Furious ride that was neither fast nor furious.
Hollywood Drift inverts every one of those complaints. Real speed, real G-forces, real rotation, no screens driving the experience.
Each vehicle is fully rotational and independently programmed to drift along the train — meaning four varying experiences depending on where you sit.
Choose Your Car
Guests ride in one of four iconic Fast Saga vehicles:
- Dodge Charger
- Mazda RX-7
- Nissan Skyline GT-R
- Toyota Supra
Each is modeled after the cars driven by favorite Fast characters in the film series. Each vehicle has a fully independent audio system, surrounding guests with engine and sound effects unique to the car they’re riding in.
That’s a genuinely novel touch. Per-vehicle audio on a coaster is rare, and pairing it with per-vehicle rotation means the ride is deliberately built for repeat rides rather than one-and-done.
A Track That Runs Through the Queue
In a technological first, a portion of the ride track races through a transparent, encased section of the queue.
You watch trains pass while you wait.
Queue-through-track is one of the best tools a coaster has — it builds anticipation, gives waiting guests something to look at, and sells the ride’s speed before you board. Encasing it transparently rather than just running track overhead is the more ambitious version.
Built Into the Hillside
Universal Creative used the hillside terrain as the foundation for the coaster, utilising the natural contours and scenic vistas as both structural core and creative design element. The result is panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley, the Universal Studios movie studio, and the park itself.
That’s a Hollywood-specific advantage no other Universal park has. Universal Studios Hollywood is built across a hillside with the Upper and Lower Lots connected by the Starway — and a coaster that uses that elevation change gets vertical drop for free while delivering views a flat Florida park physically cannot.
The Queue Props
The queue guides guests through an environment filled with recreated props from the Fast Saga films.
Select displays feature QR codes guests can scan for behind-the-scenes insights. The codes open Universal Studios’ fan engagement site, the “Backlot Club” — where you create an account or log in to access the content.
Highlights include:
- Car Cannon — the car driven by Brian O’Conner in Fast & Furious 6
- Roll Cage and Winch — the 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 driven by Dom Toretto in Fast 5
- Vault Truck — as featured in Fast 5
- Motorcycle — as featured in F9, driven by Letty Ortiz
- NOS System and Dodge Charger Engine — a recreation of the internal NOS operating system
- Ramp Car — driven by Owen Shaw in Fast & Furious 6
- Rolling Bomb — as featured in Fast X
- Rollover Stunt Rig — a recreation of the rollover stunt rigging system used in the films
The QR requirement is the one friction point. Requiring an account login to read a prop caption is a lot of steps for someone standing in a queue, and it turns a piece of theming into a data capture.
Tristan Eaton’s Murals
The arrival platform is anchored by an all-original, large-scale mural by world-renowned artist Tristan Eaton, depicting the finale street racing scene from 2001’s The Fast and the Furious — a montage of the aerial-bound Dodge Charger and Toyota Supra racing a speeding train.
A second Eaton mural features in the queue, in tribute to the entire franchise.
Eaton is a significant commission. He’s a street artist and muralist with major public works across Los Angeles and a long history in designer toys and brand collaborations. Commissioning original work rather than licensing film stills is the kind of choice that gives a queue lasting identity.
Before You Ride
Guests must place all belongings in complimentary lockers located within the queue area. You’ll also pass through metal detection before entering the ride platform, ensuring all loose articles — including mobile phones — are securely stored.
Plan for that. Metal detection plus mandatory lockers adds time on both ends, and it means no on-ride phone photos. Free lockers are the right call, but budget the extra minutes.
The Bottom Line
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift opens September 16, 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood — the fastest coaster in the Universal Destinations & Experiences lineup at 72 MPH and 3.6 Gs across 4,100 feet.
Four launches, an inverted dive loop, a pretzel loop, an inverted stall, and vehicles that rotate 360 degrees with independent audio, in a choice of four Fast Saga cars.
The queue carries eight recreated film props and two original Tristan Eaton murals. Lockers and metal detection are mandatory.
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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop
I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!
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