Though Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida is set to operate for another month, crews have already started demolition work in the area, leading to a giant pile of dirt visible in CityWalk.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Demolition
Construction walls went up near the coaster in May, creating a work site along the edge of CityWalk, next to Hard Rock Cafe. The walls were later covered in images of CityWalk venues. Crews have been clearing the land around Rip Ride Rockit, leading to the giant dirt pile now towering over the walls.
The large dirt pile is behind one set of walls. In the foreground of these photos is another blocked-off area closer to the water. Plants have been removed from a flowerbed, creating another small pile of dirt.
A concrete staircase leading from the water up towards Universal Studios Florida has been partially demolished. Railings were removed, and the steps have been broken up. This suggests Universal is going to redo the area next to the lagoon in tandem with the construction of the new ride replacing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
It looks like the sidewalk that once led from CityWalk to the Blue Man Group theater has been demolished. Most lighting has been removed from the area. The Blue Man Group ended their Universal Orlando Resort residency in early 2021, and the theater has since been used seasonally for performances of “Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular.” The construction site takes up most of the space between the lagoon and the theater.
An open sidewalk runs between the two sets of construction walls, so guests can still easily walk between Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. There are lights mounted on the construction walls to illuminate the area at night.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is still standing. Fences around the coaster keep it separated from the construction site. The coaster is set to continue running through August 18, 2025.
There are also construction walls around part of the coaster inside Universal Studios Florida. The walls originally featured just a Ghostbusters reference, but Universal later added signage referencing “Back to the Future” and “Fast and Furious.”
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit farewell merchandise was released in May.
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