BREAKING: Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift Soft Opens at Universal Studios Hollywood

Guests can finally ride Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift as it has officially begun a soft opening period.

Hollywood Drift Begins Technical Rehearsals

A mural of a drifting car and "Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift" at Universal Studios—no Disney castle here like at the Disney parks.

Universal Studios Hollywood quietly put the pedal to the metal on Monday, July 27, as Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift began technical rehearsals without an advance announcement.

The technical rehearsals effectively serve as a soft opening, allowing regular park guests to experience the long-awaited roller coaster before its official grand opening. However, Universal has not announced a formal opening date, and operation is not guaranteed during this testing period. The attraction may open late, close early, or remain unavailable for an entire day as crews continue making adjustments.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a formal opening could be only days or weeks away. Guests visiting specifically to experience Hollywood Drift may still want to wait until Universal announces that date.

The surprise opening follows several recent signs that the coaster was nearing completion. Hollywood Drift was added to the Universal Studios Hollywood app earlier this month, while our latest visit found multiple ride trains testing simultaneously.

Hollywood Drift reaches 72 mph across 4,100 feet of track, making it the fastest roller coaster in Universal’s global portfolio. Its four inversions and individually rotating vehicles are designed to create the sensation of drifting as riders race above and below the Starway escalators connecting the park’s Upper and Lower Lots.

Each train consists of four detailed miniature cars inspired by vehicles from the Fast & Furious films, complete with distinctive engine and braking sounds. Universal previously revealed designs based on Dom’s Dodge Charger, Han’s Mazda RX-7, and two cars driven by Brian O’Conner.

The project has also generated complaints from nearby Toluca Lake residents, who said screams from test riders could be heard throughout their neighborhood. Universal incorporated sound-reduction technology and barriers throughout the attraction.

Will you attempt to ride Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift during technical rehearsals, or wait for its official opening? Let us know on social media.

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