As reported by various news outlets, Universal Studios has announced that they will be adding a new roller coaster to their signature theme park here in Orlando. The coaster should be open in about a year and will enable users to create a music video out of their ride experience. That will definitely be something to look for here on Living Orlando in 2009.
As for the ride’s name, “Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit”, I think they could have done better (and shorter). It doesn’t exactly roll off one’s tongue like “The Hulk” or “Dueling Dragons”. People will probably just end up saying, “Let’s head over to the new roller coaster!” I’d go with something like “Hollywood Hyperride”. What do you think?
Anyway, here is the press release …
Universal Orlando Resort Announces Brand-New Roller Coaster That Features Total Immersion Entertainment and Puts Guests In The Director’s Seat
This is true high-tech, customizable, multi-sensory entertainment. Scheduled to open in spring 2009, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will stake its claim as the most technologically advanced roller coaster in the world. The Universal Creative team is combining audio and special effects engineering, sophisticated on- and off-board video and one-of-a-kind guest personalization to create a roller coaster experience unlike any other.
“This is the perfect intersection of the digital age and theme park entertainment,” said Mark Woodbury, President of Creative for Universal Parks & Resorts. “Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit blends roller coaster intensity and guest interaction in a way where no two experiences will be the same.”
Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit touts six near-miss moments and first-ever thrills including a record-breaking loop. Ride vehicles feature the brightest and most innovative color changing LEDs in the world. High-energy visual displays fill the queue line. With up to four ride vehicles on the tracks at any given time, and with concert lighting and special effects mixed in, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will be a true high-intensity, multi-sensory experience that is unmatched.
Guests can customize their ride experience by choosing what song will play while they’re on the roller coaster. LED boards in the queue lines will display song options from five genres (classic rock, rap, country, pop and disco). Once on-board, guests can choose their song or let the coaster’s digital sound system choose for them. When the ride is over, guests will be able to customize footage from their experience and compile it into a take-home music video.
Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will be located near the Jimmy Neutron attraction traveling the southern perimeter of the Universal Studios theme park, over to the CityWalk lagoon and back.
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33 Comments for “Universal Studios announces new roller coaster”
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 am
I find it funny they chose to put Hollywood and “Rip” in the same name. I thought Hollywood was against pirating movies? Lets hope the actual ride is as cool as the rest of their coasters…or my personal favorite “Disney’s Rocking Roller Coaster”.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
This is a fantastic idea. I recently wrote and recorded a podcast on how Monsters Inc could have this kind of mix of tech, creativity and video:
http://creativitity.blogspot.com/2008/03/9-creativititycom-1-27-08-disney.html
March 30th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
The only thing missing is “Starring AeroSmith”. Disney did it, about ten years ago. You are way behind universal, and very obvious in your disney ride replications.
March 31st, 2008 at 8:39 am
Jimmy … It does sound a lot like the “Rockin’ Roller Coaster” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly the Disney-MGM Studios)), but I think the interactivity portion will differentiate the Universal ride just enough to make it a new experience. Regardless of the theme, another roller coaster at an already loaded park is exciting.
March 31st, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I worked at rock in roller coster and I dont know how they could do a ride better than that ride but i would like to see them try it.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Universal has needed a new coaster for a few years and this is one worth waiting for!
Disney are way behind on rollercoasters and i’m sure this will be one of the best rides in Orlando, can’t wait to ride it!
May 15th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I must be living under a rock. I hadn’t even learned about this ’til I stumbled on this post today.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
i wonder if i will have a lap bar or a sholder harness .i hope its a sholder harness cuz i hate lap bars
June 15th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Jimmy and Chad, have you even looked at the sketches of this ride? Just because it says “Rockit” in the name that sounds close to Rockin, its nothing like Rocking Rollar Coaster. Universal being behind Disney? I would go to a Universal park anytime over a trip to Disney land. Lets face it besides the new coaster in Animal Kingdom, once your over 14 why would you ever want to go back? Try using your heads guys before running your mouth.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I can’t wait to ride this. I don’t think it will be anything like the coaster in MGM - it was such a let down and too similar to Space Mountain - which is equally as rubbish!
August 7th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
OMG!!! OMG!!! HANDLE BARS!!! DEFINITLEY HANDLE BARS!!!
October 20th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Shei-Kra in busch gardens is better than any other coaster in Florida!!!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Interaction, not to mention a vertical lift system. This is not a powered launch like the Aerosmith ride. Also it has a loop, so expect a shoulder harness, especially if it has a bunch of near misses.
I would have to say that the current best coaster in Florida is probably Sheikra like Tink-A-Bug said earlier, although the Montu, and the Hulk are not bad rides at all.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Oh yeah, Kraken is good too. And I can’t wait for Manta at Sea World.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I live in Orlando and have been to disney & universal more times than I can remember, and so have my kids who have grown up here. My kids are 14 and 12 and I cannot remember the last time we went to a Disney theme park, they much rather go to universal. Oh and I happen to know many people working on this roller coaster, and it is completely different than the rockin’ rollercoaster. The only similarity is that it plays music, but everything else counldnt even compare to what this ride will become. I’ve seen part of the roller coaster that they have built, and it looks great.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I am the biggest disney fan but lets get it right the begining of rockin rollercoaster is awesome then let down by the actual rollercoaster ride itself, i think this will be a much better (and comfortable) ride.
February 15th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
THIS SOUNDS SO AAAAAAAWWWWWEEEEESSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOMMMMMMEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 21st, 2009 at 11:29 am
I live in Wales, UK and visited the Orlando theme parks last summer. It was my 3rd visit over the past 14 years. I love everything about the place, particularly Universal and Universal Islands of Adventure. I took my children in the 90’s and more recently my 14 yr old grandson, who rode the Hulk more times than I’ve had hot dinners! He also loved Sheikra, think he went on that about 8 times in a row. I braved a lot of rides with him, which I thought I never would. I just wish we lived nearer to these parks so we could enjoy what’s on offer more often, its so very expensive planning a trip from here. This new ride sounds fantastic! but it maybe a few years before any of us get back there.
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 am
We are coming out in September, we cant wait to try out the Rip Ride Rocket. We have nothing in England that compares to Universal Studios. Keep up the good work, all your new ideas keep us coming back to visit.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I can’t even believe you guys can say Universal is behind Disney and funny how people like to compare this coaster to disneys.
Universals new coaster is just totally going to blow away anything disney can come up with and while I don’t care for harry potter that is something that is going to drive the disney fanatics crazy and final thing is that Universals new coaster will have lap bars since it does have a loop but you never go upsidedown
March 7th, 2009 at 1:11 am
I like turtles
March 7th, 2009 at 1:12 am
OK - Larry, I like roller coasters
March 9th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
OMG This ride sou7nds like SO much fun!!! I am going in only two weeks - on March 24 - but I’m worried that, since March 24 is just barely into spring, the ride won’t be open yet. I’m pretty sure it’ll still be under contsruction then. I am SO excietd for Disney and Universal!!! I can’t wait to see my family. YAYYY!!!
April 1st, 2009 at 12:26 am
this will be the best roller coaster in the world im waitin i stay in tampa i will be the first one to ride it
April 7th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
well im going florida in 6 weeks and cant wait to try the new ride hope its up and working by then lol
should be good!
April 13th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
i was just there for mardis gras the coaster will not be opened till beginning of june and it looks awesome i cant wait for the 2 hour waiting line to ride that lol
May 7th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
i lived here my whole life and UNIVERSAL is wayyy betta then disney{obvious}. the last time i went to disney was in 6 grade and i go to universal city walk on the weekends its no comparsion to disney…….. how could someone think that lets be real
May 20th, 2009 at 10:05 am
I live in Orlando, Fl, and drive by Universal every weekend. I am able to see this new coaster from the road. It is massive and I can’t wait to ride it. I am a Disney fan also so all I can say is that they are two completely different parks and one is not better than the other. All I know is that Universal needed a roller coaster for it is a very outdated park in comparison to Islands of Adventure. I’m very excited also about Sea World’s new roller coaster Manta opening Memorial Day Weekend, it won’t be as hot as Universal’s “Rockit” but it is a very unique coaster and I can’t wait till it opens.
July 18th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
i have just got back from florida and i went to universal the new ride aint opend yet but it looks fantastic. aslo i went to sea worl and MANTA was absolutly amazeing it is just such a different ride altogether compared to the rest .. i went to disney lst year with all the ffamily there was 11 of us n we enjoyed it so much as our grandad died n as they say disney dreams come true they made out day amazeingg thankyou so much Disney x
August 27th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
This summer, me my mom and my step dad went to Orlando, FL to visit disney world. While we were there, we went to Universal Studios. We saw the Tower of terror and rode it. it wasn’t that much fun, but we moved onto the rip ride rocket. . whatever it’s called. anyways. we had gotten a fast pass like 4 hours before. . .and i’m soooo happy we did because it had a 3 hour wait line!! when we were skipping all those people with our fast pass, i was soo surprised that many people were in line! so, i RECOMMEND getting a fast pass.
When you first sit down, you’ll hear aerosmith count down 4-1. . and then you go from 0 mph straight to about 60-70 mph. it was soo fast my head hit the back of the seat. It’s an inside ride and it takes you in complete darkness, so you can’t see anything at all. the only thing you see is when you come down from a loop, LCD lights will light up along the track and they say random stuff. . i forget. since you’re in the dark, you can’t even see what’s going on, so you don’t even notice that you go seven stories. you’re going a full 60 mph the WHOLE time. which makes it great because you go on tons of loops and drops. I saw a lot of little kids crying when they got off though :/
I loved this ride, and i recommend it to anyone who wants to ride it !!! fun fun fun fun
August 27th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
seventeen** sorry.
January 11th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
OMG!!!!!!! THAT RIDE LOOKS SO TOTALLY AWESOME BUT DEFINITELY SCARY LMAO!!!!! In my opinion, I would never, ever, ever go on it in my entire life.lol. I’m sorry but it looks incredibly fast. Just in case anyone reads this and you think im a wuss, let me make one thing perfecctly clear, I am definitely not a wuss. Like a lot of people, there are some rides I just don’t want to go on. If anyone disagrees, then please tell me coz i just want your opinion. That’s all.
P.S. I totally love the fact you can listen to any type of music lmao
January 11th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
to be honest, you’re braver than me lol. if u read my post, you’ll see why
btw, now that u mentioned its 17 stories i am definitely not going on it now lmao
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