The future of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida has been the subject of much speculation. Long rumored to be on the brink of closure, these whispers gained credibility in December 2024 when documents submitted by Universal to the South Florida Water Management District came to light. These documents indicated plans to “remove existing attraction and replace with proposed attraction,” specifically outlining Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit as the project location.
Following the publication of these documents by the media, Universal Orlando quickly confirmed that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit would indeed close “to make way for a new experience.” Initially, the closing was slated for early September 2025; however, an updated statement on June 2, 2025, set the closure date for August 18, 2025, with August 17 being the last day guests can experience the ride. This closure will mark the end of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, just days away from celebrating its 16th birthday since it opened at the park on August 19, 2009.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit features a 17-story vertical lift and the world’s first non-inverting loop, allowing riders to reach speeds of up to 65 mph while listening to the song of their choice during the ride.
As the closure date of the roller coaster approaches, Universal has commenced preparations, with construction walls already being erected around various sections of the attraction.
Although Universal has not revealed what will replace the roller coaster, the documents from December 2024 specify that the new attraction will occupy the space currently utilized by Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, though with a slightly larger footprint. Additionally, a Notice of Commencement has been filed for upcoming work at the park by the roller coaster manufacturer Intamin, potentially linked to this replacement project. With Intamin collaborating with Universal and the need for the new attraction to fit within Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s irregular and compact footprint, this information bolsters the theory that a new roller coaster will take its place.
The plans filed with the South Florida Water Management District outline the construction of three new buildings connected to the upcoming attraction. One smaller structure will be located near CityWalk, while two larger buildings are set to be developed at the back of the park. The specific functions of these two larger structures have not been detailed in public documents; however, they are likely to include the ride queue, loading and unloading areas, as well as a maintenance bay.
As for theming, rumors are swirling, with two frontrunners gaining traction: a roller coaster inspired by the Fast & Furious franchise or one themed after Ghostbusters.
The connection between the Notice of Commencement and Intamin, the same company behind the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster currently under construction at Universal Studios Hollywood, raises the possibility of a similar attraction in development at Universal Orlando. After all, both destinations have a history of launching similar rides. Interestingly, this may lead to the closure of the controversial Fast & Furious – Supercharged ride, mirroring the situation in Hollywood.
On the other hand, recent developments in the New York area of Universal Studios Florida could hint at a Ghostbusters theme. Construction walls have recently been erected in the New York area, encompassing part of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit as well as a section of the firehouse facade. A sign displayed on the wall states, “Restoration of the Historic Engine 89 Firehouse.” For reference, this firehouse, referred to as Engine 89, once served as the entrance to the former Ghostbusters Spooktacular show in the 1990s. To tie this in, as previously highlighted, the December 2024 documents call for two new structures near the back of the park. Notably, one of these structures appears to occupy a portion of the extended queue for Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, situated directly behind the firehouse facade.
Universal Orlando has made an effort to re-engage guests with classic movie franchises that previously featured attractions here, including Ghostbusters. In recent years, Ghostbusters has made appearances at Halloween Horror Nights and is also showcased in the new Universal Mega Movie Parade, along with the new CineSational: Symphonic Spectacular nighttime show.
Moreover, on June 6, 2025, the same day the construction walls were set up in the New York area, Universal Orlando published a blog post on the Discover Universal Blog that highlights all the Ghostbusters experiences at Universal Studios Florida throughout the years. In light of the film’s 41st anniversary on June 8, it raises the question of whether the timing of this blog post was intended as an early homage to the film, just a coincidence tied to the construction walls, or a hint at a larger narrative (maybe a new Ghostbusters roller coaster?).
With these insights in consideration, is Universal Orlando developing a worthy successor to Fast & Furious – Supercharged, similar to what’s being done at Universal Studios Hollywood? Or have they been gauging how effective classic franchises resonate with guests to explore the potential for a new Ghostbusters ride? Unfortunately, the available information does not adequately support either scenario. There’s a chance that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit might be replaced by one of these franchises or even something entirely different. Ultimately, we won’t have a definitive answer until Universal Orlando provides an official update, but the speculation surrounding these possibilities is certainly intriguing.
We express our appreciation to orlandoparkstop.com for supplying much of this detailed information.
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DISCLAIMER: This article is tagged as a rumor. Please be aware that the information in this report can change or may not have been planned at all. Attraction Insight shall not be held accountable for the accuracy of any rumors.
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