UPDATE June 9 – According to the recent Universal Orlando Update posted to YouTube by Theme Park Stop it looks like the latest speculation regarding a time frame for the potential closure of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is mid-2025 at the earliest.
Original rumors began back in August 2023 when Universal cut the song selection from 30 to just 5. This rumor has been further fueled by the official banner not being returned after it was taken down due to a storm.
The current speculation is that after the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit has been taken down it will be replaced with an Intamin steel launched spinning roller coaster similar to the new Fast and Furious roller coaster which is being constructed at Universal Studios Hollywood.
As of yet, Universal has not commented on the speculation that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit could be removed in mid-2025.
Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page, should Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit be removed at Universal Studios Florida? Would you like to see a version of the new Fast and Furious Hollywood Drift roller coaster coming to Orlando?
September 1, 2023 – It seems every time the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit closes for refurbishment, rumors circulate about the ride being rethemed or replaced. Of course, these rumors have all been proven false as the ride has continued its nearly 15-year run at Universal Studios Florida, mostly without incident.
However, a new change has sparked rumors yet again of this ride’s eventual demise, and this time, it has nothing to do with a refurbishment or closure
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit axes original attraction’s playlist of 30 songs
When it opened in 2009, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit featured a robust song selection with 30 tracks from different genres that riders could pick from to personalize their ride experience.
However, several days ago Universal got rid of the entire catalog of official songs, with no advance notice of the change. As of this week, guests have a choice of 5 different songs, separated by genre:
- “Waterloo” by ABBA (pop/disco)
- “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” by Shania Twain (country)
- “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance (classic rock/metal)
- “Humble” by Kendrick Lamar (rap/hip-hop)
- “Sandstorm” by Darude (club/electronica)
Though the original official tracklist has been completely removed, super-fans of this attraction will be happy to learn that the secret playlist, which contains over 60 songs that have never been “officially” made available for the ride, continues to be available for those who know how to access it.
Could this mean that a closure is imminent?
Though there has been no official reason given for why this change was made, it’s not hard to see how licensing just 5 songs as opposed to 30 could save the company some serious money when it comes to operating this attraction. Given this, it stands to reason if Universal is introducing cost-cutting measures for the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, that could be a strong indication that perhaps this ride simply isn’t as popular as it once was, which could mean that Universal could be at least considering the idea of removing or replacing this ride sometime in the near future.
Of course, it seems doubtful anything would happen with this attraction in the short term, as Universal is hard at work at Dreamworks Land at the back of the park, and of course, there is a lot happening at the Epic Universe construction site across the street as well.
However, once these projects are completed in 2024 and 2025, respectively, it wouldn’t be very surprising to see Universal do something with this ride, especially since it isn’t all that popular. So while the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit isn’t in immediate danger, it seems likely that it will be facing the chopping block in the next 2-3 years.
While the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit does have its fans, the ride has fallen out of favor in recent years, especially as more advanced thrill rides like the VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure are just next door. While it seems like the ride is likely safe for now, if you do count yourself as one of its fans, you may want to make sure you stop by on your next trip to Universal Orlando Resort, as this attraction does indeed seem like it could be on borrowed time.
Should Universal get rid of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit? Let us know your thoughts by voting in our poll or by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
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