Universal Studios’ Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster finally opens to guests – Video and Photos
Aug 152009 Filed under: Event, Music, Theme Parks, Travel, Universal Orlando, Universal Studios, Video Author: Ricky
After months of delays and a brief employee test phase, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster at Universal Studios opened to park guests on August 15, 2009 at a few minutes before 6 p.m.
Around 30 minutes prior to the new ride’s opening, guests (including myself) began to line up outside construction walls hoping that we would have a chance to ride. After around 50 guests formed a line, Universal employees began asking the crowd to step toward the concert stage in an effort to keep the line under control. They did not disband the group, so all were hopeful that we would indeed get to ride.
At around 5:45 p.m., a brief drizzle prompted Universal employees to go ahead and open the gates, allowing 10-15 guests in at a time, to avoid a stampede. I was within the first 30-40 guests to be let in. After a brief trip to the lockers to put away my wallet, cell phone, and other loose items, it was time to head through the queue and up the nearby stairs for the first time and board the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster.
Before I give you my thoughts on the ride, watch the two videos below. One is an unedited point-of-view (POV) video that I shot while riding. The other is video of the coaster going up the lift hill and around the track, edited together with bits of the POV video. I personally prefer my edited version, as it gives you a better feel for what the ride is all about, but I’ve included the unedited version because I know many of you reading this want to see it as well…
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit including POV and ground-level shots:
Full POV ride on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit:
So how was it? As I tweeted earlier right when I got off the ride, it wasn’t as good as SeaWorld’s new Manta coaster but it was still fun.
The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a unique breed of roller coaster. It is definitely not intended to be the fastest or most thrilling. If it tried to be either of those things, it failed. What it does succeed in doing is making a large-scale roller coaster available to the average park guest. As long as you are 52″ or taller, you can handle the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster.
The coaster features no inversions, so those afraid of being turned upside down can set their worries aside. The only big drop comes at the beginning after ascending the 90-degree lift hill (which is the coolest part of the ride, in my opinion). There is also very little “air time” (when your rear-end leaves the seat) as there aren’t any large hills and the restraint holds you in very tightly. In fact, all in all, the ride is fairly tame -- perhaps on a thrill level just above Big Thunder Mountain at Disney’s Magic Kingdom one or two notches below Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
But just because Rip Ride Rockit isn’t thrilling doesn’t mean it’s a bad ride. In fact, it was the ride designers’ intentions to create a roller coaster that can be enjoyed by more than thrill-seekers.
Visually, the ride is a lot of fun. Riders twist and turn through and around the buildings of Universal Studios, which gives the ride a unique flair. There are certainly a lot of turns throughout the ride, none particularly tight.
The real gem is the sound system, which allows you to select the song you’d like to listen to while riding. For my first ride, I really wanted to choose “U Can’t Touch This” by M.C. Hammer, but I couldn’t find it in the list (even though I know it’s there somewhere) so I went with “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys, which worked out great. The music really enhanced the fairly easy-going ride and sounded great pumping through the speakers. I didn’t hear anyone else’s music while riding.
Two of the other technological additions to the coaster didn’t excite me as much. I thought the flashing lights on the sides of the coaster cars just looked silly during the day. I haven’t seen them in action at night yet, so perhaps at that time they’ll remind me less of those mall kiosks that let you decorate your cell phone with blinking LEDs. The much-discussed moving load platform was not moving today and each car took anywhere from two to five minutes to load and dispatch. Today was, of course, a technical rehearsal so I’m sure they’ll have all that worked out by the time the ride officially opens -- whenever that is.
All in all, for the average guests at Universal Studios looking to enjoy themselves on a fun ride, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is sure to entertain and will likely have you coming away smiling and laughing. Thrill-seekers, however, may want to head to Islands of Adventure for the Incredible Hulk coaster or hop on over to SeaWorld and ride Manta instead. Personally, I look forward to heading back and riding it at night. I’m willing to bet it’s a completely different, and better, experience.
Today’s soft opening was not guaranteed nor are any more in the coming days and weeks. The ride may open again tomorrow, but it may not, so if you head to Universal Studios expecting to ride, don’t be disappointed if it’s not running. No official opening date has been set.
Here are a few more photos:
Mark
August 16th, 2009 at 6:40 am
I really can’t wait to ride this ride….I am going to Universal today and just hope that the lines are crazy..Yeah Right…LOL
Peggy Macdonald
August 16th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
This is the best coverage of the delayed opening of the ride to date. Thanks for all the great photos, video, and descriptions of the ride.
Pete C
August 16th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I totally disagree with this review. This ride is NOT barely more thrilling than Big Thunder. This ride would terrify some riders that could easily take on BTMRR. What on Earth are you thinking saying that?? I have been on my fair share of rollercoasters…150+ around the world, and have had the privilege of going on almost all of the best ones. That said, Rockit is in the upper tier of thrill rides. I think this review is grossly under-representing the ride’s thrill level. It is well above anything at Disney World from an intensity level perspective. I would say that only Hulk and Kraken are on this level…certainly not the meandering Manta. While this is clearly not on the level of El Toro or Superman Ride of Steel at SNFE, and it will probably not be re-arranging top 10 lists either, this is definitely a top-notch thrill ride that will satisfy all coaster enthusiasts.
Ricky
August 16th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I disagree with your disagreement.
I wouldn’t say Rip Ride Rockit comes anywhere near the thrill level of the Incredible Hulk. But maybe your definition of a thrill is different than mine. Or maybe it depends on what seat/row you’re in.
For me, seated in the third row, right seat, I felt no air time and only occasional gentle G-forces. Perhaps for me, thrill is defined by inversions and that’s why my review came off as it did.
While I didn’t find RRR to be boring, I didn’t come off thinking “I have to ride that again!” like I did with Manta and always do with the Incredible Hulk. It simply seemed less intense. Again, maybe it’s just the lack of inversions.
Steve
August 16th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I have to agree with Ricky. I sat in the same seat (apparently it is a “Big Boy” seat as I had to move there from the first row. I found the train quite shaky, not as smooth as it looks from the ground. I think there is some potential for air, but being a “big boy”, the restraint was quite snug.
Rockit is no where close to the Hulk, Manta or Kraken.
Greg
August 16th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Did anyone else who rode it feel as though the experience was diminished due to the amount of block brakes?
Pete C
August 16th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Yes, the number of block brakes definitely detracted…it ruins a lot of the continuity of the ride. The ride could have been designed better to keep the momentum going.
Ric
August 17th, 2009 at 3:55 am
There was no mention in your review of the cameras placed along the ride to capture your experience ? Were there cameras in the console where you choose your music or are the cameras merely placed along the track to capture your car as it zooms by ?
Ricky
August 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I did notice several cameras along the track while riding as well as one mounted in the seat ahead. The touch screen is small (around the same size as an iPhone screen) and mounted on the lap bar.
Ricky
August 17th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
After further consideration, I updated my review above to compare Rip Ride Rockit’s thrill level to Disney’s Expedition Everest. As Pete noted above, Big Thunder is likely a poor comparison. Expedition Everest may be a bit more thrilling than RRR though, especially during Everest’s backwards section.
Matt
August 19th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I was able to ride it today and sat in the front row. I loved the ride. I did catch quite a bit of air at a couple of points. Maybe it was because I was in the front row. The G’s were really strong for me during the treble clef part of the track.
I like the music, the big drop and the long track. Although I think I would have preferred the loop to go upside down. For me the music adds a lot to it. I think this coaster will be one of my favorites.
I didn’t yet ride in one of the back seats and I haven’t tried it at night yet.
Ricky
August 19th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
For me, the loop is a waste without going upside down. Once you pass over the queue, the ride kinda of fizzles out. The rest seems like extra track just to slow you down.
I’ll have to try it in the front row next time. It sounds a lot more fun than the third.
Personally, I’d prefer a scored soundtrack (even with various genres you can choose from) to the popular songs. I’d love to see them add that option later for those who want the songs to coincide with the movements along the track.
Noah
August 20th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Unfortunately for Rockit, the designers decided that the coaster had to fit inside the measely acreage of USF. Should the lift hill and first drop be higher and more intense? Probably. Do the block brakes jar the continuity of the ride? Yeah, a bit.
This aside, the first half of the Rockit experience thrilled in its own unique way. My car’s “ipod” didn’t work, but thankfully it was jamming to ZZTop, which makes me realize how much other rides could benefit from a soundtrack. What if Dueling Dragons rocked out to “Gladiator?” But I digress.
Rockit fits well inside the family theme park scene and really shows off Universal’s ability to combine technical elements to create a “show” rather than a brief adrenaline rush. My greatest criticism actually had nothing to do with the ride – would they PLEASE change the half-Asian dude in the queue video? He belongs in a 70s version of Project Runway.
*PS – Do your research on the hidden tracks and how to access them. The fact that you can “rockit” to Kermit’s “Rainbow Connection” just tickles to no awkward end.
Jake
August 21st, 2009 at 10:27 am
im so mad……i was ther on vacation and we left just a week before it opened!!
Jordan
August 21st, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I agree with Ricky. This is a terrible review of this long anticipated ride. Everyone knows that the Attraction magazine centers around Disney World and Seaworld. I too have been on a lot of roller coasters in my time, and I know that Big thunder Mountain doesn’t even compare to this one. All in all Rip Ride Rockit is a superb roller coaster that thrill seekers, coaster enthusiasts, and people of all ages can enjoy.
Ricky
August 21st, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Jordan – I think you meant to say you agree with someone else. I’m the one who wrote the review!
And for the record, Orlando Attractions Magazine doesn’t center around Walt Disney World or SeaWorld. We center around whatever is happening at the time. If nothing new is going on at Universal for a few months, then it won’t have a big presence in the issue released during that time.
In our upcoming Fall 2009 issue, we will be including articles on Rip Ride Rockit and Halloween Horror Nights. Last year, we devoted 9 pages of one issue to Halloween Horror Nights and over the past 10 issues have published numerous stories on Universal Studios including The Simpsons Ride, Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Hotel, Disaster, Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, Blue Man Group, and many more.
Yes, we do cover Disney very often – but that’s because there’s almost always something going on there. They have a much larger presence in Orlando than any other attraction or theme park company. But when there is something to cover at Universal Studios, we’re there.
The review above was my own personal opinion of Rip Ride Rockit based on riding it once in the third row. I plan on riding it many more times and if my opinion changes after being in a different seat, I will certainly post about it. And you’re right that Big Thunder may not have been a fair comparison, which is why I edited the post above to compare it to Expedition Everest instead.
alllllly
September 4th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
im going to get on in a few days and i know its going to be amazing because it looks awesome. so i dont care what some of you guys say because i know i will love it
John Tuer
September 8th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
we were over from England and the music system made it cool and unique. Got to say that we found the Krakken a much better coaster (including Manta and Hulk). Found Busch gardens to be a gem for lots of coasters.
Georgie G
October 11th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Just arrived back to the UK from Orlando.
Unfortunatley wasn’t that impressed with the Rip Ride Rocket. It’s a REALLY solid ride Front and Back, felt more like an old wooden coaster than a new one.
On the up side the music was great a good selection for everyone, a good distraction from the pain.
We purchased the Ride DVD, we thought it would make a good souvenir. DON’T PURCHASE THE DVD!!!! It cost us $31.90 and when we got home and watched it, we only feature in it for about 10 seconds! A complete rip off! It states everywhere that your captured on video during the ride, this is obvioulsy not true.
Enjoy the ride, but DO NOT buy the DVD!
Bradley
November 21st, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I would say this looks much more thrilling than thunder mountain railroad. ive ridden hulk and dueling dragons and all those big coasters and im kinda nerved up about this one. im going in february and i nerved up about it now. it does look pretty thrilling dont let what ppl say fool you. its always a heck of a lot bigger and faster once ur on it.
Kai
December 15th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I have to disagree that this ride is just above BTMR and just under Everest. BTMR was something i couldn’t wait to go on, Everest I was nervous about, but enjoyed it, and this? Well I’m terrified! (I still want to go though). To me, thrill isn’t defined by just going upside down. I’m afraid of heights so naturally the feeling of falling scares me. That means coasters with steep drops are terrifying (to me). Going straight up also makes me extremely nervous lol. Going backwards isn’t thrilling to me, its fun, but nothing scared me at all about going backwards. This ride is WAY more terrifying to me than Everest was.
Ricky
December 15th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I still think Everest is more thrilling than Rip Ride Rockit. Aside from the first big drop and the one tight turn around/through the former Ghostbusters building, the ride is pretty simple. Everest’s backwards movement in the dark, the big drop after the shadow scene, and the tight turns that follow are all much more thrilling to me.