The Rumor Queue: Could VelociCoaster soft-open before the end of March?
Universal Orlando has announced a summer 2021 opening for the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, but all rumors and testing seems to look otherwise. Based on strong rumors and insider information, we believe guests will be able to ride the VelociCoaster by the end of this month.
Universal has been running day tests non-stop. Some have noticed that they are sending the coaster’s maximum ride throughput during tests. If this is true, that means the coaster is currently running at full capacity; and mechanically, it’s ready to open. The construction barrier walls were also recently taken down.
We were given views, like the one above, of the majority of the first half of this roller coaster. VelociCoaster is essentially split into two pieces: The first half involves aggressive turns, sharp maneuvers and close encounters with velociraptors, while the second half features a high-speed launch into a top hat, combined with large, over-water maneuvers.
We’ve also seen a sudden influx of ride merchandise on shelves in the park. While some could say that this is because the pandemic affected merchandise timelines, we believe it was planned. Universal announced this coaster last fall for a summer 2021 opening. They knew enough about timelines to adjust for merchandise.
Universal likes to keep quiet when it comes to their construction. Up until last fall, they pretended the coaster wasn’t even happening. They instead insisted that they were building a new churro stand. While we wouldn’t expect Universal to announce a day when soft-opening would occur, we do think they already know when they plan to begin.
With Universal Orlando’s advertised plan for a summer 2021 opening date, we think they could be teasing a soft-opening, much like they did with the churro stand. In reality, the ride is being tested daily, and commercials have already been filmed with riders onboard.
Plus, soft-opening a ride is a major step for a smooth summer 2021 opening. All rides, regardless of how well they are built, will have problems when they open. Soft-opening allows the Universal team members to figure out daily issues with real people. This doesn’t mean Universal would ever risk a rider’s safety for testing sake, (even if some of us would happily volunteer to ride first) – it means that team members and management will be able to see how the average guest boards the vehicle. They will learn what parts of the queue guests tend to linger in for a view of the ride. They will get hands-on training for ride down-times and what to do in bad weather. All of this training will set them up for success in the summer.
All of this information is presented to sum up our thoughts about the ride’s potential soft-opening. However, this must be taken as rumor and not as fact. Universal Orlando has stated that the ride will open in summer 2021. Unless Universal themselves announce a soft-opening date, or guests just walk into the ride one day to get on, we must consider this an educated guess.
Are you ready to embark on the Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure? Do you think we are correct in our guess of a March 2020 soft-opening? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
My husband and I will be there the second week of April I would so love to ride this roller coaster . Looks so cool.
Going to be there 3/24, my son is a roller coaster enthusiast this would be a dream come true if it was open by then. Hopefully we will get more than just a churro.
i’m going 4/26 for my birthday it would be a dream to ride this and the fact i also love jurassic world
Wow, going may 5th, maybe we will get a treat 🙂
Certainly going to be an awesome coaster. If you have visions of riding on opening day though, don’t plan on riding anything else. We stood in the que for 10 hours for Hagrid on opening day—it was worth it!
I’ll be there on April 19th, anxiously waiting to ride!!!!!
Dying to ride this coaster!!! My husband and I are bringing our 3 kids on April 17th. It’s my daughter’s birthday. Riding this coaster would be the ultimate birthday present for her.
We will be there on April 4. Hope to ride!!
Was there over the weekend. Still running nonstop, no riders yet.
It’s confirmed that the grand opening date is June 10. I’ll probably just end up waiting some after it’s open so a handful of people experience it, and then I’d go. I haven’t ridden Hagrid’s yet, but riding this and Hagrid’s would be amazing.