Universal Studios Hollywood just opened its first outdoor, high-speed roller coaster, and it is a wild one. Here is what your family needs to know before you line up. I’ll cover the 51-inch height rule, the four movie cars, and the tricks that save you time.
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By Favorite Grampy | Last Updated: September 2026 | Stats checked against Universal Studios Hollywood’s ride page and press materials on September 20, 2026
What Is the New Fast & Furious Roller Coaster in California?
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor, high-speed roller coaster. It opened on September 16, 2026, on the park’s Upper Lot in Universal City, California.
These numbers are big. The coaster hits 72 mph, covers 4,100 feet of track, and packs in four launches and three inversions. On top of that, every car can spin a full 360 degrees to copy the sideways drift from the movies.
According to Universal Studios Hollywood’s ride page, riders must be at least 51 inches tall. That makes this a ride for families with tweens, teens, and brave grown-ups. Younger kids have good options close by, and I cover those below.
| Detail | The Facts | What It Means for Your Family |
|---|---|---|
| Opening date | September 16, 2026 | Open now and included with park admission |
| Location | Universal Plaza, Upper Lot | Look for the big red brick garage |
| Top speed | 72 mph | Faster than the 70 mph VelociCoaster in Orlando |
| Track length | 4,100 feet | Runs down the hillside toward the Lower Lot |
| Launches and inversions | 4 launches, 3 inversions | You go upside down three times |
| G-force | Up to 3.6 Gs | A true thrill ride, not a starter coaster |
| Minimum height | 51 inches (129.5 cm) | Measure at home before you promise anything |
| Ride vehicles | 4 movie cars, 4 riders each, 16 per train | A family of four can share one car |
| Line options | Single Rider, Child Swap, test seat | Helpful for teens and for parents with little ones |
| Loose items | Complimentary lockers, metal detection | Pockets must be empty before you board |
Swipe left to see all columns on mobile.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Quick Facts
Here are the three answers parents ask me for first.
How fast does Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift go?
The coaster reaches 72 mph and pulls up to 3.6 Gs along 4,100 feet of track.
How tall do you have to be to ride Hollywood Drift?
Riders must be at least 51 inches (129.5 cm) tall. A test seat is available at the ride.
Where is Hollywood Drift inside the park?
It sits in Universal Plaza on the Upper Lot. The entrance is a large red brick garage, and the track runs down the hillside toward the Lower Lot.
What Does Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Feel Like?
It feels like a street race down a hillside. You launch four times and flip three.
Universal’s opening announcement calls it a dual-launching coaster with a split track. The ride leaves the garage on the Upper Lot and drops down the hill toward the Lower Lot. Along the way, it passes over and under the Starway escalators.
Meanwhile, your car is doing its own thing. Each one rotates on its own program, so you may face forward, sideways, or backward. Universal names three inversions: an inverted dive loop, a twisted pretzel loop, and an inverted stall.
Best of all, every car has its own sound system with engine roars and tire squeals. You also get sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley, if you keep your eyes open. I can’t promise I would.
Which Fast & Furious Cars Can You Ride In?
You ride in one of four famous movie cars. Each car seats four riders, with 16 riders per train.
- Dodge Charger: Dom Toretto’s black 1970 muscle car, a 900-horsepower legend.
- Mazda RX-7: Han’s 1997 drift car, with 19-inch wheels and racing seats.
- Nissan Skyline GT-R: Brian O’Conner’s blue 2002 street racer.
- Toyota Supra: Brian’s orange 1994 “10-second car” from the first film.
In addition, each car is programmed on its own and plays its own engine sounds. So a second ride in a different car is a slightly different ride. I can already hear my grandkids arguing over who gets Dom’s Charger.
Who Can Ride Hollywood Drift, and Who Should Skip It?
Riders must be at least 51 inches tall. That is the strictest height rule in the park.
Every other ride on Universal’s official height list tops out at 48 inches. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Revenge of the Mummy both sit at that 48-inch mark. So a child who rides everything else may still be 3 inches short here.
My youngest grandson, Ben, was born in 2016. He is right at the age where that 51-inch line gets interesting. I would measure him at home, in his park shoes, before I promised him anything.
That said, tall enough does not always mean ready. This coaster spins, flips three times, and sometimes runs backward. I’d skip it if spinning rides upset your stomach, and I wouldn’t push a nervous child.
For comparison, VelociCoaster in Orlando shares the 51-inch rule and tops out at 70 mph.
How Do Lockers, Single Rider, and Child Swap Work?
Nothing loose rides with you. Universal requires complimentary lockers and a metal detector check for every rider.
That means phones, keys, wallets, and hats all go in a locker first. Before you arrive, think about what you really need to carry. A light day bag makes this step much faster.
For teens and adults, the Single Rider line is the speed trick. It fills empty seats one person at a time, and each car holds four. Your group will ride apart, but you usually wait less.
For families with little ones, Child Swap is available. One adult rides while the other stays with the child. Then you trade places without waiting in the full line a second time.
Want a Hollywood day built around the new coaster?
Plan My Universal TripHow Much Does It Cost to Ride Hollywood Drift?
The coaster is included with park admission. There is no separate ride ticket.
On September 20, 2026, Universal’s site listed 1-Day General Admission from $99.95 online. A 2-Day ticket started at $149.95, which works out to about $75 per day. Universal Express started at $189.95 and covers one-time express access to participating rides.
Of course, prices change by date, so treat those numbers as starting points. A family of four at the lowest 1-Day price would spend about $400 on admission.
Even so, there are ways to stretch a ticket. Check out whether the Buy a Day, Get a 2nd Day Free ticket is worth it for your family. If you’re curious about skipping the lines on your vacation Universal Express passes I also compared Universal Express passes on both coasts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
Is Hollywood Drift Included with Universal Express?
I can’t confirm that yet, and I won’t guess with your money. As of September 20, 2026, Universal’s ride page lists Single Rider and Child Swap for Hollywood Drift. It does not list Universal Express.
Universal describes Express as one-time access to “participating” rides, and tickets start at $189.95. Before you pay extra mainly for this coaster, have your advisor confirm what is included on your date.
Beyond that, remember that Single Rider is always there as a shortcut.
What Can Younger Kids Do While Big Kids Ride Hollywood Drift?
Plenty, and the height rules are much friendlier. Universal’s official height list shows The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash at 34 inches and Flight of the Hippogriff at 39 inches. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge both start at 40 inches.
In fact, most of the park works for a 40-inch child. Kids under 48 inches need a supervising companion on those rides. With Child Swap, the adults can still take turns on the coaster, so nobody misses out.
Is Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Coming to Universal Orlando?
Yes. Universal has announced a version of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift for Universal Studios Florida, opening in 2027. An exact date has not been announced yet.
For East Coast families, that may be the easier trip. For now, Hollywood is the only place to ride it.
Better still, you do not have to wait a year. If your crew loves the movies and your calendar has room for Southern California, I would not wait.
How Can a Travel Advisor Help You Plan a Universal Studios Hollywood Trip?
A good advisor takes the guesswork out of a new ride. Your Favorite Grampy Travels advisor can confirm what your ticket includes and check the Universal Express question for your dates. Then we build the day around your kids’ heights and nerves.
Naturally, you should know how we work. A planning fee applies to custom trips, and families invest around $250 on average for full-service planning.
Ticket-only requests run from no fee to $200, and many multi-day ticket purchases carry no planning fee at all. Your advisor quotes the exact amount during your complimentary 15-minute consultation, before you commit to anything.
Ready to race? Request your complimentary consultation, or meet our concierge travel advisors and pick the one who fits your family.
