Common Orlando has introduced that the Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit will completely shut at Common Studios Florida in Fall 2025, and is extensively anticipated to get replaced by a brand new curler coaster. Right here’s the whole lot we all know in regards to the closure and substitute based mostly on a mix of official information, development permits, and rumors.
This has been an attention-grabbing saga to observe. Rumors of Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit’s demise have been swirling for some time. I don’t preserve my finger on the heartbeat of the Common rumor mill practically as carefully as with Walt Disney World, however it’s one thing I keep in mind listening to about years in the past.
The rumors of Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit closing appeared to achieve momentum this yr. Together with that, in addition they gained specificity. Reviews popped up about when it could shut, what sort of curler coaster may exchange it, in addition to prospects about its theme. Though that final one was in all probability equal components hypothesis, wishful pondering, and reality-grounded rumors.
These reviews got credibility based mostly on modifications and cuts to the coaster. First when the tune choice choices had been diminished dramatically, with the playlist plummeting from 30 choices to simply 5. Following that, a banner was by no means changed after being taken down as hurricane prep. These little issues recommended Common was pulling a web page from Disney’s playbook and “giving up” on the attraction in order to not throw good cash after unhealthy and save working bills forward of an imminent everlasting closure (see additionally, Splash Mountain).
The most important smoking gun of all was a latest Discover of Graduation development allow for work to be completed at Common Studios Florida by the curler coaster producer Intamin. This, as with all the ‘proof’ for Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit closing cited on this publish, had been first noticed by prolific allow watched and Common insider Alicia Stella of Orlando Park Cease.
Intamin is at present engaged on a curler coaster attraction in Common’s Epic Universe themed to Tips on how to Prepare Your Dragon, in addition to the Quick & Livid: Hollywood Drift Curler Coaster at Common Studios Hollywood. Intamin can also be the producer of fan-favorite Jurassic World VelociCoaster over at Islands of Journey, which is likely one of the greatest curler coasters on the planet.
Since it is a Disney website at the start, we’d be remiss if we didn’t level to Intamin coasters within the Disney parks, as nicely. The most important one might be taking place proper now, as Tokyo Disneyland rebuilds its House Mountain. Disney/OLC have but to announce something formally, however eagle-eyed curler coaster fans recognized one part as being drop observe manufactured by Intamin.
The curler coaster producer can also be behind different Disney rides, together with Raging Spirits at Tokyo DisneySea, Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril at Disneyland Paris, Incredicoaster at Disney California Journey, and RC Racer within the numerous Toy Story Lands outdoors Walt Disney World.
The story was blown vast open this week, when Stella found new water drainage permits filed with South Florida Water Administration District (SFWMD) on Festivus (December 23). Common readers will little doubt be aware of SFWMD at this level, as they’re accountable for the hold-up of the Rivers of America substitute and are concerned with just about each mission that entails potential storm water displacement…which is just about each mission undertaken in Florida!
The SFWMD permits states that Common Studios Florida will “take away present attraction and exchange with proposed attraction.” The mission location encompasses all of Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit and a few backstage areas.
A part of the doc package deal submitted to the SFWMD is the under website modification calculations, displaying earlier than (prime) and after (backside) photos of the proposed mission, which entails changes to the water basin. Three situations of “new constructing development” are recognized: a small construction is proven on the appropriate aspect of the picture and two new bigger buildings are on the left.
Of the buildings on the left, one is within the New York part of Common Studios Florida, whereas one other is in an space that’s at present backstage parking close to sound stage 24. The primary constructing seems to be taking on a bit of the prolonged queue for Race Via New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Maybe of be aware is that that is the realm positioned straight behind the firehouse facade in New York. This was the unique entrance to Ghostbusters Spooktacular, which was a gap day attraction at Common Studios Florida that ran till 1996.
There have additionally been separate rumblings of a want inside Common to revive Ghostbusters with a everlasting park presence because the mental property has obtained renewed curiosity (and reboots) within the final a number of years. For its half, Common Studios Florida has included Ghostbusters into completely different leisure choices within the final a number of years. The placement of those buildings behind the firehouse and the Ghostbusters rumors may very well be merely coincidental, or one thing extra.
Although the SFWMD permits confirmed all the forgoing, Common Orlando lastly made it official. Not with a press launch, however with a random reply on Twitter: “Whats up! Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit will shut in early September 2025 to make means for a brand new expertise. Extra particulars will likely be accessible at a later date. #AskUniversal”
That’s actually it. The complete extent of the official “announcement” from Common is through the park’s social media channels, and never even a direct assertion–a reply. Our greatest guess is that Common Orlando acquired caught flat-footed by Stella’s sleuthing, not anticipating the South Florida Water Administration District software filed on Christmas Eve Eve to get picked up.
With it being a sluggish time across the holidays and lots of OOF messages enabled, they probably haven’t had the prospect to place collectively a correct press launch. However we totally count on one quickly–in all probability the primary week of 2025. About the one means that doesn’t occur is that if Common Orlando shouldn’t be but able to reveal the theme of the brand new curler coaster, during which case a banner-style replace on the official Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit web page might need to suffice.
Personally, I say “good riddance” to Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit.
I gained’t miss it within the least. Regardless of it being a comparatively new curler coaster, it feels a lot older. The trip is tough, jarring and bumpy. It looks as if it’s down for upkeep increasingly (if I’m not mistaken, its producer went out of enterprise, so it in all probability isn’t simple to supply components or service the attraction).
Past that, Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit simply appears ugly and stands out like a sore thumb. If Common Orlando goes to compete severely with Walt Disney World, it may’t be simply Epic Universe that’s a world-class theme park. The 2 present gates have a ton of room for enchancment, and a placemaking mission round this space ought to be a prime precedence in that regard.
I might additionally add that Common Orlando has had a fantastic streak of success with curler coasters not too long ago, which makes Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit look worse by comparability. I’m inclined to provide Common Inventive the advantage of the doubt each thematically and in the case of placing collectively a superior curler coaster profile. No matter replaces Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit will virtually assuredly be considerably higher.
As for what the attainable theme may very well be for the substitute curler coaster, there’s the aforementioned Ghostbusters. However actually, I don’t know the way probably that truly is, or if it’s a matter of us piecing collectively two separate rumors as a result of it simply is sensible…even when it doesn’t.
One other apparent chance is an east coast incarnation of the Quick and the Livid: Hollywood Drift curler coaster. This is sensible because it may function an oblique substitute for the abysmal Quick and the Livid: Supercharged in USF, which has seemingly been on life assist for years and, fairly frankly, by no means ought to’ve been constructed within the first place. If rumors that we can not corroborate are any indication, that is what it’s almost certainly to be.
Nevertheless, we query the veracity of those rumors, and surprise if it’s different followers piecing collectively separate rumors in a way that simply is sensible…even when it doesn’t. Common Studios Hollywood has distinctive geography, and the hillside perch on which Hollywood Drift is positioned doesn’t exist in Common Studios Florida. This isn’t to say USF couldn’t get its personal twist on Hollywood Drift, however it definitely wouldn’t be a clone.
In any other case, all of my greatest guesses as to the theme of the curler coaster that can exchange Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit would all be that–guesses. Common is more and more recognizing the worth of nostalgia, which I suppose places Again to the Future, Jaws, and Tornado again in play. Or, who is aware of, perhaps darkish horse candidates like Alfred Hitchcock or Homicide She Wrote…who wouldn’t love a thrill trip narrated by the late, nice Angela Lansbury?!
One other chance is Depraved, Common’s field workplace darling that has a sequel on the best way and appears destined to have a theme park presence in some unspecified time in the future. That’s believable, however a curler coaster seems like a poor match for that. Then there’s the opposite sizzling property: Nintendo. Nearly each rumor, except for this one, that I’ve heard for Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey’s medium-term plan revolves round Nintendo. Someway, I’m extremely skeptical {that a} extra intense curler coaster is being themed to Pokemon or no matter.
I’m far much less skeptical that Nintendo will likely be added to each of the present gates within the subsequent ~5 years, although, as Comcast makes an attempt to cash-in on its take care of the online game maker and switch Common Orlando right into a bona fide vacation spot resort and add (worthwhile) family-friendly attracts to Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Hollywood Rip Journey Rockit completely closing? Will you miss it, or are you cheerful to say good riddance to the tough trip? Suppose it’ll be an Intamin curler coaster, or a distinct expertise fully? Ideas on attainable themes for the brand new trip? Agree or disagree with something right here? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
