Demolition of Iconic Universal Studios Attraction Begins.
Demolition of one of Universal Orlando Resort’s most iconic attraction has begun following it’s recent closure for the final time last week.
Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit – One of Universal Orlando Resort’s most popular roller coaster rides has begun removal in readiness to make way for a new, more modern attraction in the years ahead.
What will replace it is still yet to be announced, however speculation points towards an identical ride to that of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift taking it’s place in the next few years.
None of this has of course yet been confirmed but Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit’s closure and removal signifies the end of an era for those visiting Universal Studios Florida.
The famous coaster which allowed riders to choose their onboard soundtrack while riding first opened at the park back in 2009 and was a Maurer Rides GmbH X-Car model.
It reached heights of up to 167ft, speeds of up to 65 mph, featured an iconic vertical lift hill and non inverting loop and spanned a total length of 3,800ft from beginning to end.
Ther ride also played host to many a celebrity over the years including more noteably Kevin Hart who joined Jimmy Falon for a final ride during the attraction’s closing day on Sunday 17th August 2025.
Since it’s closing though, removal of Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit has sped up ten fold with the park not hanging around when it comes to making way for something new.
In recent aerial photos shared by popular Florida based theme park blogger Bioreconstruct we get a much better look at just how fast the ride’s removal is taking place.
Although it’s still not clear when a replacement attraction will arrive what is clear is this, the park are already hard at work making it happen.
Ground clearing actually began well before the ride itself actually closed and as such construction walls surrounding the site have been in place for some time now.
With all of this being said we’re really hoping for an announcement as to what will replace Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit very soon and although we sadly never got to experience the attraction itself there are many who have said we’re not really missing much.
The ride’s restraint system is known for being notoriously uncomfortable due to the style and positioning of the onboard restraints.
Other rides such as G-Force at Drayton Manor Resort (which was an identical ride model) have also been removed to make way for new attractions, but rides such as Abismo at Parque de Atracciones Madrid still stand in place and prove highly popular with many who visit.
Regardless a launched Intamin spinning coaster would certainly make a great replacement for Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit and as such this is something we hope to see at the park in the years ahead, but again, no official confirmation of the ride’s replacement or opening timescale has yet been shared by Universal Orlando Resort themselves and as such as soon as more news becomes available we’ll be sure to share it here first on Theme Park Insanity.
