Common Orlando has introduced that the Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit will completely shut at Common Studios Florida in Fall 2025, and is broadly anticipated to get replaced by a brand new curler coaster. Right here’s every part we all know concerning the closure and alternative based mostly on a mix of official information, building permits, and rumors.
This has been an fascinating saga to comply with. Rumors of Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit’s demise have been swirling for some time. I don’t maintain my finger on the heartbeat of the Common rumor mill almost as intently as with Walt Disney World, but it surely’s one thing I bear in mind listening to about years in the past.
The rumors of Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit closing appeared to realize momentum this 12 months. Together with that, additionally they gained specificity. Studies popped up about when it will shut, what sort of curler coaster may change it, in addition to prospects about its theme. Though that final one was most likely equal elements hypothesis, wishful considering, and reality-grounded rumors.
These experiences got credibility based mostly on modifications and cuts to the coaster. First when the tune choice choices have 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 current Discover of Graduation building 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 Trip Rockit closing cited on this put up, have been first noticed by prolific allow watched and Common insider Alicia Stella of Orlando Park Cease.
Intamin is at the moment engaged on a curler coaster attraction in Common’s Epic Universe themed to Methods to Practice 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 without doubt one of the finest curler coasters on the planet.
Since this can be a Disney web site before everything, we’d be remiss if we didn’t level to Intamin coasters within the Disney parks, as effectively. The most important one might be occurring proper now, as Tokyo Disneyland rebuilds its Area Mountain. Disney/OLC have but to announce something formally, however eagle-eyed curler coaster fanatics 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 varied Toy Story Lands exterior Walt Disney World.
The story was blown large 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 question be aware of SFWMD at this level, as they’re chargeable for the hold-up of the Rivers of America alternative and are concerned with just about each challenge that entails potential storm water displacement…which is just about each challenge undertaken in Florida!
The SFWMD permits states that Common Studios Florida will “take away present attraction and change with proposed attraction.” The challenge location encompasses all of Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit and a few backstage areas.
A part of the doc bundle submitted to the SFWMD is the under web site modification calculations, exhibiting earlier than (prime) and after (backside) pictures of the proposed challenge, which entails changes to the water basin. Three situations of “new constructing building” are recognized: a small construction is proven on the precise facet 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 the moment backstage parking close to sound stage 24. The primary constructing seems to be taking on a piece of the prolonged queue for Race By way of New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Maybe of word is that that is the world situated immediately 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 need inside Common to revive Ghostbusters with a everlasting park presence because the mental property has acquired renewed curiosity (and reboots) within the final a number of years. For its half, Common Studios Florida has included Ghostbusters into totally 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.
Despite the fact that 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 Trip Rockit will shut in early September 2025 to make approach for a brand new expertise. Extra particulars will probably be accessible at a later date. #AskUniversal”
That’s actually it. The total 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 received 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 gradual time across the holidays and lots of OOF messages enabled, they doubtless haven’t had the prospect to place collectively a correct press launch. However we absolutely anticipate one quickly–most likely the primary week of 2025. About the one approach that doesn’t occur is that if Common Orlando isn’t but able to reveal the theme of the brand new curler coaster, during which case a banner-style replace on the official Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit web page might need to suffice.
Personally, I say “good riddance” to Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit.
I gained’t miss it within the least. Regardless of it being a comparatively new curler coaster, it feels a lot older. The experience is tough, jarring and bumpy. It looks like it’s down for upkeep increasingly (if I’m not mistaken, its producer went out of enterprise, so it most likely isn’t straightforward to supply elements or service the attraction).
Past that, Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit simply appears ugly and stands out like a sore thumb. If Common Orlando goes to compete significantly with Walt Disney World, it could possibly’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 challenge round this space needs to be a prime precedence in that regard.
I’d additionally add that Common Orlando has had an awesome streak of success with curler coasters lately, which makes Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit look worse by comparability. I’m inclined to offer Common Artistic the advantage of the doubt each thematically and in terms of placing collectively a superior curler coaster profile. No matter replaces Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit will nearly assuredly be considerably higher.
As for what the potential theme may very well be for the alternative curler coaster, there’s the aforementioned Ghostbusters. However actually, I don’t know the way doubtless that really is, or if it’s a matter of us piecing collectively two separate rumors as a result of it simply is smart…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 smart because it may function an oblique alternative 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’t corroborate are any indication, that is what it’s most certainly to be.
Nevertheless, we query the veracity of those rumors, and surprise if it’s different followers piecing collectively separate rumors in a fashion that simply is smart…even when it doesn’t. Common Studios Hollywood has distinctive geography, and the hillside perch on which Hollywood Drift is situated doesn’t exist in Common Studios Florida. This isn’t to say USF couldn’t get its personal twist on Hollywood Drift, but it surely actually wouldn’t be a clone.
In any other case, all of my finest guesses as to the theme of the curler coaster that may change Hollywood Rip Trip 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 experience narrated by the late, nice Angela Lansbury?!
One other chance is Depraved, Common’s field workplace darling that has a sequel on the way in which and appears destined to have a theme park presence in some unspecified time in the future. That’s believable, however a curler coaster appears like a poor match for that. Then there’s the opposite scorching property: Nintendo. Nearly each rumor, apart from 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 probably be added to each of the prevailing 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.
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every part about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every part about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and way more, join our FREE e mail e-newsletter!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Hollywood Rip Trip Rockit completely closing? Will you miss it, or are you content to say good riddance to the tough experience? Suppose it’ll be an Intamin curler coaster, or a distinct expertise completely? Ideas on potential themes for the brand new experience? Agree or disagree with something right here? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
