Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift still doesn't have an official opening date, but Universal Studios Hollywood is moving forward with a major milestone.
Annual Passholders will soon get dedicated preview opportunities for the new roller coaster.
Universal has scheduled Pass Member previews for August 19, 20, 21, and 23. Passholders must make a reservation, and spots will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
For guests who have been following the coaster's unusual opening process, there's an interesting twist. Hollywood Drift isn't sitting behind construction walls waiting for its first riders.
People are already riding it.
Hollywood Drift Passholder Previews Are Coming
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift entered technical rehearsals on July 27, allowing park guests to experience the attraction before its official opening.
The Pass Member previews take that process another step forward.
Passholders who successfully RSVP can attend even if their pass would normally be blocked on their selected preview date. Riders must also meet the attraction's 51-inch minimum height requirement.
However, Universal isn't promising completely normal operations.
The Pass Member events remain technical rehearsals. That means Hollywood Drift can experience delays, close temporarily, or have operations canceled altogether.
That's important for anyone planning a trip specifically around the preview.
Universal continues testing and adjusting the attraction, and there's now another project happening around the coaster that could influence when Hollywood Drift finally celebrates its official debut.
Noise Complaints Create Another Challenge
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift isn't exactly a small attraction.
The coaster features around 4,100 feet of track and reaches a top speed of 72 mph. Riders travel in spinning vehicles inspired by the cars of the Fast & Furious franchise.
That experience is creating plenty of excitement inside Universal Studios Hollywood.
Outside the park, however, it has also generated complaints.
Residents in nearby Toluca Lake have raised concerns about hearing screams from riders. Los Angeles City Council Member Adrin Nazarian announced that Universal plans to respond by adding two more sound barriers around the coaster.
Interestingly, recent sound testing reportedly met Universal's requirements.
Those measures apparently haven't ended the concerns from nearby residents.
More Construction Is Coming
Universal is now expected to complete the two additional sound barriers by early September.
That creates an unusual timeline.
Pass Member previews begin August 19, but the additional sound mitigation work isn't expected to finish until after those preview dates.
Universal hasn't announced that the coaster must wait for those barriers before officially opening. Still, the possibility remains that Hollywood Drift won't receive its official opening date until after that work is finished.
For now, the attraction remains in technical rehearsals.
Passholders Have the Clearest Dates Yet
While the grand opening remains a mystery, Pass Members finally have dates they can put on their calendars.
August 19, 20, 21, and 23 will offer dedicated opportunities to ride Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, provided Passholders secure an RSVP and the coaster operates as planned.
It's another significant step toward full operations, but Hollywood Drift's debut continues to look different from a typical theme park opening.
The coaster is already carrying guests. Passholder previews are scheduled. More construction is coming. And an official opening date is still missing.
For Universal Passholders, that last part may matter a little less now.
They'll have their own chance to ride before Universal officially declares Hollywood Drift open for business.
