Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit lights up the night at Universal Orlando

July 9, 2009 at 10:53 AM · Didn't Universal/Maurer Söhne have to scrap the original silent lift hill because it wouldn't work, or had some irreparable design flaw?

July 9, 2009 at 11:24 AM · I am starting to get a bad feeling for this coaster. The ride itself seems pretty sedate and the major selling point of playing your music has become limited. I mean 30 songs! Isn't Universal Music Group part of NBC Universal? I am sure they could get thousands of songs from that subsidiary for dirt cheap or free.

July 9, 2009 at 7:44 PM · Remember, Universal Orlando's only half- partially owned by NBC Universal. (The other half rest is Blackstone.) And even if it were wholly owned, Universal would still need to account for the transfer between the parks and the music division, since the artists who contracted with the music division would still need to be paid.

So, in short, no, Universal couldn't get the music for free.

July 9, 2009 at 2:13 PM · If the lift doesn't speed up thought it will be a very very very uncomfortable ride up the hill to the top for guests.
I know from the Mystery Mine at Dollywood that the vertical incline is not a very comfortable one but the ride makes it worth it. It halfway up the vertical incline makes it harder on people to breath. So I would have to say, the slower, the longer, the more uncomfortable the lift will be.

If it is that slow and it is uncomfortable I can for myself for sure say I will not be riding that ride on every visit like I would the other coasters.

Edit: I just found this video on YouTube as well and it shows the lift going at it's actual speed up the hill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX0TCSak4OA

Also from the comments on the very same video someone had mentioned that they are positive on a July 27, 2009 opening date for the coaster. I suppose this could the the grand opening date or the date for a soft opening to begin. Let's see if they are correct.

July 9, 2009 at 4:48 PM · The lift looks a little strange to me!

July 9, 2009 at 10:55 PM · I really hope it opens before the end of July..

July 9, 2009 at 11:51 PM · The initial drop looks too short to carry enough momentum to clear the first loop/inversion comfortably, and the rest of the ride looks too slow to achieve the thrill-factor most of us would be looking for in this ride.

I think they would have been better to improve and maintain the launch speed of The Hulk so as to make this ride live up to it's full potential.

Universal will have to extend their usually short operating hours to give riders some time to enjoy the nighttime light show as well. One of my biggest complaints with Universal Orlando has always been the 6pm closing times in the fall.

I hope the experience is better than this video shows...otherwise it's not going to be a must-see for my trips to Universal Orlando. Is this to be on the Universal side or Islands of Adventure park?

July 10, 2009 at 7:10 AM · Poor music, poor aesthetics, and an unbearably slow lift hill. Boy, this ride is shaping up.

July 10, 2009 at 9:31 AM · Apparently HRRR will open later into the night, so CityWalk guests can ride it (And pay a little extra $$$)..

It was never meant to be a fast ride either, it has unique manouvers, that really can only be commented on once its ridden.

As far as the hill left, that has, and still is, the main point of focus on the testing. I've seen it go very slow, and I"ve seen it go really fast.

As for the suggestion of a Hulk Style Launch? Not on this ride, would be way too much stress on the body as it goes over the top and down the drop!

July 10, 2009 at 12:20 PM · Given those business realities, I wonder if the coaster would have been better served being tied to one band/performer. I feel a Queen coaster would be better than this smattering of tunes. Heck, maybe they could just let you attach your own iPod. Okay, maybe not. How about paying a quarter for any song you choose? I don't know. There had to have been a better alternative than 30 songs.

Robert, do you have any idea how long the contracts are for these songs and how often Universal plans to change them? If not, could you find out when you go for Horror Nights?

Oh, and what is the status on the Aerosmith contract with Rock'n'Roller Coaster? It is supposed to be up and I keep hearing the horror stories about Hannah Montana or the Jonas Brothers replacing them.

July 10, 2009 at 1:33 PM · Local Radio Station Real Radio 104.1 is scheduled to do a live show at Universal Studios Florida at 6 AM for their morning show on July 22, 2009. I hope this means this could be the opening date or at least a sign that the ride will be operating by that day at the very latest.

Link: http://realradio.zipscene.com/events/view/1830041

July 10, 2009 at 2:27 PM · The ride looks incredible short! Don't think I will be in a hurry to go back to Orlando. I might go on it when I go for Harry Potter world though.

July 11, 2009 at 2:42 PM · Its certainly not short. Lots of hidden track behind the twister building!

July 14, 2009 at 11:58 PM · If think that 30 songs is enoughbeacuse if you have a whole library to choose from people wouldn't be quick enough AS you choose the song once onto the car not while you are in queue so 30 songs would make the decision process easier and quicker. Also, they couldn't have aerosmith because its already used for disney's rock n rollercoaster. But it has to be said the vertical lift does look painfully slow but its all part of the experience.

if you go onto www.hollywoodripriderockit.com you can see the song in the section called music