Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit

infobox Universal ride
name=Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit
park=Universal Studios Florida
land=Production Central
opened=Spring 2009
logo=Hollywood Coaster Logo.jpg

---

caption=Concept art for "Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit"
attraction_type=Roller Coaster
type=Roller Coaster
vehicle_type=
height_requirement=
designer=Maurer Söhne
custom_label_2=Previous Attractions
custom_value_2=The Boneyard (1990-2008)

"Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit" is an upcoming roller coaster to be added to Universal Studios Florida. This custom-designed attraction will feature an on-board sound system to add a soundtrack to its twisted steel track. It is scheduled to open in the spring of 2009. [cite web |url=http://www.local6.com/news/15645988/detail.html |title=High-Tech Roller Coaster Will Hover Over Heads At Orlando Theme Park |accessdate=2008-03-20 |format= |work=www.local6.com ] citeweb|url=http://www.rcdb.com/document290.htm|title=Universal Orlando Resort Announces Brand-New Roller Coaster (Press Release)|date=2008-03-19|accessdate=2008-04-08|work=www.rcdb.com]

Attraction history

On January 11, 2008, Universal Parks & Resorts filed a Notice of Commencement with Orange County, Florida indicating that they were to construct a ride system that they have code-named "Project Rumble." [citenews|title=Book 9562, Page 1950, Public Records of Orange County, Florida|url=http://www.screamscape.com/html/uo_-_project_rumble_0.htm] The practice of using code-names in theme park attractions is common; it allows the park to begin construction of a project without revealing to its competitors exactly what it is, until such time as the park itself chooses to announce it. The Notice stated that the contractor is "Maurer Rides GmbH," located in Munich, Germany. The address provided on the form matches that for amusement ride manufacturer Maurer Söhne. [citenews|url=http://www.rcdb.com/cd97.htm|title=Contact Information for Maurer Sohne]

The attraction was announced by Universal officials on March 19, 2008. Although officials did not reveal the entire attraction, they did point out some key features. The roller coaster's vertical lift hill will be 167 feet tall, making it the tallest in the Orlando area. Its design will allow four trains to be on the track at a time and will feature six near-miss encounters and a unique form of vertical loop.

Design

"Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit" is an "X-Car Coaster," a proprietary design from Maurer Söhne, and is the largest roller coaster of its kind in the world.citeweb|url=http://www.rcdb.com/document297.htm|title=Worldwide Highest Vertical Lift: Record-Breaking, Multi-Sensory Roller Coaster (Press Release)|work=Maurer Söhne|date=2008-08-01|accessdate=2008-08-13] The trains consist of two cars, with each car carrying six riders in three rows of two. A large locking lap bar holds riders safely in place. Maurer Söhne expects the attraction to carry approximately 1,850 riders per hour. The attraction will feature an array of safety systems, including a custom-designed evacuation system should a train become disabled on the vertical lift.

The ride vehicles will feature color-changing LEDs for a dynamic appearance, as well as sophisticated audio and video systems for each seat. Guests will be able to select a musical track from one of five genres (classic rock, rap, country, pop and disco) to hear during their experience, a feature similar to another Universal-owned roller coaster, "" at sister park Universal Studios Japan. Taking this customization a step further, the ride experience will be filmed, allowing guests to obtain a digital copy of the film, complete with their chosen soundtrack, to add to their webpages or video-sharing sites, such as YouTube. [cite news |first=Scott |last=Powers |title=New 'Rockit' high-tech roller coaster coming to Universal Studios Orlando in 2009 |url= http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-universal1908mar19,0,3576109.story |work=Orlando Sentinel |publisher= |date=2008-03-19 |accessdate=2008-03-19 ]

Universal officials have begun surveying guests to determine which songs should be made available on the attraction. Some of the songs considered thus far include "Gone Country" by Alan Jackson, "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" by Judas Priest, "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow, "Pump It" by The Black Eyed Peas and "Staying Alive" by The BeeGees. Other artists whose songs have been suggested include The Beach Boys, Three Six Mafia and Johnny Cash. While not confirming or denying that these particular songs or artists will appear in the final version of the attraction, it does provide insight into Universal's plans to provide a broad musical experience for its guests. [citeweb|url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2008/08/musical-choices.html|title=Musical choices for Universal's next roller coaster, the Rockit|author=Scott Powers|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=2008-08-27|accessdate=2008-08-27]

Track layout

The layout for "Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit" was initially revealed during Universal Studios' "Grad Bash" events for graduating high school seniors, and has been confirmed by Maurer Söhne through its release of computer-generated images of the roller coaster track. [citeweb|url=http://www.rcdb.com/ig3866.htm?picture=1|title=Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit|work=www.rcdb.com|accessdate=2008-08-13] The station will be located between two existing facilities, "Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast" and the Sharp Aquos Theatre in Universal CityWalk.

"Rockit" (as Maurer Söhne abbreviates it) will depart the station and climb to the top of its 167-foot vertical lift. It then drops to the ground before entering an element named the "double take;" it looks like a standard vertical loop, yet the track twists around such that the train is right-side-up at the top of the loop. The train descends and twists again on the way down then climbs to reach the first of several mid-course brake sections.

The roller coaster exits the brakes and drops back towards street level, passing through a building exterior before entering a series of swooping curves called the "treble clef," which appears, in profile, to have been inspired by the musical notation of the same name. The train climbs the treble clef and exits into another mid-course brake section. Now returning towards the station, the roller coaster enters a series of sharp turns, one nicknamed the "jump cut" and the other the "crowd surfer," as it passes over portions of the queue line for the attraction.

"Rockit" then enters another mid-course brake section before it prepares to exit the park grounds. It next encounters "drop tuning," named for a type of guitar tuning, which is a quick drop into a landscaped area in front of the Sharp Aquos Theatre. Emerging above the ground, the roller coaster enters a 540-degree helix nicknamed the "plot twist" and then returns to the station via a short section of twists and turns.

Construction

Construction on "Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit" began in May 2008. It started with the clearing of some break room trailers and ground clearing. Currently, the queue line for the adjacent "Twister...Ride it Out" attraction has been reconfigured due to the upcoming construction, and the Boneyard exhibit area has also been closed off with construction walls displaying various music genre themed posters. The New York Library back drop has also been blocked off, all the way up to the "Twister" entrance.

References

External links

* [http://www.universalorlando.com/hollywoodrockit.html Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit] at Universal Orlando Resort