Universal Orlando Demolishing One Of Its Oldest Roller Coasters

According to new permits filed with South Florida Water Management district this week, Universal Orlando is planning to demolish one of its oldest rollercoasters in Universal Studios Florida theme park.

While there has been no official announcement from Universal Orlando, many reputable news sources have picked up this story based on the permit filings.

Let’s go over all the details that point to this attraction, which first opened in 2009, being on the chopping block for Universal Orlando.

Universal Plans to Demolish Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

Rip Ride Rockit
Photo Credit: Universal Orlando

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The permits revealed that Universal Orlando is planning to demolish Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and replace it with a “new, larger attraction” at Universal Studios Florida. This information was revealed in water drainage permits filed with South Florida Water Management District this week which was first reported by Orlando Park Stop.

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The permit reveals Universal’s plans to build several new buildings with two of the biggest being added in the New York space of Universal Studios Florida. The details of the permit also share that the space around Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is labeled as “Remove existing attraction and replace with proposed attraction” which is a strong confirmation of Universal’s plan.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit has had rumors of an anticipated closure for years especially after the onboard music option was reduced drastically last year going from 30 options to only 5 songs. The ride often gets stuck and shuts down frequently which indicates it is in need of a longer refurbishment. This likely led to Universal considering that it’s simply time to just replace it. Perhaps we’ll see Universal Orlando get its own version of the new Fast and Furious roller coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood? 

Its not unusual for Universal Orlando to file a permit with such big news without making a statement. They operate very differently than Disney and will likely just let the permit speak for itself and make an announcement much further in the future on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s closure and what the details are of the attraction that will replace it.

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About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay has been recognized as a Disney expert since 2017 and has been featured by outlets including CNBC, SFGate, NerdWallet, and Visit Anaheim. She visits Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Orlando multiple times each year, giving her first hand insight into park operations, seasonal trends, crowd patterns, and touring strategies.

Her experience also extends to Disney Cruise Line, where she has sailed on every class of ship, visited both of Disney’s private islands, and participated in specialty sailings such as Marvel Day at Sea and Very MerryTime cruises. This depth of travel allows her to provide practical, data informed guidance across Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, Universal theme parks, and related destinations.

As Content Director of Mickey Visit, Lindsay oversees editorial strategy and daily content, leading a team of writers who produce timely news coverage and general planning content. She leads the development and analysis of Mickey Visit’s crowd calendars, applying expert insight into crowd behavior, seasonal trends, and park operations. Lindsay writes touring plans, authors in depth reviews, and offers expert analysis on Disney experiences, while also analyzing the best and worst days to visit. She serves as an expert on Disney discounts, tracking and evaluating ticket offers, hotel promotions, and seasonal deals. She comes from a lifelong Disney family, has been visiting Disneyland since the 1990s, and is even in the middle of planning a Disney Cruise Line wedding.

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