The theme park world has been buzzing over a potential announcement from Universal Orlando Resort. Dive into the biggest rumors about new Epic Universe Annual Passes and the secret project replacing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Now, we know that a Fast & Furious coaster is coming!
A moment theme park enthusiasts across the globe are eagerly awaiting finally arrived, but the rumors surrounding a monumental Universal Orlando Resort announcement have reached a fever pitch. Whispers and theories have been swirling for months, centered around two key areas of transformation that will fundamentally reshape the resort’s future: the full integration of the recently opened Universal Epic Universe into the annual pass structure and the highly anticipated reveal of what will replace the iconic, but now departed, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida. For fans, this one future event holds the key to greater park access and a brand-new thrill experience. Today, we got one of those things.
Chief among the most persistent speculations is the long-awaited clarity on the accessibility of Universal Epic Universe for loyal park guests. Since the theme park’s spectacular debut, access has been primarily restricted to dated, higher-tier tickets, leaving many existing annual passholders eager for an upgrade path. Industry analysts and dedicated fans anticipate that Universal Orlando Resort is preparing to announce new annual pass tiers that would fully incorporate Universal Epic Universe, making the entire resort accessible to its most dedicated patrons. Such a move would reward the resort’s loyal fan base and dramatically shift visitation patterns, signaling Universal is ready to move beyond managing initial capacity and commit to building a cohesive, theme park ecosystem.
New Coaster
Simultaneously, the resort has kept the theme park world on tenterhooks regarding the future of the Universal Studios Florida skyline, specifically the large parcel of land where the decommissioned Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit once stood. The coaster’s closure has opened the door to widespread speculation, with fan theories ranging from a Ghostbusters dark ride to an extreme Fast & Furious coaster that mirrors the one being developed for its West Coast counterpart. Universal Orlando Resort has only promised a “new experience,” and the forthcoming announcement is expected to finally pull back the curtain on the multi-million dollar attraction that will reclaim the park’s status as a must-visit destination and further spread crowds following the opening of Universal Epic Universe.
On October 21, 2025, Universal Orlando appeared to be “trolling” fans waiting to hear about annual pass news for access to Universal Epic Universe. The official social media account posted about annual passes compared to a marriage proposal. Although some found it amusing, many simply saw it as trolling die-hard fans waiting to add Universal Epic Universe to their Universal Orlando Resort annual pass.
Then, on October 23, Universal Orlando Resort revealed big news for current annual passholders about Universal Epic Universe. Sadly, passholders learn that single-day tickets to Universal Epic Universe can be purchased at a discount. This was not the big announcement they wanted.
Then again, on October 26, Universal Orlando Resort made another troll-like social media post regarding annual passes. This communication also said nothing about Universal Epic Universe being a part of the annual pass program.
However, on January 17, 2026, Universal Orlando Resort posted a not very cryptic social media post.
The Big Announcement from Universal Orlando Resort – Fast & Furious Coaster
Universal Orlando simply shared a short teaser post with the text “01.20.26” — showing only that date, with no other explanation. The post also included a graphic or video of a revving speedometer that climaxes on the numbers “012026” (which fans interpret as the date January 20, 2026).
Fast & Furious Coaster Details
On January 20. 2026, Universal Orlando Resort released official information about the new Fast & Furious coaster replacing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. The theme park resort stated:
Official Fast & Furious Coaster Statement by Universal Orlando Resort
“Universal Orlando Resort is revving up for its next big thrill with Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift – a high-octane outdoor roller coaster that will join the Universal Studios Florida family in 2027.
Replacing the former Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will put guests in the driver seat of the high-speed thrills of Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furious universe like never before. Riders will experience the exhilarating sensation of 360-degree drifting as they speed through jaw-dropping maneuvers – including a 170-foot vertical “spike” that will send riders nearly 17 stories in the air over the outskirts of Universal CityWalk.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will join an award-winning collection of coaster experiences at Universal Orlando Resort and is another exciting example of the incredible growth, momentum and world-class innovation of Universal Destinations & Experiences. Universal Studios Hollywood will also debut its own, one-of-a-kind Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift outdoor roller coaster later this year.
As Universal Studios Florida makes way for this exciting new experience, Fast & Furious – Supercharged will permanently close in 2027.
More information about Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will be shared in the months ahead. For more information about Universal Orlando Resort and to sign-up for email updates about the new high-speed coaster, guests can visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.”
Rumor: Is Fast & Furious: Supercharged Finally Closing?
For years, Fast & Furious: Supercharged has been the attraction fans love to hate. Between the “floating” Vin Diesel heads and the lack of actual speed in a franchise built on it, the ride has consistently sat at the bottom of guest satisfaction polls. However today, the rumor mill is spinning faster than a street racer’s tires.
With Universal Studios Florida recently closing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and the resort dropping a mysterious teaser featuring a revving speedometer and the date 01.20.26, many insiders believe the end is near for Supercharged. With a Fast & Furious coaster coming to Universal Studios Florida, the chances of something replacing Fast & Furious: Supercharged look far more likely. Universal Orlando Resort confirmed that Fast & Furious: Supercharged will close in 2027.
What Could Replace It?
While nothing is official, several theories are circulating about what could take over the massive San Francisco warehouse:
- A Wizarding World Expansion: Some suggest a Knight Bus attraction, which would perfectly utilize the existing ride vehicles.
- The Return of a Classic: Fans are holding out hope for a modern revival of Ghostbusters or Back to the Future. At this point, Ghostbusters looks most likely. Still, Universal Orlando could go with a different intellectual property.could
Whether it’s a total demolition or a clever retheme, one thing is certain: the “Family” might be looking for a new home sooner than we thought.
The Current State of Epic Universe Annual Pass Access
As Universal Orlando Resort prepares to expand its newest theme park, many fans are surprised to learn that Universal Epic Universe Annual Pass access is currently unavailable. For the 2025 and 2026 (so far) seasons, Universal Orlando Resort has opted not to include the new park in its standard annual or seasonal pass tiers. Instead, the resort is prioritizing single-day and multi-day ticket sales to manage the immense demand expected at launch.
While existing passholders for other theme parks might be used to different systems, Universal Orlando Resort passholders must purchase a separate, specially priced 1-day ticket to enter the new park. This “add-on” model ensures that every guest in the park has a dated reservation, helping the resort avoid the overcrowding issues that often plague major theme park openings.
Universal has confirmed that a Universal Epic Universe Annual Pass with year-round access will be announced at a later date, likely once the initial “hype” period has settled and operational capacities are thoroughly tested. Until then, even the highest-tier Premier passholders must pay for individual visits to explore Super Nintendo World or Dark Universe.
For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.
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