Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit (closing EOD August 17, 2025)

[jtsalien]

But the point is if every ride was built like HRRR, UO would be Six Flags. And we all know how well those parks are doing lately. People may come for the rides, but the theme and experience is what keeps them there and coming back for more.

 

[sierrak5]

The area that HRRR is in is just a bunch of soundstages anyway. It doesn't really have anything to blend in with where it's at.

I love the ride, it's not too intense but loads of fun.

 

[TSSD]

The area that HRRR is in is just a bunch of soundstages anyway. It doesn't really have anything to blend in with where it's at.

I love the ride, it's not too intense but loads of fun.

In that one area, yes, it is just soundstages. Once again though I would like to point out these:

New York and San Francisco. Two greatly themed areas, both wrecked by HRRR. Also, at least those rides in that area have a good theme and purpose to the ride. HRRR has a very, very weak theme.

 

[Cwoolboy]

Somebody needs to photoshop Rockit out of that last pic

 

[sierrak5]

All we need is for a roller coaster to be built near Fisherman's Wharf in the real San Fransisco and then the theming will be perfect!

 

[Kraken&Manta]

^

But the point is if every ride was built like HRRR, UO would be Six Flags. And we all know how well those parks are doing lately. People may come for the rides, but the theme and experience is what keeps them there and coming back for more.

First, Rockit has much, much more themeing than most all Six Flags rides. Second, GP members come for location and family friendlessness. Would a normal tourist group go to a park two hours away from a metropolitan center or to the theme park capital of the world? And would a GP member with a family with little kids go to Cedar Point, or Disney. They would go to Cedar Point if they didn't have kids, but Disney's family rides make it a better choice.

You really don't don't see my point what so ever.

 

[Clive]

^


First, Rockit has much, much more themeing than most all Six Flags rides. Second, GP members come for location and family friendlessness. Would a normal tourist group go to a park two hours away from a metropolitan center or to the theme park capital of the world? And would a GP member with a family with little kids go to Cedar Point, or Disney. They would go to Cedar Point if they didn't have kids, but Disney's family rides make it a better choice.

You really don't don't see my point what so ever.

I'm sorry, but this is incorrect. Rockit is a barebones coaster with no theming. No getting around that. The loading station and queue are on par with any Six Flags coaster. It's a fun ride, but doesn't meet the theming standards of other Universal attractions. Cedar Point is a locals park and one for coaster enthusiasts - I used to live in Ohio and visit relatively often, so I should know. WDW or UO trumps it every time for most families and adults as they're actual resorts with top-notch theming, variety, and quality versus Cedar Point's single-day-visit status.

 

[justinthered]

It doesn't have a great theme, but hrr fits production central better than pretty much any other ride there. As for it "ruining" the theming of different areas, this idea comes off kinda silly and overly-nittpicky. I can see the simpsons from Amity but it didn't ruin the park for me.

 

[Splatter]

Being able to buy a video of your coaster ride does not make it production themed..its a souvenir. Many coasters are doing that now, and many much better than what Rockit's bad cgi footage provides.

 

[TSSD]

It doesn't have a great theme, but hrr fits production central better than pretty much any other ride there. As for it "ruining" the theming of different areas, this idea comes off kinda silly and overly-nittpicky. I can see the simpsons from Amity but it didn't ruin the park for me.

But still, before if you took a picture in NY or SF, it looked almost like a pic of NY or SF. Now, those pics are wrecked by HRRR. Not to mention that USO is where you can "Ride the Movies", not make music.

 

[Splatter]

You can't even enjoy Suess landing now in the eveing without seeing the coaster's LED carnival ride like lights going up the chainlift or seeing it dawning over Seuss Landing. The attraction is just a coaster, and it was a rush job to get more attention.

 

[Cwoolboy]

Hey hey hey!!!!! EASY THERE!!!! It's one thing to bash the coaster, but don't bash it's beautiful lights at night. You're probably the first person I've heard complain about it at night.

 

[Splatter]

When you are in another theme park, trying to be immersed its caving in on an experience. I have seen other fans that don't care for it as well. It uses the same tatic as carnival ground rides. When I am at Islands of Adventure at night I don't care to see that peaking over a lifthill. Petty, yes but its intrusive to the art of the parks.

 

[grizzlybarely]

Eh, I'm kind of in both camps here.

Rockit fits theme-wise. It's Production Central, which can mean movies, shows, or music in this case. USF has branched out a bit from the "Ride the Movies" days. USF has many attractions based on TV shows (Simpsons, FF, I Love Lucy, Barney, etc.). It fits in its own respect.

Yes, the detail/theme is not theme park quality. I mean, it looks great. But there's really no story. It was a rushed project to install a thrill ride to segway into WWOHP fever. It's not a bad thing. It makes logical sense. It's a little better than Six Flags quality. That's a pretty harsh insult

Rockit is a really beautiful coaster, from Rockit's plaza. The LEDs are spectacular looking. But it was pretty no bueno to put the treble clef right through the gut of NY. It is an eyesore from some vantage points, especially Seuss. Fun coaster though. Just wish they planned it a little better.

 

[justinthered]

But still, before if you took a picture in NY or SF, it looked almost like a pic of NY or SF. Now, those pics are wrecked by HRRR. Not to mention that USO is where you can "Ride the Movies", not make music.

It's not about making music. The storyline is that you are part of the filming of a music video. That makes more sense than Shrek and is more on the nose theme-wise than Twister

 

[jtsalien]

Okay. I wasnt saying HRRR was Six Flags quality. I know its better than that. I am saying a lack of theme like rockit has would turn UO into a Six Flags type park. And it is and should be better than that.

 

[tiredoldspook]

How do you theme a big coaster? I would like to see that explained the closest anyone has come to themeing a big coaster is Disney with Expedition Everest. Coasters are very hard to theme because of what they are. Universal did the best with what they had. They wanted to build a unique coaster which is what they did. You can theme small coasters like the mummy but if you want any size it is very hard. I was at Kings Island a few weeks ago talked to a number of people who had never been to Orlando parks to far, to much money. Regional Parks draw there business, People who live in and close to Orlando don't know how much these other theme parks work on there themes on a limited budget, also they forget they are only open less then 6 months of a year. For what Universal and Disney charge you should expect more.

 

[White Rabbit]

So, yesterday Rockit closed around 1 or 2 pm and never reopened. Want the reason? PM for it. It's something that further solidifies that this ride should NOT have been built by Maurer, and that the park should have waited for B&M or another reliable company. I'm not sure if the ride will be operating today because of it.

EDIT: Just called Universal and it is open.

 

[CoasterHP]

Just for the sake of continuing to beat the dead horse I also agree that Rockit is an "ok" coaster that is very intrusive with it's height and lack of theming. If it looked like the concept art.. that would be MUCH better IMO. At least in the plaza. You can't hide the fact that it's tall and very visible from both parks..

HRRR doe look pretty cool from Citywalk and I think Universal Studios needs this coaster to give people another reason to go to that side of the resort.

I think Universal's biggest mistake here was to go with Maurer.. I'm sure they were cheaper than B&M but look at the Hollywood Dream Coaster at USJ. That's one sexy looking coaster with pretty much the exact theme and nearly the same out and back footprint.

I feel like a lot of the parks overlook the fact that yes B&M's cost more, but after it's all said and done the few million you save by going with a company like Maurer (not to say they are bad) will be spent on maintenance, downtimes, and costs just to get the thing running! Whereas B&M gives you reliability, great trains, and the smoothest ride around..

 

[White Rabbit]

^Agreed. Manta was the only recent coaster addition in central Florida to open on time and stay open. Rockit was delayed, and although Cheetah Hunt did eventually open, it wasn't until the afternoon on opening day.