The roller coaster band is finally retiring this September
It has happened, friends. In 2025, we will need to light a candle for Universal Studios’ main roller coaster, as Rip Ride Rockit is finally set to close its doors forever this September.
This has been a rumor making waves over the past few months, and even we here at Famvia have talked about it before. Rip Ride Rockit has been facing numerous problems lately, and it seems that maintenance alone costs Universal a significant amount of money. This coaster has been prone to frequent technical issues, and it seems the headaches were enough to make Universal decide to pull the plug.
The coaster also appears to have lost popularity recently, with wait times decreasing more and more. It’s not uncommon to visit toward the end of the day and see just a 10-minute wait time. Over the years, Rip Ride Rockit has also lost much of its identity. It used to feature a huge list of songs - including secret tracks - for riders to choose from, but licensing issues have reduced the list to just five or so options.
What comes next?
The coaster is set to close in September to make way for something new. It’s safe to assume that we won’t see a replacement ready until 2027, but there’s a good chance another coaster will take its place. Could it be a Fast & Furious coaster, considering there’s a new one being built at Universal Hollywood?
Personally, I hope it’s something different. Universal needs a major new blockbuster ride, especially since Islands of Adventure is already packed with great attractions, and Epic Universe will soon open its doors. Why not bring Zelda or Pokémon to Universal with a massive mega-coaster? This would definitely inject fresh energy into Universal Studios.
That said, I don’t think we’ll hear anything about a replacement until at least the second half of 2025. Hopefully, whatever Universal has in store will be a major success. We can always use another amazing coaster in our lives, after all.
