Update: Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift opened to public riders Saturday morning during an unannounced technical-rehearsal session. AllEars reported from the attraction at 10 a.m. PDT and photographed guests boarding.
The Saturday access departed from a neighborhood testing notice that had listed no testing for August 1. Technical rehearsals can still start late, stop early or close for the day without warning.
The Toluca Lake Homeowners Association published the schedule July 29 after receiving an update from Universal. The tests will measure coaster performance and how sound carries into surrounding neighborhoods. Universal expects to provide another update Friday, Aug. 7.
The remaining notice lists testing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, August 2, and Monday, August 3, followed by no rider testing from August 4 through August 7. Saturday's change shows why those windows are plans rather than guaranteed operating hours.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift soft opened to public riders Monday afternoon at Universal Studios Hollywood. Inside Universal reported the first public access at 3:33 p.m. PDT.
Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift has officially soft opened to the public! We’re heading in so make sure to follow along! @UniStudios
Inside Universal (@insideuniversal), July 27, 2026 at 3:33 p.m. PDTMedia: a photo of the coaster entrance during the first public soft-opening period. View the original post and photo on X.
A soft opening can change without notice while crews continue preparing the ride for regular operation. Universal has not announced a grand-opening date. The ride page still lists Hollywood Drift as coming in summer 2026.
Hollywood Drift Ride Details
Hollywood Drift is the park's first high-speed outdoor roller coaster. The Upper Lot ride reaches 72 mph on 4,100 feet of track, and its vehicles rotate 360 degrees to create a drifting motion.
The four vehicle designs are modeled after Dominic Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger, Han Lue's 1997 Mazda RX-7, Brian O'Conner's 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 and a 2020 Toyota GR Supra. Each train holds four vehicles.
Monday's public access resolves the conflicting late-2026 report that surfaced July 17. Universal disputed that report the same day and said the coaster remained on schedule for summer.
Sources: AllEars' onsite Saturday report, the Toluca Lake HOA's Universal testing update, Inside Universal's original soft-opening report, the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift ride page, and Universal Studios Hollywood's ride-vehicle announcement.
Image: official Universal Studios Hollywood ride-vehicle photography.