t rl\ I r 1: -- Elj1 \ UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ROCK ‘N’ RIDE ROCKTHE HOLLYWOOD RIP RIDE ‘N’ ROCKIT AT UNIVERSALRIDE STUDIOS Blast off with Orlando’s Newest, Most High-Tech Roller Coaster by DEBORAH BRAUSER photos by MATT ROSEBOOM s the bright red down and around the rest of the mini cars of the ride’s sharp curves, high banks, new Hollywood and even through the remnants Rip Ride Rockit of the old Ghostbusters firehouse Aroller coaster go hurtling at speeds of up to 65 miles per by the new Music Plaza hour. stage at Universal Studios, “No one has ever created its goal of mixing music such a sophisticated ride and thrills into one unique experience,” said Mark package is apparent. From Woodbury, president of the high-tech on-board Universal Creative. “And no touch panels that let one has ever used technology guests choose their own the way we have to pull it all ride soundtrack, to the together.” first-of-its kind non- Although it was originally inverted loop leading scheduled to open in early right into the twisted summer, the Rockit has quickly metal track shaped like an gained many fans since its actual treble clef, guests eventual opening in August. know they’re in for one Most agree that it has lived incomparable ride. up to its promise from a pre- While enthusiastic (and opening press release that called sometimes stunned) crowds it “the tallest, largest, and fastest watch from below, riders find X-CAR style roller coaster in the Rip Ride Rockit’s 17-story lift smoothly sends riders themselves ascending almost world.” gliding 90-degrees upward the sky. straight up a 167-foot vertical O r l a n d o r e s i d e n t incline before being dropped Chris Kraftchick, regional 24 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2009 THE HOLLYWOOD RIP RIDE ROCKIT AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS Blast off with Orlando’s Newest, Most High-Tech Roller Coaster by DEBORAH BRAUSER The queue entertains waiting guests Creative Director photos by MATT ROSEBOOM with video, music and artwork. Louis Alfieri representative of Florida “One of the things we wanted and the engineers and the con- engineer for the project. for the American Coaster to do was bring something new struction group all gets together “He [Dr. Müller] said he had Enthusiasts (ACE) said he was to the resort and to all of Central and everybody’s a part of this dream that he very impressed with Rockit, the Florida, something that had never bringing something to wanted to do 360th coaster he has ridden. “It’s been done before,” said Alfieri. life,” said Alfieri. something really different from coasters “We wanted to revolutionize the At one meeting new we call “off the shelf” – ones coaster experience.” between the teams that are just kind of slapped in He explained that before at Maurer’s head- somewhere. But realizing their working on Rockit, his team quarters in Ger- limitations with real estate, it was prototyped some of the many, the idea for just amazing how Universal has technology with Hollywood the non-inverted interwoven this into the park Dream, a roller coaster at loop came up. and made it an incredibly good Universal Studios Japan. “Then, Alfieri gives ride.” when we brought some of that credit to Dr. technology to fruition, we all Alfred Mül- Building a Rockit agreed it was such a great idea l e r f ro m The Universal design team, that we wanted to advance Maurer, led by Creative Director Louis everything – levels and levels the head Alfieri had several challenges beyond what we had initiated when they first started thinking it at. So this is the second stage about a new ride. They knew in the process.” they wanted music to be a strong For Rockit, the Universal component, but they also needed team worked with steel roller the overall design to fit into a coaster manufacturer Maurer small footprint, due its location. Rides, an international company The team basically wanted to that has designed and built for come up with a high-tech, theme parks all over the U.S. and compact design full of unique Europe. “It’s such a collaborative maneuvers. effort where the creative staff FALL 2009 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 25 with the loop,” said Alfieri. He said the treble clef maneu- To figure out the right tech- it on the highway at 65 miles per “So we all sat together and we ver was originally sketched out nology for the music, the team hour, testing different speaker brainstormed where he was on a napkin. “I was trying to find pioneered several prototypes locations and different speak- going with it and how we could different ways to incorporate and several interesting experi- ers and different kinds of music integrate it into the coaster. At music symbols into the coaster ments. “In an effort to get just until we found exactly the way the time, the project team was and the layout. When the team the right sound and isolate the we wanted it to be on the ride. also doing the new Music Plaza. got together, the engineers were speakers, we actually built a It was quite the sight to see us So we tried to set up the coaster like, ‘Wow, you really want to do trailer that we strapped two of all going down the highway on and the plaza together to create that?’ And the team said, ‘Sure, the coaster seats together with,” the chairs, but it’s the only way one overall experience.” let’s give it a shot.’” explained Alfieri. “And we drove to test it!” Marrying Hard Rock with High Tech Letting guests customize their ride experience by choos- ing their own song is something no other coaster in the U.S. offers. Rockit has a 30-song playlist, with tracks from some of today’s and yesterday’s biggest stars from five different genres – Rockit’s moving load platform and multi-colored lights are just some of its unique high-tech features. Guests use touch screens to choose the song they want to listen to while riding. 26 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2009 ROCK ‘N’ RIDE hen asked to confirm the also what numbers correspond to number that doesn’t correlate to a rumor of hidden tracks which songs. Just remember, these specific song, the default song will Won the new Hollywood hidden songs will not be added to play – reported to be “Busy Child” Rip Ride Rockit coaster, Universal the on-ride videos. by The Crystal Method. Creative Director Louis Alfieri just To access the tracks, press the As we go to press, not all the said with a smile, “Rockit has the ride’s logo at the top of the screen songs have been identified, and ability to offer layers of discovery for five to 10 seconds and then let they could change at any time. to the guest that no other coaster go. When the number keypad comes Check out our blog entry at has ever had before.” up, enter a three-digit number from AttractionsMagazine.com/blog for Other riders have been more 001 to 999 and press enter. Be aware the most up-to-date song list. For forthcoming, sharing not only how that there aren’t anywhere near now, here’s the unconfirmed hidden to access these hidden tracks, but 999 songs available. So if you try a song list so far: #103 – “Break on Through” by The Doors #132 – “Drumbone” by Blue Man Group #709 - “Mouth for War” by Pantera #104 – “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John #301 – “Float On” by Modest Mouse #710 – “Painkiller” by Judas Priest #105 - “Do it Again” by Steely Dan #302 - “I Want You Back” by The Jackson Five #711 - “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath #108 – “8 Miles High” by The Byrds #303 - “In My Pocket” by The Cat Empire #713 - “The Wicker Man” by Iron Maiden #109 - “Fantasy” by Aldo Nova #304 - “It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me” by Billy Joel #715 - “Wake Up Dead” by Megadeth #112 – “Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd #306 - “Lose Yourself” by Eminem #718 - “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” #113 - “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin #307 - “Ride Like The Wind” by Christopher Cross by Judas Priest #114 - “Just Because” by Jane’s Addiction #308 - “Run to You” by Bryan Adams #901 - “Movin’ Right Along” #115 - “Live” by Lenny Kravitz #309 - “Save Room” by John Legend by Kermit The Frog and Fozzy Bear #123 – “Stockholm Syndrom” by Muse #312 - “My Everything” by Barry White #902 - “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit The Frog #124 – “Diary of Jane” by Breaking Benjamin #508 - “Pivot” by Dry #904 - “Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky #127 – “Urgent” by Foreigner #701 – “Cyanide” by Metallica #129 – “Wheel in the Sky” by Journey #702 - unknown song by Metallica If you find any other hidden songs, #130 – “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who #704 - “Forever Down” by Black Label Society e-mail their names and numbers to #131 – “Klein Mandelbrot” remix #707 - “Know your Enemy” [email protected]. by The Blue Man Group by Rage Against the Machine rock/metal, pop/disco, rap/ site, so guests can preview and sharp turns and tight maneuvers style seating, which means each hip-hop, country, and club/ pick their soundtrack ahead of needed for the relatively small row is raised a little higher than electronica. These include songs time. space that now houses the the one in front of it. Instead of an from Kanye West, Fergie, and coaster. Each of these X-CARs over-the-head restraint, a tight- Kenny Chesney, The Rip Riding may only hold 12 guests (two fitting, yet comfortable lap bar “Riding a roller coaster, going Experience to a row), but designers have swings over from the side.