The new Fast & Furious attraction at Universal Orlando packs
as much thrill—and authenticity—as the movie franchise.The Car Lover’s Ride
BEFORE YOU GET any where near the actual
ride portion of the Fast & Furious: Super-
charged attraction at Universal Studios
Florida, you enter a building that looks like
a warehouse with a hint of detention facility.
It is exactly the kind of building frequented
by the motley, lovable characters who popu-
late the eight (and counting) installments of
the Fast & Furious movie franchise, which
launched in 2001 and has grossed $5.1 bil-
lion. In fact, the building has been designed
and built with such attention to detail that
you forget the theme park that surrounds
you—the lovely water-taxi ride from the
hotel, the line at the Harry Potter ride, the
guy selling churros, the gift shops.
In a way you didn’t quite expect, you
are immersed.
Nothing about this theme-park attrac-
tion looks like a theme-park attraction. The
sign that says how tall you have to be to ride
looks like some kind of industrial noticeoutside an abandoned factory.
The fencing that guides ride-
goers through the queue is the
kind you might have to jump
over to escape the law. Every-
thing is covered with a patina
of real-looking rust.
“The crew did a great job of
making everything extremely
authentic,” says Mike West,
the executive producer behind
the attraction. “We’ve got
security cameras, which of
course are for Tej”—the tech
whiz played by Ludacris—“to see what’s
going on.”
As you make your way through the line,
the Florida sunshine disappears and sud-
denly you’re in the garage (pictured), a
5,400-square-foot cavern built of steel and
concrete and motor oil. Actual cars from
the ilms—the Dodge Daytona and the FordEscort from Fast & Furious 6,
among others—are right
there. There are areas desig-
nated for NOS replacement,
brake repair. “Everything,
every tool, every carburetor,
every brake—it’s all real,” says
West. Dennis McCarthy, the
picture car coordinator who
consults on the franchise, was
instrumental in designing the
experience.
The music grows louder,
thumping through the walls.
The line funnels you into a bus, and you’re
told that you’re going to a party, which is
when you get to the actual ride portion.
And after all this, the ride feels like a bonus.
The whole experience is not only a car nut’s
dream, it also gives you the same gift you get
from watching a great movie in a dark the-
ater: the best kind of escape.ABOUT
THE RIDE
Opened
April 23, 201
Yea r s i t to o k
to build
Four-ish
No. of actual movie
cars used
12
No. of wax Vin
Diesel statues
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