Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit now rockin' in Orlando
By Darren Murph 
posted December 10th 2009 3:50PM
posted December 10th 2009 3:50PM
You'll notice that each car actually uses platform seating, so the rear rows can see slightly above those in front. Once strapped in, a bright touchscreen panel awaits your attention on the top of the front lap bar; you can navigate through a half dozen or so genres in order to select one of 30 tracks, and while it's not publicized, those in the know will realize that a few Easter Egg tracks are hidden if you mash the right buttons. Once you select your ride soundtrack, the music begins to blast from the headrest-mounted speakers and you're towed straight up in the air as you await the first big drop. After you unload, you're funneled into a media area where employees are waiting to assist you in the purchase of your ride photo or video. We found out that each individual video is recorded in 720 x 480 resolution, and amazingly enough, each one is ready the moment you step down off the ride.
Guests can choose to purchase their ride DVD (complete with their song of choice) for $29.95 or as part of a few bundle packs that include photos, frames, etc. Photos can be purchased as actual prints, or they can be emailed directly from the kiosk; in our experience, a confirmation email was sent immediately, and our ride photo (it's actually an e-card that shows the photo at the end of the animation) arrived around an hour later. For an idea of what a first-hand video from the ride would look like, pop on past the break.
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I went there, IT WAS AWESOME!
Bring this one in california! The most we got is the shitty jurrasic park ride!
@smartmouth
Actually I'll take that back, it's not shitty,i would just like some diversity...
I am amused by your liberal use of the word "things"
@zomg0t wow, that was a fast correction
I don't get it... is this a real roller coaster? or just a simulator?
@m3cosmos Definitely a real roller coaster.
@m3cosmos
No it's real, i don't know why engadget chose to upload the sim one where they could've have uploaded the POV shots from youtube..
If it were cheaper, more people, including myself, would purchase those pics and vids.
It's a real roller coaster (not virtual) and i thought it kind of sucked. You do not have enough time to scroll through the touch screen console in front of you once you are seated and it remembers the previous rider's song and if you don't change it in time, it plays it the previous again. The initial climb is cool because it is a full 90 degrees but after the first drop, the ride slows down at certain points (for reasons I can't figure out) and never picks up the momentum it started off with.
I liked the music selection though. They had Daft Punk, Paramore, Finger Eleven, Crystal Method, Shiny Toy Guns and NERD along with a ton of other artists.
I have an annual pass and go all the time and I think the Mummy and Simpsons ride are much better anyway.
@herrea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton's_laws_of_motion
http://xkcd.com/249/
Yes. It must be done.
Here's why I was disappointed with the ride: I had NO IDEA that it was going to cost THIRTY DOLLARS to buy a DVD that lasts less than 2 minutes.
I got all excited about the idea, picked a song that I knew the lyrics to (Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk), and proceeded to look into the camera and make a sweet music video during the entire ride. I basically missed the actual ride because I was spending too much time making a fun video. Then we get done, and I'm asked to pay THAT MUCH for a video?? And to top it off, the wait in line was over 90 minutes, so there was no way I was about to get right back in line just to enjoy the actual ride.
As a previous commenter said, and as I said to my wife, if they were charging $10 per DVD, they'd be selling at least 4 times more copies, thus making more money than they were making selling them for $30. And the other upside is that people would be showing their friends & family the DVD and becoming free advertising for Universal. Win-win for them.
Oh well. At least I get to go to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts next year.
The people in the video appear to be petrified with fear, must be a good ride.
I live in Orlando and this has been opened for at least 3 months now as far as I know...
I agree with what most of you have said about the price of the DVD is a little steep but the ride is pretty fun!
I just got back from there, it was really fun. The wait to go on this is ridicules, for the time actually spent on it.
no way that ride opened recently... clearly that videos graphics were rendered in 1999
Wen't a few months back and I thought the ride was a blast!
I rode this back in September... it was okay. My advice... save your money and do only the Islands of Adventure. The rides on that side are much better.
This ride has been open for some time now, but most importantly runs on Windows Mobile 6.5.
The ride breaks down at least once a day. The coaster is supposed to be running 7 cars and have a moving walkway. Currently it runs 4 without the moving walkway. It has vallyed multiple times and cannot be run in the cold. In some cases techs have been seen heating the oil with hair dryers.
That being said, its a fun ride, just make sure you ride the front and avoid single riders line.
The wait time for this ride and all other Universal Orlando/Islands of Adventure rides can always be found on my website:
http://outkastz.com/?x=uni
Also check screamscape for the bonus track list, I haven't been able to bluetooth the xml file from the windows mobile device yet because its really hard to do so while riding the coaster.
Rode this with Sabotage playing, waited two and a half hours, but it was epic. Sweet ride.
(Must say though, this article is a bit late, being that the ride opened August 19th.)
Complaints: the ride breaks down alot, at least three or four times while i was in line, sometimes lasting fifteen minutes, and it's sort of rough for a steel coaster. But it's still awesome.
Yeah, this has been open for months. We've been there several times, and I think it's a really quality addition to the park. The music selection is a bit lacking, but it's a really fun ride. Last time I was there, the moving load platform wasn't working...I hope they address that soon, if they haven't fixed it already.
If you've got an iPhone or an iPod touch, you can have easy, up to the minute access to all of the hidden bonus tracks on my iPhone App. The Pocket Rocket Rollercoaster Setlist is available on the iTunes App store. You can find out all the details on my website at http://www.pocketrockitsetlist.com. Much more than just a list of the songs, the app gives you easy to follow, animated instructions on how to access the hidden menu, allows you to rate individual songs and see how others rated them, keep ride histories so you can keep track of which songs you still need to ride, keep favorites lists and so much more. If you discover a new song on the ride, you can even submit it to us right from the app! Many of the ride operators at Rip Ride Rockit who have iPhones swear by this App! The app went live on October 1st and has already been downloaded from 8 different countries. It has been as high as number 68 on the Travel section of the iTunes App store. Come visit us on the web to find out more.
You have to check out the iPhone app for this ride, it's great! It is so handy when you want to know any of the songs especially the secret songs. Its only 99 cents so why not get it! I got the app even though I haven't gone on the ride because I know I will go on it eventually and want to know about the songs. I hear the ride is great!
Thanks for your support mgonza! Be sure to check out our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pocket-RockIt-Rollercoaster-Setlist/169664498781 for up to the minute news about our app.