Universal Studios Hollywood's fastest roller coaster opened Wednesday, Sept. 16, to 90-minute wait times. Nearby in Toluca Lake, residents gathered to let reporters hear what they hear every day: screams.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a 72-mph outdoor coaster with four launches along 4,100 feet of track, is the centerpiece of the park's push to mark the franchise's 25th anniversary. The Los Angeles Times reported it is Universal's first high-speed outdoor coaster.

Jon Corfino, the park's lead creative executive, said the ride changes the park's identity. He called it a project a decade in the making, one visible from the freeway. Ride vehicles modeled after the franchise's iconic cars rotate 360 degrees to simulate drifting. The coaster pulls up to 3.6 Gs. The Orange County Register named it the best new coaster of 2026.

Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, and Scott Strobl, executive vice president and general manager of Universal Studios Hollywood, cut a ceremonial chain at a private event Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Toluca Lake pushes back

The celebration has a sharp counterpoint. Universal City Neighbors, a coalition of residents near the park, hosted reporters in Toluca Lake on opening day to demonstrate the noise they say has disrupted their neighborhood since passenger testing began in late July.

Colby Jensen, 55, a Toluca Lake resident of 26 years, told the Times the screams are relentless. "It's a constant stress," Jensen said. "It'll be quiet for a minute, and then you'll hear this cacophony of screams."

Fred Iberri, whose family has lived in Toluca Lake for 90 years, pushed back on the idea that neighbors chose to live near a theme park. He told the Times he has been in his inherited home for more than 50 years and that the neighborhood was peaceful until outdoor testing started.

Roy P. Disney, great-nephew of Walt Disney, is among the affected residents. He told Deadline he feels his complaints go unheard.

Two neighborhood councils, Greater Toluca Lake and Studio City, have adopted resolutions calling on Universal to address the noise, Spectrum News reported.

What Universal has done

The park built more than 900 feet of sound walls, a low-rumble track filled with pea gravel and two half-pipe shields around portions of the ride. Transparent "scream screens" shield one of the higher curves. Universal has also said it can rotate the cars so riders face away from the neighborhood at the most intense moments.

In a statement, Universal said testing confirms the coaster complies with sound ordinances on its property, which the park described as stricter than city and county codes.

Second District City Councilman Adrin Nazarian said in August that Universal planned to install two additional sound barriers by early September. Whether those barriers were completed before opening day is unclear.

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger sent a letter to the community pledging her office would continue working with residents and Universal to monitor the attraction.

What's next

Universal has scheduled a community meeting with residents for Sept. 30 on the Universal City lot. Some residents told the Times they have begun exploring legal options, citing emotional distress and concerns about property values.

The coalition says it does not want the ride shut down. It wants the noise contained.