Universal Studios Hollywood has promised to build another sound barrier around its new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster after local residents complained about rider screams. At a meeting attended by at least 350 people, park executives also said the ride will not operate between 8AM and 9AM for the rest of the year, according to Deadline.
The ride, which opened on September 16, already had several noise mitigations: an existing sound barrier, a design meant to keep the 72 mph coaster quiet during operation, and cars that turn away from residential areas during key scream moments. But residents in the affluent Toluca Lake neighborhood say these measures are insufficient. Roy P. Disney, Walt Disney's great-nephew, argued the ride may violate Universal's land-use permits, while another resident said the noise prevents him from composing music.
Some residents noted that most of their homes predate the park, which began as a movie studio in 1912 and became a theme park in 1964. The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between entertainment companies expanding their attractions and the wealthy communities that surround them, where even well-engineered noise controls may not be enough to satisfy neighbors.