Universal Studios Hollywood has promised to build another sound barrier around its new attraction after neighbors complained about the screams from riders. Park executives also said the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift won’t run between 8AM and 9AM for the rest of the year, Deadline reports.
The meeting drew at least 350 people. Residents in the affluent Toluca Lake area say the rollercoaster, which opened September 16th, is too loud despite existing noise controls.
What the ride already does
Universal has already added several protections to the coaster. These include:
- An existing sound barrier
- Designing the 72 mph vehicle to barely make a sound during operation
- Turning rider cars away from the residential area during scream moments
That has not stopped the complaints.
Roy P. Disney speaks up
Roy P. Disney, Walt’s great-nephew, is one of the neighbors pushing back. He argued that the noise violates Universal’s land-use permits.
“I would argue this is in violation of [Universal Studios’] land usage permits.”
Another resident said the noise is keeping him from composing music. Others noted that most of their homes are older than the park, which opened as a movie studio in 1912 and became a theme park in 1964.
The quiet hour
The no-operation window between 8AM and 9AM is a notable concession. It means the coaster will sit idle during morning hours when neighbors are likely to be awake.
What happens next
Universal has not said when the second sound barrier will be built. The company has promised to build it, but no timeline has been given.
The neighborhood’s case
Residents are asking for more than a polite request. They want Universal to enforce its own land-use rules, which they believe the coaster is breaking.
The complaints
The meeting showed that even the wealthy can be annoyed by screaming tourists. Whether Universal builds the second barrier remains to be seen.
See the a run of 28 images at The Verge.
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