Hollywood Dream – The Ride

Hollywood Dream – The Ride（ハリウッド・ドリーム・ザ・ライド）is a steel roller coaster located at Universal Studios Japan. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, it features inbuilt sound systems allowing riders to choose their ride music.

Hollywood Dream – The Ride
Previously known as Battlestar Galactica
The ride's first drop
Universal Studios Japan
LocationUniversal Studios Japan
Park sectionHollywood
Coordinates34°40′00″N 135°26′02″E
StatusOperating
Opening date9 March 2007 (2007-03-09)
Cost$50 million[1]
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
DesignerUniversal Creative
ModelHyper Coaster
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height44 m (144 ft)
Drop43 m (141 ft)
Length1,200 m (3,900 ft)
Speed90 km/h (56 mph)
Inversions0
Duration2:31
Max vertical angle50°
Height restriction132 cm (4 ft 4 in)
Trains5 trains with 9 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 36 riders per train.
Single rider line available
Hollywood Dream – The Ride at RCDB
Pictures of Hollywood Dream – The Ride at RCDB

History

In July 2006, Universal Studios Japan announced a 2007 proposed installation of a new roller coaster. Although full details of the ride were not announced, officials stated that $50 million would be invested in the attraction. At the time this was the park's second highest investment, following the $120 million The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride.[1] On 9 March 2007, after approximately eight months of construction, the park officially opened Hollywood Dream.[2]

In 2009, Universal Studios Florida opened the roller coaster Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Although this ride was manufactured by Maurer Söhne, and featured a different track layout, it was inspired by Hollywood Dream. Both rides use on-board audio systems allowing rider-selection of music.[3]

In 2013, Universal Studios Japan announced that from 15 March to 7 July they would be operating the ride with sections of the trains facing backwards, under the name Hollywood Dream – The Ride – Backdrop.[4] As of 2019, Backdrop is still an option in the park.

Characteristics
One of the ride's trains in the station

Statistics

Hollywood Dream is a custom-built Bolliger & Mabillard Mega Coaster. The 1,200-metre-long (3,900 ft) ride reaches a height of 44 metres (144 ft), has a maximum vertical angle of 50°, has no inversions, and has a top speed of 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph).[2] The ride lasts two-and-a-half minutes and riders must be at least 132 centimetres (52 in) in height to ride the attraction.[5]

Trains

Each of Hollywood Dream's 5 trains carry 36 riders in nine cars, each having a row of four seats. All trains have an on-board audio and lighting system, with each seat having a headrest stereo sound system capable of playing one of five songs selected by the rider with a control panel inserted into the seat's restraining lap bar.[2][6][7] The on-board audio and lighting system animates LED lights that are built into the trains' sides and front riderless pilot coach. The lighting program varies as the train moves, with different animations for different track sections and the station. The lighting pattern used for the park entrance track section gives the effect of a Comet with a sparkling head and glittering trail of light.

One of Hollywood Dream – The Ride's trains at night

Musical selections

Riders can choose to play one of five tracks during the ride. At the time of the ride's launch these tracks included "Homebound Train" by Bon Jovi, "Lose Yourself" by Eminem, "Get Back" by The Beatles, "Osaka Lover" by Dreams Come True, and "The Wing Named You" by Kobukuro.[8] They currently play songs such as "On Our Way" by The Royal Concept and "Can't Stop the Feeling!" by Justin Timberlake. As of December 2017, the English pop songs include "Live While We're Young" by One Direction and "Feel This Moment" by Pitbull and Christina Aguilera.

The ride's musical tracks changes over time.

Ride experience

Riders approach Hollywood Dream within the Hollywood area of Universal Studios Japan. Admission is through four entrance options: general admittance, holders of Universal Express Passes, single riders, and "child switch". Child switch is designed for children with adults, where one adult takes the ride while the other looks after a child, both then switching roles.[5]

After being dispatched from the station the train ascends a 44-metre-tall (144 ft) half-enclosed chain lift hill.[2][9] As the train begins its descent, music of choice begins to play. The train turns to the right and then proceeds over the first of many camelback hills. This hill navigates over the roof structure covering the park's Hollywood area. A heavily banked turnaround is followed by another camelback over the roof. After a turn to the left the ride track runs parallel to the park's Hollywood street, after which the train navigates over two more camelback hills, and is slowed as it runs through a set of block brakes at the top of another hill. After descending out of the brakes, the train enters a one-and-a-half turn upward-spiralling helix followed by another camelback hill. A tunnel with strobe lighting leads the train into the final brake-run before it returns to the station.[2][10]

Reception

In the first month after the ride's opening, Universal Studios Japan saw a rapid rise in attendance. This rise was directly attributed to Hollywood Dream and saw the company significantly increase their projections for profit for that financial year.[11] The popularity of the ride eventually saw the park's net income increase by 63.6%.[12]

In Mitch Hawker's worldwide Best Roller Coaster Poll, Hollywood Dream – The Ride peaked at position 69 in its debut year. The ride's ranking in subsequent polls is shown in the table below.[13]

Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best Steel-Tracked Roller Coaster[13]
Year20072008200920102012
Ranking
69
79
93
81
70

References
  1. "Universal Studios Building New Roller Coaster For 2007". Ultimate Rollercoaster. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  2. Marden, Duane. "Hollywood Dream: The Ride  (Universal Studios Japan)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  3. "Maurer Söhne reveals new projects". Park World Magazine. Datateam Business Media Limited. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  4. "Hollywood Dream - The Ride ~ Backdrop ~". Universal Studios Japan. 2013. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  5. "Hollywood Dream – The Ride". Universal Studios Japan. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  6. Santana, Kenny (10 January 2010). "The battle of the amusement parks". The Jakarta Post. PT Bina Media Tenggara. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  7. Marden, Duane. "Hollywood Dream: The Ride  (Universal Studios Japan)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  8. "Hollywood Dream: The Ride". Coaster-Net. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  9. MacDonald, Brady (3 April 2013). "PortAventura to debut Europe's tallest coaster in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  10. Alvey, Robb (26 January 2011). "Hollywood Dream Roller Coaster POV Onride Universal Studios Japan Osaka". Theme Park Review. YouTube. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  11. "USJ makes sharp upward revision of profit estimate for FY 2006". Kyodo News International. Kyodo News. 17 April 2007.
  12. "USJ Co., Ltd. Reports Third Quarter Net Income Increases 63.6%; Shareholders' Benefit Plan Launched". JCN Newswire. Japan Corporate News Network. 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  13. Hawker, Mitch (2013). "Steel Roller Coaster Poll 12 Year Results Table (1999 - 2012)". Best Roller Coaster Poll. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
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