Noise from Universal’s latest ride made rich locals furious, fast

Universal Studios Hollywood has pledged to erect another sound barrier around its latest attraction after local residents complained about the bloodcurdling screams from riders. In a meeting attended by at least 350 people yesterday, park execs also promised that Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift won’t operate between 8AM and 9AM for the rest of the year, Deadline reports. Several mitigations have already been implemented into the ride — which opened on September 16th this year — including an existing sound barrier, designing the 72 mph rollercoaster to barely make a sound during operation, and even making the rider cars turn away from the residential area during key scream moments. That hasn’t been enough, according to folks who live in the affluent nearby Toluca Lake area, and they want Universal to do more to silence enthusiastic riders. Walt Disney’s great-nephew Roy P. Disney is one such neighbor, saying “I would argue this is in violation of [Universal Studios’] land usage permits.” Another resident at the meeting complained that the noise is preventing him from composing music, and others called on execs to remember that most of their houses are older than the park (which opened as a movie studio in 1912, and became a theme park in 1964).