350 Residents Attend Meeting to Address Screams Coming from New Fast & Furious Coaster, Say Event Turned ‘Hostile’

Residents of Toluca Lake, near Universal Studios Hollywood, recently gathered for a community meeting aimed at addressing the ongoing noise issues stemming from the park’s latest attraction, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift. The event, attended by approximately 350 local residents, highlighted escalating concerns about the sounds produced by the roller coaster since its opening on September 16, 2023. Public overall displeasure regarding the noise was palpable, with some residents describing the screams emanating from the ride as disruptive to their daily lives.

In a response to these concerns, Universal Studios Hollywood plans to implement modifications including sound-absorbing barriers and revised operating hours for the coaster. Attendees at the meeting reported that executives from the park presented a series of slides outlining commitments to community engagement and stating that resident feedback would reach senior leadership. However, the presentation was not recorded, prompting some participants to feel that their concerns were not being accurately documented.

The meeting follows several months of unrest among residents, particularly those who live in close proximity to the park. Many have described the noise from the roller coaster as overwhelming. Local resident Rob Cerny emphasised the impact on his home environment, noting the noise made their backyard unusable and left his wife distressed. Patrick Nazari echoed these sentiments, comparing the screams to a scene of violence, which he found alarming.

In the wake of these complaints, officials from Los Angeles City Council, led by Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, publicised plans for Universal Studios to enhance its noise-reduction efforts. Among the proposed actions are two additional sound barriers designed to diminish the auditory impact on nearby homes. During the community meeting, park representatives indicated that they would introduce a temporary noise barrier, which would consist of over 1,900 square feet of sound-absorbing material. If this proves effective, there will be an application for permanent installation.

Additionally, the park has decided to shorten the operating hours of the roller coaster, which will not operate between 8 and 9 a.m. until the end of the year. Usually, Universal Studios opens as early as 7 a.m. for early access visitors throughout October. Executives also suggested that the ride’s configuration could be adjusted to redirect noise away from residential areas during the ride’s most intense moments.

Throughout the meeting, residents presented their experiences and grievances, including audio recordings that exemplified the disruptive noise. One particularly impactful moment centred around a message from auditory communications expert Dr. Luc Arnal, who voiced the health risks associated with chronic noise exposure, linking it to stress, sleep disturbances, and cardiovascular issues. Residents were quick to remind Universal executives that many of their homes predate the theme park.

Among the local figures attending, Roy P. Disney, the great-nephew of Walt Disney, raised concerns regarding potential violations of the park’s land usage permits due to the noise levels. The atmosphere of the meeting grew tense during the Q&A session, where one resident vocally demanded assurances that the noise issue would be resolved within a year. This prompted an unsettling response from park officials; one executive suggested that residents could wear noise-canceling headphones to solve the problem, triggering outrage and accusations of insensitivity.

In an effort to maintain open lines of communication, a spokesperson for Universal Studios issued a statement affirming the importance of community input in their plans. They highlighted that the roller coaster complies with established sound standards that exceed local regulations, and asserted that the park has significantly invested in sound-reduction measures following local feedback. The spokesperson reiterated a commitment to ongoing dialogue with the community to explore further solutions.

As residents continue to voice their dissatisfaction, it remains to be seen how effectively Universal Studios Hollywood will implement these changes and whether they will satisfy the local community’s demands for relief from the noise generated by the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift attraction.