Universal Studios Hollywood is getting ready to give some of its most loyal guests an early shot at its newest roller coaster.Pass Member previews have officially been announced for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, giving Annual Passholders several opportunities to experience the attraction before Universal announces its official opening date.Credit: UniversalThe previews will take place on August 19, 20, 21, and 23, marking another major step toward the coaster’s full debut. However, this isn’t quite a traditional preview period leading directly into a confirmed grand opening.Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift has already been operating through technical rehearsals, and Universal now has another issue to address before the coaster fully settles into regular operations.Noise complaints from nearby residents have led Universal to plan additional sound barriers around the attraction. That work could push the official opening farther into the future.For Pass Members, though, the wait is about to get a little easier.Universal Announces Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Pass Member PreviewsUniversal Studios Hollywood Pass Members will have four preview dates available for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift: August 19, August 20, August 21, and August 23.Unlike the technical rehearsals that guests have already encountered, Pass Members can’t simply arrive and expect to participate in these previews.An RSVP is required, and availability is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. That makes securing a reservation particularly important for Passholders hoping to experience the new coaster during the preview period.Credit: Inside The MagicThere’s also an important benefit for Pass Members whose passes would normally be blocked on one of those dates. According to the preview details, Pass Members with a valid RSVP can attend the event even if their pass has a blockout date that day.The minimum height requirement for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is 51 inches, or 130 centimeters.Universal is also making it clear that these previews remain part of a technical rehearsal. Operations can experience delays, temporary closures, or even cancellations. In other words, getting an RSVP doesn’t necessarily guarantee that everything will operate exactly like it will once the coaster officially opens.Still, the announcement represents a significant development.Universal is moving from unannounced technical rehearsal opportunities into scheduled Pass Member previews, allowing more of its dedicated guests to plan around a specific opportunity to ride.The New Universal Coaster Is Already Carrying GuestsInterestingly, Pass Members won’t technically be the first members of the public to ride Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.Universal began technical rehearsals without reservations on July 27.That means some regular park guests have already had opportunities to experience the coaster when it has been available. Technical rehearsals allow Universal to operate an attraction with real guests while continuing to evaluate ride systems, procedures, capacity, and other operational factors.The attraction itself represents a major addition to Universal Studios Hollywood.Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift reaches speeds of up to 72 mph and features approximately 4,100 feet of track. Its ride vehicles take inspiration from cars featured in the Fast & Furious franchise and can rotate as they move along the coaster track.Credit: UniversalThe August Pass Member previews bring Universal another step closer to normal operations, but there’s one major piece still missing.Universal has not announced when Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will officially open.And the reason for that continued uncertainty may now extend beyond ordinary technical rehearsals.Noise Complaints Lead to More Work on Hollywood DriftWhile Universal prepares for its Pass Member previews, the company is also responding to concerns from people living near Universal Studios Hollywood.Los Angeles City Council Member Adrin Nazarian announced that Universal plans to install two additional sound barriers around Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.Recent sound testing reportedly met the park’s requirements, but residents in nearby Toluca Lake have complained about hearing screams from riders.Noise was already a consideration well before the coaster began carrying guests.Universal conducted sound testing in early 2023 and planned noise-reduction measures for the attraction, including sound shield panels. With guests now riding the coaster during technical rehearsals, however, Universal has received additional feedback from the surrounding community.As a result, two more barriers are coming.Construction on those barriers is expected to continue into early September, potentially complicating the timeline for an official opening.Universal hasn’t confirmed that the sound barrier project is the reason an opening date remains unannounced. However, the timing creates the possibility that the park could wait until the additional work is complete before officially debuting the attraction.That’s an unusual position for such a major new ride.Guests can already potentially experience Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift through technical rehearsals. Pass Members now have dedicated preview dates. Yet Universal still hasn’t put an official grand opening date on the calendar.What the Delay Means for Pass MembersFor Passholders, the situation actually makes the August preview dates more interesting.Normally, a Pass Member preview happens shortly before a new attraction officially opens to everyone. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is following a less predictable path.The coaster has already carried guests, Pass Member previews are approaching, and additional construction is simultaneously being planned to address concerns from outside the park.That makes August 19, 20, 21, and 23 particularly valuable dates for Pass Members who want to experience the coaster without waiting for Universal to settle on an official opening.Of course, the technical rehearsal designation remains important.Universal could temporarily stop operations during a preview day. Delays are possible, and Pass Members shouldn’t necessarily expect the attraction to operate continuously from park opening through closing.That’s part of the tradeoff that comes with experiencing a major attraction before its formal debut.For many Universal fans, getting onto Hollywood Drift early will probably make that uncertainty worthwhile.Universal Still Has One Big Announcement LeftPass Member previews are usually a strong indication that a new attraction is nearing the end of its pre-opening process.Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift appears close, but its situation remains unusually fluid.Universal has scheduled Pass Member previews for four days in August while preparing to install two more sound barriers following complaints from nearby residents. The additional construction is expected to be completed by early September.Until Universal announces otherwise, the coaster remains in technical rehearsal rather than full operation.Credit: UniversalFor Pass Members, however, the biggest news is simple: they now have specific dates when they can try to get behind the wheel.August 19, 20, 21, and 23 will give qualifying Passholders their dedicated opportunity to experience Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest major attraction. Reservations are required, capacity is limited, and operations remain subject to change.After that, all eyes will turn toward Universal for the announcement guests are still waiting to hear.Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift may already be running, but its official opening date remains one of Universal Studios Hollywood’s biggest unanswered questions.The post Universal Studios Hollywood Gives Passholders 4 Exclusive Dates for Its New Fast & Furious Coaster appeared first on Inside the Magic.