Getting Fast & Furious at Universal Orlando

The purpose of Universal Studios Florida, one of three parks at Universal Orlando Resort, is to immerse guests in their favorite movies and television shows. The park's newest ride, Fast & Furious - Supercharged, does exactly that.

Riders are treated to an up-close look at the Fast & Furious family and their fleet of impressive vehicles.

I personally have seen one or two of the movies, but confess that I'm not a superfan. I don't know all of the storylines or even all the characters. But as I walked through the queue, I was impressed by the attention to detail.

First, Supercharged uses the Virtual Line system to cut down on wait time. Just open the Official Universal Orlando Resort App on your phone and choose the Fast & Furious - Supercharged icon from the home screen. From there, you can reserve a ride time for your entire party, and show up a few minutes before your reservation. This means you'll be able to enjoy more of the park and admire the details from the movie in the queue. Those with Express Passes will be able to skip the Virtual Line process and walk straight into the line.

MORE Entertainment

Disneyland's Newly Reopened Toontown Offers...

Traveling With Denella Ri'chard Now Available on the...

TRON Lightcycle / Run: What It’s Like to Ride...

You'll start by wandering past the family barbecue area outside before you walk into the warehouse. Once inside, check out the replicas of the Fast & Furious characters' cars. I noticed avid fans of the franchise snapping pictures of each vehicle and talking about which car belonged to whom.

For those who aren't as interested in the cars, clips from the movie are projected on the walls, and party music is playing in the background. Whether you're into the movies or not, this waiting room is downright enjoyable.

But the queue isn't why guests show up for the new ride, and I appreciated that it moved quite quickly. Instead of keeping riders in line for long periods of time, large groups are led first into the break room, or the "family room" as Dom Toretto, one of the main characters of the franchise, calls it.

Pictures of the family members hang on the walls, including one of the late Paul Walker who played the role of Brian O'Conner in the movies. Almost right away a video of Mia Toretto, played by Jordana Brewster, pops up on the screen, giving riders instructions and information. The actor who welcomes the riders into the room interacts with the recording, making it seem like a live video chat.

From there, you quickly move into Tej's war room. Tej is played by Ludacris, and once again, a live actor interacts with his recording. Here you learn the premise of the ride: you are celebrating the family's most recent victorious car race and are heading to the after party on a decked out party bus. They warn you to make sure to turn off your phone, though, because you don't want the FBI to trace your phone and break up the party!

When you leave the war room, you'll finally board the party bus and drive through a tunnel until you come upon a party scene. A group of partygoers is dancing and enjoying themselves when an FBI agent busts in and breaks up the party. Here you'll learn that Owen Shaw, an enemy of the Fast & Furious family, is looking for someone on your bus. This is where the action begins!

Suddenly, you find yourself in the middle of a high-speed chase featuring the characters from the movie. This takes place in a 360 room with video projected on all sides to make the chase seem even more realistic. You'll notice that when there are explosions or gunshots, actual blasts of heat are blown at the tram. It's exciting but very loud, so be aware of that if you or your family are sensitive to noise.

Don't expect a thrilling roller coaster here. But if you're a fan of the series, this ride is definitely worth a look. The chance to be part of the Fast & Furious crew is fun and exciting, especially if you get into the right mindset. Enjoy the movie props, the attention to detail, and the recordings from the franchise's actors and you'll have a great time on Fast & Furious - Supercharged.

Schedule

Schedule

Schedule

Schedule

Schedule

Schedule

Schedule

Schedule