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Stardust Racers

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Stardust Racers
Universal Epic Universe
Park section Celestial Park
Status Under construction
Opening date May 22, 2025
General Statistics
Type Steel – Dueling – Racing – Launched
Manufacturer Mack Rides
Lift/launch system Linear motor launch
  Green Yellow
Height 133 ft (40.5 m) 133 ft (40.5 m)
Length 5,000 ft (1,524.0 m) 5,000 ft (1,524.0 m)
Speed 62 mph (99.8 km/h) 62 mph (99.8 km/h)
Inversions 1 1
Height restriction 48 in (122 cm)
Trains 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.
Official website Stardust Racers
Stardust Racers at RCDB
Pictures of Stardust Racers at RCDB

Stardust Racers is an upcoming steel dueling launched roller coaster at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida. Universal Orlando first announced the new park in August 2019 before officially unveiling Stardust Racers and its associated Celestial Park central district in January 2024.[1][2]

Stardust Racers was manufactured by Mack Rides and includes two 5,000-foot (1,500 m) pairs of track, collectively making it one of the largest steel coasters in the United States.[3][4] It is set to open on May 22, 2025.

History

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Development

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Universal Epic Universe was first announced on August 1, 2019, as a new third-gate theme park that would double Universal Orlando's footprint.[5][6] No attractions or details were divulged at the time, although a large dueling coaster was predominantly visible in concept artwork. German roller coaster manufacturer Mack Rides subsequently patented a new ride inversion design in the fall, where twin tracks twisted over each other while rising and falling from a peak.[7] This would later become widely referred to as the Celestial Spin.[8]

Epic Universe was originally scheduled to open in 2023, but parent company Comcast announced in April 2020 that construction would be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] Europa Park owner Roland Mack announced in September that Universal had cancelled his company's order for "the largest roller coaster in the world", which was valued at well over 20 million euros and wouldn't be delivered in the foreseeable future.[4] Construction on Epic Universe resumed in March 2021 and the following January Roland confirmed that Universal had renewed the contract as a result, which had been amended to include a second coaster project.[10][11]

Construction

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Track and supports for the attraction began arriving in August 2022.[12] Construction oversaw groundwork and coaster installation taking place concurrently, with each section being completed in phases. The first pieces were fitted in November 2022 with the initial launch tracks and maintenance bays, with the layout being physically completed in June 2023.[13][14] The highlight Celestial Spin element was topped off near the end of May.[15]

Announcement

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Universal City Studios LLC submitted a trademark application for "Starfall Racers" to the United States Patent and Trademark Office on March 7, 2023.[16] On January 30, 2024, Universal Orlando formally shared information on Epic Universe and its central Celestial Park precinct.[17] Starfall Racers was also officially announced at this time, with a wide variety of concept artwork and animation released to the public.[3][18] The coaster is currently expected to open with the park in 2025. In 2024, the name was challenged by the Starfall Education Foundation for "brand misappropriation toward children" and in late May 2024, the rollercoaster was renamed to "Stardust Racers", which was a backup trademark name in the event.[19]

Characteristics

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Each side of Stardust Racers will stand 133 feet (41 m) tall, cover around 5,000 feet (1,500 m) feet of track, and reach a top speed of 62 mph (100 km/h). The aforementioned peak height will be reached during the attraction's signature Celestial Spin element, where the tracks invert around each other while rising and falling. The top speed meanwhile will be reached using a pair of linear motor launches on each side.

Stardust Racers will run with up to four trains on each track, given that the maintenance bays can hold eight sets.[12] Each train will be made up of five cars where riders sit in two rows of two, for a total of twenty passengers. While the ride structure won't display any lighting at night, the trains will include onboard audio and lights, making the illuminated ride vehicles appear as comets in the night sky.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Universal Orlando Resort Announces Ambitious New Theme Park" (Press release). Universal Orlando. August 1, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ Beldon, Matthew (January 30, 2024). "Universal Orlando announces Epic lands at new theme park". WFTS-TV. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Starfall Racers at Universal Epic Universe". Orlando Informer. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Knieps, Stephan; Schlesiger, Christian (August 1, 2019). "Europapark-Betreiber droht Auftrag für weltgrößte Achterbahn zu verlieren". WirtschaftsWoche (in German). Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  5. ^ O'Kane, Caitlin (August 1, 2019). "Universal Studios Orlando announces new theme park, Epic Universe". CBS News. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Tuttle, Brittani (August 1, 2019). "Universal Orlando announces new theme park, Universal's Epic Universe". CBS News. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "EP3685894A1 – Guide device, ride and method for operating a ride". Google Patents. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  8. ^ Stella, Alicia (February 22, 2023). "Epic Universe Update: Coaster Top Hat Installed, Attraction Rumors, and Nintendo World Portal". CBS News. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  9. ^ Russon, Gabrielle; Hudak, Stephen (April 30, 2020). "Universal Orlando's new Epic Universe theme park will be delayed because of coronavirus pandemic". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  10. ^ Whitten, Sarah (March 3, 2021). "Universal set to resume construction of Epic Universe park in Florida". CNBC. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  11. ^ "Die Zukunft der Freizeitparks – mit Roland Mack". Spotify. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  12. ^ a b @bioreconstruct (August 19, 2022). "Aerial overview of staging area for track and supports of the high speed..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Cygnus (November 8, 2022). "Universal's Epic Universe Construction Thread". Inside Universal. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  14. ^ @bioreconstruct (June 23, 2023). "Aerial overview of the recently completed tracks of the dual-racing roller..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ @bioreconstruct (May 25, 2023). "At #1 in this aerial of the dual-racing coaster in Epic Universe is an..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Trademark/Service Mark Application, Principal Register". tsdr.uspto.gov. March 7, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  17. ^ "Introducing Universal Epic Universe". YouTube. Universal Orlando. January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  18. ^ Chen, Eve (January 30, 2024). "Universal Orlando Resort reveals first details on highly anticipated Epic Universe". Courier Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Tuttle, Brit (31 May 2024). "Starfall Racers Renamed to 'Stardust Racers' at Epic Universe Due to Trademark Infringement". WDWNT. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
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