Do you love 1) Speed 2) New York City and 3) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon?
If you answered yes to any/all of these, then you have to join in on the fun and come head to head with Jimmy on a high-speed-action-packed race through the Big Apple on Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon in Universal Studios Florida.
The Queue
As you enter the ride building, you’re walking through the hallways of the iconic NBC Studios, the studio’s headquarters in New York City. The downstairs lobby plays tribute to The Tonight Show hosts through the years and displays sets, props, and memorabilia of each era. You are then greeted into the ride by an NBC Page who will give you a color-coded pass for later.
Head on over to the upstairs area where you might just be serenaded by The Ragtime Gals barbershop quartet, can enjoy some Hashtag the Panda moves, or play with some very cool interactive games. Once you see the room light the color of your card, go see the NBC Page who will guide you into Studio 6B. You will be greeted by Jimmy himself, who will share one of his famous monologues followed by safety precautions like you’ve never seen before — all in preparation for you and Jimmy to board your vehicles and experience the race of a lifetime.
FUN FACT: As you receive a ticket from the NBC Pages for the virtual queue, the cards match one of the six colors in the NBC Peacock logo.
The Ride
In this motion simulation 3-D ride experience, Jimmy Fallon challenges you to race him through New York City aboard his race car, The Tonight Rider. The competition starts inside the corridors of Studio 6B’s backstage and heads through iconic New York landmarks.
You can literally smell the pizza and feel the underground heat of the manholes while creating some turmoil within the city that never sleeps. From driving through construction sites, swarming through the busy traffic, and riding away from the honking and beeping of the yellow taxis to riding underground and invading the subway tracks, this is an adventure where you will have to hold on tight to the steering wheel.
While racing, you will encounter some friendly faces such as Tight Pants, Hashtag the Panda, The Ragtime Gals, and even Sara (with no “H” because “Hs are eeeww”) and their stepdad (nobody cares about Gary’s name) who cheer you on as you embark on this high-speed adventure.
This fast-paced journey even takes you to new heights and depths as the vehicles convert into hovercrafts that fly through the city’s skyscrapers, dive into the East River for a very close shark encounter, and then up again, soaring over the city, around Lady Liberty’s torch, and through the city’s fireworks.
Warning: Be careful with Hashtag the Panda, who has taken on a King Kong persona and is trying to catch you.
We can say that this ride is out of this world — literally, as the race’s next checkpoint is the moon. Enjoy some zero-gravity entertainment and some lunar thank you notes by Jimmy. In no time, go from floating to zooming as you are sent back to earth in a hyperdrive tube that takes you back to the finish line at 30 Rock’s Studio B6. May the best driver win!
Ride Details
- Height requirement: 40” (102 cm)
- Children under 48” (122 cm) require a supervising companion
- Universal Express Pass is available
Gift Shop
The fun doesn’t have to stop after you finish the race. Celebrate your victory and stop by the NBC store to stock up on NBC merchandise and apparel — just like the ones you find at the NBC Studios store in New York City. If you love the show and its characters, grab yourself a Hashtag the Panda plush and some white tight pants. Or if you think all of this is “ewww”, well, then you can get some Sara-approved souvenirs.
After you ride neck-to-neck with Jimmy Fallon, share with us your favorite part of the ride in the comments below!