During IPW 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, ABC MUNDIAL spoke with Caroll Almeida, Public Relations Manager for Universal Destinations & Experiences, who detailed the company’s latest expansion plans across its U.S. parks, focusing on new attractions, continued investments and strategies targeting the Latin American market.

One of the biggest announcements is the new roller coaster inspired by the “Fast & Furious” franchise that will be built at Universal Studios Hollywood in California. The attraction will become the park’s first major outdoor roller coaster and one of the most significant investments in its recent history.

Almeida explained that the new attraction represents a “major scale transformation” for Universal Studios Hollywood, which until now has primarily featured indoor attractions such as Revenge of the Mummy. The new coaster will introduce a high-speed, high-impact outdoor experience to the park.

The executive emphasized that the attraction is especially aimed at the Latin American market, particularly Mexican travelers, due to their strong presence in Los Angeles. “Universal Studios Hollywood is your best day in LA,” Almeida said, referring to the company’s strategy of positioning the park as a complete entertainment experience within the city.

Although an official opening date has not yet been confirmed, the attraction is expected to debut within the coming months and will reach speeds close to 106 km/h (65 mph), making it one of the fastest attractions in the resort.

At the same time, Almeida revealed that a version of the Fast & Furious roller coaster will also arrive at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando as part of a broader plan to renovate and replace existing attractions.

She explained that Universal continues investing aggressively even after the opening of Epic Universe, the company’s new flagship park in Orlando, which she described as the beginning — not the end — of Universal’s long-term global expansion strategy.

“We continue investing in our parks consistently,” Almeida emphasized while discussing additional attraction upgrades and the ongoing evolution of Universal’s Florida portfolio.

On the hospitality side, Almeida highlighted that Universal currently operates 11 hotels across different categories, offering exclusive guest benefits such as early park admission, complimentary internal transportation and Express Pass access included at Signature category hotels.

Finally, she stressed that Universal has evolved into a full vacation destination rather than a short-stop attraction.

“We recommend at least four days to fully enjoy the parks,” she noted, explaining that shorter visits no longer allow travelers to experience everything the resort now offers.