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Stardust Racers

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Stardust Racers
Previously known as Starfall Racers
Universal Epic Universe
Park section Celestial Park
Coordinates 28°26′29″N 81°26′48″W / 28.441446°N 81.446672°W / 28.441446; -81.446672
Status Operating
Opening date May 22, 2025 (2025-05-22)
General statistics
Type Steel – Dueling – Launched
Manufacturer Mack Rides
Designer Universal Creative
Lift/launch system LSM launch
  Pulsar Photon
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.
Website Official website
Stardust Racers at RCDB
Pictures of Stardust Racers at RCDB

Stardust Racers is a steel dual-tracked roller coaster located at Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, United States. Manufactured by Mack Rides, the dueling coaster[1][2] officially opened to the public on May 22, 2025. It features multiple electromagnetic LSM launches, a maximum speed of 62 mph (100 km/h), and two 5,000-foot (1,500 m) tracks, which collectively make it one of the largest steel coasters in the United States.

Universal Orlando first unveiled the ride as Starfall Racers during an official announcement in January 2024.[3][4] A trademark challenge forced Universal to rename it Stardust Racers in May 2024. In its inaugural season, the ride was well received and earned Amusement Today's Best New Roller Coaster award for 2025. It also ranked 17th among steel roller coasters worldwide in the annual Golden Ticket Awards.

History

Development and construction

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] Although ride and attraction details were not divulged at the time, 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 one another while rising and falling from a peak.[7] This element would later become known 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] Roland Mack, Europa Park co-founder and former Mack Rides managing director,[10] stated in September 2020 that Universal had cancelled his company's order for "the largest roller coaster in the world",[11] valued over 20 million euros.[11][12] After construction on Epic Universe resumed in March 2021, Roland confirmed that Universal had renewed the previous contract, which had been amended to include a second coaster project.[13][14]

Entrance to Stardust Racers at Epic Universe

Track and supports for the attraction began arriving in August 2022.[15] 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, and the highlight Celestial Spin element was topped off in late May 2023.[16] The remaining layout was completed the following month.[17][18]

Announcement and opening

Universal City Studios LLC submitted a trademark application for "Starfall Racers" to the United States Patent and Trademark Office on March 7, 2023.[19] On January 30, 2024, Universal Orlando formally shared details on Starfall Racers alongside Epic Universe and its central Celestial Park themed area.[20] A wide variety of concept artwork on the ride and themed area were released to the public.[21][22]

Following the announcement, the name was challenged by the Starfall Education Foundation for "brand misappropriation toward children". As a result, Universal resorted to its backup trademark name and renamed the roller coaster "Stardust Racers" in May 2024.[23]

In August 2024, Universal released additional details on the new dueling coaster, including footage of its Celestial Spin element and a detailed first look at the ride vehicles.[24] The coaster was completed on schedule and opened with the park on May 22, 2025.[25][26]

Ride description

The ride's themed backstory focuses on the Celestians, residents of Celestial Park, who have learned to capture comets from the stars and ride them. This was how they traveled to different worlds before the portal system was invented. They are allowing visitors to race on two of these comets, Pulsar (Green) and Photon (Yellow), to see which is the fastest.[27]

Characteristics

Each side of Stardust Racers stands 133 feet (41 m) tall, covers around 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of track, and reaches a top speed of 62 mph (100 km/h). The maximum height is reached during the attraction's signature Celestial Spin element, where the tracks invert around each other while rising and falling. The ride's maximum speed is attained during the second electromagnetic LSM launch. The supports are painted copper, and each side has its own track color, yellow and green.

Stardust Racers runs with up to four trains on each track.[15] Each train features onboard audio and is made up of five cars, where riders sit in two rows of two, for a total of twenty passengers. The trains are lit at night instead of the track and supports, designed to make the illuminated ride vehicles appear as comets in the night sky.[28] A flux capacitor from the Back to the Future film series is attached to the back of the trains, implying that Dr. Emmett Brown was responsible for making the comets stable enough to race.[27]

Layout

After dispatch, each train makes a 180-degree turn inward. The track called Photon (painted yellow) turns right, while the other track called Pulsar (painted green) turns left to travel underneath the station and into the first launch. Upon exiting the launch, the train ascends a top hat element and traverses downward into a turn and bunny hill. Next, it dives into a sharp turn invoking a near miss element.

Each train rises back up and proceeds to the second launch, where the ride's top speed of 62 mph (100 km/h) is reached. This leads to the ride's climax Celestial Spin element, a 133-foot-tall (41 m) inversion where the Pulsar side traverses a zero-g roll while the Photon side traverses a downward barrel roll. The trains then proceed to an overbanked turn to the right where the ride photo is taken, followed by a series of turns and hills before reaching the final brake run and returning to the station.

Reception

Stardust Racers received positive reviews during its inaugural season. Jessica Rawden of CinemaBlend described the ride experience as one of the best among Universal Orlando coasters, next to VelociCoaster, and said the green side of the dueling tracks is "loopier", noting that it is the "higher octane side".[1] John Gregory of Theme Park Tribune stated that it was a "masterclass in airtime" and that the Celestial Spin dueling element "may be the best coaster element I’ve ever experienced".[2] While he noted that the theming was light in comparison to Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure or VelociCoaster, he emphasized that the illumination at night provided the "full experience", adding "the dueling coasters truly look like two comets dancing in a cosmic ballet".[2]

Amusement Today awarded Stardust Racers Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster in 2025.[29] They said it defines the park's identity and called it "one of the most visually striking roller coasters ever built by Universal", noting its "seamless blend of speed and style, racing through a cratered landscape that glows at night".[30]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year19981999
Ranking – –
Year2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
Ranking – – – – – – – – – –
Year2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Ranking – – – – – – – – – –
Year202020212022202320242025
Ranking N/A – – – – 17[31]

Incidents

Stardust Racers was temporarily closed[32] after a 32-year-old man died while riding on September 17, 2025.[33] He was found "unresponsive after riding" according to a statement from Universal. An autopsy report listed "multiple blunt impact injuries" as the official cause of death, which they labeled as an accident."[34] A lawyer representing the victim's family stated that the incident was not isolated, alleging that other riders have suffered similar injuries.[35][36] A settlement between Universal and the victim's family was reached in December 2025.[37]

Universal, Mack Rides, and the state of Florida inspected the roller coaster and found it to be safe and functioning properly.[38] The ride reopened on October 4, 2025, with additional safety guide requirements for park guests.[39]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Rawden, Jessica (December 10, 2025). "The Absolute Best Seat On Epic Universe's Dueling Stardust Racers, According To A Universal VIP Guide". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Gregory, John (May 28, 2025). "Review: Stardust Racers gives Epic Universe a pair of world-class coasters". Theme Park Tribune. Archived from the original on July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Universal Orlando Resort Announces Ambitious New Theme Park" (Press release). Universal Orlando. August 1, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  4. ↑ Beldon, Matthew (January 30, 2024). "Universal Orlando announces Epic lands at new theme park". WFTS-TV. 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 (1 August 2019). "Universal Orlando announces new theme park, Universal's Epic Universe". Attractions Magazine.
  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. ↑ "Roland Mack". blooloop.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Knieps, Stephan; Schlesiger, Christian (August 1, 2019). "Europapark-Betreiber droht Auftrag für weltgrößte Achterbahn zu verlieren". WirtschaftsWoche (in German). Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  12. ↑ Knieps, Stephan (September 18, 2020). "Europa-Park operator risks losing contract for world's largest roller coaster". WirtschaftsWoche. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  13. ↑ Whitten, Sarah (March 3, 2021). "Universal set to resume construction of Epic Universe park in Florida". CNBC. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Die Zukunft der Freizeitparks – mit Roland Mack". Spotify. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  15. 1 2 @bioreconstruct (August 19, 2022). "Aerial overview of staging area for track and supports of the high speed..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ @bioreconstruct (May 25, 2023). "At #1 in this aerial of the dual-racing coaster in Epic Universe is an..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ Cygnus (November 8, 2022). "Universal's Epic Universe Construction Thread". Inside Universal. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  18. ↑ @bioreconstruct (June 23, 2023). "Aerial overview of the recently completed tracks of the dual-racing roller..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ "Trademark/Service Mark Application, Principal Register". tsdr.uspto.gov. March 7, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Introducing Universal Epic Universe". YouTube. Universal Orlando. January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  21. ↑ Chen, Eve (January 30, 2024). "Universal Orlando Resort reveals first details on highly anticipated Epic Universe". Courier Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  22. ↑ Mitchell, Bea (January 31, 2024). "Universal unveils lands in new Epic Universe theme park". blooloop.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  23. ↑ Tuttle, Brit (31 May 2024). "Starfall Racers Renamed to 'Stardust Racers' at Epic Universe Due to Trademark Infringement". WDWNT. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  24. ↑ Bowyer, Kelsey (August 16, 2024). "Stardust Racers at Epic Universe: FIRST LOOK". Orlando Informer. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  25. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (February 19, 2025). "Disney World braces for 'small impact' from Epic Universe opening". Orange County Register. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  26. ↑ Argueta, Brenda (February 12, 2025). "What rides will be at Epic Universe in Orlando? Here's the lineup". WKMG. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Complete Guide to the Lore & Stories of Celestial Park". Discover Universal Blog. July 23, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Starfall Racers at Universal Epic Universe". Orlando Informer. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  29. ↑ "2025 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 6, 2025. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
  30. ↑ Fake, David (November 11, 2025). "Months into operation, Epic Universe's spectacle continues to evolve" (PDF). Amusement Today. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  31. ↑ "2025 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2025. Archived from the original on September 7, 2025.
  32. ↑ Huntoon, LeeAnn (September 18, 2025). "Man dies after becoming unresponsive on Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe". WESH. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  33. ↑ Sikes, Annabelle (September 18, 2025). "What is Stardust Racers? Epic Universe guest dies after riding dual-launch coaster". FOX 35 Orlando. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  34. ↑ Valente, Anthony Talcott, Daniel Dahm, Mike (September 18, 2025). "'Help! Help!' Cause of death revealed for guest who rode Stardust Racers at Epic Universe". WKMG. Retrieved September 19, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ↑ Petro, Allison (2025-09-30). "More victims report injuries from Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe, attorney says". WESH. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  36. ↑ Comas, Martin E. (September 30, 2025). "Attorney: Universal Stardust Racers coaster had history of complaints before Zavala died". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Family of Kissimmee man who died after Epic coaster ride reaches deal with Universal, attorney says". Orlando Sentinel. December 13, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  38. ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UsEcbuY5-Lo&pp=0gcJCfwJAYcqIYzv
  39. ↑ Baker, Brandon Hogan, Jarell (2025-10-04). "Stardust Racers reopens with new safety guide after guest's death. Here's what changed". WKMG. Retrieved 2025-10-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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