As the New Year approaches, resolutions will be made, diets will be broken, and vacations will be planned. And as we look forward to a new year full of new starts and experiences, it is important to look forward to what Orlando theme parks have in store for us in 2009. After all, it’s never too early to start planning a great Walt Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando vacation, right? In that spirit, we’re looking ahead to new attractions opening next year, namely the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit Roller Coaster at Universal Studios. This monstrous record-breaking roller coaster is sure to thrill riders with a one-of-a-kind soundtrack.

Universal Studios announced their plans for the new Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit Coaster back in March. Scheduled to open in spring 2009, the Rockit will be the most technologically advanced roller coaster in the world, combining audio and special effects engineering, on-and-off-board video, and guest personalization for a truly wild wide.

On this adrenaline-pumping ride, guests will be able to pick their very own soundtrack to rock out to while riding the coaster. Before the ride launches, guests will be able to choose a song from five musical genres: classic rock, rap, country, pop, and disco. Then the ride starts, a 65 mph whirlwind that takes riders up 17 stories over Universal Studios. And when it’s all over, guests will be able to take home a video of their wild ride, which they’ll even be able to edit and post on YouTube.

“This is the perfect intersection of the digital age and theme park entertainment,” said Mark Woodbury, President of Creative for Universal Parks & Resorts. “Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit blends roller coaster intensity and guest interaction in a way where no two experiences will be the same.”

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will truly be a unique coaster, the largest of its kind in the world. With a vertical life hill that reaches 167 feet, the Rockit will be the tallest ride in the Orlando area. Ride vehicles will feature bright color changing LEDs, and with up to four on the tracks at any given time, the Rockit will be a visual spectacular from the ground. And though the Rockit will not have any inversions, it will feature several heavily banked turns as well as the world’s first non-inverting loop. Nicknamed the “double take,” this non-inverting loop seems like a regular vertical loop at first. However, the track twists around as riders go up, leaving riders upright as they go down again.

Construction began in December on the Rockit, which will be located near Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast. Guests going through the park near the Twister attraction might be able to see some of the already constructed tracks reaching into the sky.

Roller coaster fans can’t wait for this ride to be unveiled this coming spring, and neither can we! Expect to get more sneak previews on this incredible roller coaster as its opening approaches. In the meantime, be sure to start planning for that May vacation so you can experience the fast, musical fun of the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit coaster. The easiest part will be getting discount Universal Studios tickets – simply check out OrlandoFunTickets.com.