Climb Aboard an Enchanted Motorbike in the Latest Addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure will bring high-speed thrills and magical creatures to the most popular area of the Universal Studios theme parks
Photo: Universal Orlando Resort
When the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at the Universal Orlando Resort back in 2010, it changed the theme park industry forever. The world had never seen a themed land as rich and immersive in any theme park up to that point.
Since then, Disney has gone on the defensive, opening up two of its own immersive lands: Pandora – The World of Avatar and, more recently, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Now it’s Universal’s turn to go on the defensive, and it has the perfect means to do just that. Later this summer, Universal is adding another fantastic attraction to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Planning a Trip to Orlando?: Top travel tips for Orlando vacationers
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure occupies the space where the Dragon Challenge coaster once stood in the Islands of Adventure park. That dueling coaster originally opened as Dueling Dragons during the parks debut, but was retrofitted with a Harry Potter theme when the Wizarding World first arrived at the park.
Like Dragon Challenge, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a high-speed, thrill ride. However, it will be more highly-detailed and themed than the previous coaster ever was.
In Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, guests will journey deep into the heart of the Forbidden Forest, located just outside of the Hogwarts grounds. Hagrid, the lovable half-giant from the Harry Potter books and movies, will serve as the guide, teaching participants all about some of the Wizarding World’s most magnificent creatures.
As often happens with both Hagrid’s lessons and theme park rides, not everything goes as planned. What follows is various encounters with the occupants of the Forbidden Forest.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure will be more family-oriented than the previous Dragon Challenge coaster. But don’t let that fool you. The ride will still reach heights of up to 65 feet and speeds of up to 50 mph.
It will also feature the most launches of any roller coaster in the world, with seven launches in total. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure will also hold the record of the longest roller coaster in Florida, with a total length of 5,053 feet.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the coaster is free-fall vertical drop. After encountering a nasty patch of Devil’s Snare, guest will suddenly drop nearly 17 feet.
Plan the Perfect Summer Trip: Plan your summer now
Devil’s Snare isn’t the only magical flora and fauna that guests will encounter during their journey. The ride also features Cornish Pixies operating a car, a centaur, and Fluffy, Hagrid’s pet three-headed dog.
One final magical creature guests will encounter is a Blast-Ended Skrewt. While featured in the Harry Potter novels, the Blast-Ended Skrewt never appeared on the big-screen, making this ride its debut visual appearance.
Photo: Universal Orlando Resort
To navigate the Forbidden Forest, guests will board a replica of Hagrid’s enchanted motorbike. The motorcycle previously belonged to Sirius Black, but was used by Hagrid throughout the books and films.
Riders can either board a replica of the bike itself or the attached sidecar. With two different ways to experience Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, there’s plenty of reride value with this roller coaster.
You can catch a preview point-of-view video of the ride below:
Guests won’t have to wait long for this latest addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure officially opens two weeks from now on June 13 at the Universal Orlando Resort.
Source: Universal Orlando Blog
Zachary Berry currently resides in the Dayton, Ohio area. However, he enjoys traveling from place to place, as he was born in Oklahoma City and has also lived in Albuquerque and Orlando (such is the life of a military brat). Zachary graduated from Ohio University with a major in Strategic Communication, which is fancy talk for advertising and public relations. Beginning his career at The News Wheel as a lowly intern, he was able to climb his way to the top, eventually claiming his place within the last cubicle on the left. Other jobs that Zachary has held include driving around a safari truck at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When he’s not putting his nose to the grindstone, Zachary enjoys watching and critiquing movies and television. See more articles by Zachary.