When Universal unveiled Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the highly-anticipated Harry Potter-themed successor to the beloved Dragon Challenge, the park experienced perhaps their largest opening day for an attraction since the Wizarding World itself. News stations reported ten hour wait times on the opening day. A success, yes, but also a disaster.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure’s opening day was as monumental and over-the-top as the ride itself, a heavily-themed Intamin multi-launch coaster with a final bill of 300 million dollars, the most costly roller coaster ever built. Considering this, it is no surprise that the ride brought in such crowds. What is a surprise, however, is how today (March 2020, nine months after opening) it’s still such a task to score a ride on this attraction. Wait times still skyrocket to over three hours on a weekday–only higher on weekends and school holidays–and consistency is spotty. The ride seldom opens on time with the rest of the park and continues to experience a mix of short delays, extended delays, and full days of closure.
So why is it so hard to get on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure nine months after its opening? We’ve boiled it down to four main points.
Florida weather
Florida is iconic for three things: rocket launches, theme parks, and unpredictable weather. Its nickname of the Sunshine State acts more as a wry inside joke than an indicator of weather patterns. Though Florida does experience some beautiful Summer days, it experiences frequent thunderstorms and severe wind. While most Universal rides, including Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, can run in the rain, both lightning and high winds can result in delays or closures of outdoor attractions. Even a short delay on a ride such as Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure can back the line up for literal hours and make it incredibly difficult to grab a ride when it reopens, which in and of itself is unpredictable.
With all that being said, if you can find a day with rainy weather but no lightning, seek out a ride on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Those 50 mph launches feel even stronger when you add the sensation of rain in your hair!
Complex coaster design
If you can’t already tell by looking at it, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is not exactly a simple coaster like its neighbor Flight of the Hippogriff. The Intamin multi-launch coaster features seven launches, a vertical spike, a high-speed switch track, and a first-in-Florida drop track. While the coaster runs up to twelve trains at a time, everything needs to work smoothly in order to ensure a high throughput for a resort dealing with crowds as large as Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
A quick piece of info on how coasters work: roller coasters ensure safety for passengers by operating in a series of blocks. These blocks are basically small sections where only one train can operate at the time, separated by either trim brakes or LSM launches which can also act to stop a coaster safely. Once a train completes a block, a new train can be added to the coaster circuit. (Sort of like a “checkpoint” in a video game.) Because no two trains can be in the same block at one time, there is no chance of trains colliding.
Running twelve trains, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure has an excess of sensors that must be cleared in order to run properly and safely. This is not even to mention the amount of special effects and animatronics which operate in sync with the coaster.
With so many elements needing to go right, it is only natural that the ride will experience delays or late opening times. This is a complex attraction which is still finding its footing in the landscape of the park.
Virtual Line (or, the lack thereof)
In the weeks before Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure’s opening, it was reported that the ride would feature a Virtual Line. This is a newer feature at the Universal Orlando Resort as a whole, first utilized on Fast & Furious – Supercharged and Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, which allows guests to queue for a ride virtually through the Universal Orlando app while they explore the rest of the park. It is a similar system found on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance down the street at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and though this method has revealed its own set of issues and setbacks, it is a prime way to handle lines with higher ridership.
When opening day for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure rolled around however, the Virtual Line feature was not up and running yet (hence the ten hour wait). Today, despite nine months passing and crowds still rushing to the coaster, the Virtual Line is still not being utilized. Although the stand-by line is the best option for getting a ride on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, it is not the only option…
Ineffective single rider line
With the stand-by line accumulating a lengthy wait time, the single rider line seems like your next best bet. This line, which is seldom open to visitors, can sometimes take even longer than the stand-by line. This is because due to the two-across assigned seating for Hagrid’s, there are far fewer opportunities for single riders than on an attraction such as The Incredible Hulk Coaster or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. In the case of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the single rider line moves at a glacial pace, a large duration of the queue being stationed in either the beaming sun or pouring rain of Central Florida. While the stand-by line may seem much longer, it offers a fast-paced line featuring elaborate theming and an immersive pre-show with Hagrid himself.
As mentioned above, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a groundbreaking attraction for Universal Orlando. It’s one you absolutely want to get a ride on when you can. Our tip for catching a ride? Hit Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure first. If the ride is open (and, as mentioned above, that is a big if), you will be one of the first to ride. Florida rain showers often hold off until the afternoon as well, so mornings are your best bet. Although the single rider queue may look temptingly short, the stand-by line is your best bet for a fully immersive ride experience from beginning to end. As the operators on the ride get more comfortable with the coaster, the throughput will hopefully improve, helping you get a ride on this world-renowned attraction. Happy riding and best of luck!
