Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure replaced Dragon Challenge, a pair of intertwined inverted roller coasters that closed on September 4, 2017.[3][4] It debuted with a record-breaking seven launches and reaches a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
History
Construction for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure began early January 2018, after land clearing was completed on the site that Dragon Challenge occupied previously.[5] According to Alan Gilmore, art director of the Potter films and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, over a thousand trees were planted to create the woodland that would set the theme of the Forbidden Forest.[6]
The vertical spike began to rise in May 2018 and was completed a few weeks later.[7] By August 2018, the castle structure was being built, while portions of the track were covered in white plastic wrap.[8] In October 2018, the structure for Hagrid's Hut was being swiftly constructed, several trees were then planted in the surrounding area and later on, the track layout was completed.[9] On December 17, 2018, the first 7-car train, which was completely covered, was installed on the track in anticipation of the testing phase.[10]
On February 21, 2019, Universal Orlando announced more details about the coaster, including the name, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the ride vehicle design and an opening date for June 13, 2019.[11] Ride testing began shortly after, on February 26, 2019.[12] The Fluffy animatronic was completed early April 2019, around the same time final touches were made to the ride.[13] It was confirmed that over twenty 13-inch cornish pixies would be found throughout the experience.[14] Then, the unicorn animatronics were installed the following month.[15] The attraction cost an estimated $300 million to construct[1] and is one of the only coasters in the United States to feature a free-fall vertical drop.[16]
Robbie Coltrane, who portrayed Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films and theme park attractions, reprised the role again for the roller coaster's pre-show and ride experience. Filming took place at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in 2018 with Coltrane and Mark Williams, who reprised the role of Arthur Weasley for the pre-show, as well. Due to declining health, Coltrane's performance was filmed face-and-head only, while British actor Greg Draven was used as a body double for Hagrid;[17] it was Robbie Coltrane's final performance as Hagrid before his death in 2022. The grand opening ceremony took place on June 11, 2019 with actors Evanna Lynch, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint and James and Oliver Phelps in attendance. Robbie Coltrane was unable to attend due to his health, however, he recorded video messages for the occasion.[18]
Just a day after opening, a reserved virtual line system was implemented for the attraction, through Universal Orlando's mobile application,[19] which was later phased out in favor of standby and single rider queues. Unlike most Universal Orlando attractions, the roller coaster does not offer an Express queue. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and its spread to Florida, the single rider line was made unavailable upon the resort's June 2020 reopening, but was reopened on June 15, 2021.
The attraction's vehicle is modeled after Hagrid's motorcycle, originally owned by Sirius Black in the book series, which appeared in the first and seventh films. There are seven rows on each train. Each row seats two passengers, one on the motorcycle itself and one in the sidecar.[24] Each motorbike has speakers that provide theming to the attraction, similar to The Incredible Hulk Coaster and the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, with a score inspired by the compositions of the Harry Potter films, especially those of John Williams.
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure features seven launches – the most of any roller coaster in the world at the time of opening – and reaches a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).[16] It also features a unique free-fall vertical drop element,[25] in which the track disconnects and drops with the train 17 feet (5.2 m), where it reconnects with another track below.[26] The ride reaches its peak height when the train is catapulted 65 feet (20 m) into the air at a 70-degree angle.[16]
Ride experience
Queue
The exterior queue remains the same as Dragon Challenge, with the exception of the removal of the pennants in support of the Triwizard Tournament champions, and the broken-down Ford Anglia, which was incorporated to the ride. Muggles enter the queue by passing under the archway entrance, where they encounter signs along the way. A ring shaped path leads to a bridge over the exit pathway. Heading towards Flight of the Hippogriff, there is a flying horse made out of wood. Approaching a long switchback section, Muggles see huts, pumpkin patches and farming equipment. After passing a rose garden, Muggles cross the bridge and access a castle. Straight ahead, there is a vertical sculpture with a mermaid from the Black Lake surrounded by a couple of Grindylows. To the left of the sculpture is the castle entrance. Muggles enter a room with cages and several murals, such as Buckbeak and Ravenclaw. While walking down the hallway, there is a Dueling Club mural with ice and fire dragons, which pays tribute to Dragon Challenge. After this, Muggles head into a switchback room with a fireplace, pieces of wood, kitchenware and salamander footprints. This is followed by another storage room containing dragon eggs and more murals. After exiting the pre-show, Muggles pass along a study area with hourglasses, books, scales and other items. They can find several cards with creatures, including unicorns, cornish pixies, manticores and nifflers, as well as the Book of Monsters.[27] Then, Muggles follow some dark hallways. Getting closer, they spot a test seat and a screen that shows safety instructions. After another switchback area, Muggles enter the station, where they stand on a moving conveyor belt and climb into the ride vehicles.[28]
Pre-show
Rubeus Hagrid (portrayed by Robbie Coltrane) will take Muggles on a very special Care of Magical Creatures class and has acquired the help of Arthur Weasley (portrayed by Mark Williams) to tinker with Hagrid's motorbike, whose original owner is mentioned to be Sirius Black, in an attempt to duplicate it in order to take Muggles to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. After Arthur successfully duplicates the motorbike, Fang, Hagrid's pet boarhound, releases Cornish Pixies that were covered in their cage and start to wreak havoc by taking Arthur's wand, burning the duplicate motorbike and then blowing it up. Arthur then casts Aguamenti to put down the flames and sprays Muggles with water before Hagrid departs to wait for them. Arthur then tells Muggles that he will try to duplicate the motorbike again at the stables, where there is plenty of space to do so and departs with the original motorbike following him before casting Reparo on it.
The pre-show is sometimes preempted during longer-than-usual wait times and, instead, Fang is seen walking around.
Layout
View of the attraction's vehicle trains and the track from the exterior exit queue.
The ride begins by turning right out of the loading station. Afterwards, the vehicles hit the first launch which accelerates from 0 to 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) in 1.2 seconds. It moves through an s-curve slope and makes a right turn and hit the second launch, accelerating from 22 miles per hour (35 km/h) to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) in 1.5 seconds. Hagrid says he will meet up with the Muggles at an abandoned hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Once the bikes reach Hagrid's hut, a Blast-Ended Skrewt sprays smoke at the riders as the giant himself tells them they'll pick up the rest of the lesson later. The vehicles exit the hut by turning right, which leads into the third launch from 0 to 32 miles per hour (51 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. The vehicles head up an airtime hill, passing by the abandoned castle and making a left-handed dive into a tunnel. Following a series of turns, the vehicles approach the fourth launch, accelerating from 27 miles per hour (43 km/h) to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) in 2.3 seconds. While going through a double right turn, Hagrid warns that the bikes are out of his control and are flying into the Forbidden Forest. The vehicles then make a right turn and slow down on the mid-course brake run. Fluffy, the three-headed dog can be found on the left side. The vehicle turns left past a switchtrack and accelerate from 21 miles per hour (34 km/h) to 41 miles per hour (66 km/h) in 2.1 seconds. They speed into a tunnel with a group of Cornish Pixies that have taken over Arthur Weasley's broken-down flying Ford Anglia on top. After the tunnel, they rise up a 65-foot (20 m) tall 70-degree vertical spike before losing power and dropping backwards. Now accelerating from 37 miles per hour (60 km/h) to 44 miles per hour (71 km/h) in 1.7 seconds, It speeds through another tunnel and a helix. The vehicles slow down into the darkest part of the Forbidden Forest as the Muggles pass a centaur, stopping in the tentacles of Devil's Snare. Hagrid encourages Muggles to say the incantation "Lumos Solem" and then free-fall 17 feet (5.2 m) into a cave filled with glowing Blast-Ended Skrewts around riders, which Hagrid congratulates for finding them. The vehicles exit the building and approach the final launch, accelerating from 0 to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) in 4 seconds. During this launch, Muggles are told to push the button in front of them to expel dragon fire-breath. Fog effects begin to appear in a straight line near the tracks. The vehicles hit a left banked turn and pass the on-ride camera, which takes photos of the guests. After this, the vehicles make a right turn before stopping at the abandoned castle, where a unicorn and her foal are spotted, thus ending the ride. As the vehicles slow down into the unloading area, Hagrid thanks and asks them not to tell anyone at Hogwarts about the experience.[29]
On October 2, 2019, the roller coaster was temporarily shut down after a swarm of honey bees surrounded the attraction.[37] A small fire broke out in the backstage area of the attraction on August 11, 2020, prompting a full evacuation without injuries. The fire was extinguished but the attraction remained closed a couple of days later.[38]
Technical difficulties
The attraction "has been plagued by downtime problems from day one"[39][40] and has been cited as "one of the most unreliable in the entire theme park industry". During some months, the ride was unavailable about half of the time the park was open and Universal has not publicly stated what the problems are and if/when they can be resolved.[41]
