13 June marks the opening of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando Resort, so if you’re planning a trip there, you’ve not got long to wait. The ride will feature ground-breaking coaster-technology (not so much a rollercoaster as a ‘story-coaster’ – more on that shortly) and is all in homage to the Hogwarts groundskeeper Hagrid and his beloved magical creatures. First of all, take a look at this new teaser of the ride, and then read on to learn some fresh details on Universal Orlando’s much-anticipated new feature.
Watch a first-look POV from Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) May 20, 2019
Learn more about the thrills you'll encounter at https://t.co/X1CIZEDfxO. pic.twitter.com/ziXluJf6hB
The ride’s setting was brought to life by the talent behind the Harry Potter films
According to Universal Orlando, the ride will bring you through ruins beyond Hagrid’s Hut, apparently ‘abandoned for centuries’. Production designer Stuart Craig, who worked on the Harry Potter films and Fantastic Beasts, collaborated with art director Alan Gilmore on the project – all brought to life by Universal Creative. The Forbidden Forest, which is a core setting of the ride, even uses real trees – around 1,200, in fact.
This is the first coaster in the US to feature a free-fall vertical drop
We hope you’re not scared of heights... The ride will feature a terrifying (or exciting – depending on your preference) 17-foot drop. We won’t ruin the surprise of when this happens, but we thought we’d warn you something big was coming. This is also set to be the longest roller coaster in Florida, measuring up to 5,053 feet. Well, this is a Hagrid-themed ride, remember.
And there will be quite a few other jumpy surprises
As well as the sheer scale of the ride, you should also be prepared for a 50mph ride through the Forbidden Forest and plenty of launches throughout the experience. And not just one launch – more like seven. That won’t be the only jittery moment. Let’s just say there might be a moment where you’re catapulted 65 feet in the air...
You’ll get to partake in a Care of Magical Creatures class
The ride offers a fully immersive experience – as we said, it’s a ‘story-coaster’. As part of that story, you’ll get to experience an iconic Hogwarts lesson: Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid’s speciality. In the lesson, you’ll encounter a ‘nursery’ where Hagrid keeps his Blast-Ended Skrewts. Oh, Hagrid. Only he could put Blast-Ended Skrewts in a nursery.
Expect Hagrid-themed treats throughout the experience
As we mentioned earlier this year, there will be a fully operational Hagrid model (based on Robbie Coltrane himself) to really bring the magic. You can learn more about the detail that went into reincarnating Hagrid right here. Just like Hagrid, this coaster is set to be big and beautiful.
To learn even more about the ride, you can pop by the Universal Orlando blog to read all about it. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opens this June, and for tickets, simply check the official website.