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Review: Universal Orlando Resort's new Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
SnitchSeeker's team got the chance to ride Universal Orlando Resort's new Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure roller coaster ride, and to say it's intense and surprising is an understatement.
Before we go into our thoughts on the ride, we did capture footage of the extensive and immersive walkthrough of the attraction, which starts exactly at the same spot as the now-closed Dragon Challenge ride (and eagle-eyed fans will able to spot an homage to the old coaster). If you don't want to be spoiled and enjoy the walk in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, we would advise not to watch the below, but if you're so intrigued, go right ahead.
After the queue - which includes a pre-recorded interactive video show featuring Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) and Arthur Weasley (Mark Williams) - fans get the choice to sit on the motorbike itself or the sidecar like Harry did in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Both sides are comfortable, though if you have short arms, it will be a stretch to reach the motorbike's handlebars; in turn, the sidecar's handles are a bit close to your body, so it's a bit of a twisty, tight hold.
Universal teased that the ride is quite like nothing else - intense, fast, exhilarating. You never quite appreciate the descriptions until you're actually on the ride, and feel the bike thrust at crazy fast speeds that keep you shrieking for joy - or fear - or both (apparently how Rupert Grint reacted to it).
You know how Universal said that it goes 50 mph at the top of its speed? That's the average speed of riding a car down a highway, and you never notice how fast that is, right? You feel every single mile per hour on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, especially when it unexpectedly - and repeatedly - boosts it speed as you continue to see some of the Care of Magical Creatures animals come to life. Brace yourself. It is, simply put, a bloody thrill.
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure does speed up so fast and twists and turns so much that you will definitely miss a few things the first time around; probably even the second, as well. No doubt Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure was built for repeat viewing and enjoyment (though beware, those queues starting this week will be very, very long). The blast-ended skrewt is quite a large surprise, and it's nice to see a life-sized Hagrid (though on some level a bit unnerving), and ride through the forest is a fast blast.
For those wondering, "Is this more intense than Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, or Escape from Gringotts?" The answer is an emphatic yes. If you love roller coasters, you will simply fall in love with Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, as this editor has. If roller coasters aren't your cup of tea, and you're a Harry Potter fan, we still say experience it at least once before judging. Though if you're a bit squeamish about speed and jolts, we'd advise against going on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure on a full stomach.
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opens at Universal Orlando Resort bright and early on Thursday, June 13. SnitchSeeker will continue to cover the opening all week, so stay tuned.