Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a new roller coaster at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. On this episode of the Go Informed Podcast you’ll find out why this thrilling addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogsmeade Village, is a must-see for your next Orlando vacation. Plus get my tips to help you beat the crowds and avoid a huge wait for Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike coaster.

These are the show notes for Go Informed Podcast episode 46. Click the Play button to listen to the episode for lots more detail about this topic.

Why Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is One of the Best Roller Coasters in the World

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opened in the summer of 2019. It’s located in the Hogsmeade Village part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. This coaster took the place of the old Dragon Challenge coasters that I mentioned on my audio tour of the Wizarding World on episode 5.  The ride takes you on a thrilling trip through the Forbidden Forest on Hagrid’s flying magical motorbike.

Theming on Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure

A few things set this coaster apart from others at Universal Orlando and around the world. First is the theming. Like the rest of the rides at the Wizarding World, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is highly themed. You will pass a life-size animatronic Hagrid as well as some pretty impressive magical creatures. And the entire ride takes place in a real forest.

Riders sit on Hagrid’s motorbike or in the side car. Both are unique experiences and I recommend trying both.

Walking through the outdoor queue you’ll get a view of the coaster flying through the forest. You’ll also have a great photo op of Hogwarts castle, and an up-close look at Hagrid’s hut. (Do be aware that it’s going to be HOT in that outdoor queue if you visit in the summer. Check out episode 28 for my top tips about coping with the hot weather).

Hagrid’s Coaster Delivers the Thrills

As far as the thrill-level goes, Universal has built some pretty unique features into Hagrid’s coaster. It’s the longest roller coaster in Florida, and has seven different high-speed launches. If you like coasters with quick launches, you’re going to love this. A big reason for the launches relates to the theming – the coaster slows down when there’s something to see, then quickly boosts forward again. So you really get the Harry Potter theming along with roller coaster thrills.

And not all of the launches are in the forward direction either. Hagrid’s Motorbike is so magical that it actually goes backwards, at a very high speed, for quite a distance. For fans of Disney’s Expedition Everest – you will love this. I think the backwards segment on Hagrid’s coaster is even longer than on Expedition Everest, and it’s just plain fun.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there is also a drop sequence on this coaster. Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is one of the only roller coasters in the world that has a track drop like this. The engineering is pretty amazing and the drop is quite substantial.

Remember that Universal has a rider swap system, so if someone in your group is unsure about riding this attraction, use rider swap and test it out. This post is all about how to use rider swap at Universal.

Beware Frequent Breakdowns

Because Hagrid’s coaster has a very complex ride system, Universal has been having trouble keeping it running in these first few months. Be aware that on some days it will just not be operational, and that on most days there will be times when it closes down unexpectedly. For these reasons, I recommend having a good touring plan to try to get on Hagrid’s coaster as early as possible.

Tips for Riding Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Without the Wait

Take a super popular ride, add in a propensity for breakdowns, and you’ve got a recipe for a really long wait. That’s what you can expect at Hagrid’s coaster. Wait times are routinely two hours – or longer! – and that’s a long time to stand in line. Luckily, I’ve got some tips to help you ride multiple times without waiting and maybe even walk right on.

No Express Pass Entrance at Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure

There is currently no Universal Express Pass queue at Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. You may know that Express Pass is one of my top tips for beating the crowds at Universal Orlando.  But unfortunately for now, Express Pass won’t help you here.

If you have an Express Pass it will help you skip the lines at pretty much every other attraction in the Wizarding World, so make sure to prioritize Hagrid’s coaster for early morning. This will likely be the longest line you wait in all day.

Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure Does Have a Single Rider Line

Single rider is usually available at Hagrid’s coaster. On the day I visited, singles had to wait in the standby line until it reached the building, then break off through a singles entrance. I don’t know if this is how it’s always done. When I rode single, my wait before reaching the single rider entrance was about 20 minutes, then only about 2 minutes once I entered the actual singles line. If you’re thinking about riding single, ask the attendant at the beginning of the ride queue whether it’s available, and worth it.

Find out all about using single rider to hack your way to the front of a long line here.

Getting to the Park Early is Your Best Bet to Avoid Long Waits at Hagrid’s Coaster

It’s my number one tip in my 33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando, and it is doubly important for Hagrid’s coaster – get to the park early. If you get there before the crowds you can ride multiple times in the first hour of park operation. On the day I visited, I was able to ride three times in the first hour. That’s about three times more than I could ride during any other hour of the same day.

Tips for Rope-Dropping Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure

1. Arrive at Islands of Adventure at least 45 minutes before official park opening time
2. Don’t carry anything you can’t zip into your pockets. If you have a bag, hat, or any other loose item, you’ll have to stop and put it in a locker before you get into the Hagrid’s coaster queue. I carried a folded drawstring backpack in my pocket to use later but did not carry it as a backpack when I entered the park.
3. Don’t walk straight into Hogsmeade Village, there’s a special route for Hagrid’s coaster. Watch for signs and park employees directing you after you pass Mythos Restaurant.
4. Be ready when you load onto the ride. Decide before you get there whether you want to ride on the motorbike or the sidecar.
5. Ride single after the first or second time through.

If Hagrid’s coaster is not running when you enter the park, follow my tips for Islands of Adventure early admission.

Do Your Homework Before You Go

Make sure you know what to expect and where to go before you get to the park. I highly recommend The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando and the Touring Plans Lines app to help you get ready.

These Go Informed posts and podcast episodes will help you dive deeper into the topics discussed on today’s episode:

How to Rope Drop – Go Informed Podcast Episode 044

Getting Ready for Your Universal Orlando Trip – Go Informed Podcast Episode 006

Tips for Your First Day in the Universal Orlando Parks – Go Informed Podcast Episode 007

Master Your Theme Park Morning – Go Informed Podcast Episode 019

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Additional Resources for Planning Your Trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando

55 Things To Know Before You Visit Disney World

33 Things to Know Before You Visit Universal Orlando

Adding a Visit to Universal to Your Disney World Trip

The Go Informed Podcast

Find all the episodes in the series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation here.

Find all the episodes in the series 7 Days to a Better Universal Orlando Vacation here.

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