The line to ride Universal Studios Islands of Adventure's new Harry Potter-themed ride, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, has a ride wait time of up to 10 hours. Fans began learning the first details about the new ride in early 2019, although Universal Studios spent nearly two years building it.
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure replaces the Dragon Challenge roller coaster, which was the Dueling Dragons before that. The new ride, which takes Harry Potter fans through the Forbidden Forest, features a bevy of special effects and many thrills and chills, including a 17-foot free fall drop, making it only the second roller coaster in the U.S. to feature such a daring feat. It also features a fully animated figure of Hagrid.
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure has officially opened at Islands of Adventure. And as a result, CNBC reports that lines for the ride are long and the estimated wait times are anywhere from eight to 10 hours. Dedicated fans arrived at the park well before its opening, and many will be standing in line for the new attraction shortly before it closes. That's good news for Universal, though, who spent $300 million on the ride, which is about three times what most coasters generally cost.
Fortunately for fans who don't want to spend an entire day waiting in line, Universal Studios will be using a virtual queue system as of June 14. This virtual queue is similar to a fast pass that will assign a specific timeframe to come back and ride. It's evident that Harry Potter is still a massive cash cow for creator J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Although the original series of books and movies have come to a close, a new prequel series of films, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, are keeping the spirit of Hogwarts alive. The third film in that franchise premieres in November 2021.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been a draw for Universal Studios Islands of Adventure since its opening in 2010. Universal later added Diagon Alley to Universal Studios, which opened in 2014, with a Hogsmeade train ride connecting to the two parks. The addition of this new attraction, with all its magical creatures, will continue to bring fans to Universal's parks in Florida, which provides the ultimate Harry Potter fix that includes butterbeer, picking a wand and visiting Honeydukes candy shop. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is just one more way to live the magic, although it probably feels a lot less magical after a 10-hour wait.
Source: CNBC