Sup! Tad here — the Frog Fam's resident thrill-seeker. One of Universal Orlando Resort's most spellbinding attractions, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a ride unlike any other. This frog-favorite, family-friendly coaster in Universal Islands of Adventure sends you soaring on your very own motorbike as you venture beyond the grounds of Hogwarts Castle and deep into the wilds of the Forbidden Forest. Because of this attraction's well-earned popularity, finding the best time to go about riding it can be tricky for any park-goer. That's why I'm here — to help you navigate registration for Professor Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class. Now, strap on those goggles, students! This is your bewitching guide to the best ways to ride Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Overview of Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Ever since it opened in June 2019 in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure has been one of the most in-demand attractions at Universal Orlando ... and for a good reason. This state-of-the-art story coaster will have you coming face-to-fangs/fur/fumes with Fluffy the giant three-headed dog, a pack of mischievous Cornish pixies, a lone centaur, two majestic unicorns and one aggressive Blast-Ended Skrewt (making its very first visual appearance in the Wizarding World).
Beware, spoilers ahead.
This steel beast features a record-breaking seven launches throughout its 5,053 feet of track. You'll hit speeds up to 50 miles per hour and even be catapulted 65 feet into the air (and backward!) at approximately 70 degrees in one breathtaking moment. That's not all, though! Once you're entangled in Devil's Snare, the only way to break free is by dropping 17 feet straight down. (Say it with me now: "Lumos Solem!")
Now, you may be wondering why this blog is even necessary when we've told you time and again that the best way to beat the long lines is by purchasing a Universal Express Pass. Well, here's the thing: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure currently does not have an Express queue. Hence, our frog-tested, frog-approved strategies below!
Want a sneak peek of your trip into the Forbidden Forest? Check out my ride footage below:
Utilize Early Park Admission OR Try Rope Drop
Obviously, the best time to ride Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is when there's no one else already in line — i.e. ride it first thing in the morning. There are two ways to execute this strategy. The first is if you have Early Park Admission. Early Park Admission is a priceless benefit for guests staying at Universal Orlando hotels and Premier and Preferred pass holders. When it's available at Islands of Adventure, you get access to select rides in the park up to one hour before the park officially opens! While the list of available attractions is subject to change, Hagrid's is almost always operating during Early Park Admission. The second way to execute this strategy is, of course, when Early Park Admission is not available at Islands of Adventure. (Check the Universal Orlando website to see what days it's available at which park.)
If you're utilizing this strategy, arrive at the Islands of Adventure gates an hour before the park opens. You want to be one of the first people going through the turnstiles and booking it to Hogsmeade. The line for this attraction builds fast. Oftentimes, team members will begin to let guests in 10 to 15 minutes before the park is officially set to open, so prepare for a possible early start!
Note: The "OR" in the subheading is capitalized because if Early Park Admission is available at Islands of Adventure and you are not staying on-site or are not a passholder, DO NOT attempt to rope drop Hagrid's when the park opens for all guests. The line will already be very long and not worth it to attempt to get in. If this is the case for you, skip to the next strategy.
Take Advantage of the Lunch Rush
If you're unable to utilize the above strategy (or are just not an early bird), the next timeframe in the day you should hop in line is around 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. That's peak lunchtime when most frogs are either grabbing a bite to eat, resting back at their hotel or on the other side of the park. Don't expect to see a wait time lower than 60 minutes at this time ... but that's still significantly more preferable than waiting a whole other hour which isn't uncommon (especially around 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.)
Wait Until Park Close
An even better strategy if you can't make it first thing in the morning is waiting until the final hour before Islands of Adventure closes for the day. At this point in the day, many families will have already gone back to their hotels. If you get in line at any point before the park closes, you get to ride. PLUS, the ride takes on a whole new, magical life at night. Truly a win-win-win ... which makes this our favorite strategy! (I also do not consider myself an early riser.) However, the caveat with this strategy is the risk of the ride closing down during the day and not reopening, or particularly in the summer, weather delays may interfere and inflate the standby line if it reopens later in the day.
Be Aware of Delays
Speaking of delays, one thing about Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is that it's a bit notorious for having downtime. Whether it's experiencing technical difficulties or shutting down due to weather, the ride may temporarily close during your visit. A few things to note:
- If it's lightly raining and the ride doesn't shut down due to weather, the wait time will, naturally, be shorter. Take advantage of this time and don't be afraid to get a little wet!
- Keep your eye on the Universal Orlando app or stick around in Hogsmeade and be one of the first frogs to hop in line when the ride reopens after a weather delay or technical difficulty. (Be aware that many fellow frogs will attempt this strategy, so if you're not one of the first ones there, it might be best to wait until later in the day.)
- Hagrid's typically closes for high winds, lightning in the area and heavy rain — all of which are very common on any given day in Central Florida (especially during the summer). If you see any rain in the forecast, make it a priority to hop in the queue at the beginning of the day ... because that could very well be the only time of day the ride is actually open. Don't be surprised if it closes down and doesn't reopen for the rest of the day.
Other Tips & Strategies for Riding Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Before I send you off to class, here are a few other bits of information to highlight in your syllabus:
- Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure does have a Single Riders line. Do not assume it's going to be open, though. And do not expect it to be shorter than the standby line (even though it normally is for almost any other ride). The Single Riders queue randomly opens and closes throughout the day based on capacity and the length of the standby line. I've also waited almost just as long as the posted standby wait in it. Because there are only two frogs per row and parties tend to ride in even numbers, it's never a guarantee that your wait will be shorter. So while we normally sing the praises of the Single Rider queue, I recommend trying the above strategies first. Note that your party will be split up on the ride if you decide to wait in the Single Riders line. You'll also automatically be given the sidecar (unless your motorbike partner kindly asks you for your preference or they prefer the sidecar which does hoppen more often than you would think).
- If you're visiting Universal Orlando during the holiday season or Mardi Gras, try hopping in line during Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's or the Mardi Gras Parade, respectively, for shorter wait times. Most guests who have access to both parks will be over in Universal Studios Florida watching the parade during those times.
- If you want to bypass the lockers and make your way into the queue even faster, opt for a fanny pack. Fanny packs with three-pronged clips are allowed on the ride. Large bags, large and loose items and wands need to be stored in a locker before hopping in line. Fortunately, you can wear your Hogwarts robes on the roller coaster ... but you'll need to sit in the sidecar. Throw it in the locker if you want to ride on the bike!
- There are only two ways you'll be able to "skip the line" on Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure:
- The first way is by purchasing a VIP Tour Experience. Guests who splurge for this add-on get priority access to all rides and attractions, including all of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions. Your tour guide will take you to the very front of the queue and escort you onto the next available bikes.
- The second way is if you have an Attraction Assistance Pass. While this won't allow you to skip the entire line, it will allow you to skip a significant portion of the queue once your return time has arrived.
Have you ridden Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure before? What advice do you have for fellow frogs who hope to drive their very own motorbike? Let us know in the comments below!
Related: Complete Guide to Height Requirements at Universal Orlando Resort
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