At a Glance
Duration: 3 minutes
Look Out For: high speeds, seven different launches, a vertical spike, backwards motion, a short freefall drop, and a few magical beasties
Opening on June 13, 2019, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a whimsical spin through one of Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures classes. But how scary is Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure? Let’s take a look at the stats:
1. Ride Length
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure has a ride duration of only 3 minutes. However, you can expect a few extra seconds in the ride vehicle due to slight delays with loading and unloading.
2. Height Requirement and Warnings
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure has a height requirement of 48 inches. In addition, Universal warns against those with heart conditions or abnormal blood pressure, back or neck problems, expectant mothers, or those sensitive to motion sickness, strobe lights, fear of heights, or fog effects.
3. Ride Vehicles and Restraints
The Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure ride vehicles consist of 7 cars, each seating 2 passengers in their own motorbike and side-car. Each passenger gets their own lap bar and the restraints are surprisingly similar for both the bike and car, considering how different they are.
It’s worth noting that the riding experience can be pretty varied depending on whether you’re on the bike or side-car – so be sure to hash out who is sitting where before your party makes it to the loading station.
4. How Does Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Work?
In many ways, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure works like a standard roller coaster with high speeds, twists, turns, and other thrill elements. What makes this coaster very unique are the seven different launches, a vertical spike, backwards motion, a freefall drop, and a few slower sections reminiscent of a much tamer track ride.
5. Is Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Scary?
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure could be a bit scary to some riders. While definitely marketed as a family-coaster, you will encounter some magical beasts along the way like the Blast Ended Skrewts, Devil’s Snare, or Fluffy the three-headed dog. However, neither of these are particularly terrifying and are far enough removed from the track that they don’t feel too in-your-face.
Overall, this attraction has a very whimsical feel and is just plain FUN. I would even recommend this coaster to some guests prone to sensory sensitivity – just because the action happens so quickly. A few things I’d look out for are the smoke effects, a brief spray of water in the pre-show, some darkness, the unexpected drop during the Devil’s Snare sequence, and the few bursts of flame as you exit the final cave.
6. How High is Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure?
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure does involve some heights. However, I personally don’t find Universal’s fear of heights warning to be super necessary as the track remains pretty close to the ground at all times. There are no lifts or crazy drops from a great height. In fact, the only part of this attraction that involves any height is the vertical spike – bringing you up 65 feet before stalling briefly and sending you down backwards.
However, this doesn’t feel nearly that high in my opinion because you’re facing upwards rather than looking towards the ground. It’s over very quickly and the rest of the coaster stays low to the ground for the most part.
7. How Fast is Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure?
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure does go fairly fast with a top speed of 50 miles per hour. While overall not your speediest coaster, this attraction is only about 10 miles per hour faster than Slinky Dog Dash over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Part of what makes it intense are the seven launches – yes, you read that right. While not overly speedy, they definitely kick the intensity up a notch when you’re not expecting them.
If you’re interested, the launches (in order) are as follows:
- 0 to 20 miles per hour in 1.2 seconds
- 22 to 30 miles per hour in 1.5 seconds
- 0 to 32 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds
- 27 to 35 miles per hour in 2.3 seconds
- 21 to 41 miles per hour in 2.1 seconds
- 37 to 44 miles per hour in 1.7 seconds
- 0 to 50 miles per hour in 4 seconds
As you can see, none of them are terribly extreme. However, if launches aren’t your thing you may want to at least be aware of the last one – as it’s definitely the most intense of the bunch.
8. Does Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Have Drops?
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure does have one 17 foot free-fall drop. While this certainly sounds intimidating, it takes place unexpectedly (be sure to read the walkthrough below to find out when) and in the dark, just leaving you wondering what happened before you’re quickly on your way again.
For reference, this is several feet shorter than Rise of the Resistance’s 23 foot drop in the “escape pod.” If you’re familiar with that attraction, the drop sequence is pretty similar and over before you know it.
In addition, the backwards “fall” from the vertical spike could definitely leave you with that stomach-in-your-throat sensation, but it’s not very fast as you roll backwards a bit before picking up speed.
9. Does Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Cause Motion Sickness?
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure should not cause motion sickness to most riders. However, the 30 second backwards section could be upsetting to some. While it doesn’t last long, it’s certainly made more intense by its thrilling top speed of 44 miles per hour and small launch all taking place backwards.
10. Is Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Claustrophobic?
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure should not feel claustrophobic to most riders. Though it does have a lap bar, this ride’s short duration, outdoor setting, and amazing theming make for a fairly unrestricting experience.
It’s worth noting, however, that the queue does have sections (namely the catacombs) that can feel tight and confining at times – check out the walkthrough for more details. Depending on how long the wait is, it might just be something to take into consideration.
In addition, there is also a 3 minute pre-show that involves being packed in a small, dark room with other guests. While potentially uncomfortable for some, it’s a pretty standard pre-show you might find at any other Disney or Universal attraction.
11. Are There Animatronics on Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure?
There are several animatronics on Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. Hagrid, of course, makes an appearance handling an equally massive Blast Ended Skrewt as your bike passes by. You’ll also encounter Fluffy, the three-headed dog and a couple of unicorns, but you pass them so quickly that I would still recommend this attraction to most guests wary of animatronics.
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Queue Walkthrough
The queue entrance is located outside in the Hogsmeade section of Islands of Adventure. The line will take you through a very long winding outdoor section (giving you a great view of the coaster, by the way) before passing Hagrid’s hut and entering some amazingly-themed old ruins. Once inside, you’ll head down old stone corridors before arriving at the pre-show room.
The 3-minute pre-show is all on screen and consists of Arthur Weasley and Hagrid introducing you to their motorbike invention which will take you through today’s class. There appear to be a few snags in the plan as the bike’s hint at being a bit temperamental. During the demonstration, a cage of Cornish Pixies are accidentally released, causing chaos and ultimately resulting in one of the bikes exploding. Arthur puts out the flames with his wand (spraying the audience in the process) and promises that no such thing will happen when you’re actually on the bikes.
After the pre-show, you’ll pass through a series of old rooms housing cool props like dragon eggs and other magical discoveries. You’ll head down a long series of dark catacombs before arriving at a crypt-like room. You’ll wind around, looking at more artifacts, before heading down another dark corridor and finally arriving in another room where you can see Hogwarts students walking on the the thin floorboards above you. With that, you’ll make your way into the loading station and prepare to board your bike.
Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure Ride Walkthrough
Once you set off from the loading station, the bikes will take you through a series of twists and turns through the forest. You’ll briefly hit your first two launches before arriving at an abandoned hut where you’ll find Hagrid (in animatronic form) wrangling a Blast Ended Skrewt. He announces that you’ll continue the lesson later before sending you away on your bikes and into your third launch. You’ll zoom through an abandoned castle, over a pond, and into your fourth launch.
Hagrid then announces that the bikes are taking your into the Forbidden Forest and to “hang on.” The coaster slows down briefly as you pass Fluffy (the three-headed dog) but picks up speed again into a fifth launch that takes you under the Weasley’s magical car and into the ride’s 65 foot vertical spike.
You’ll slow to a stop as the bikes “lose power” at the top of the spike. You’ll take off backwards before hitting the sixth launch as Hagrid tries and fails to correct your course with magic. The bikes will slow as you enter a tunnel and find yourself entangled in Devil’s Snare. With a little bit of magic, the snare will release you and you’ll fall right through to the track below (in that 17 foot free-fall drop we talked about earlier).
You’re not safe for long, however, as Hagrid announces that you’ve stumbled upon some more Blast Ended Skrewts. The bikes will take off as fire blasts around you, taking you into your seventh and final launch. You’ll soar through a few more dips and turns before glimpsing a pair of unicorns and arriving back at the loading station, safe and sound.
That’s it! Remember, everyone’s riding experience is a little bit different and only you can decide whether to hop on that ride vehicle or not. I just hope this guide helps you be prepared and enjoy every second of your Universal experience!
So what do you think? How scary is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure? Leave a comment to help keep this guide up to date!
For a full visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out these videos from Universal Orlando Resort:
