Universal Orlando has opened Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure at Islands of Adventure to rave reviews and of course long lines. The park has built a thrilling ride using one of the favorite characters in the Harry Potter Wizarding World, with Hagrid. But in doing so, they’ve done something pretty unexpected and kind of amazing. They’ve created a new story based around a roller coaster that would work on it’s own as a movie.
Rubeus Hagrid is a puzzling character with his own amazing history and story, but when you add him into the Harry Potter mythos, you get something completely and totally fun. But on his own, he is still a great and entertaining character. Universal and Warner Brothers have taken that idea and have given Hagrid his own story and put you right in the middle of all the adventure.
So what is the story of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure?
For the story of the coaster, we have to journey past Hagrids Hut and onto the edges of the Forbidden Forest, to a part of Hogwarts that isn’t used for school much anymore, but is still just as magical. The ruins of Hogwarts winds in and out of the woods, and is the place where Hagrid takes care of his Magical Creatures. And with the queue, we get taken into the very heart of those ruins.
We get to wind around the queue, and through the ruins seeing all the various artifacts and tools that Hagrid uses to take care of Fire Crabs, Salamanders, Thestrals and more. From strange glowing orbs, to eggs of every kind of creature, and even dragon hide gloves for handling the hottest of creatures, we get to see just about everything that goes into the care of these magical creatures. In fact, take a walk through the entire queue yourself in our awesome walkthrough video!
But what IS the story? We almost forgot. So you’re on the outskirts of Hogwarts, just having finished up your “Forbidden Journey” or maybe just about to take it, who knows really. But you are signed up for a quick lesson on Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid!
Hagrid wants to take you into the Forbidden Forest where you can get a better look at some of these magical creatures yourself, including his own creation, the Blast Ended Skrewt. That’s what happens when you mix a Fire Crab and a Manticore. Of course, to do all of this, he needs a bit of help, and some transportation.
That’s where Mr. Weasley comes in. He’s now in possession of Sirius Black’s Motorbike and Side Car and he’s making some improvements to it. He uses a multiplying spell to create more than just one bike, and that’s where our ride comes in. This is all done in an interactive preshow that has you dodging water and other surprises. It really sets up why you’re there, and what you’re going to get into, and just how your’e going to get into it.
Check out the preshow below!
The original actors portray Arthur Weasley and Hagrid and they just make the experience so much fun. Unlike other Universal Orlando attractions, things don’t go “horribly wrong”, they just happen the way that Hagrid will have them happen. Also there’s no bad guy. There’s no Harry, Ron, or Hermione, and no Voldemort. There’s no one trying to make bad things happen, it’s just Hagrid’s well meaning demeanor that has everything all in a tizzy. But it wouldn’t be an interesting ride if they didn’t.
Hagrid is now open daily at Universal Orlando!
Want to see a ton of pics from the opening of Hagrid? Of course you do! Check out our massive gallery below!
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