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Today's Sarah Sekula (USA) discovers Hagrid's Magic Creatures bike adventure at Universal Orlando. Join her for twists, turns and falls.
Universal Orlando Resort

ORLANDO – Magic creatures, flying bikes and the adorable half-giant himself: that's what Muggle dreams are made of.

However, this week, these fantasies will exist in real life, within Hagrid's Magrid Creatures Magical Creatures. Universal Orlando Resort will inaugurate Thursday its latest addition to the hugely popular world of Harry Potter.

The new immersive roller coaster, located inside Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, revolves around Rubeus Hagrid, a character in the series who is the son of a man and a man. of a giant woman. For the beginners of Potter, it is him who teaches the course on the care of the magical creatures (and which often has problems).

This ride surprises the guests in the middle of his class, which is inside the re-created forbidden forest (a mysterious and often dangerous place described in books and films). The elaborate theme area, which has been under construction for two and a half years, replaces the former Dragon Challenge coaster.

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The roller coaster of adventure of Hagrid's bike Magrid Creatures will open on June 13 in the enchanted world of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. (Photo: Universal Orland Resort)

Theming at the extreme

Outside, it's a hodgepodge of 1,200 live trees and grassy, ​​shady areas. When you enter the queue, the first thing you will notice is the graffiti on the walls, then the unidentifiable grunts and grunts. This could be attributed to the fact that the ride includes things like acromantules of gnomes, Cornish elves, centaurs and the Fluffy three-headed dog.

On the way, you'll see remnants of the Hogwarts wizard school and get instructions on how to take care of the hybrid creature, a hybrid creature of both scorpion and crab. Then you meet Hagrid and Arthur Weasley, who copied Hagrid's bike and sidecar. Then you transmit artifacts, including "The Book of Monsters", broken cages, sung blankets and teddy bears. Hagrid is a softie, after all.

A coaster story

If you sawHarry Potter movies, you'll remember Hagrid's flying motorbike. The coaster ride vehicle is almost an exact replica. In the absence of stress above the head, the idea is that you will have the impression of flying through the forbidden forest, as do Hagrid and Harry in the movies.

This is the first time that Universal uses this type of vehicle in one of its parks.

Better yet, this coaster has more launch points than any other coaster in the world. There are seven areas where you start ahead or back at any time.

Once you're on the 50-mph journey, you will pass the ruins of the castle, admire the impressive Hagrid animatronic and the devious explosive he tries to tame. Hagrid decides that this is enough for today, the time to return to Hogwarts.

Universal Orlando Resort has created its most realistic animated figure for the most immersive roller coaster experience, Hagrid's Magrid Creatures motorcycle adventure – starting June 13th. And it's nothing but the Hogwarts guardian and Professor of Care of Magical Creatures – Hagrid. (Photo: Universal Orlando Resort)

"Creating the animated figure of Hagrid has been a long process," says Thierry Coup, executive vice president of Universal Creative. "It took about two years, we actually used some of the original molds for the films, and we followed the whole process of sculpture, prosthetics, and the realization of all the very innovative elements. figure to be very fluid, very real ".

Of course, things do not go as planned. After many detours in the Forbidden Forest, you enter the darkest parts of the forest, where a centaur appears. This is the moment when the vehicle is caught in the devil's trap and the track lands on another track.

"It's a whole new level of roller coaster theme," says Coup. "It will take your breath away. One of the most innovative aspects of these rollercoasters is really the moment of fall, which is unique in the United States, where you really go to the open water. "

Thanks to Hagrid's "lumos solem" spell, the devil's trap retreats and guests are blown out of the dark forest and back on the loading platform. But not before glimpsing a very amusing surprise. Tip: It's a creature (with a baby creature) that you would not have seen alive in Harry Potter movies.

Fan Frenzy

All in all, it's deliciously overwhelming and the most dedicated fans are really delirious. Although more than 20 years have passed since the publication of Harry Potter's first book, Potter's fans are still numerous. And if they like more than anything else, it's a new immersive attraction.

"I'll be ready to wait three to four hours online for this race," said Amy Syth, 31, who has been a Harry Potter fan for 20 years. She visited the first Hogsmeade opening weekend in 2010 and said, "I had tears in my eyes when I first glimpsed Hogwarts Castle." . "

This is the level of enthusiasm that Universal will continue to bet on.

"Since 2010, the number of annual visitors to Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure has grown from 12 million to nearly 20 million," said Ryan Roth, Senior Sector Analyst at IBISWorld. "In addition, revenues generated by NBCUniversal theme parks have increased by more than 50% over the last 10 years until 2019."

That's right, Americans love their parks and fantastic fantasy worlds. "Universal will not stop adding Harry Potter attractions to its theme parks until the public mocks Harry Potter," says Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, " which, in my opinion, will not happen before very long. "

If you are going to

Cost: Admission for a single park at Universal Islands of Adventure starts at $ 115 for adults and $ 110 for kids. Admission from one park to the other starts at $ 170 for adults and $ 165 for kids. Note: prices vary depending on the day of the visit.

Requirement of height for Hagrid's Magical Creatures Adventure: 48 inches tall

More information: UniversalOrlando.com/WizardingWorld

Sarah Sekula is a journalist and video host who tells stories about travel, health, well-being, fitness, and great people. Follow his adventures on the seven continents @sarahsomewhere.

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