Hagrid's Coaster Queue Updates / Questions / Reviews

[Disxuni]

Bees are back! Ride hasn’t opened yet today due to the safe relocation of a hive of bees. This is certainly a new one for this ride! I like to think this goes along well with the theme of the ride - I’m sure Hagrid is an expert on this stuff!

It does make sense given the nature of how much nature they have involved with the ride with all the trees. Eventually another thing they're going to have to do for upkeep purposes is trimming the trees. I do not know if a lot of trees are near the track, or have the potential to growing enough to conflict with the track, but I have a feeling a lot of TLC is going to have to be involved in the ride if not to make sure trees do not conflict with the ride, but to at least ensure it looks healthy and attractive for the guests.

 

[pepperandchips]

On Jan 3, 2020, touring plan is showing a 3 hour wait at opening. I'm typically not concerned since TP cant accurately measure rope drop times, but I'm concerned that early admission by resort guests will actually make rope dropping ineffective. Is the lines caused by early admission guests really that bad for this ride?

As far as I know, there hasn’t been early entry for resort guests at IOA since Hagrid’s has been open. The early admission information only goes through October right now so I don’t think anyone can answer your question.

 

[JOCCO]

I've seen some really cute ride photos here and on a trip report. How did I miss these, are they new ? (we were there opening weekend and I don't recall seeing them) For our next trip-where can you view them once you have ridden ?

 

[Lynne G]

Ride photos are not new. Was happy they worked so good when we were on the ride. You can view them shortly after getting off the ride. I have the Photo Pass, so it was easy to get them to put it on my pass, though the second time we rode, there was a line to get the photos. You can have them printed out there. Since I have the Photo Pass, it seems to go into my account, pretty quick, though some take longer than others. Not every ride has them, but we have had some fun ones. Mummy and MIB are some of our favorite ones. Once in my account, I can download and print the pictures as many times as I want. Have all of the 188 in my account so far, this past year, downloaded. We've printed a few, and posted here in the DIS sometimes. There's a stickie for the Photo Pass info.

 

[JOCCO]

Thanks Lynne G, yes, we too have the pass and we've managed to get some pretty good photos. I guess I didn't do my homework on the photo for Hagrid's. Sad we missed it, but we will be back !

 

[lvdis]

Thanks Lynne G, yes, we too have the pass and we've managed to get some pretty good photos. I guess I didn't do my homework on the photo for Hagrid's. Sad we missed it, but we will be back !

As far as I know, Hagrid's ride photos weren't available when it first opened. It came later.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Got in line today a little before noon as TP said the lines were probably going to be the same all day ( Friday plus HHN at US). Switchbacks after Hagrid's hut outside were closed. Preshow running. Total times in line about 50 min. with a 120 min posted wait. A word of caution: twice I've had folks in the single rider line try to take the bike (even though I am alone and waited in the standby line specifically to ride the bike)

 

[pepperandchips]

twice I've had folks in the single rider line try to take the bike (even though I am alone and waited in the standby line specifically to ride the bike)

Uhhh that’s awkward! I haven’t ridden yet - how did they end up in front of you?

 

[MeridaAnn]

Uhhh that’s awkward! I haven’t ridden yet - how did they end up in front of you?

It has to do with the way the line is set up. The person from the standby line has to actually swap sides with the person from the single rider line at some point and it's awkward, especially if you don't realize that it's coming and you're trying to swap at the last minute and you don't want to seem confrontational.

It's hard to describe, so I just drew up an approximation of the layout to visualize it. (I drew what happens naturally, if they don't swap sides, which puts the SR person closer to the ride vehicle at the end.) When you're in the hallway right after the two lines meet, there's nothing telling you which side to stand on, or even mentioning the two types of seats until the end of the hall. I really wish they at least had a line down the middle of that hall with markings showing which side is which - then they would send the standby person first, they would choose their side (typically the motorcycle, but I some people might actually choose the sidecar), then the single rider could be sent after them to fill in whichever side they didn't pick. Instead, right now they're paired up immediately and you just naturally end up standing with the single rider on the motorcycle side unless you intentionally switch.

There's also nothing outright stating in the SR line that single riders will likely be in the sidecar or that they get the second choice, so it's just kind of awkward establishing that the person from the standby line gets to step in front at some point.

 

[pepperandchips]

It has to do with the way the line is set up. The person from the standby line has to actually swap sides with the person from the single rider line at some point and it's awkward, especially if you don't realize that it's coming and you're trying to swap at the last minute and you don't want to seem confrontational.

It's hard to describe, so I just drew up an approximation of the layout to visualize it. (I drew what happens naturally, if they don't swap sides, which puts the SR person closer to the ride vehicle at the end.) When you're in the hallway right after the two lines meet, there's nothing telling you which side to stand on, or even mentioning the two types of seats until the end of the hall. I really wish they at least had a line down the middle of that hall with markings showing which side is which - then they would send the standby person first, they would choose their side (typically the motorcycle, but I some people might actually choose the sidecar), then the single rider could be sent after them to fill in whichever side they didn't pick. Instead, right now they're paired up immediately and you just naturally end up standing with the single rider on the motorcycle side unless you intentionally switch.

There's also nothing outright stating in the SR line that single riders will likely be in the sidecar or that they get the second choice, so it's just kind of awkward establishing that the person from the standby line gets to step in front at some point.
View attachment 439396

Thank you for the awesome drawing! Yes that seems really crappy that the standby guest has to say “excuse me I was waiting for the bike seat”. Good to know in advance though!

 

[Disxuni]

I'll have to always stand in the regular queue even though I'm a SR as I heard the bike is more comfortable and roomy than the cart so I'll have to wait like everyone else. However, I'm surprised by the layout, especially since typically a TM does establish usually who steps in first and who goes in next when it comes to numbered line arrangements which avoids confusion.

Are you saying that essentially there are the two queues and TMs just go, you and you go, and then two guests are supposed to walk over and decide where to stand? Or do TMs do know how to direct the guests and tell them where to go, but it's just the guests themselves trying to take over one seat over another? I ask, because I've seen plenty of people being confused (or maybe even pretending) when being directed where to stand, but I've also seen plenty of scenarios where guests are told what to do and simply do not do it.

 

[The Pho]

It has to do with the way the line is set up. The person from the standby line has to actually swap sides with the person from the single rider line at some point and it's awkward, especially if you don't realize that it's coming and you're trying to swap at the last minute and you don't want to seem confrontational.

It's hard to describe, so I just drew up an approximation of the layout to visualize it. (I drew what happens naturally, if they don't swap sides, which puts the SR person closer to the ride vehicle at the end.) When you're in the hallway right after the two lines meet, there's nothing telling you which side to stand on, or even mentioning the two types of seats until the end of the hall. I really wish they at least had a line down the middle of that hall with markings showing which side is which - then they would send the standby person first, they would choose their side (typically the motorcycle, but I some people might actually choose the sidecar), then the single rider could be sent after them to fill in whichever side they didn't pick. Instead, right now they're paired up immediately and you just naturally end up standing with the single rider on the motorcycle side unless you intentionally switch.

There's also nothing outright stating in the SR line that single riders will likely be in the sidecar or that they get the second choice, so it's just kind of awkward establishing that the person from the standby line gets to step in front at some point.
View attachment 439396

When I was there a couple weeks ago, they very clearly instructed everybody to get into a single file line with the bike seat in front and the side car behind. Singles were always sent after the main line group, so they’d wind up naturally in the sidecar seat.

 

[MeridaAnn]

When I was there a couple weeks ago, they very clearly instructed everybody to get into a single file line with the bike seat in front and the side car behind. Singles were always sent after the main line group, so they’d wind up naturally in the sidecar seat.

Ah, that would definitely work better. The three times I've been on, they just asked the standby group how many, then if it was an odd number, they would say something like "single rider go with them", and everyone in the hallway was standing two across. Hopefully they're standardizing to the single file method you got, as that sounds much less awkward.

 

[UniversalDuder]

So glad to hear that the wait time seems to be getting down to 50-60 minutes, even with a 120-min posted wait. This is my most anticipated ride for my upcoming vacation in October.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

If you are in the standby line as a single person, you will get to the TM and they will ask how many. I say "One for the bike" then the TM will direct someone from the SR line in behind me. The line from then on is narrower so as long as you stay standing in front of the person from the single rider line, you will get on the bike. But like I mentioned, some single riders will still try to coerce you to change places with them. So make sure if you want the bike you are the first one of the two people in line.

 

[The Pho]

Ah, that would definitely work better. The three times I've been on, they just asked the standby group how many, then if it was an odd number, they would say something like "single rider go with them", and everyone in the hallway was standing two across. Hopefully they're standardizing to the single file method you got, as that sounds much less awkward.

The single file seemed to work great but maybe it was just the way the employees wanted to run it that day if that’s not standard operations. I’ve only been one day but 3 separate times on the ride.

 

[nikkita]

following for updates (been stalking)
21 days till we fly, and so looking forward to this ride

 

[pepperandchips]

But like I mentioned, some single riders will still try to coerce you to change places with them

 

[imprint]

We will be a party of 3 (two adults and one child). We will be going through the regular line. What should we expect if we are wanting one adult to be in bike with the child in sidecar while the other adult is in another bike (since I will most likely be the odd one out and need the roomier bike)? The stress of getting in and secured in these moving walkways makes me nervous.

 

[AngiTN]

The single file seemed to work great but maybe it was just the way the employees wanted to run it that day if that’s not standard operations. I’ve only been one day but 3 separate times on the ride.

I think single file is SOP and any other way is an exception
We did the VIP tour and got to ride and they explained that it was loaded from a single file line.
But there was nothing there to keep us in a single file line and most everyone tried to go on side by side instead. It's all so fast that it's hard to stay organized. It's one of the things I hate about moving loading lines. I appreciate they load quicker but you don't get a second to think and when it's new that's hard