Hagrid's Coaster Queue Updates / Questions / Reviews

[Hart of Texas]

We just got back from a trip (Sunday-Wed before Thanksgiving). We didn’t try to ride Hagrids on Sunday due to a late start and long posted wait times, did rope drop on Monday (although due to crowds, we were not at the very front of the line to get in...got into actual queue at 9:05 with a 90-120 minute wait time) and exited the Hagrids line at 10:30 having not ridden the ride due to extended delay (I think it opened up again at 11). They closed the queue that day but as we were leaving the park at 8, we noticed a crowd around Hagrids, with rumors they may open the ride, which they did. We rode it twice between 8-9 pm on Monday. I asked the line attendant if this happens regularly, but he said it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” that came about due to it being shut down so much that day. I figured on Tuesday that we just wouldn’t mess with it but the kids really wanted to do it again. Around 2pm, we got in line with a 120 minute posted wait. It look 60 minutes total. The ride glitched towards the end and we were stuck on the ride for a minute and then completed the rest of the ride with no sound so they immediately let us ride it again. We figured that the queue would close at 3 because it ran continuously during the day, but it was still going around dusk so we went again. The wait time posted was 90 minutes but it took about 55 minutes. We saw a family cut in front of us on the last ride, with my husband calling them out right in front of two employees selling drinks and snacks in line, with nothing actually coming of it. Aside from that incident, everything went smoothly. Based on my experience, for my family (who likes a little extra sleep and doesn’t enjoy rushing), I’d recommend getting in line later in the day, especially if you have multiple days at the park. When we rope dropped it was a 90-120 minute posted wait when we got in line, which was the same line we found in afternoon. Admittedly, we were not the best “rope dropping family” but when you consider all the extra time it took to stand in lines to rope drop (ie waiting to get through security into City Walk and then waiting again again for rope drop), we did better with extra sleep and less rushing. I may be saying something different if we’d actually gotten to ride it that morning!

 

[Lashed34]

I agree that 6 months of major ride-delay problems is TOO much. And yet people are still paying the huge prices, and still standing in line for hours per day, so Universal really doesn't have to be accountable to anyone. What a joke they are playing on the consumer. Our upcoming visit is in 3 weeks, on a high-crowd-level day, unfortunately... i had no flexibility on dates, and it has been planned for a year. I'm so disappointed that Hagrid is still opening late, closing early, breaking down mid-day... what a crappy build. I've read rumors that the rails have to be dry to work properly... are you kidding me, someone designed something like that in one of the highest-humidity states in U.S.? Can't be true, surely. I've read that the rails heat up too much, so the ride can only be run a limited # of hours/day, perhaps influenced by ambient temp too. Again, sheer design stupidity. Hard to believe a ride engineer wouldn't understand coefficient of friction. I've read that Hagrid's closes early and starts late because workers are repairing equipment. What kind of ride needs hours of repairs, EVERY day? If true, they need to be working on it when the park is CLOSED, not during the hours people have paid for it to be operational. I've read they close Hagrid's early to ensure the queue gets through before closing hours. False, the queue gets thru long before actual park closure. I get weary of paying customers giving all these lame unacceptable excuses for why a multi-billion company isn't delivering their product. Honestly, Universal has failed on Hagrid's, and deserves some very negative publicity.
For planning purposes, there's no Early Admission to IoA on my scheduled day (but Studios DOES have early). So my choices are: forfeit early admission to Studios and instead wait at IoA rope-drop from 8am until 9am opening. OR... enter Studios at their 8am rope-drop, go to Diagon Alley and wait an hour for Hogwarts Expr to open, then ride to IoA.
The unknowns are: Does the Hogwarts Express (in Studios) delay transporting until the 9am IoA opening? Are there massive lines at the London station waiting to get into Hogsmeade? By the time passengers get from London to Hogsmeade, would the IoA rope-droppers already be in a 2-hr queue at Hagrid's?

First train arrives well after IoA rope drop - that's even if the train is on time and you get on it. RD is your only opportunity to get in line early enough without being on the end of a 2 hour queue....IF the ride is operational.

 

[Hart of Texas]

I agree that 6 months of major ride-delay problems is TOO much. And yet people are still paying the huge prices, and still standing in line for hours per day, so Universal really doesn't have to be accountable to anyone. What a joke they are playing on the consumer. Our upcoming visit is in 3 weeks, on a high-crowd-level day, unfortunately... i had no flexibility on dates, and it has been planned for a year. I'm so disappointed that Hagrid is still opening late, closing early, breaking down mid-day... what a crappy build. I've read rumors that the rails have to be dry to work properly... are you kidding me, someone designed something like that in one of the highest-humidity states in U.S.? Can't be true, surely. I've read that the rails heat up too much, so the ride can only be run a limited # of hours/day, perhaps influenced by ambient temp too. Again, sheer design stupidity. Hard to believe a ride engineer wouldn't understand coefficient of friction. I've read that Hagrid's closes early and starts late because workers are repairing equipment. What kind of ride needs hours of repairs, EVERY day? If true, they need to be working on it when the park is CLOSED, not during the hours people have paid for it to be operational. I've read they close Hagrid's early to ensure the queue gets through before closing hours. False, the queue gets thru long before actual park closure. I get weary of paying customers giving all these lame unacceptable excuses for why a multi-billion company isn't delivering their product. Honestly, Universal has failed on Hagrid's, and deserves some very negative publicity.
For planning purposes, there's no Early Admission to IoA on my scheduled day (but Studios DOES have early). So my choices are: forfeit early admission to Studios and instead wait at IoA rope-drop from 8am until 9am opening. OR... enter Studios at their 8am rope-drop, go to Diagon Alley and wait an hour for Hogwarts Expr to open, then ride to IoA.
The unknowns are: Does the Hogwarts Express (in Studios) delay transporting until the 9am IoA opening? Are there massive lines at the London station waiting to get into Hogsmeade? By the time passengers get from London to Hogsmeade, would the IoA rope-droppers already be in a 2-hr queue at Hagrid's?

They told us not to try riding the Train over due to the fact that once you get off the train, you have to go to the back of the queue. I’d agree with this assessment based on what I saw there this week. We had one frustrating day with Hagrids but rode it 5 times in two days (on very crowded days), so think you’ll be fine to ride it a couple of times during your trip if you can plan for some frustration.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

We just got back from a trip (Sunday-Wed before Thanksgiving). We didn’t try to ride Hagrids on Sunday due to a late start and long posted wait times, did rope drop on Monday (although due to crowds, we were not at the very front of the line to get in...got into actual queue at 9:05 with a 90-120 minute wait time) and exited the Hagrids line at 10:30 having not ridden the ride due to extended delay (I think it opened up again at 11). They closed the queue that day but as we were leaving the park at 8, we noticed a crowd around Hagrids, with rumors they may open the ride, which they did. We rode it twice between 8-9 pm on Monday. I asked the line attendant if this happens regularly, but he said it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” that came about due to it being shut down so much that day. I figured on Tuesday that we just wouldn’t mess with it but the kids really wanted to do it again. Around 2pm, we got in line with a 120 minute posted wait. It look 60 minutes total. The ride glitched towards the end and we were stuck on the ride for a minute and then completed the rest of the ride with no sound so they immediately let us ride it again. We figured that the queue would close at 3 because it ran continuously during the day, but it was still going around dusk so we went again. The wait time posted was 90 minutes but it took about 55 minutes. We saw a family cut in front of us on the last ride, with my husband calling them out right in front of two employees selling drinks and snacks in line, with nothing actually coming of it. Aside from that incident, everything went smoothly. Based on my experience, for my family (who likes a little extra sleep and doesn’t enjoy rushing), I’d recommend getting in line later in the day, especially if you have multiple days at the park. When we rope dropped it was a 90-120 minute posted wait when we got in line, which was the same line we found in afternoon. Admittedly, we were not the best “rope dropping family” but when you consider all the extra time it took to stand in lines to rope drop (ie waiting to get through security into City Walk and then waiting again again for rope drop), we did better with extra sleep and less rushing. I may be saying something different if we’d actually gotten to ride it that morning!

i think you’re the second person to post here about getting a once in a lifetime chance to ride at night with low waits. It seems like it’s a good plan to wander over and check if it’s been down most of the day.

Everyone’s luck on this is going to vary. We tried to ride two afternoons but both times it was down. Two of the 3 mornings we arrived right before 8 we were off the ride by 9:15 for a total wait of 75 mins (an hour ofwhich was non park time). But we were on the same extended delay you were on Mon (it did start at 11). What works is entirely out of our control because it depends on when the ride is functioning. If people have multiple days, trying to ride in the afternoon is as good an approach as any. If people can get up early, RD is as good an approach as any. If people have only one day they should probably plan to try them all.

I really hope they get things going reliably soon.

 

[Lashed34]

i think you’re the second person to post here about getting a once in a lifetime chance to ride at night with low waits. It seems like it’s a good plan to wander over and check if it’s been down most of the day.

Everyone’s luck on this is going to vary. We tried to ride two afternoons but both times it was down. Two of the 3 mornings we arrived right before 8 we were off the ride by 9:15 for a total wait of 75 mins (an hour ofwhich was non park time). But we were on the same extended delay you were on Mon (it did start at 11). What works is entirely out of our control because it depends on when the ride is functioning. If people have multiple days, trying to ride in the afternoon is as good an approach as any. If people can get up early, RD is as good an approach as any. If people have only one day they should probably plan to try them all.

I really hope they get things going reliably soon.

I had a friend from the UK there last week, just for one day, and she rode it 3 times. I've been reading this thread since June....boy she was lucky! Hope we have as much luck next week.

 

[LandoBlanco]

We made a trip the week after it opened and couldn’t get on any of the 5 days we were there. We also had some issues with Portofino so they offered us 2 free nights to make it up to us. So, we’re back on Black Friday, park is super crowded, got in line at 12:15pm with a posted 120 minute wait. Was off the ride in about an hour. Definitely one of the best rides in Orlando.

 

[MyHappyPlace17]

Can anyone speak to the difference in the experience motorcycle v side car? There will be four in our group and I know most, if not all, of us will want the cycle. With wait times being what they are, would it be bad form if we all asked for the cycle? And would they even accommodate us in that?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Can anyone speak to the difference in the experience motorcycle v side car? There will be four in our group and I know most, if not all, of us will want the cycle. With wait times being what they are, would it be bad form if we all asked for the cycle? And would they even accommodate us in that?

Only you can decide what’s bad form. They are not going to let you split into separate rows as a party if 4, so no they won’t accommodate that, they will assign you 2and2. If they accommodated such requests, the regular line would move even slower and it would be unfair to others guests. They would fill those empty seats from the single rider line but it would still make folks in the regular line wait longer.

So in order to each get the motorcycle you would have to “game the system” and each state you are a party of 1. It would also probably be very suspicious to the employee to see four consecutive single riders in the regular line - the odds of that would just be so slim. You also might get some judgmental looks from people behind you.

A potential compromise would be to say you are a party of 1 and then a party of 3. One person would still have to ride in the sidecar then. The one single rider in the regular line would be less suspicious in this example because somebody could have waited in the regular line to guaranty they got the motorbike.

Again it’s up to you how far you want to push it. The truth of the matter is it’s an awesome ride and maybe you should find a way to ride twice and have each person experience both sides...

 

[PoohIsHome]

i think you’re the second person to post here about getting a once in a lifetime chance to ride at night with low waits. It seems like it’s a good plan to wander over and check if it’s been down most of the day.

Everyone’s luck on this is going to vary. We tried to ride two afternoons but both times it was down. Two of the 3 mornings we arrived right before 8 we were off the ride by 9:15 for a total wait of 75 mins (an hour ofwhich was non park time). But we were on the same extended delay you were on Mon (it did start at 11). What works is entirely out of our control because it depends on when the ride is functioning. If people have multiple days, trying to ride in the afternoon is as good an approach as any. If people can get up early, RD is as good an approach as any. If people have only one day they should probably plan to try them all.

I really hope they get things going reliably soon.

We were in that extended delay Monday as well. Since we'd ridden Sunday as part of our VIP tour and still had two more park days, we bailed the line at 9:45. We rode Tuesday and Wednesday by being at the entrance gate before 8am and were off the ride by 9:30. Both mornings we were surrounded by great families that we thoroughly enjoyed talking with....such great mornings!

 

[Disxuni]

Can anyone speak to the difference in the experience motorcycle v side car? There will be four in our group and I know most, if not all, of us will want the cycle. With wait times being what they are, would it be bad form if we all asked for the cycle? And would they even accommodate us in that?

Since @SouthFayetteFan let you know the best way to get the seats, I'll explain the differences from what I've heard on the forums (haven't experience the ride yet) for the seats.

The bike has been reported to be more comfortable, or roomier than the sidecar, so if you're bigger than the average person, or simply want to make sure you're the most comfortable, the bike is the way to go. In terms of experience, the bike is considered more exciting and thrilling feeling, where as the side car has been reported to feel more safe and secure. As a recommendation, it's been reported that leaning into the bike, as if you're riding a real bike, will make the twists and turns more comfortable for the rider.

 

[Lashed34]

We fly from the UK on Wednesday and honestly, the nearer we get, the less and less I care about queuing and problems I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO RIDE THIS no matter how long it takes to get on it. Excitement level EXTREME!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Can anyone speak to the difference in the experience motorcycle v side car? There will be four in our group and I know most, if not all, of us will want the cycle. With wait times being what they are, would it be bad form if we all asked for the cycle? And would they even accommodate us in that?

Most people say the motorbike is more thrilling. I rode it twice and the Sidecar once. I didn’t feel they were that different. There are some banks over the water that seem to pitch the Sidecar more then the bike so I found that to be a thrilling part of being in the Sidecar.
FYI you can’t wear robes on the bike but can in the Sidecar.

 

[macraven]

I’ve ridden the side car 3 times

It wowed me!

 

[patster734]

I finally got to ride Hagrid’s today! We arrived at the gate around 7:50AM. They let us in at 8:45. We got passed by many people running and fast walking. We got to the queue by 9, and fortunately the ride opened on time. No preshow, so we kept walking, and the line stopped in the egg room. We were off the ride and back in Hogsmead by 9:30.

 

[Disxuni]

Question for those who have ridden it. I was thinking about trying to lose a little weight prior to even trying to get onto Hagrid's, but it's my third weekend in a row coming back (well technically showing up tomorrow) since I got my AP again and I had an idea, is it possible to try the test seat without waiting the queue prior to the test seat?

 

[MyHappyPlace17]

Only you can decide what’s bad form. They are not going to let you split into separate rows as a party if 4, so no they won’t accommodate that, they will assign you 2and2. If they accommodated such requests, the regular line would move even slower and it would be unfair to others guests. They would fill those empty seats from the single rider line but it would still make folks in the regular line wait longer.

So in order to each get the motorcycle you would have to “game the system” and each state you are a party of 1. It would also probably be very suspicious to the employee to see four consecutive single riders in the regular line - the odds of that would just be so slim. You also might get some judgmental looks from people behind you.

A potential compromise would be to say you are a party of 1 and then a party of 3. One person would still have to ride in the sidecar then. The one single rider in the regular line would be less suspicious in this example because somebody could have waited in the regular line to guaranty they got the motorbike.

Again it’s up to you how far you want to push it. The truth of the matter is it’s an awesome ride and maybe you should find a way to ride twice and have each person experience both sides...

Thanks. Kind of figured it wouldn't really be doable. I was just dreaming for a minute there! Lol
We'll consider ourselves very lucky if we get two chances to ride.

 

[patster734]

Question for those who have ridden it. I was thinking about trying to lose a little weight prior to even trying to get onto Hagrid's, but it's my third weekend in a row coming back (well technically showing up tomorrow) since I got my AP again and I had an idea, is it possible to try the test seat without waiting the queue prior to the test seat?

Unfortunately no. Test seat is in the final room.

 

[NYHeel]

How does the rope drop for Hagrid work if you're coming from the Hard Rock? Any different?

 

[damo]

Unfortunately no. Test seat is in the final room.

There are also test seats at the entrance to the ride.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1139234290888298496

 

[barb969]

Posted time 90 minutes. Got into line 2:40 just a little past the ride entrance.
Got off the ride at 3:41
I’m not a coaster person but my DD and DH loved loved it.
Others have said the side car is uncomfortable and I agree. There is bar across the back that is almost painful.