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Hagrids motorbike5/7/2023 ![]() With a track sitting at a length of 5,053 feet (1,540m), and at a duration of around 3 minutes, it’s the longest outdoor coaster in Florida (only recently outdone by the indoor Guardians of the Galaxy coaster at EPCOT). And while the name of the ride – Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – had some expecting an experience reminiscent of Mick Doohan’s Motocoaster at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast (in fact both rides were built by the same manufacturers, Intamin), what Universal delivered was, to this writer’s surprise, amongst the most impressive roller coasters ever. To build it, they knocked down Dragon Challenge, the now dated ride (albeit updated for Wizarding World) that opened with the park as Dueling Dragons. It wouldn’t be until June 2019 that Islands of Adventure would have their first ground up build of roller coaster since 2000’s family friendly Flying Unicorn*. This may also have something to do with them needing to change their image, but we won’t go through that here… ![]() They even go so far as to brand themselves as the “Coaster Capital of Orlando” – and with their great run of coaster additions, they have every right to. Sure, their companion park next door got one, but as their focus turned to the impressive Wizarding World, Sea World Orlando, yes Sea World, picked up the slack, adding coaster after coaster to their park – helping fulfill the promise that Islands of Adventure had not quite delivered on. These were, at the time, two of the biggest and best coasters to debut in Orlando – a town that historically saw tamer attractions.īut year after year, even in the face of the expansive Harry Potter land, Islands of Adventure didn’t add any additional coasters for thrill seekers*. It looked thrilling, as did the Dueling Dragons coaster that saw two suspended coasters race side by side. I distinctly remember the TV ads showing The Incredible Hulk coaster weaving its way over the body of water that sits at the centre of the park. When Universal Studio Florida’s second gate, Islands of Adventure opened 23 years ago in 1999, it looked destined to be holy ground for roller coasters in Florida.
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