General Discussion - Hagrid's Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure

[StaticShock]

It should be adjusted to single use only for those with unlimited express. Easy fix. Simple asterisks.

But they won’t do that. Because this isn’t about fixing operations as much as it is a cash grab for single use express sales; which they will absolutely offer within 3 months of July 1st.

Plot twist: what if the single-use-attraction express that Universal was testing on crappier rides (Kong) so they could remove Hagrid’s from general express and only allow express to be like a Lighting Lane add-on for this attraction?

 

[boomerthom]

But the thing with Hagrid's - are *Express guests* complaining that the line is too long? That must be it. This is a complete reversal from who would usually complain, as standby guests usually watch LL or Express guests march right in front of them to the beginning of the line.

But if Express is almost as long... wow, that is a new thing.

My fix: put a wait timer on both lines. I usually use a 1/3 rule of thumb, but it doesn't always work.

Anecdotal, but I only visit Universal on Saturdays or Sundays (the latter if Monday is a holiday) due to my work schedule, and I've been visiting and riding Hagrid's with after 4pm premier pass express regularly since it was added. Not once have I waited more than 40 minutes, and it's often a bit less than that, even if the actual line is backed up to the entrance. Waiting only 30-40 minutes is significantly better than any experience I had in standby prior to express being added, as it was very rare to see the line posted under 60 minutes on the days I was able to visit. Actually it was usually closer to 90, if not more (I know this because other than Cosmic Rewind, Hagrid's is the only ride I'll wait that long for after already having been on it). It's such a significant value add to the premier pass, which I had before express was added to Hagrid's, if it matters.

Part of my frustration is that they didn't just open up Hagrid's and slap express on it without thinking it through - they had six years to do their due diligence to figure out if express was even feasible and/or worthwhile to add, and then they made that call, and now it's being removed. Instead of going scorched earth on express, it would have made more sense to start by simply excluding the ride from unlimited express, instead limiting those guests to one ride per day. This would prevent people from looping the attraction and reduce the express line by at least some amount. Then if the issue really isn't fixed, they could maybe proceed with axing express altogether. I'm not an express/LL apologist - my preference would be for all theme parks to be standby only, but they made the call, added an extremely valuable benefit to their pass and ticket options (nevermind that this affects regular express purchases and north campus deluxe hotels too) and are now removing it, and it kinda sucks...imo.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

If the standby wait is 80 and I get on the ride in 30 with my AP Express, that's a win.

A lot of people saying this will help the standby queue and yes, that's usually how these things work, but Hagrid was always a bad wait. At least with Express, people have the option to pay more to get on in 30 mins or so. Now, we all just wait in a 2 hour line together, as we did before Express was added to the attraction.

 

[HalfGlass]

It should be adjusted to single use only for those with unlimited express. Easy fix. Simple asterisks.

But they won’t do that. Because this isn’t about fixing operations as much as it is a cash grab for single use express sales; which they will absolutely offer within 3 months of July 1st.

Here’s the thing though - in the eyes of the consumer, what’s more unsatisfactory? Paying for Express/staying at a Deluxe hotel and not having access to Hagrids in isolation? Or finding out that in addition to paying for an Express pass, you also need to pay for another single pass to ride it on a shorter wait?

In my opinion, the former stings more, but people over time will forget this was a thing and the status quo will resume. The latter brings ongoing guest complaints.

 

[UNIrd]

Honestly, if this does move to Individual Express, that would work too. I mean it does for Disney and it's essentially how they pay for new rides.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

You're fine with it but the average guest who paid for Express might not be as they're used to those lines being much quicker. So if satisfaction is low on both fronts, it makes sense to lose it. Though it's sad for me as a non-local Premier AP. I'll be back to rarely getting to ride it again.

Hey if it makes you feel better, I haven't ridden it since Express was added because I refuse to wait 3 hours for a ride lol

 

[StaticShock]

Hey if it makes you feel better, I haven't ridden it since Express was added because I refuse to wait 3 hours for a ride lol

It's definitely worth a ride. Is it worthy to be a 3 hr wait in stanby? HELL NO.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

It's definitely worth a ride. Is it worthy to be a 3 hr wait in stanby? HELL NO.

Oh I've ridden it many times, but I haven't done it in probably 2 years - particularly because of the addition of Express lol

 

[HalfGlass]

Honestly, if this does move to Individual Express, that would work too. I mean it does for Disney and it's essentially how they pay for new rides.

True but the difference is that they also offer LL for other rides at $22-30 a person for a day getting you on three attractions. Universal is basically pay $120+ at a minimum and then additional for other premium rides.

 

[jubstice]

This is a good change; no express makes the line go quicker for everyone. If you can afford an annual pass, you can afford to go back to the park in the slow season; most people coming to Universal/Islands/Epic will only go once or twice in their lives, and park ops probably weren't fans of lines going to Lost Continent and Seuss Landing. From the outside looking in, it looks bad for Universal when one guest is sitting in a line all day for one ride.

 

[Mad Dog]

Hagrids is pretty much long all day, even during the slow seasons. Not many times is it under an hour. Of course, it's worse during holiday weeks.
There's no good solution. The attraction is excellent, and super popular. The only way to cut stand by to 'reasonable' times is if they can upwardly adjust the operational capacity, which may not be possible. I don't think it's running at the capacity they envisioned when they developed the ride, but that scenario may have been overly optimistic. Even a new park, Epic, with all new attractions, has not dented the demand for Hagrids. That's a testament of how great the attraction is

And, a lot of tourists and AP holders can only go when their schedule, or their kids schedule, allow. So, with no express they have little opportunity to ride Hagrids unless they can squeeze in a couple hours of their vacation time for one ride.

 

[boomerthom]

Hagrids is pretty much long all day, even during the slow seasons. Not many times is it under an hour. Of course, it's worse during holiday weeks.
There's no good solution. The attraction is excellent, and super popular. The only way to cut stand by to 'reasonable' times is if they can upwardly adjust the operational capacity, which may not be possible. I don't think it's running at the capacity they envisioned when they developed the ride, but that scenario may have been overly optimistic. Even a new park, Epic, with all new attractions, has not dented the demand for Hagrids. That's a testament of how great the attraction is

And, a lot of tourists and AP holders can only go when their schedule, or their kids schedule, allow. So, with no express they have little opportunity to ride Hagrids unless they can squeeze in a couple hours of their vacation time for one ride.

Yep, on the days I typically visit, and before express was added, seeing Hagrid posted even as low as 60 minutes was a “sound the alarm” moment. Plenty of times I waited in a posted 80 or 90 minute standby because that was the only option. The line is going to be long regardless.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yep, on the days I typically visit, and before express was added, seeing Hagrid posted even as low as 60 minutes was a “sound the alarm” moment. Plenty of times I waited in a posted 80 or 90 minute standby because that was the only option. The line is going to be long regardless.

Yeah, Most of my vacations are during the low to low/moderate season. I've never seen anything lower than 60 minutes, and that was just a couple of times. Generally, even before express, it was 90 to 120 minutes....slow weeks .

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

Yeah seeing a lot of people online saying how this ride was less than 60 before it got Express. I wanna know what private event they were invited to that I wasn’t. If it was below 90, it was like seeing a unicorn, no pun intended.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yeah seeing a lot of people online saying how this ride was less than 60 before it got Express. I wanna know what private event they were invited to that I wasn’t. If it was below 90, it was like seeing a unicorn, no pun intended.

Illusions and/or fantasy dreams