Finally, my full review. First, my personal policy on doing full reviews of attractions is that I want to get a minimum of three rides in and preferably 5 or more. That helps me get past new ride expectations, good or bad, and allows me time to catch the nuances and feels of an attraction better with repeat rides. Also, it gives me the opportunity to see if an attraction improves with repeat rides, or loses it's newness luster. Hagrid was a tough read for me, mostly since I am not a coaster fanatic. I like coasters but don't love them. I also couldn't care less about all the coaster jargon and technical aspects you'll hear from some of the coaster experts. To me it's all about fun and entertainment, so that's my bottom line. And my ratings are always based on the 'Totality of the Experience', so that includes setting, facade, queue, pre shows and actual ride.
*The setting and facade is excellent. Hagrid's Motorbike winding through the forest and ruins are quite beautiful and full of kinetic energy. The winding outdoor queue provides an excellent view of the ride and really gives you a thirst to ride it. The area of Hagrid's Hut is interesting and provides an early taste of the attraction. And the 'ruins' towering above it all are striking and full of detail.
*I liked the queue a lot. It's better than I expected and really under rated, in my opinion. The queue is not on the level of FJ or Gingotts, but what is. But it is one of the top five queues at Universal Orlando. The pre show is quite good, especially when the doors are closed and you get to see the entire show. My favorite part of the queue was the pre load area. The shadows and sounds of the motorbikes racing above you, and the giant spiders crawling on the roof present one of the best queue areas anywhere.
*The ride is totally awesome and provided me with more continual thrill than I've experienced on any other themed attraction. I'm not really a thrill junkie, but it dominates Hagrid. And it's all in the launches. Oh, these launches are so superlative. I felt like I was riding a real motorbike. And though I know this isn't the technically 'fastest' coaster I've ever rode, it actually 'felt' like the fastest coaster I've ever been on. The first launch really sets the tone of the ride. The absolute speed is unexpected and jarring. Riding through the fabulous themed area elevates this so far above any unthemed thrill coaster that there is no comparison. The first moving scene with Hagrid and the Skrewit is good, but it would be better if they'd put some high bails of hay around the skrewit to hide it's base. That base is, unfortunately, a bit cartoonish. Loved the launch into the 'ruins' It felt really really fast. And launching past the dogs was really cool, as well as the launch into the upward track. Even though I knew ahead of time that it would be launched backwards, it caught me so quickly that I was surprised by the backwards speed. And then into the cave. Great atmosphere and the short stop helped the pacing and set the stage for...."The Drop'. Loved it. But the best was reserved for the last. The launch out of the cave seemed the fastest I've 'ever' felt on a ride....and I've been on Dragster. Like I said before, Hagrid may not technically be the fastest, but it sure 'felt' to 'me' the fastest most thrilling effect I can recall at the end of the ride. What a way to finish a most excellent adventure, saving the best for last. And then winding down with a slow crawl past the Unicorn and it's baby.
* Is it the best ride at Universal. Not quite, but that's because two of the best rides ever, FJ and Spider Man, are in the same park, IOA, as Hagrid. I would rate Hagrid as the number three ride at Universal Orlando. Now, 'Totality of the Attraction' it would tie with Gringotts, since the Gringotts amazing queue pulls the attraction rating up. Bottom line though, Hagrid's was great fun, entertainment plus and the highest of thrill levels. Awesome intensity. And, it gets better with repeat rides. After my first two rides, I would have given the ride a 8 1/2 score, but after my additional four rides in January, I elevated the ride portion to a 9 1/2.
*RATING:: Setting/Facade/Queue/PreShow: 9...Ride: 9 1/2....."TOTALITY OF THE EXPERIENCE" : 9 1/2
