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.