Flight of the Hippogriff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flight of the Hippogriff |
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| Previously known as Flying Unicorn (2000–2008) | |
A vehicle ascending the lift hill on Flight of the Hippogriff. An animatronic Hippogriff can be seen in the background, to the left side of the lift hill.
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| Universal's Islands of Adventure | |
| Park section | The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade |
| Coordinates | 28°28′21″N 81°28′26″W / 28.472454°N 81.473803°W |
| Status | Operating |
| at at RCDB | |
| Universal Studios Hollywood | |
| Park section | The Wizarding World of Harry Potter |
| Coordinates | 34°08′16″N 118°21′13″W / 34.1377°N 118.3537°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | April 7, 2016 |
| Universal Studios Japan | |
| Park section | The Wizarding World of Harry Potter |
| Coordinates | 34°40′07″N 135°25′56″E / 34.6685°N 135.4321°E |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | July 15, 2014 |
| Universal Studios Beijing | |
| Park section | The Wizarding World of Harry Potter |
| Coordinates | 39°51′18″N 116°40′26″E / 39.855°N 116.674°E |
| Status | Under construction |
| Opening date | May 2021 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Junior |
| Manufacturer | Mack Rides (Hollywood) Vekoma (Orlando, Japan) |
| Designer | Universal Creative |
| Model | Junior Coaster (335m) Youngstar Coaster (Hollywood) |
| Lift/launch system | Drive tire |
| Height | 42.7 ft (13.0 m) |
| Length | 1,099.1 ft (335.0 m) |
| Speed | 28.5 mph (45.9 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:06 |
| Height restriction | 36 in (91 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 16 riders per train. |
| Queue host | Rubeus Hagrid (voice) |
 Universal Express available |
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 Must transfer from wheelchair |
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Flight of the Hippogriff is a fun, smaller junior roller coaster ride. You can find it in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter sections of several theme parks. These parks include Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando Resort. It is also planned for Universal Studios Beijing.
The ride was designed by Universal Creative. The first version opened at Islands of Adventure on June 18, 2010. This new ride was actually an older roller coaster called Flying Unicorn that was updated. The park closed Flying Unicorn in 2008 to change it. This change made the ride fit the new Harry Potter-themed area. Flight of the Hippogriff is a gentler ride compared to other bigger rides like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Because it was so popular, similar versions of the roller coaster were built at Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Contents
History of the Ride
Islands of Adventure Park
The ride, originally called Flying Unicorn, was one of the first new attractions at Islands of Adventure. It opened on June 29, 2000, in the park's Lost Continent area. The ride's story was about an enchanted forest, like something from a fairy tale. Signs in the waiting line told the tale of a wizard. He found a baby unicorn's horn, which it sheds only once every thousand years. The wizard then used the horn's magic to make the ride's carts fly. Riders sat in carts shaped like mechanical unicorns. They traveled up a hill, then through dips and turns, before returning to the start.
In May 2007, Universal announced the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section. Both Flying Unicorn and another ride, Dueling Dragons, were going to be part of this new area. It wasn't clear if they would be closed and re-themed at that time.
After running for eight years, Flying Unicorn closed on July 7, 2008. This allowed construction to begin on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
On September 15, 2009, Universal officially announced the rides for the new Harry Potter area. They confirmed that Flying Unicorn would be updated and renamed Flight of the Hippogriff.
The ride had a soft opening on June 1, 2010, with its new name. It officially opened with the rest of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 18, 2010.
Universal Studios Japan Park
A copy of the Orlando ride was built at Universal Studios Japan. It is also part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area there. This version of the ride opened on July 15, 2014.
Universal Studios Hollywood Park
Flight of the Hippogriff was also built at Universal Studios Hollywood. It opened on April 7, 2016. This was the first outdoor roller coaster at the Hollywood park.
What the Ride is Like
Waiting in Line
The new story for the roller coaster is that Hagrid is teaching young wizards how to fly a Hippogriff. He uses fake models of the creature for this lesson. The line for the ride winds through the Hogwarts Grounds. You'll walk past Hagrid's Hut and the Forest. Then you enter an open area where the Care of Magical Creatures Class is taught. This is where riders get onto the ride vehicle.
The Ride Experience
The roller coaster takes passengers on a practice flight with a Hippogriff. You'll fly over the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's Hut. Before the ride starts, you are told to bow to the Hippogriff. Then the cars go up the lift hill. From the top, riders get a great view of the entire Wizarding World. The cars then drop and twist through various turns around Hogwarts Grounds. Finally, you return to the start of the track. Hagrid thanks the riders, and you can then get off the ride.
Geographic data related to Flight of the Hippogriff at OpenStreetMap
Images for kids
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Hagrid's Hut at queue area of the attraction in Universal Studios Beijing
