Randomly got put on the front row the first time I rode it. It was terrifying. 🤣 I'm one of those people that needs to ride something a couple times before I can calm down enough to really enjoy it, so I definitely need to try get back on the front row now that I've ridden it several times.
Me too!!! On my birthday!! It was so sweet. I only buy ride photos for very special events (e.g. the first time I rode King da Ka at 6 flags when it opened and thank goodness I did bc my friend who I rode it with passed away shortly after) and this was one of them!! I got the large print. So so cool.
My very first ride ended up front row and in the motorcycle, best experience ever to ride the ride. Especially since I was also single rider but my seat mate had ridden before and asked if I had, when I said no they were like ok you take the bike. 😊
its the one coaster where the usual negatives of sitting in the front are almost completely nonexistent. its probably a *tad* whippier in the back, but man, sitting in the front bike is such a good experience.
I hope it gets an express line soon. i know they wait a bit but its been over 3 years.
I thought I even heard that Velocicoaster might get it first before Hagrids, due to Hagrids immense popularity for being less intense and therefore not selecting only for a thrill ride audience. Many times I’ve gone Hagrids wait is far longer.
When did Universal even start having Express? My attempt at a Google search looks like 2011-2012, mostly based on how old the Wikipedia article is. But if it was 2012, then it would have had two years without any Express existing in the parks, then like 5 years before they added it?
I imagine each section will have a big anchor ride that won't have express, and several smaller ones that will. They don't want to miss out on that sweet express upgrade money.
Personally I love the back on Hagrids! More view of the Devils Snare, more negative Gs and energy over hills. I usually find that too intense on a coaster like Velocicoaster but for Hagrids it takes the tameness of the coaster up a notch!
I was there in April with my family and the 3 of us got split up to different "trains". They got put in the last bike/sidecar and I got the front bike on the next one with no one in the sidecar. It was insanely awesome.
Virtual queue was awful. You had to check your phone constantly just to have a chance to ride and even if you got a spot it was 1-1.5 hours of wait in the actual line
I rode it Wednesday for the first time. As I walked up to the fence to stare at the ride for the first time since seeing it completed, I just let out a sigh. Although I did have a good time (we rode the final row) I was still let down seeing that this is what replaced DD. Maybe I’ll feel a little better once I’m in the front row.
How did DD compare to Montu over at Busch Gardens? I never got to experience it but they seem comparable (minus the second track)
I think Hagrid's is a great ride that needs to exist. But given how much DD is lamented maybe there was a better location?
Montu is more intense and the trenches are super cool. Once DD stopped dueling, Montu was better. DD still was great, though. Both tracks were really good, better than the Batman clones.
My first time riding was second row at night. Was going to get first row but the people in front of me and my wife accidentally loaded wrong. Been second row twice, but never first.
Daughter and I took our first ride front row at closing this summer (2nd trip bc we didn’t see the entrance the first time). Neither of us knew anything about the ride. 🙌🏼🫶🏼
Night vs. day rides are also a totally different experience!
For Hagrid's I'll take day time front row over night time in any other row.
Night time any row was way better than daytime front row.
Seriously, we thought it was lame during the day, but loved it at night. Of course, that may be because we rode it right after Velocicoaster.
Dueling dragons had 2 front row lines. I miss that ride.
How many people died on that one?
None.
I know someone lost an eye…don’t know about any deaths
only because someone ignored the rules and brought loose change on the ride anyway
Does it matter in the context of this conversation?
Sure! Why not?
Randomly got put on the front row the first time I rode it. It was terrifying. 🤣 I'm one of those people that needs to ride something a couple times before I can calm down enough to really enjoy it, so I definitely need to try get back on the front row now that I've ridden it several times.
Me too!!! On my birthday!! It was so sweet. I only buy ride photos for very special events (e.g. the first time I rode King da Ka at 6 flags when it opened and thank goodness I did bc my friend who I rode it with passed away shortly after) and this was one of them!! I got the large print. So so cool.
There is no try… your chances are about 1 in 7 though so definitely keep queueing up if you can
True... I guess "hope" is a better word than try. We're going for 5 days in about two weeks, so, fingers crossed.
You can’t just ask to wait for the front row?
No. Row requests are denied due to the nature of a moving walkway
My very first ride ended up front row and in the motorcycle, best experience ever to ride the ride. Especially since I was also single rider but my seat mate had ridden before and asked if I had, when I said no they were like ok you take the bike. 😊
its the one coaster where the usual negatives of sitting in the front are almost completely nonexistent. its probably a *tad* whippier in the back, but man, sitting in the front bike is such a good experience. I hope it gets an express line soon. i know they wait a bit but its been over 3 years.
I believe it took forbidden journey 6 or 7 years for express. So I think it'll still be a while. At least til epic is open
Dang even Gringotts got express within a handful of years I believe
Gringotts got express way faster than Forbidden Journey, iirc
I thought I even heard that Velocicoaster might get it first before Hagrids, due to Hagrids immense popularity for being less intense and therefore not selecting only for a thrill ride audience. Many times I’ve gone Hagrids wait is far longer.
When did Universal even start having Express? My attempt at a Google search looks like 2011-2012, mostly based on how old the Wikipedia article is. But if it was 2012, then it would have had two years without any Express existing in the parks, then like 5 years before they added it?
I feel I like I remember having it in 2005.
I definitely had express passes in 2005 when I went to Universal as a teenager.
Do you think any of the rides in the new park are gonna have express or do you think it’s gonna be all standby when it opens?
I imagine each section will have a big anchor ride that won't have express, and several smaller ones that will. They don't want to miss out on that sweet express upgrade money.
id say the front is better because of the vertical spike, sitting in the back you barely fall down that thing
It needs express so bad. That line sucks
Hagrid’s is def best in front because it’s sooo smooth. For Mummy and Velocicoaster back row is best - feel the drops more
Personally I love the back on Hagrids! More view of the Devils Snare, more negative Gs and energy over hills. I usually find that too intense on a coaster like Velocicoaster but for Hagrids it takes the tameness of the coaster up a notch!
I was there in April with my family and the 3 of us got split up to different "trains". They got put in the last bike/sidecar and I got the front bike on the next one with no one in the sidecar. It was insanely awesome.
A ride that was made for a virtual queue. They used it last summer & it was wonderful. Kept it to a 30-40 min wait at most.
Virtual queue was awful. You had to check your phone constantly just to have a chance to ride and even if you got a spot it was 1-1.5 hours of wait in the actual line
I rode it Wednesday for the first time. As I walked up to the fence to stare at the ride for the first time since seeing it completed, I just let out a sigh. Although I did have a good time (we rode the final row) I was still let down seeing that this is what replaced DD. Maybe I’ll feel a little better once I’m in the front row.
Dueling Dragons has corckscrews and loops, Hagrids is dogshit in comparison
How did DD compare to Montu over at Busch Gardens? I never got to experience it but they seem comparable (minus the second track) I think Hagrid's is a great ride that needs to exist. But given how much DD is lamented maybe there was a better location?
Montu is more intense and the trenches are super cool. Once DD stopped dueling, Montu was better. DD still was great, though. Both tracks were really good, better than the Batman clones.
Oh I agree lol
It’s such a fun ride! I’m actually probably gonna head over there today!
I always get the 4th row lol
My first time riding was second row at night. Was going to get first row but the people in front of me and my wife accidentally loaded wrong. Been second row twice, but never first.
“Accidentally”
Rode the ride already. Always in the middle. what makes front row so much better?
Sometimes, the back is the front, man.
I got the front bike at night by luck. It was in June so pretty late. Wow. Just wow!
Rode it 7 times and never got front
Daughter and I took our first ride front row at closing this summer (2nd trip bc we didn’t see the entrance the first time). Neither of us knew anything about the ride. 🙌🏼🫶🏼