Me2Old4This2
Seasonal Pass
Has an Unhealthy Obsession with Norman Reedus
Posts: 2,127
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Post by Me2Old4This2 on Jun 13, 2019 22:39:31 GMT
Saw that someone else posted one of these too, but they were in the back more, I didn't watch trying hard to keep some things sacred...camera's now a days are so small, it probably went undetected. It's people like this that can't follow rules and ruin it for the rest of us. Watch, now they will install metal detectors and make wait times even longer.
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Me2Old4This2
Seasonal Pass
Has an Unhealthy Obsession with Norman Reedus
Posts: 2,127
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Post by Me2Old4This2 on Jun 13, 2019 23:34:12 GMT
Here's another video regarding opening day from Rix Flix...I don't watch these guys often, they can be a bit annoying, but they got into the first group of 200 that got special treatment, media coverage and a pre-show similar to the media event the night before, minus Rupert.
I noticed that Dan from Midway Mahem also made it in the group.
Just a SPOILER WARNING ... they are very detailed in their description of the ride, but it is also very informative.
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Post by Merry McSparkles Grimes on Jun 14, 2019 2:39:04 GMT
Me2Old4This2 That is the kind of crap that may ruin it but we'll see. I think the locker areas are going to be really tight, FJ is bad enough. RixFlix was coming up in our YouTube suggestions the last few times I went into the app (through the television) and none of us have ever watched his videos prior. Watched a couple, agree that they can be annoying but not bad. Midway Mayhem is to the point, no fluff there, mostly. I like Alicia Stella's videos, she tweeted a lot today but not much more than 1-2 weeks for videos. Saw nothing from Tim Tracker, guess he wasn't/didn't want to be in on that. Anyhoo, I'll proceed cautiously but will check out the video soon. Odd that certain people made it into these special groups, first 200 etc, I don't think that's luck.
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Post by Véro on Jun 14, 2019 13:02:59 GMT
i don't think I'd ever watched a video from RixFix but that was an interesting watch. it's dedication to wake up that early for a ride. December cannot get here soon enough so I can try it.
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Me2Old4This2
Seasonal Pass
Has an Unhealthy Obsession with Norman Reedus
Posts: 2,127
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Post by Me2Old4This2 on Jun 14, 2019 15:53:47 GMT
Don't get me wrong...Rix Flix does have some nice videos. It's just that he easily gets off topic and he's constantly calling things the wrong names....not good for a Park Vlogger. He sucks at HP stuff he needs his wife to tell him what things are, etc. and she is so sweet and bubbly some days I am just not in the mood  people love them though. I am sure they will grow on me, after all I never cared for Tim Tracker and now he's my second go to after Midway Mahem. One thing that I do like is she is an artist and paints HP and other park characters on small rocks and hides them around the park for people to find and keep. Merry McSparkles Grimes tell M to keep her eye out for them when you visit....l definitely will keep my eye out for some in November. |
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Post by Merry McSparkles Grimes on Jun 14, 2019 18:04:33 GMT
Me2Old4This2 I'd only watched one video in full and she did mention hiding spots. He might be easier to spot with the constant yellow shirts but still a sea of people. Yes her voice is very "perky". She does some nice detailed work on the rocks, though. Right now on the app it is showing Hagrid's at 360 minutes.
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Me2Old4This2
Seasonal Pass
Has an Unhealthy Obsession with Norman Reedus
Posts: 2,127
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Post by Me2Old4This2 on Jun 18, 2019 17:16:52 GMT
This looks a little uncomfortable....I know she's just a kid, but my arm length is about the same.  |
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Me2Old4This2
Seasonal Pass
Has an Unhealthy Obsession with Norman Reedus
Posts: 2,127
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Post by Me2Old4This2 on Jun 18, 2019 17:39:16 GMT
I borrowed this from FB....this should be interesting  |
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Me2Old4This2
Seasonal Pass
Has an Unhealthy Obsession with Norman Reedus
Posts: 2,127
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Post by Me2Old4This2 on Jun 18, 2019 18:17:44 GMT
And here is the result of opening Hagrids midday....did they really think people would do anything else.... |
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Post by Merry McSparkles Grimes on Jun 18, 2019 19:32:18 GMT
It's going to be a real chore to get on that next month. . .  EPA looks to be IoA so the line will be doubly bad. Ugh. Me2Old4This2 I hadn't noticed the photo you posted earlier of the girl on the bike, it does look awkward but sure it's smooth. I might be bold enough to try it, we'll see. ChuckPlagmann The motorbike side, is it awkward? How about going backwards? |
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Post by Cathleen on Jun 19, 2019 16:24:45 GMT
Yeah it looks as though we aren't getting on next week - but the parks are open until 10 pm so perhaps we will get lucky! Doubtful but I can dream! lol The motorbike does look awkward.  |
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Me2Old4This2
Seasonal Pass
Has an Unhealthy Obsession with Norman Reedus
Posts: 2,127
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Post by Me2Old4This2 on Jul 3, 2019 2:11:58 GMT
So, as you may or may not know, my sister surprised me with a short overnight visit to Universal as a Graduation present. Here are my thoughts on Hagrids....
* This ride exceeded all my expectations....honestly, words cannot describe it. All I could manage at first was OMG! and WOW!
* It is an INTENSE ride, in a league of it's own and nothing out there can compare...one thing for sure, it left me wanting more, more, more!
* It is fast, fast, fast...faster than anything I have ever been on.
* All coasters that I have been on since, seem like kiddie rides to me.
I was able to ride 3 times...one of which I tried to ride at night, but it was just before dusk when we got on, so I will try for a night time experience in November. I only rode the motorbike because my sister was too chicken to switch...I would like to try the sidecar as I am sure it will be a different experience.
THE QUEUE:
* It is long, and hasn't changed from it's Dragon Challenge days...it is visually detailed to help pass the time.
* It is HOT, not much ventilation or AC/Fans and in some spots I became a bit Claustrophobic with low ceilings and tight hallways...hoping the ventilation issue will be addressed/improve as time goes on.
RIDE LOADING:
* Loading is like Rip-Rocket...moving platform on and off.
* Ride vehicle is not easy to get into, especially if riding the bike...must step over parts of bike design to get into seat and if you are not coordinated like me or my sister, you will stumble awkwardly into the seat.
* Also nothing to hold onto while loading...found myself reaching for anything/bike handlebars while trying to keep my balance. I may be exaggerating a bit, but this was also awkward.
* Bike riders load first.
SEATING:
* Bike was roomy/comfortable, I felt secure with lap-bar
* Handlebars for me were uncomfortable to hold onto as I had to lean too far forward (short arms) ... there are grooves in the lap-bar to hold on and I felt secure, but honestly my arms were in the air most of the time screaming with excitement.
* Sidecar from the looks of it seemed comfortable but a bit less room width-wise than the bike. Also leg-room is compromised by car design so appears you may/can not stretch legs out...probably a more secure feeling because you are enclosed in the vehicle and the lap-bar had a bar that you could hold on to.
* Side-car is much lower than bike.
My first ride, I was a little scared, the ride moves so fast and some parts of the track twist and turn sideways making you feel a little too free (if you know what I mean)...I made sure to hold on when we approached those spots. I assume the feeling is different for the sidecar.
All 3 rides where at or near the rear of the vehicle so when we approached the "Spike" it did not affect us in anyway. I'm sure that in the future I will have many rides in the front to get the full experience of the "Spike". I suspect the whole ride experience is more INTENSE in the front seats.
Hope this helped to answer some of your questions about the ride.
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Post by Merry McSparkles Grimes on Jul 14, 2019 0:21:58 GMT
Best ride in both parks. Smooth and fast, just a lot of fun. I think many here will love it unless speed isn't for you. The launches are terrific.
We decided to wait our first vacation day last Saturday. We didn't go into the parks until late so DH said let's try when we get over there. There had been rain earlier but we waited for an hour from 8:20 until 9:20 and they let us in. Queue is good, especially the biggest room where the dragon eggs are. Never saw the Hagrid and Arthur Weasley video that I've seen on You Tube video coverage and the room where Hagrid's table with assorted glass vials and his very large dragon scale gloves is a small, tight room. The last room before the loading area is set up like Kong, a big open room with the barrier lines (whatever they're called, the metal railings) filling up the room. To the right of the wall is I think single rider/possibly VIP as well. Outside queue area is very nice still. I only did Dragon Challenge twice as it made me sick but looks about the same.
We waited almost an hour and there were *two* people ahead of us when they stopped the ride for the night. Someone said maintenance crew needs a certain amount of time to work on it and it was after 10 p.m. They gave us special express passes to try again. We went back the next night, waited about 50 minutes and got on at night. DH has to have the bike. M was ahead of us, she had the bike and loves it. He and I were front row, really terrific. Dark at night but adds to the rush although I think we both liked it better in the day so you can see the detail. We both got pelted with bugs. He told M afterwards that I was like a kid in a candy store, screaming one minute and laughing like crazy the next, it's that good. Universal has outdone themselves with this one, it's fantastic.
Second time with the passes was on Wednesday during the day, can't recall the time, believe it was midday, but we only waited about 40 minutes. I would like to try the bike sometime. Definitely had my arms up in the sidecar. It's considerably lower but still a lot of fun.
The loading area is like Forbidden Journey, I don't know how RRR is as I have never ridden that but Hagrid's moves slower than FJ, I thought, enough time to get on and settled. That being said, though, as Lisa said, it's a bit awkward getting in. DH felt the ride wasn't restrictive as much for his stomach area but more so his legs but he got in fine both times.
Yesterday we were going to try single rider but the heat and the week and the @#$& tour groups wore us out and the kid was tired. Tim Tracker video said the single rider line was too long and someone made a comment that if the line is past the stairway (don't know where that is just yet), the line is too long to wait in. Apparently hoards of people are using single rider to try to get on faster and there are always those, as we saw, that will complain when they do get separated. Definitely something to try for the future.
It's awesome. New favorite ride, no question. Fast, smooth, thrilling without whipping you around too much (Mummy) and just fun. Great, great, great!
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