Hagrid’s “Express” Line?!

[Keladry84]

I was just at universal last week and used the aap on Hagrids. Walking down the accessible entry path, I observed multiple people hopping out of the line into the separate queue line, probably about every 5 to 10 feet or so. Ended up walking with about 15-20 other people, all attempting to line cut. I thought they would try to hop back in the main line but no. All of them got stopped by a CM about 3/4 of the way down where there was a staircase leaving the line…..leaving me to walk solo to the merge point. I felt a little odd/guilty when let in at the merge point as the regular line was stopped just for me (the 2 other times I’ve ridden there was a couple of others), but I also had zero access to the ride before I knew about aap, and the accommodation is the only way I can experience it.

I was really surprised at the number of people trying to cut, it was a large number and very blatant. I was also glad they actually had someone enforcing and the people were stopped. All of those people ended up wasting the time they had already spent in the line before hopping into the other queue.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

All of those people ended up wasting the time they had already spent in the line before hopping into the other queue.

Hopefully they will learn not to do that next time. Those people are scum.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Even if I'm a solo rider, if I've waited 45-60 minutes in the regular queue to ride Hagrid's, I'm not letting a single rider steal the bike from me, sorry. I've done single rider myself, and always tell the person I'm paired with that they get the bike.
When the ride first opened, they used to announce that to single riders, but they don't anymore. It would be nice if they put up signage to the effect.

 

[ZehnJahren]

This was a timely read for me! We are going next weekend for the first time in 12 years and I wanted to try this coaster. My 6 year old won't ride and she would NOT wait in line for family swap, so I was planning on doing the single rider line. I never would have thought about the bike vs sidecar. Is it really that big of a difference in the ride?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

For only one ride, maybe not. There's a lot to focus your attention on, particularly if you are a Harry Potter fan. You're closer to the animatronics. Don't get me wrong, the bike is more unique riding style and I think you feel more "involved" vs just riding... but that would be true in an actual sidecar also.

 

[GhostHost24]

This was a timely read for me! We are going next weekend for the first time in 12 years and I wanted to try this coaster. My 6 year old won't ride and she would NOT wait in line for family swap, so I was planning on doing the single rider line. I never would have thought about the bike vs sidecar. Is it really that big of a difference in the ride?

I think the bike is way more fun.

Also note, there's many times the single rider line takes just as long as the standby. I find it not to be worth it, it's very slow.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I find it not to be worth it, it's very slow.

And boring.

 

[greeneyedchick]

This was a timely read for me! We are going next weekend for the first time in 12 years and I wanted to try this coaster. My 6 year old won't ride and she would NOT wait in line for family swap, so I was planning on doing the single rider line. I never would have thought about the bike vs sidecar. Is it really that big of a difference in the ride?

Personally, I prefer the side car. I find that it supports my back better than the bike. I also need to support my head/neck with my arm. That's easier done in the side car than the bike. I'm 5'3"

 

[titojackson84]

The bike is a little more forgiving for plus size riders, but the only real difference is you’re seated higher, and there are handlebars, but it’s still just a seat. It would be different if the seat was mor like Tron/flight of passage.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

In line right now for Hagrid’s. There is a second lane, to the right, which I imagine will one day serve as the express line. For now, though, there are many groups of people walking through it, skipping most of the 2 1/2 hour line. I’m sure that many of these people have a disability pass or are doing child swap. But many others just seemed to have crossed onto that side when no one was looking to skip the line. When asked (not by me!), several of them have said something like, “This is the Express line.” Is there some sort of express line? If not, are these people getting away with skipping the line? I haven’t seen anyone being sent back.

We just had an experience where my daughter measured as tall enough for velocicoaster at the entrance, we waited on the entire line, then at ride entrance they told her she was too short. She was beside herself crying and the team member felt bad and gave us a pass so she could ride Hagrid's instead. When we went to Hagrid and showed them the passes, they had us enter through that second line, and they collected our passes at the merge. I imagine there's some things like this going on.

 

[Deb1993]

I think the other line is single rider? We were there last week and rode regular line and on another one of our rides were in the regular line and decided to switch to the single rider line instead. We rode separately of course. Hope we didn't do anything wrong. We switched over on the outside portion before you enter the building. Once inside on that single rider line there was another line to our right that had folks skipping everyone. Not sure where they came from. This was at the end of the night.