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Friday, June 14, 2019

"Royal Enfields" take Harry Potter fans on wild ride

Imaginary view of roller coaster ride.
Hagrid takes look-alike Royal Enfields onto the roller coaster track at Universal Orlando Resort.
Fans of Harry Potter and roller coasters lined up for as long as 10 hours for the chance to ride Royal Enfield motorcycle sidecar outfits at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida.

Just opened Thursday, the "Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure" puts riders on the seat of a "motorcycle" or in its sidecar for a twisting ride through the Forbidden Forest.

"Due to anticipated excitement by our guests, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure may experience high demand," the theme park warns visitors on its website. Advice is to check the park's hotline at 407-817-8060 for updates.

The roller coaster hits speeds up to 50 miles per hour and it's the longest roller coaster ride in Florida, nearly a mile long. The ride moves both forward and backward, and there's a "free fall" of 17 feet.

Riders who've tried it like it, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

"Hurl past impossible obstacles and dodge fierce beasts you've never seen before on a freewheeling coaster flight that will bring you close to some of the wizarding world's rarest magical creatures," the theme park says.

Photo of actual roller coaster ride.
Universal Orlando Resort roller coaster..
Riders who grab seats on the "motorcycles" are really out in the breeze, clinging to handlebars. Sidecar riders are more tucked in.

The "motorcycles" are not real Royal Enfields, but they look similar and the sidecar outfits used in the Potter movies were in fact modified Royal Enfields. Here's my item on Royal Enfield's documented role in the movies.

Screen shot of real motorcycle from grand opening video.
Real Royal Enfield and sidecar appeared at ride's grand opening.
A real Royal Enfield and sidecar are seen in the park's video for the ride's grand opening.

You can go along for a ride in this Universal Orlando Resort video.


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