Flight of the Hippogriff
{{Short description|Junior roller coaster at Universal parks}}
{{Infobox roller coaster
| name = Flight of the Hippogriff
| image = Flight of the Hippogriff at Islands of Adventure.jpg
| imagedimensions = 250px
| caption = 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.
| previousnames = Flying Unicorn (2000–2008)
| location = Universal Islands of Adventure
| section = The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
| subsection = Hogsmeade
| status = Operating
| opened = {{Start date|2000|6|29}}
| year = 2008
| closed =
| extend = {{Infobox roller coaster extend
| location = Universal Studios Japan
| locationarticle =
| coordinates = {{Coord|34.6685|135.4321|display=inline}}
| section = The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
| subsection =
| status = Operating
| opened = {{Start date|2014|7|15}}
| year = 2014
| closed =
| cost =
| replacement =
| rcdb_number = 11885
}}
{{Infobox roller coaster extend
| location = Universal Studios Hollywood
| locationarticle =
| coordinates = {{Coord|34.1377|-118.3537|display=inline}}
| section = The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
| subsection =
| status = Operating
| opened = {{Start date|2016|4|7}}
| year = 2016
| closed =
| cost =
| replacement =
|rcdb_number = 12812
}}
{{Infobox roller coaster extend
| location = Universal Studios Beijing
| locationartitcle =
| coordinates = {{Coord|39.855|116.674|display=inline}}
| section = The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
| subsection =
| status = Open
| opened = {{Start date|2021|9|20}}
| closed =
| replacement =
| rcdb_number = 17463
}}
| type = Steel
| type2 = Junior
| type3 =
| manufacturer = Vekoma{{!}}Vekoma (Orlando, Japan){{))!}}
{{!((}}Mack Rides{{!}}Mack Rides (Hollywood, Beijing)
| designer = Universal Creative
| model = Junior Coaster (335m) (Japan/Florida)
Youngstar Coaster (Custom) (Hollywood, Beijing)
| track =
| lift = Drive tire (Florida, Hollywood, Japan)
Chain (Beijing)
| height_ft = 42.7
| drop_ft =
| length_ft = 1099.1
| speed_mph = 28.5
| inversions = 0
| duration = 1:06
| angle =
| capacity =
| cost =
| gforce =
| restriction_in = 36
| trains = 2
| carspertrain = 8
| rowspercar = 1
| ridersperrow = 2
| virtual_queue_name = Universal Express
| virtual_queue_image = Universal Express availability.svg
| virtual_queue_status = available
| single_rider =
| custom_label_1 = Queue host
| custom_value_1 = Rubeus Hagrid (voiced by Robbie Coltrane)
| custom_label_2 = Ride host
| custom_value_2 = Rubeus Hagrid
| accessible =
| transfer_accessible = Yes
| assistive_listening =
| cc =
| location_rcdb_number = 703
| coordinates = {{Coord|28.472454|-81.473803|display=inline}}
}}
Flight of the Hippogriff is a junior roller coaster at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of the many Universal theme parks. It is present at Universal Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Beijing. Designed by Universal Creative, the first installation opened at Islands of Adventure on June 18, 2010. The new ride was a redesign of an existing roller coaster known as Flying Unicorn, which the park closed in 2008 to begin its transformation. The design change was implemented to fit the new Harry Potter-themed area that was being constructed at the park. Flight of the Hippogriff is a mild alternative to the area's more extreme rides such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Following a successful launch, identical versions of the roller coaster were installed at Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood over the next several years, with the Beijing version opening with the park in 2021.
History
=Universal Islands of Adventure=
Flying Unicorn was one of the first rides to be added to Islands of Adventure after its grand opening, debuting on June 29, 2000, in the park's Lost Continent area.{{cite web|last=Roller Coaster Database|title=Flight of the Hippogriff (Universal Studios Islands of Adventure)|url=http://www.rcdb.com/703.htm|work=Database entry|publisher=RCDB|access-date=2 July 2010}}{{cite web|last=Universal Orlando|title=The Wizarding World of Harry Potter|url=http://www.universalorlando.com/home/harrypotter.aspx|publisher=Universal Orlando|access-date=2 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702220054/http://www.universalorlando.com/Home/harrypotter.aspx|archive-date=2 July 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Orlando Florida|title=The Flying Unicorn – Universal's Islands of Adventure|url=http://www.orlando-florida.net/universal-orlando/islands-of-adventure/lost-continent/flying-unicorn.htm|publisher=Orlando Florida|access-date=2 July 2010}} The ride took place in an enchanted forest, like something from a fairy tale. Various signs along the queue tell the story of a wizard who found a baby unicorn's horn, which it shed (once every thousand years). He then used the horn to create this ride. The magic from the unicorn's horn is used so that it can fly. Guests rode in carts designed to look like mechanical unicorns and travel over a track to the top of the lift before dropping through various dips and turns and being deposited at the start of the track.{{cite web|last=Attractions Magazine|title=The Flying Unicorn POV ridethrough (Before it was Flight of the Hippogriff)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCjB2zM3J2s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/YCjB2zM3J2s |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|work=Video|date=15 December 2009 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=2 July 2010}}{{cbignore}}
Following the announcement of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section in May 2007, both Flying Unicorn and fellow previous incarnation Dueling Dragons were shown to be in the new area, but it had not been confirmed whether they were to be closed and rethemed as of that time.{{cite web|author=SueTLC|title=Fly the Ford Anglia at New Harry Potter Theme Park?|date=June 2007 |url=http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/6/1/fly-the-ford-anglia-at-new-harry-potter-theme-park|publisher=Leaky Cauldron|access-date=2 July 2010}}
After eight years of operation, Flying Unicorn closed on July 7, 2008, to allow construction to proceed on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.{{cite web|url=http://www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/islands-of-adventure/attractions/childrens-rides.html |title=Special attractions for children |author=Universal Orlando |publisher=Universal Orlando |access-date=2008-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080716144145/http://www.universalorlando.com/amusement-parks/islands-of-adventure/attractions/childrens-rides.html |archive-date=2008-07-16 |url-status=dead }}
On September 15, 2009, Universal officially revealed the attractions that would open in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section, confirming that Flying Unicorn would be refurbished and rethemed into Flight of the Hippogriff.{{cite web|last=Universal Orlando|title=Universal Orlando Resort Reveals Highly Anticipated Details about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter|url=http://media.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/news.php?id=5&newsLanguage=English|publisher=Universal Orlando|access-date=2 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717164310/http://media.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/news.php?id=5&newsLanguage=English|archive-date=17 July 2011|url-status=dead}}
The attraction soft opened on June 1, 2010,{{Citation needed |date=September 2014}} under the new name of Flight of the Hippogriff. It officially opened with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 18, 2010.{{cite news|date=June 18, 2010 |title=NOW OPEN! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort |url=http://media.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/news.php?id=25&newsLanguage=English |url-status=dead |location=Orlando, Florida |publisher=Universal Studios |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717164306/http://media.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/news.php?id=25&newsLanguage=English |archive-date=17 July 2011 |access-date=2 July 2010 }}
=Universal Studios Japan=
A duplicate of the Orlando attraction was installed at Universal Studios Japan as part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter themed area. It opened on July 15, 2014.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=unknown|location=Universal Studios Japan|rcdb_number=11885|access-date=27 April 2014}}{{cite web|title=The Wizarding World of Harry Potter|url=http://www.usj.co.jp/e/attraction/att_detail/the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter.html|publisher=Universal Studios Japan|access-date=27 April 2014}}
=Universal Studios Hollywood=
Flight of the Hippogriff was also installed at Universal Studios Hollywood and opened on April 7, 2016. This is the first outdoor roller coaster at the Hollywood location.{{cite web|title=Harry Potter ride to be in 3D at Universal Studios Hollywood next spring|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-details-of-harry-potter-attraction-at-universal-studios-hollywood-unveiled-20150601-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=2 June 2015 }} It is also the first Mack Rides Youngstar Coaster in the United States.{{cite web|last=Roller Coaster Database|title=Flight of the Hippogriff (Universal Studios Hollywood)|url=http://www.rcdb.com/12812.htm|work=Database entry|publisher=RCDB|access-date=22 November 2021}}
=Universal Studios Beijing=
Harry Potter is a lots of Flight of the Hippogriff outdoor roller coaster at Universal Studios Beijing and opened on September 20, 2021.{{cite web|title=The Unicorn flying the ride|url=https://www.universalbeijingresort.com/en/play/flight-hippogrifftm/|access-date=21 September 2021}}{{cite web|last=Roller Coaster|title=Flight of the Hippogriff (Universal Studios Beijing)|url=https://rcdb.com/17463.htm|access-date=21 September 2021}}
File:Hagrid's Hut at Flight of the Hippogriff, Universal Studios Beijing, Oct 2021.jpg
Attraction summary
=Queue=
The roller coaster's new backstory is that Hagrid is teaching young wizards how to fly a Hippogriff by using fake replicas of the creature. The queue line weaves through Hogwarts Grounds, past Hagrid's Hut and the Forest, and leads into an open canopy where Care of Magical Creatures Class is taught, and riders board the vehicle.{{cite web|last=olduniversallover|title=Flight of the Hippogriff – Queue [HD] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQK6IhF-DkQ|work=Video|publisher=YouTube|access-date=2 July 2010}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}
=Ride=
The roller coaster takes passengers on a test flight of the Hippogriff over the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's Hut. Riders are instructed to bow to the Hippogriff before the ride progresses up the lift hill.{{cite web|last=Inside the Magic|title=Flight of the Hippogriff ride POV with Hippogriff animatronic at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e699VWPwMCc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/e699VWPwMCc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|work=Video|date=28 May 2010 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=2 July 2010}}{{cbignore}} The cars then travel over a track, to the top of the lift, where riders have a full aerial view of The Wizarding World,{{cite news|last=Bevil|first=Dewayne|title=What's up with Wizarding World?|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/os-bevil-harry-potter-theme-park-faq-20100610,0,3378069.column|access-date=2 July 2010|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=June 10, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and then dropped through various dips and turns around Hogwarts Grounds before being deposited at the start of the track, where Hagrid thanks riders, who then disembark.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110902051916/http://www.universalorlando.com/Amusement_Parks/Islands_of_Adventure/Attractions/Childrens_Rides/flight_of_the_hippogriff.aspx Flight of the Hippogriff] at Universal Orlando Resort
- {{OSM relation|3566937}}
{{Universal Islands of Adventure}}
{{Universal Studios Japan}}
{{Universal Studios Hollywood}}
{{Universal Studios Beijing}}
{{Harry Potter}}
{{Roller coasters at Universal Orlando Resort}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flight Of The Hippogriff}}
Category:Roller coasters introduced in 2021
Category:Harry Potter in amusement parks
Category:Universal Islands of Adventure
Category:Roller coasters operated by Universal Destinations & Experiences
Category:Roller coasters in Florida
Category:Universal Studios Beijing
Category:Universal Destinations & Experiences attractions by name
Category:Licensed properties at Universal Destinations & Experiences
Category:Animatronic attractions
Category:2008 establishments in Florida
Category:2016 establishments in California