Universal Orlando’s new Harry Potter roller coaster
Harry Potter fans, prepare to be spellbound, because Universal Orlando Resort has released the first pictures of the life-like creatures that will feature in its new Hagrid roller coaster.
The new attraction, called Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, is set to open at the Florida resort on June 13.
And among the new pictures is a snap of a never-before-seen Blast-Ended Skrewt, brought to life for the first time for the attraction.
The ride will see guests join Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures class and fly deep into the Forbidden Forest aboard his magical motorbike, beyond the grounds of Hogwarts – encountering the wizarding world’s rarest magical creatures.
One of them, the Blast-Ended Skrewt, is a creature created by Hagrid, which is described a cross between a giant scorpion and an elongated crab.
During their journey, guests will come face-to-face with the beast and its dangerous ‘blasting end’ that ignites fire and emits a powerful signature odor.
According to Universal Orlando Resort, the Blast-Ended Skrewt will measure eight feet long, have a 10-foot long tail with a massive stinger, and weigh more than 6,000 pounds.
Blast-Ended Skrewts were first introduced in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and were also mentioned in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Guests will also encounter a majestic Centaur, a swarm of mischievous Cornish Pixies, Fluffy, the three-headed dog and a Devil’s Snare plant.
The new Harry Potter ride will be in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, which is in the resort’s Islands of Adventure park.
It opened to great fanfare in 2010 and is based on J K Rowling’s series of fantasy novels.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter also includes a replica of Diagon Alley – the shopping district for wizards, which opened in 2014.
It is located in the nearby Universal Studios park.
To travel between Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley, fans of the movie series can catch a ride on a replica of the Hogwarts Express train.
