This year we’re featuring 20 roller coasters that opened 20 years ago in 2000 (that’s a lot of 20s). The year 2000 was arguably one of the most exciting for the roller coaster community, with iconic roller coasters like Millennium Force at Cedar Point and some notorious entries like the former Son of Beast at Kings Island.
The next installment of our “20 in 2020” series takes us to Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, FL to talk about the steel family coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff (formerly known as Flying Unicorn).
A Lucky Wizard Once Discovered a Horn…
Flight of the Hippogriff is a steel Vekoma Junior Coaster that debuted as Flying Unicorn at Universal’s Islands of Adventure on June 29, 2000. Following the park’s grand opening the prior year, it was noted that there was a lack of family-friendly rides at the park. To help correct this in the following year, the park launched Flying Unicorn along with Storm Force Accelatron in the Marvel Super Hero Island area of the park.
“Flying Unicorn” by stillburning is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The ride is a version of the 335m Vekoma Junior Coaster model, standing at a height of 42.7 feet, and reaching speeds of up to 28.5 mph. Flying Unicorn was located in the Merlinwood subsection of the Lost Continent area of the park, alongside the now defunct Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge coasters.
“The Flying Unicorn” by kramtark is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The premise of Flying Unicorn was based in an enchanted forest. According to the tale displayed by signs within the ride queue, a wizard discovered a rare unicorn’s horn, which was shed only once every thousand years. The wizard used the magic of the unicorn horn along with scraps from surrounding castles and witches’ cauldrons to create the Flying Unicorn ride. The trains were built to look like mechanical unicorns covered in knights’ armor. Placing the unicorn horn at the front of the train brought the ride to life and allowed it to soar over and through the forest.
Ride Through Hagrid’s Pumpkin Patch
Following the announcement of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2007, Flying Unicorn was closed on July 7, 2008 to allow for construction of the new Harry Potter-themed area of the park. The ride was rethemed into a new ride called “Flight of the Hippogriff”, and reopened in June 2010 as part of the official opening of the park’s new area. The theme of the ride is based on Harry’s experience with the Hippogriff, Buckbeak, in the book (and film adaptation of) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. A description of the ride on the official Universal’s Islands of Adventure website is below:
Enter the grounds of Hagrid’s hut, where you’ll hear Fang barking. As you make your way onto the ride, Hagrid gives instructions on the proper way to approach a Hippogriff. A Hippogriff is a magical creature that has the front legs, wings, and head of a giant eagle and the body, hind legs, and tail of a horse. The Flight of the Hippogriff™ is a family-friendly roller coaster that spirals and dives around the pumpkin patch, and then swoops past Hagrid’s hut.
“Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hagrid’s hut” by popculturegeek is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The new theming of the ride includes the addition of Hagrid’s hut and pumpkin patch alongside the ride queue. Riders are guided by Hagrid’s voice to gather for a “Care of Magical Creatures Class”. Riders are informed of their upcoming flight on a Hippogriff and instructed on how to gain a Hippogriff’s trust first by “nodding” to the creature in respect. Riders are then boarded onto the Hippogriff-themed trains with a wicker Hippogriff at the front of the lead car. As the ride rounds over to the lift hill, riders pass by an animatronic of Buckbeak the Hippogriff, who will perform the “nod” with riders to show that they have gained his respect. The rest of the ride remains unchanged, although swooping through the Forbidden Forest with Hogwarts Castle (and the ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) in the background is a can’t miss experience for Harry Potter series fans.
“Hippogriff Halt” by nelljd is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Legacy
Flight of the Hippogriff has been a generally well received part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A duplicate of the attraction was installed at Universal Studios Japan as part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of that park, opening on July 15, 2014. Flight of the Hippogriff was also installed at Universal Studio Hollywood on April 7, 2016, although this version was a custom Youngstar Coaster model manufactured by Mack Rides. The Orlando ride was later joined by the addition of the Hogwarts Express and connection to the Diagon Alley area of Universal Studios. Most recently, Dragon Challenge was removed and replaced by the coaster Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, completing the Hogsmeade Village experience for Potter fans.
Have you ridden Flight of the Hippogriff? Did you get a chance to ride it as Flying Unicorn before the area was rethemed? Feel free to add your thoughts! Also, for more information about Universal Orlando Resort, please be sure to visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
I find it interesting how much theming and story they put into the re-theme. I’d say 9/10, a child would have no idea what’s actually going on and probably wouldn’t care. Either way, the ride is still one of my favorite kiddie credits.