Credit: UniversalIt used to be that Walt Disney World Resort was the premier vacation destination in Central Florida. Even when Universal Studios Orlando opened in 1990, it couldn’t compete with the popularity Disney had spent decades building. However, over the years, Universal worked incredibly hard to work its way up in the ranks, opening a second theme park — Islands of Adventure — in 1999.
Slowly, but surely, Universal gained in popularity, and now, there is a split between guests who love to vacation at Universal and guests who still love to visit Disney World (although many people love both). Then, just this year, Universal upped the ante when it opened its third theme park, Epic Universe, which has absolutely blown guests away (and made Disney nervous).
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When Islands of Adventure opened in 1999, one of the most exciting rides in the park was Dragon Challenge — a duel roller coaster where guests rode along similar tracks, looping over each other, and looking like they would almost touch toes. One track was fire, one track was ice, and many guests had the track they favored.
In 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened, and the roller coaster was rethemed and called Dragon Challenge. However, the ride permanently closed in 2017, and two years later, it reopened as the single-track Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Since opening six years ago, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure has remained one of the most popular rides at Universal Orlando and rarely has a wait time under an hour.
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When guests ride Hagrid’s, they have the chance to either sit on his motorbike or in his sidecar, depending on who gets on the ride first. Universal team members will pull guests from the regular queue, and if there is an odd number, they will take a guest from the Single Rider line to fill the empty seat.
Guests who board first will ride the motorcycle, so typically, single riders will be in the sidecar, since they board last. However, many single riders have been getting into the habit of trying to rush to their seat to beat the person in the standby queue to the motorbike.
Other guests are beginning to notice, and they are getting frustrated.
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Reddit user Specialist-Hat167 took to the social media platform to share his frustration at the entitlement and rude behavior exhibited by single riders on the popular attraction. They said that they are a single rider, but use the Express Line, and they would never try to cut people off to get a certain seat on the ride.
You are NOT entitled to the bike and you do NOT get first pick. This is a major problem I am seeing with people. I go solo to the parks BUT I use express lane for Hagrids, meaning I wait like everyone else, and I paid extra.
Extremely frustrating to get to the front and have a single rider try to rush you to the bike or guilt trip you into handing it over.
I do single rider line on all coasters, and I go wherever the F they put me. I recognize that I literally do not get a say in the single rider line, a lot of people don’t understand this concept.
RANT: Attention Hagrids Single Riders
byu/Specialist-Hat167 inUniversalOrlando
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Commenters agreed that they had also seen single riders trying to cut in front of other riders, but Universal team members let them know that they would be in the sidecar.
Unfortunately, many commenters also shared their own stories of entitled single riders. They said that if you have a specific seat that you want to ride in, then you wait in the traditional queue.
Last time I was there we were with an odd numbered party. I have never ridden on the bike. I got matched up with a single rider who tried to push her way ahead of me to get the bike. I was like “I don’t think so” and she gave me the dirtiest look.
Of course, others shared experiences of either being in the Single Rider line and offering the bike, or letting a single rider have the bike, as they had been on the attraction many times before.
I’m an annual pass holder who’s ridden Hagrids dozens of times including both seats at the front. I usually go single rider and I always let the other person get the bike seat because that might be their first and only visit. I actually prefer the sidecar lol, mainly because I can ride hands up the entire time a bit more easily.
And one person shared:
Exactly. If you want to be able to choose which seat you get, then wait in line with everyone else. I don’t do single rider unless I’m okay with sitting in the side car. One time I lucked out waiting for single rider when the incredibly kind person I was sat with asked me to sit on the bike because they were too scared and wanted the side car; I personally believe that only happens to people who don’t harass the other person into giving up their seat.
If you are in the Single Rider line, it is important to note that, no matter what attraction you are experiencing, you will most likely not get to pick your seat. Those who are in the traditional queue will get on the attraction first, picking where they want to sit. It’s also possible that the Single Rider line will NOT move faster than the standby queue, since not every group that boards will need a single rider to fill in a seat.
However, if you are by yourself and a true single rider, it never hurts to ask a team member if you can wait to the side and get a seat on the motorbike when it is convenient.
Have you noticed an uptick in entitled single riders on some of the more popular attractions? How do you feel about single rider lines? Should groups be allowed in those lines? Share all your thoughts and stories with us in the comments!