ZOOMING faster and faster on Hagrid’s magical motorbike around increasingly sharp bends and steep drops my heart stalled.
There, approaching rapidly and irrefutably, was the end of the roller coaster track.
As the bike and sidecar screeched to a halt the maniacal hysterics of my delighted nine-year-old daughter alongside brought deafening terror to my ears but joy to my heart. Magic.
Because visiting Universal Studios is a thing of pure magic — a magical thingdom if you will.
And not just because of the overtly Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter, where we were currently being thrilled, but because theme parks this good satisfy one’s impossible desire to become a kid again.
To transform your aching adult limbs back into a fun-focussed, daftly enthusiastic version of yourself. Albeit with a weaker stomach and a diminished head for heights.
Anyway, back to the action.
Having seemingly defied physics by stopping inches before the track ran out Maisie and I now found ourselves flying back down the track — facing the wrong way — and about to discover why our spell in the wizard ride’s queue had taken over an hour.
Entering the dark forbidden forest section, the walls began moving as vines extended, tentacle-like towards us and huge spiders began to make their obvious hunger apparent. I thought I’d reached my terror limit, and then it happened…
[I’m torn here, reader, whether to reveal the literally jaw dropping ‘highlight’ of this ride so skip the next two paragraphs if you don’t want to know]
Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure is the first coaster in the U.S. to feature a free-fall vertical drop – plunging you some 17 feet down before launching you back to 50mph in just a couple of seconds.
The free-fall felt like something had gone badly wrong with the ride and even quietened Maisie to my right, for a moment at least, before the hysterical cackling resumed.
As I say pure, thrilling, magic.
Exiting one mile later from Florida’s longest rollercoaster we were so busily yapping away with my wife Annabelle and older daughter Molly, 13, that we almost missed the much-needed butterbeer stand.
The sweet concoction provided the necessary alchemy to settle any post ride queasiness and energised our desire to search for yet more magic.
The rest of our morning was a rush of coasters and simulated rides that whizzed past in a flurry of excited shrieks (from our girls) and panicked moans (from their parents).
Dinos were hunted on the VelociCoaster — clearly the apex predator of rides — rocketing you to an unnecessarily ridiculous 70mph in 2.4 seconds making it both Florida’s fastest and tallest rollercoaster.
We were delightedly drenched on Popeye and Bluto’s river rapids, blown away by the 4D Spiderman simulator ride and left feeling warmly sentimental with our visit to Diagon Alley, via the magnificent Hogwarts Express.
The iconic Harry Potter train houses a further surprise which I’d be demented to reveal.
Later that evening, while enjoying Independence Day fireworks from our room in Universal’s Dockside Inn and Suites, we compared notes on the many highlights of a sensational day before heading downstairs for a late night snack.
The hotel is just a short complimentary shuttle ride from Universal’s three Parks and boasts a huge lagoon-style pool, excellent dining options in a self-serve cafeteria plus a stay here allows you entry to the Park an hour ahead of the public.
The rooms are comfy and great value, providing everything you need and with great WiFi, pizza delivery to your room and a fantastic coastal vibe lagoon and poolside bar serving Caribbean cocktails, it’s the perfect escape after a day of rollers and rides.
Universal feels more modern compared to the traditional Disney, and with its roster of film franchises to utilise it also feels more relevant to today’s theme park market.
Most importantly, and cover those giant ears Mickey, it just feels, well, a bit more magical.
Our experience certainly cast a wonderful spell on our family.
GO: UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT
GETTING THERE: TUI fly direct to Orland's Melbourne airport from £??pp. See TUI.co.uk
STAYING THERE: A week at Universal Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn & Suites with Universal Orlando 3 Park Explorer Tickets, is from £529 per adult and £519 per child, four sharing a standard room. The price is based on August 2025 arrivals, not including flights. Book before May 31 and save 10% with the code HAPPY. See Attractiontickets.com
MORE INFO: for more on visiting Universal Orlando Resort see universalorlando.com and for more on visiting Orlando and Florida see visitorlando.com and visitfolorida.com
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