Land Changelog // updated 2023.11.02
Islands of Adventure · Universal Orlando
Re-recorded Hermione's onboard cabin audio to sound closer to Emma Watson, replacing the original voice double long criticized as unconvincing; the script and the shadow effects on the cabin door were left unchanged.
A small backstage equipment-cabinet fire forced an evacuation and closed the coaster for several days before it reopened with no permanent ride changes.
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opened in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, an Intamin multi-launch story coaster debuting with seven launches (most of any coaster at the time), a backward launch off a vertical spike, and a free-fall drop-track section.
The ride's wrap-around projection-dome scenes were upgraded to 4K-HD at 120 frames per second (double the original 60 fps), sharpening the simulator sequences and adding new animation, including the dragon breathing fire directly at riders and a more visible Patronus.
Opened with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley expansion as a working train linking Hogsmeade Station (Islands of Adventure) to King's Cross Station (Universal Studios Florida), with a separate ride film and effects in each direction; a park-to-park ticket is required to board.
Rethemed and reopened as Flight of the Hippogriff at the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, with a new queue winding past Hagrid's Hut and an animatronic Hippogriff that riders bow to before boarding.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey opened inside Hogwarts Castle as the headliner of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade at Universal's Islands of Adventure, using a KUKA robotic-arm (RoboCoaster) ride system that combined physical sets with wrap-around projection-dome scenes.
Closed as The Flying Unicorn to make way for construction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, beginning a roughly two-year closure.
Opened as The Flying Unicorn, a steel Vekoma junior roller coaster, in the park's Lost Continent area.