Flight of the Hippogriff Review

This is a perfectly fine roller coaster for all the young wizards out there

I always have to check if my spelling is right when writing about this ride. Why is “Hippogriff” such a difficult word?

This is a very fun junior roller coaster located in Hogsmeade, which means that wait times can range from 30 minutes all the way to one hour. Hey, everything related to that famous wizard is popular! Let me tell you, this ride is cool for our younglings, at least. I’d put it between Magic Kingdom’s The Barnstormer and Hollywood Studios’ Slinky Dog Dash in the thrill-o-meter. Certainly a good option to bring your wizards in training and see if they have that Roller Coaster DNA in their blood.

Islands of Adventure Flight of the Hippogriff ride.webp

The Good

As a junior roller coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff gets the job done. The maximum track height is only 42.7 ft, so don’t expect any major drops. This one is more about dips and a few turns, even more so than the main competition which is mainly Magic Kingdom’s The Barnstormer. A full run in Flight of the Hippogriff takes about one minute and ten seconds, while The Barnstormer is over in about 53 seconds.

The maximum speed is 28.5 mph, which is pretty good for a roller coaster that was created for young guests from 3 to 10 years old. The aesthetics are super cool, and you get a good view of the medieval looking buildings that fill Hogsmeade. I’d certainly put it above The Barnstormer if I had to choose between them. Flight of the Hippogriff isn’t only a longer ride, but it also features a slightly better first drop, which is always welcome in roller coasters.

Islands of Adventure Flight of the Hippogriff tracks.webp

The Bad

Flight of the Hippogriff is located in the busiest spot in Islands of Adventure, and likely the most crowded area in all of Universal Orlando. So, it's no surprise that waiting times can be lengthy. But just how long are we talking? Well, definitely longer than The Barnstormer. On an average day, you can expect to wait around 40 minutes, with peak times hitting a whopping 60 minutes. That's quite a long time in line for a ride that's only a little over a minute long and not particularly exciting to begin with.

I personally wouldn't wait longer than 30 minutes for this ride. Your best bet is to try visiting this attraction early in the morning or in the evening, when queue times tend to decrease a bit.

Islands of Adventure Flight of the Hippogriff vehicle.webp

Will Kids enjoy it?

This roller coaster is perfect for kids aged 3-10 who want a bit of thrill. It’s better than The Barnstormer and the old Woody Woodpecker coaster at Universal Studios, but it’s not as good as something like Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The problem with those junior/family coasters is that queue times tend to be high, and the same issue applies to Flight of the Hippogryph.

I highly recommend visiting here if you have young children who are still getting acquainted with roller coasters. Aim for early morning or evening visits to avoid the bigger crowds. It's a fantastic opportunity for your kids to experience their first roller coaster ride, and a good training ground for the VelociCoaster in a few years. You get a nice view of Hogwarts Castle and can also spot a few animatronics based on the world created by J.K. Rowling.