Witches and wizards may get the chance to ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure before the end of the month, according to new rumors cited by respected theme park reporter Alicia Stella.

Stella, who operates Orlando Park Stop, tweeted that the new “Harry Potter”-themed coaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure could be in soft opening mode by Memorial Day weekend.

If Universal sticks to the typical procedures for a new attraction, park employees should be the first to experience the ride after the operations team takes over. The soft opening period that follows brings no guarantees for guests, as the new rides will often experience intermittent closures or delays or not open on a given day.

If things go more smoothly, however, a soft opening can become an early, official debut. Universal Orlando’s last addition, Fast & Furious: Supercharged, entered its soft opening period on April 14, 2018 and was fully operational by April 23 — ahead of its previously scheduled opening date of May 3.

A media event is currently scheduled for the Hagrid attraction on June 11, with the official opening set for June 13. The ride will utilize numerous animatronics and physical sets, rather than the screens that dominated recent Universal additions, while zipping guests through the Forbidden Forest at 50 miles per hour.

Disney retiring Shop Disney Parks app

On May 31, Disney will be shutting down its Shop Disney Parks app, which offered the chance for guests to order Disney theme park merchandise when they were away from the parks.

Those products aren’t disappearing, but will instead be available through the existing shopDisney app.

Disney spokesperson Steven Miller wrote on the Disney Parks Blog that the app will feature an “even larger selection of favorite items and beloved keepsakes from Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and more. The site also offers options for adding personal touches to your trip down Main Street, U.S.A. including the newly introduced Disney Parks customizable T-shirts and gear.”

Legoland hypes summer events

Fresh off the opening of Lego Movie World, Legoland Florida will highlight characters from the “Lego Movie” films in a new summer event.

Lego Movie Days will feature experiences with Lego Movie characters like Emmet and Wyldstyle, as well as “the debut of a never-before-seen LEGO character, interactive photo opportunities, exclusive building activities and specially-themed dining offerings,” the resort said in a press release.

Lego Movie Days will run July 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 and August 3-4.

The Winter Haven’s summer event calendar also includes the return of its Fourth of July celebration, Red, White & Boom, will run from July 4-6. The annual Fire Safety Weekend will also make a comeback on August 10-11.

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