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Harry Potter’s Forbidden Journey

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How Tall Should You Be To Ride Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey on-ride POV Universal Studios Islands of Adventure

You must be at least 48 in to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. There are signs at the attraction that tell you this requirement, and if youre not tall enough, you wont be able to board. You can also measure your height against the height markers located near the entrance of Hogwarts. If youre still unsure, ask a staff member.

Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a motion-baseddark ride located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-themed areas of Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan and Universal Studios Beijing in Beijing, China. The ride takes guests through scenes and environments in and around Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter series of books and films. Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, described the ride as an in-depth look at the world of Harry Potter, which utilizes never-before-seen technology which transforms “the theme park experience as you know it”. The ride first opened at Islands of Adventure with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 18, 2010 subsequent versions opened at Universal Studios Japan on July 15, 2014, at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016, and at Universal Studios Beijing on September 20, 2021.

Magical Abilities And Skills

Throughout the series, Harry Potter is described as a gifted wizard apprentice. He has a particular talent for flying, which manifests itself in the first time he tries it, and gets him a place on a Quidditch team one year before the normal minimum joining age. He captains it in his sixth year. In his fourth year , Harry is able to confront a dragon on his broomstick.

Harry is also gifted in Defence Against the Dark Arts, in which he becomes proficient due to his repeated encounters with Voldemort and various monsters. In his third year, Harry becomes able to cast the very advanced , and by his fifth year he has become so talented at the subject that he is able to teach his fellow students in , some even older than him how to defend themselves against Dark Magic. At the end of that year, he achieves an ‘Outstanding’ Defence Against the Dark Arts , something that not even Hermione achieved. He is a skilled duellist, the only one of the six Dumbledore’s Army members to be neither injured nor incapacitated during the battle with Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries in . He also fends off numerous during his flight to the Burrow at the beginning of .

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Best Things About Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey

Honestly, if youre a Harry Potter fan, you will probably love this ride! Its enduringly popular at all three parks, and will make you feel like youve stepped right into the magical world. While the effects are starting to age a bit, Universal is constantly performing updates. Aside from that, the physical set, the seats, and the music make it a truly fun and memorable experience!

Here are some helpful links for your next trip to Universal:

What Is The Forbidden Journey Ride Experience Like

The Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey takes you on a flying adventure throughout the grounds of Hogwarts on a magical, enchanted bench. Once Hermione has magicked your seat, youll be whisked through the Floo Network up to the Observatory, where the plan to make it to the Quidditch match quickly goes awry. Youll encounter the familiar sights of the most famous school for witchcraft and wizardry as you dodge the Whomping Willow, zoom around the Quidditch pitch, and come face-to-face with soul-sucking Dementors, in a combination of physical sets and screen-based moments.

The visible ride vehicle for Forbidden Journey is deceptively mundane, as it sits above one of the most technologically advanced ride systems ever created a KUKA robotic arm that runs along a ride track, providing an extreme amount of motion as it dives, turns, and pivots your bench. While you do not go completely upside-down, you will be tilted in just about every other direction you can think of. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to do some research online to see how other riders have coped with the experience.

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How Scary Is Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey

Planning a visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? You might be thinking to yourself, How scary is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey? Is it kid-friendly? Is it dark? Are there any drops? Trust us, before we went on the first time, we were asking ourselves the same questions!

Heres the deal we cant decide whether you or your kids will think Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is scary, but we can help you make an informed decision.

Ready to dig in? Lets do this!

Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone

Harry is an orphan living with his abusive aunt and uncle, and and their bullying son, . On his eleventh birthday, Harry discovers he is a wizard when delivers him an acceptance letter to . He learns that his parents, and , were murdered by a powerful dark wizard, . Harry, instead, survived Voldemort’s , which ended up bouncing back and apparently killing Voldemort, leaving a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. Thus Harry became famous in the wizarding world.

Harry awakens in the school’s infirmary, where Dumbledore explains how Harry originally survived Voldemort. His mother’s sacrifice created a magical protection for him, which also acted against professor Quirrell. Voldemort unfortunately survived, while the philosopher’s stone has been destroyed to prevent it being stolen. During the school’s year-end feast, Gryffindor is awarded the House Cup thanks to the many points Harry and his friends obtained with their adventure. Harry returns to the Dursleys for the summer.

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Getting To The Ride Is A Journey

Rounding the bend at the end of The Wizarding World’s impeccably detailed Hogsmeade village, the sight of Hogwarts Castle punctures the sky and stirs the senses. The mythic building, which had previously only existed in the minds of adoring readers and on screen as part of the film series, looks picture-perfect in person. To board Forbidden Journey, guests pass through its gates and into the majestic castle.

Ambling through Hogwarts is, in itself, an immersive attraction. Nestled throughout the queue are artifacts from Rowling’s world that will delight ardent fans. Hey! There’s the Mirror of Erised. And look! We’re entering Professor Sprout’s Herbology gardens. In California, there are stunning views of the Hollywood hills to add to the ambiance.

Universal Express Participating Attraction

How It Works: HP & The Forbidden Journey | The Robot Ride Inside Hogwarts Castle

Universal Express is Universal Orlandos express line system. Guests who purchase a Universal Express pass can experience significantly shorter wait times than the regular lines and access better seat selections at shows due to early access to venues. Guests with a Universal Express pass can also bypass attractions utilizing a Virtual Line*. Universal Orlando offers numerous Express pass options with varying benefits.

* Virtual Line is a complimentary service offered by Universal Orlando for select attractions throughout the resort. If available, guests first wait in a virtual line, allowing them to freely roam and visit other experiences, and then return to the attraction at a designated time to experience a shorter physical wait time.

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What Is The Forbidden Journey Queue Like

A huge appeal of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey lies in its queue, which snakes all throughout Hogwarts Castle and contains nearly as many Easter eggs from the books and films as all the rest of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade combined.

The greenhouse

Once youve entered the castle via the regular line, youll walk a very short distance through a hallway meant to be its dungeon and past a statue of Gunhilda of Gorsmoor, which hides the secret passageway from Hogwarts into Honeydukes . After a few steps, you are back outside, in the partially covered section that is Hogwartss greenhouse. And though its really just a large holding area, there are still details to take notice of, such as the baby Mandrakes ready to be re-planted.

The castles backdoor entrance

Having navigated the switchbacks through the greenhouse, youll enter Hogwarts again through a backdoor. If youre a dedicated fan of the Harry Potter movies, the sights and sounds will become familiar to you as you pass a statue of Godric Gryffindor, the scorekeeper for the House Cup, and another statue, this time of Salazar Slytherin.

Dumbledores office

Defense against the Dark Arts classroom

In this room, youll await the arrival of Professor Binns and his Hogwarts history lecture, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione appear instead they sneak into the room underneath the Cloak of Invisibility and unveil themselves in front of everyone.

The Fat Lady and the Daily Prophet

Gryffindor common room

Information For Guests Using Mobility Devices

Guests using manual wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs, or electric convenience vehicles must transfer to the ride vehicle’s seating. For Guests with difficulty transitioning between a stationary platform and a moving platform, a nonmoving transfer station is available to assist with your transfer. Please see an Attractions Attendant for assistance.

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Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

In the second book, , Rowling pits Harry against Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort’s “memory” within a secret diary which has possessed Ron’s younger sister . When Muggle-born students are suddenly being Petrified, many suspect that Harry may be behind the attacks, further alienating him from his peers. Furthermore, Harry begins to doubt his worthiness for House of Gryffindor, particularly considering he discovers he shares Lord Voldemort’s ability to communicate with snakes via . In the climax, Ginny disappears. To rescue her, Harry battles Riddle and the monster he controls that is hidden in the Chamber of Secrets. To defeat the monster, Harry summons the from the supplied by Dumbledore’s pet phoenix, Fawkes. In doing so, Dumbledore later restores Harry’s self-esteem by explaining that that feat is clear proof of his worthiness of his present house.

Uo Fan Guide Ride Tips

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Castle Walkthrough
  • Bags and other loose articles are not permitted on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. You will need to store your goods in free ride lockers before you ride. This locker area is notoriously small and crowded. Try not to take everyone in your party into the locker room unless you absolutely have to.
  • The ride seats may not accommodate every body type. If you are nervous about this, use one of the test seats at the Hogwarts entrance to judge the fit.
  • People who are prone to motion sickness may feel ill during or after this ride. If motion makes you nauseous, be sure to take precautions prior to riding. Some things to try include Dramamine, Sea-Bands, and crystallized ginger.

The Hogwarts Sorting Hat in the queue for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

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Forbidden Journey Oi Fun Fact

When originally designed, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey had many more Dementors, including the ones painted on the walls in ultraviolet light that were originally going to be activated by the ride vehicles. However, Harry Potter creator JK Rowling and Warner Bros. deemed them too scary, so the Dementors remain dormant on the walls to this day.

Does Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey Go Upside Down

No, this attraction does not go upside down. A fly around Hogwarts castle, an encounter with the Whomping Willow and a swarm of Dementors, and a Quidditch match are all part of the adventure. The coaster dips, spins about, bends, and swirls but does not flip guests upside down, though they do occasionally fall flat.

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What Is Scary About Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey

Were a family of eight, and five of us have ridden Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Heres the funniest thing our resident scaredy cat is the only one who had NO fear on this ride! She loved it.

Meanwhile, the remaining four of us all had different challenges. That should tell you how subjective the experience can be. Here are some of the scariest things about Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey:

  • Darkness. Im not a fan of the dark, guys. I really hate rides that are in the dark, so that part of this ride is always challenging for me. It is, after all, officially listed as a dark ride.
  • Animatronics. We didnt know until our first trip to Universal Orlando Resort that our then-teenage son, who was over six feet tall at the time, was terrified of animatronics. This ride is full of them, so if you hate fake, but realistic-looking robots, skip this one.
  • Spiders. They are huge, and they are many. Aragog makes a grand appearance and hes animatronic, so yikes if you hate both things!
  • Dementors. Yeah, they show up and they try to suck your soul.
  • Fire. The version at Universal Orlando has a fire-breathing dragon, so if heat and flames are not your thing, sit this one out.
  • Motion. This is a very jerky ride. Youll be flung up, down, and all around so if youre prone to nausea, this might not be a good idea. You can always check out our tips on fighting motion sickness, though!

Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey Release Date

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Reopens – Full Ride POV – Universal Studios Hollywood

Last June 8, 2010, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was published. Its a roller coaster attraction in Universal Studios. The ride is based on J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter series of novels.

My name is Olivia Smitherman. Im a travel writer and theme park enthusiast! Florida has some of the best theme parks in the world. I love them all. Each time I visit a theme park, I gather tips and advice that I share with you, my readers. See my bio for more information about me.

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Uo Fan Guide Mini Review Of Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey represents one of the best ride experiences that Universal Orlando has to offer. It uses state-of-the-art technology, animatronics, 180 degree dome screens, immersive 4D effects , and beloved characters to create a truly one-of-a-kind ride experience.

The motion is intense throughout and does a great job of simulating flight. It really feels like you are soaring through the air with Harry Potter. This is, without a doubt, a must-do attraction when you visit Islands of Adventure.

Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey Ride Location

The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride is located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. You’ll find it in Hogwarts Castle.

There are two different paths that can be used to get to the castle and the entrance of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The first involves through Port of Entry, then Marvel Super Hero Island, then Toon Lagoon, then Jurassic Park, and then into The Wizarding World. Take a left when you enter Hogsmeade. You can’t miss the castle, which is set upon an elevated cliff and practically beckons you inside. If you stop on the bridge between Jurassic Park and Hogsmeade, you can get an excellent picture of the castle.

The second option for getting to the castle is to go through Port of Entry, then Seuss Landing, then The Lost Continent, and then into The Wizarding World. You will have to walk through Hogsmeade Village and past all of the other Harry Potter themed attractions to get to Hogwarts Castle and the entrance of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. As you step into Hogsmeade, be sure to stop by the engine of the Hogwarts Express. It is a great photo opportunity, and sometimes, the conductor is nearby for a meet and greet.

Universal Team Members will tell you which way you need to go when you enter the park if you have early entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure. If you enter the park after the early entry period, you can take whichever path looks good to you.

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Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

In the third book, , Rowling uses a premise. Harry learns that his parents were betrayed to Voldemort by their friend , who framed Harry’s godfather for the crimes, condemning him to Azkaban, the wizard prison. When Sirius escapes to find Harry, Harry and use a Time Turner to save him and a named . When Pettigrew escapes, an innocent Sirius becomes a hunted fugitive once again. Harry learns how to create a Patronus, which takes the form of a stag, the same as his late father’s.

The Mouse For Less Tips

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is now accepting Universal Express Pass. This attraction is one of Universal Orlando Resorts most popular, so this may be a good one to sacrifice one of your passes.
  • If you are not opposed to riding without your party, the single rider line is available. Your wait will be cut down significantly.
  • When you enter the attractions line there are two lines to choose from. If you need to use the provided lockers for storage you will be lead to the outdoor line, just know this could be a bit of a longer wait. If youd rather go to the line that skips lockers you can leave your belongings with someone who does not want to ride.

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