After writing our ultimate Harry Potter World guide, we thought we would take a closer look at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter rides!
At Reel Geekery we love The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! It’s the main reason we go to Universal Orlando Resort when we visit Florida.
Universal Orlando Resort includes two theme parks and a water park. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter spans both theme parks – Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. It means if you want to see and do everything you’ll need a two-park ticket (also called a park-to-park ticket). Without this ticket, you won’t be able to ride the Hogwarts Express!
Tip: It is usually cheaper to buy your tickets online before you go!
(Photo by Aditya Vyas on Unsplash)
Universal Studios transports you to the streets of London and Diagon Alley. Here you’ll find everything you need for the new school year with shops such as Madam Malkin’s and Ollivanders. Standing tall at the end of Diagon Alley is Gringotts bank, where you can take an exhilarating trip deep into the bank’s vaults. In London, the Hogwarts Express departs from Kings Cross Station and whisks you off to Hogsmeade.
Hogsmeade is in Universal’s Island’s of Adventure, which is why you need the 2-park ticket. In Hogsmeade, you can wander the cobbled streets lined with snow-topped buildings, even in the Florida sunshine! There are more shops to explore, and you can also grab a famous Butterbeer in the Hog’s Head. As you walk down Hogsmeade High Street, you’ll get your first glimpse of Hogwarts, where it towers above the street on a giant rugged rock. In this area, you’ll find three attractions, including one in Hogwarts itself!
In total, there are five rides in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including the Hogwarts Express.
Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts takes you on an adventure deep within the vaults of the wizarding bank. Your journey takes place during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and you’ll face characters such as Voldemort and Bellatrix.
Fortius Quo Fidelius
Strength through loyalty
Gringott’s motto
- Duration: 5 minutes
- Length: 600 metres
- Height Restriction: 42 inches (107 cm)
- Seating: Riders sit in a row of 4. Each cart has 3 rows.
- Drops: 1
- Inversions: 0
Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts is the only Harry Potter ride in Universal Studios. The rest are over on Universal’s Islands of Adventure. This park is Diagon Alley themed, and so you’ll find the famous wizarding bank amongst the colourful storefronts. Gringotts is pretty easy to spot; it sits at the top of Diagon Alley, and the impressive fire-breathing dragon is hard to miss! It literally breathes fire!
Photo by Troy Jarrell on Unsplash
Before heading on to the ride, you must put all your bags and items into a locker. The lockers are right by the entrance to Gringotts, so once your items are locked away safely, you can head right inside. I’ll be honest – I’m not a big fan of the lockers. When it’s quiet, they are pretty simple to use, but they can get a little chaotic when it’s busy. The lockers are free for the duration of your ride – the locker systems automatically take into account the wait and ride time. If you go over the allocated time, there is a fee of $3 per half an hour to prevent people from using the lockers all day. We’ve never had a problem with this, and so it seems to work pretty well.
When you head inside, you enter the lobby of Gringotts. The lobby is impressive with its towering marble pillars and sparkling crystal chandeliers. It wouldn’t be Gringotts without goblins, and you’ll find them sitting at their long desks inspecting paperwork and counting out Galleon coins.
As you make your way through the bank, you’ll walk by offices and vaults. The theming is effective, and there are lots of little details to see, from copies of the Daily Prophet to framed portraits of Gringott goblins that adorn the wall. You’ll also have your photograph taken, and you can buy the photo as a souvenir later. As you get further into Gringotts, you’ll make a stop by Bill Weasley’s office, where he’ll decide to join you on your tour.
Next up is a trip on the elevator. If you don’t like elevators, don’t worry! It’s a simulated ride with sound and visual effects that make it feel like you’re going down into the depths of the Gringotts vaults. When you exit, you’ll pick up some 3D goggles. I wear glasses, and the 3D ones fit over them with no problems.
When it’s time to board the minecarts, you’ll sit in a row of 4 people. Then you’re off on your Gringott’s adventure! You’ll speed through the vaults, meeting a cast of Harry Potter characters along the way. The ride uses screens to immerse you in the story, and the minecarts move along with the action on screen. It’s not your typical rollercoaster, and aside from a small drop in the beginning, there are no other dips. If you’re a nervous rider, you can find out more about this drop in our guide to is Escape from Gringott’s scary?
Overall, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a fun ride, even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan. However, it’s more of a family ride, so if you’re looking for a high-speed rollercoaster with lots of thrills, you might be disappointed. Personally, it’s one of our favourite Universal rides!
Hogwarts Express
The Hogwarts Express takes you between parks. It travels between King’s Cross station in Universal Studios and Hogsmeade Station in Island’s of Adventure. You’ll need a 2-park ticket to ride the train and travel between parks.
The Hogwarts Express isn’t your average train ride. Despite never leaving Orlando, you’ll travel through the British countryside and the streets of London. As well as the British landscape, you’ll also see a range of your favourite Harry Potter characters. It does this using screens on the windows to make it feel like you’re really travelling on the Hogwarts Express. Each way is different, so make sure you take the train both ways!
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey takes you on a trip to Hogwarts and through the Forbidden Forest. You’ll not only meet Harry, Ron and Hermione but a range of magical creatures along the way!
- Duration: 4 minutes 6 seconds
- Height Restriction: 48 inches (122 cm)
- Seating: Riders sit in a row of 4.
- Drops: 0
- Inversions: 0
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is on Universal’s Islands of Adventure. You’ll stroll through Hogsmeade with its grey stone buildings topped with snow until you reach Hogwarts. Like Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, you’ll need to put your belongings into a locker before you ride.
The queue for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey starts outdoors, and you’ll make your way around the outside of the castle first. You’ll walk through the Hogwarts greenhouses where Herbology classes take place, and while there’s no Professor Sprout, you’ll find some Mandrakes that need replanting.
When you head inside, there’s plenty to see as you make your way through the dark castle. Moving portraits hang along the stone walls, including those of the Fat Lady and the four founders of Hogwarts. You’ll also visit the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore’s office and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
The ride itself uses KUKA robocoaster technology. Riders sit in a row of 4 on the end of a robotic arm. Hermione sprinkles you with Floo powder, which sends you flying through the Floo network. And you really do fly! The robotic arm lifts you into the air and can move you in all different directions, including tilting you on your back!
You’ll soar above the castle grounds and come face to face with a range of magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest. The ride uses both screens and animatronics to create an exciting and immersive experience. If this sounds a little daunting, read our guide, is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey scary?
Forbidden Journey is another of my favourite rides at Universal as there’s no other ride like it in Universal or at Disney World. It makes a unique experience as the robotic arm sets it apart from other rollercoasters. It’s a lot of fun and a ride you shouldn’t miss!
Flight of the Hippogriff
Flight of the Hippogriff allows you to follow in the footsteps of Harry and take a thrilling ride on the back of Buckbeak. Okay, maybe not exactly like Harry. Flight of the Hippogriff is a family-friendly rollercoaster aimed at younger riders!
- Duration: 1 minute 6 seconds
- Height Restriction: 36 inches (91 cm)
- Seating: Riders sit in a row of 2.
- Inversions: 0
- Speed: 28.5 mph
The queue takes you through the pumpkin patch where Hagrid kept Buckbeak in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Though the entrance for this ride isn’t as elaborate as some of the other Harry Potter rides, there is still plenty of attention to detail. The pumpkin patch features the same scarecrow, complete with Hogwarts robe, from the film. You’ll also head past Hagrid’s hut as the rollercoaster flies by overhead.
The rollercoaster itself is pretty tame and what you would expect for a junior rollercoaster. It’s a great way for kids to experience some Harry Potter magic if they can’t ride the bigger rides. That’s not to say adults can’t enjoy it too, and there are some great views of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade!
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the latest addition to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The attraction replaced Dragon Challenge – a rollercoaster based on the Chinese Fireball and Hungarian Horntail dragons in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Motorbike Adventure is another rollercoaster, but this time you go on a high-speed escapade on Sirius’ bike, complete with a sidecar!
- Duration: 2 minutes 55 seconds
- Height Restriction: 48 inches (122 cm)
- Seating: 2 Riders per bike.
- Drops: 2
- Inversions: 0
- Speed: 50mph
The queue starts in the Forbidden Forest. You’ll wander the winding pathways amongst the trees, finding ancient ruins covered in moss. Hagrid now uses these ruins for groundskeeping and as a Care of Magical Creatures classroom. Hagrid’s equipment and books clutter the tables, and there’s a display of dragon eggs. As you explore these ruins, you’ll find a lot of attention to detail. One interesting detail to look for is the graffiti left behind by Hogwarts students who explored the ruins before you!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is very good at storytelling, and this ride is no different. Like Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, it has a video that brings you into the story behind the ride. Arthur Weasley has fixed and duplicated Sirus Black’s motorcycle so you can ride them into the Forbidden Forest – what could go wrong?
There are also test seats so can decide who will ride the motorcycle and who will ride in the sidecar.
The ride itself hurtles you through the trees and cathedral ruins, where you’ll come across a range of magical creatures. The rollercoaster has several launches with high acceleration and swoops you up a tall spike. At this point, the bikes lose power and fly backward only to become trapped in Devil’s Snare. It’s here that the bikes drop vertically. Yep, you read that right, vertically.
Universal lists the attraction as a thrill ride, and it’s perhaps the most thrilling of the Harry Potter rides due to its speed, launches and drops. The first drop comes as the bikes lose power after racing up a 65 foot (20m) track at a 70-degree angle where they fall backward. The second comes shortly afterward and is the freefall vertical drop. This 17 foot drop (5.18m) is also in the dark. As well as drops, the ride includes seven launches, which is more launches than any other rollercoaster in the world!
Rides at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has some of the most immersive rides at Universal, and they seem to have something for everyone. The rides don’t go upside down or have big stomach-churning drops, making them suitable for most guests. They also have features you won’t find in most other parks, such as the robotic arm on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and the freefall drop on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Universal has put a lot of thought and detail into creating a magical Harry Potter world, including the rides. Even the queues are immersive experiences packed with tiny little details. No matter what kind of rides you like, you’re sure to find something!
What is your favourite Wizarding World of Harry Potter ride? Let us know in the comments!
