Is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Scary? Everything You Need to Know.

If you’re heading to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort and want to know what to expect from Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, then this handy guide has everything you need to know. When it comes to rides, I’m a wimp! So I put together some information that I would have found helpful before I visited. I hope you find it useful! So is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey scary?

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

If you have read my other Wizarding World guides, you will know by now that it spans both Universal parks. It means you will need a 2-park ticket to see and do everything that the Wizarding World has to offer. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is over in Universal’s Island of Adventure. There are two other Harry Potter rides in this park – Flight of the Hippogriff and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

You will find Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts. It’s hard to miss – the castle towers above Hogsmeade atop a steep jagged rock. Before you head inside, you must put your belongings into a locker. If the locker area is busy, it can get a little chaotic. It’s a small space, and it can get pretty crowded, so it’s not fun if you are claustrophobic or don’t like large crowds of people. The lockers are right by the castle though, so once your belongings are safe, you can head straight to the queue!

The queue takes you through the Hogwarts greenhouse, where plants hang from the roof above and Mandrakes sprout in terracotta pots. When you head inside, you’ll walk through familiar rooms such as Dumbledore’s office and the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Though there is a lot to see, the inside part of the queue can be very dark at times, so some children might find it intimidating.

Once you’ve made your way through Hogwarts castle, it’s time to board the ride! The ride vehicles on Forbidden Journey never stop moving. This means you have to step onto a slow-moving walkway and take your seat while the ride is in motion. This is similar to the way Haunted Mansion and The Little Mermaid rides work in Disney World. A witch or wizard will strap you into your seat with an over-the-shoulder restraint that you often see on roller coasters. This restraint makes it difficult to see the person beside you – it’s somewhat isolating as you feel like you’re riding alone.

Is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey a Roller Coaster?

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a KUKA robocoaster, and in a traditional sense, it’s not exactly a rollercoaster. It does have a track that moves you through the ride, but a robotic arm holds you above it. This arm allows the seats to move up and down as well as pivot and turn. It’s more of an immersive dark ride that makes it feel like you’re flying. The robotic arm moves you around the room and towards a range of different scenes and animatronics. So if you’re not a fan of roller coasters (like me!), don’t worry – there are no crazy drops, and it’s a lot of fun!

TIP: If you decide that the Forbidden Journey is too scary, you can still walk through Hogwarts! Tell the person controlling the queue that you want to walk the non-rider path.

Magical Creature Animatronics

On your Forbidden Journey adventure, you will come across several magical creatures. These animatronics might be a little scary, especially for younger riders. You’ll get up close to Aragog, a dragon and even Dementors. And when I say up close, I mean up close! The robotic arm swoops you in, so you get a good look at giant spiders and come face to face with soul-sucking Dementors.

Are There Any Drops on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey?

No. There are no large drops! The robotic arm does move you up and down, but it’s not in an intense way. My main fear on rollercoasters is the drops. I hate the feeling in your stomach when you plunge downwards, but I didn’t experience this on Forbidden Journey.

Does Forbidden Journey Go Upside Down?

Nope! There are moments when the ride tilts you on your back, but it’s brief and never upside down. This was something that concerned me before riding as I heard that it tilted you upside down. But that’s not the case!

Does Forbidden Journey Cause Motion Sickness?

Yes, the ride can cause motion sickness, probably because there is a lot of motion! The ride propels you forwards, backwards and side to side as you soar around Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. And if that wasn’t enough to cause motion sickness, there’s also a section that uses screens.

The arm moves to match the fast-paced action of a Quidditch match on-screen. Screens combined with the movement of rides are a common source of motion sickness, and there are several attractions at Universal that use them. Universal is trying to combat this issue and has filed patents on new technology that will help reduce motion sickness on their rides. Once they have implemented this new system, it should make the Forbidden Journey experience much better for those who are prone to nausea.

Everyone is different, so it can be hard to know if you’ll get motion sickness or not. I’ve been on Forbidden Journey multiple times without any motion sickness, but there was one time it got me during the screen section. Luckily that part is brief! But it does seem like a common complaint, so it’s something to bear in mind before you ride.

Is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Scary?

Forbidden Journey does have elements that may be scary to some. Not only is it a dark ride where you’ll meet some fearsome creatures, but you can feel separate from the rest of your fellow riders. Even though you sit in a row of four, it feels like you’re riding alone as you can’t see the person beside you. This might be especially scary for children.

Forbidden Journey is probably my favourite ride at Universal. There are no sudden drops or intense speeds like on some of the bigger rides at the Universal parks. It’s such a unique ride that it’s a ride not to be missed, even if you’ve never seen Harry Potter!

What do you think? Is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey scary? Post your experiences or ask your questions in the comments below!

Check out my other guides for rides in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for anxious riders!