Harry Potter the Forbidden Journey Details

[Alpha Jeanie]

My kids (9 & 15) and hubby are excited to go to the Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey ride. I see that there is a queue that you walk through before the ride and that you can avoid the ride altogether if you want. I do not like rides that spin, drop or roller coaster type rides. I've tried to look on you tube to get an idea of what the ride portion of Forbidden Journey is like, but can not find a clear video. Can you give me an idea of how much movement is on this ride? P.S. I dont like rides like the tea cups at Disney (too much spinning) but I will ride on Soarin' (more of screen movement than car movement).

Thank you for any info.

[cajundisneyfreak]

If I were you I would not ride this one.It took everything in me not to vomit.They have a sign with alot of warnings including if you have a prostetic limb to remove it before riding.I should have listened but I was determined to give it a try since the only reason I went to Universal was to experience the Harry Potter stuff.The rest of my day was ruined due to this ride.Had I known you could just walk through the castle and not ride I would have done that.I didn't get to see anything inside the castle cause I went through the single rider line and I was too sick afterwards.I also would avoid Men in Black cause people shoot at your car and spin you.You have no control over that.I didn't even do the Simpson's ride.DisneyWorld is more my speed. I can do Space Mountain & Thunder Mountain with no problems and I get motion sickness real easy.Hope this helps you make your decision.

[cajundisneyfreak]

I forgot to describe the ride to you.Sorry!!!! It's a robotic arm with 4 seats.You are flip-flopped,tossed,and turned.At one point of the ride I was flat on my back.It is a very motional ride.The rest of your family will love it I'm sure but people like you & I definitely should avoid rides like this.

[deedeenmickey]

I am NOT one who gets sick on rides and this one got me! The rest of my family did fine and maybe I was having an "off" day but I will not ride it again!

[susie & perla's mom]

My husband ended his roller coaster career at age 42 after that ride, but my soon to be teenager loved it!

[Melanie]

Can you give me an idea of how much movement is on this ride? P.S. I dont like rides like the tea cups at Disney (too much spinning) but I will ride on Soarin' (more of screen movement than car movement).

Have you ever seen or ridden Sum of all Thrills at Epcot? It's the same technology - Kuka Arm robotics.

I don't do the Teacups or Mission:Space or sometimes even Star Tours very well. The first time I rode Forbidden Journey, it threw me off the rest of the day. Like previously described, it throws you around quite a bit, and it's not just the motion, but coupled with the simulator screens (especially a part where you are flying with Harry on his broom), it can cause those prone to motion sickness to be .

I've ridden it twice since then, and each time was a better experience knowing what to expect.

The first time I did this, I then went on Spiderman and then on the Simpsons and my day was done. Wowsa!

Wish I had something better to report.

[Joannelet]

This was a very informative question for me as I never read or heard about people getting sick from this ride. I am thankful I read the responses to this post. Great question OP!

[tinksmom02]

I admit that the warning about removing prosthetic limbs gave me pause before riding--of course I've seen don't ride if you're pregnant, have heart, back, neck problems, etc. but removing a prosthesis? Never.

We're pretty adventurous, though, so my opinion of the ride itself isn't worth much to you, I'm sure. I will say that DD said she didn't really like it, but rode it again to make sure--and then several more times after that! I agree that if you can get through it once, it's worth it to try it again to take it all in without having to worry about what to expect.

[Niecyboo]

My husband is prone to motion sickness and even took Bonine before riding Harry Potter, but it still knocked him for a loop. He was able to keep going, and did fine until we did the Simpson's ride, and after that he went back to the hotel while we finished up the parks. I couldn't even get him to try ET after that. I took a picture of a great sign outside of the Simpson's Ride. "This ride is fun for kids. Not so fun for adults." LOL.

For me what got to me on Harry Potter was the animatronics. I know that is crazy but I can handle motion simulators, but having things jumping out at me sends me over the edge. This ride definitely believes in over stimulation, which can bother anyone.

[Kenny1113]

I was really impressed with how this ride was done. It was much better than I had imagined. I rode it twice, the first time I was fine. The second time it made me a little sick (I couldn't look at the screens) I'm sure it didn't help that some one had At the exit right before we got on and made the boarding area smell.
There in no spinning as in the tea cups or mission space, rather just being flipped and rolled around as others had mentioned.

[NJGIRL]

We take a motion sickness pill before we get on and we're fine.

[Alpha Jeanie]

Thank you for all the info. I have decided to just walk through the "castle portion" and not go onto the ride! I'm sure this will be one that my kids & hubby will want to do over and over, time & line permitting.

[mom2morgan]

LOL - I've been worrying about if I'm too big too ride...but after this review, maybe I don't care! Removing prosthetic limbs? really? LOL

[Stickey]

I consider this ride to be moderately intense. The dueling dragons coaster is a much greater thrill ride. The detailed theming makes HP an enjoyable experience.

[DizneyFreak2002]

LOL - I've been worrying about if I'm too big too ride...but after this review, maybe I don't care! Removing prosthetic limbs? really? LOL

If you don't have prosthetic limbs then you have nothing to worry about LOL... I'm kidding of course... We all know the warning signs are theme parks ways of simply warning customers IN CASE something happens to the guest...

[MNNHFLTX]

Physical intensity aside (I'm not prone to motion sickness, thank goodness), what is the "jump" factor on this ride? I'm not a huge fan about things coming out at me from nowhere--I'll still go on the rides, but I kind of want to know what to expect! (Case in point, I've been on Dinosaur more times than I can count, but I still hate when the Carnotaurus chases the vehicle, lol!)

I've also heard that you get a somewhat different experience depending on what seat you are in. Is this true? (And if you could, please indicate it from the direction of sitting in the seats--i.e. left or right as it is while actually sitting in the seats. There are a couple other websites that try to describe this, but totally confuse me on the left vs. right issue.)

Thank you for any help!

[DizneyFreak2002]

I don't think there really is a jump factor... The dementors are semi static, and if they move, they aren't jumping at you... The film really warns you before you encounter the dragon, which moves but don't jump at you... It's really only a dragon's head moving around attempting to breath fire on you... That's really it... The intensity of the ride, in my opinion, is the movement of the vehicles on the track giving you the sense that you really are flying over the grounds of Hogwarts...

[MNNHFLTX]

I don't think there really is a jump factor... The dementors are semi static, and if they move, they aren't jumping at you... The film really warns you before you encounter the dragon, which moves but don't jump at you... It's really only a dragon's head moving around attempting to breath fire on you... That's really it... The intensity of the ride, in my opinion, is the movement of the vehicles on the track giving you the sense that you really are flying over the grounds of Hogwarts...

That's good to hear--another website seem to suggest that the dementors appear out of nowhere and are suddenly in your face. That was kind of a freaky thing to consider. BTW, the "jump factor" is not necessarily things jumping at me, but how I will jump if I'm taken by surprise by something!

[Melanie]

That's good to hear--another website seem to suggest that the dementors appear out of nowhere and are suddenly in your face. That was kind of a freaky thing to consider. BTW, the "jump factor" is not necessarily things jumping at me, but how I will jump if I'm taken by surprise by something!

Honestly Beth, the whole ride so stimulating and active, I wouldn't consider the dementors as being any more "in your face" than any other part of the ride. Talk about a rush!

[Starryice]

It's very intense, but I love it! I can tolerate any roller coaster and Mission Space: Orange without any issues - Like Mission Space, I need a few moments to "recover" after riding.

The only ride that has ever made me sick is the dueling dragons coaster. The 1st time we visited it made Quadstriker so ill we had to leave the park and were done for the day. The 2nd time we went back (4 months later) and the ride made ME sick and I could not go on anything else. I was finished.

Forbidden Journey is more intense than soarin' and uses the same type of motion screen technology. They just amped it up with a few twists of the robotic arm and animatronics. I have to 100% agree the dementors add to the jump factor and make it more "intense" but in a good way.