Instead, you're on a tour with one of the Weasley brothers while Harry, Hermione, and Ron happen to be breaking in as well. I guess I was expecting something closer to the actual adventure in the books where fans would be following Harry through the bank vaults. The first time I rode Escape from Gringotts in 2014, I was left wanting a little more from the ride. (I entered the park with early admission and rode right when the park opened at 8 am.) But this is how it really looks when you step into the first official room in the queue. This is a photo of the bank room without the queue. Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, and Harry all appear so the ride queue never feels boring. More than that, there are real moving and speaking portraits in the castle, just like in the films and books. What's not to love? Universal built the Hogwarts castle and brought the hallways to life. The length of the ride and detailed ride queue make up for any qualms on the actual ride. There's also nothing quite like walking through a real-life Hogwarts castle for the first time. Still, the ride's animatronic dragon and Dementors still frighten me every time I ride.
![harry potter and the forbidden journey harry potter and the forbidden journey](https://www.themeparkarchive.com/Archive/ExtraLarge/37530.jpg)
The latter's graphics are crisper and clearer. While riding the "Potter" rides back-to-back, it's easy to see how aged the graphics in the ride video have become, especially when compared to those on 2014's newer Escape from Gringotts ride, which also uses video screens. Wait time when I rode: 45 minutes/under 20 minutes for express ticket holdersįorbidden Journey was my favorite "Harry Potter" ride for the longest time, but as you get older, the tossing and turning of the vehicle may leave you a bit dizzy and disoriented. Ride length: Four minutes and six seconds You get to go through the castle on your way to the Forbidden Journey. Read more: There are 2 different ways you can ride the new 'Harry Potter' coaster at Universal Orlando. If you're boarding at King's Cross, you watch the train entering the station in reverse. The train only moves on one track so it moves forwards and backwards. You're basically just waiting to board the train, but you do get to watch the train making a perfect entrance into the station. On the flip side, if you're traveling from Hogsmeade, the queue isn't as grand or exciting. If you're with a friend or family, you can have them capture the moment in the queue as you "disappear" onto the invisible platform located between platforms nine and 10. Once you're more than halfway through the queue you're able to "step" onto platform 9 and 3/4 in a similar way to Harry and the gang. In Universal Studios, I love that you're able to walk through a version of London's King's Cross station. You're also given the opportunity to step aside after disembarking at King's Cross Station at Universal Studios to capture this moment. If you board from Hogsmeade outside of Islands of Adventures' Hogsmeade it gives you the perfect chance to capture video of the train entering or leaving the station.
![harry potter and the forbidden journey harry potter and the forbidden journey](http://spreadingmagic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Harry-Potter-and-the-Forbidden-Journey.jpg)
Part of the queue experience is waiting for the train to roll in, but that's OK. Not only does it feel like you're on the real Hogwarts Express, but you get to hear Ron, Harry, and Hermione as they travel past your train car. It's important to note that you can only ride the train if you have a ticket which allows you to enter both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, but it's well worth the extra money for a chance to ride in one of the train cars. Each ride has a different video for you to watch on the Hogwarts Express depending on which way you travel. The Hogwarts Express includes a very detailed queue to walk through, there often is a wait time (even if it's a relatively short one), and you receive two different experiences on the train depending on whether or not you're traveling from Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. However, after chatting it through with the hosts of MuggleCast, we decided we had to include the Hogwarts Express on here. I wasn't sure whether or not I should include the short train ride that transfers you from one Universal theme park to another on our list.
![harry potter and the forbidden journey harry potter and the forbidden journey](https://orlandoinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-gallery/Forbidden_Journey/Harry_Potter_and_the_Forbidden_Journey_2.jpg)
Wait time when I rode: With the express pass it took us no more than 10 minutes to get onboard the train. There's nowhere else you can get a perfect photo of the Hogwarts Express as well.
![harry potter and the forbidden journey harry potter and the forbidden journey](http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100205030710/harrypotter/images/1/10/Harry_Potter_and_the_Forbidden_Journey_(WWoHP).jpg)
You can either take the train to or from "London" at Universal Orlando.