Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Coordinates: 28°28′19″N 81°28′26″W / 28.47186°N 81.47402°W / 28.47186; -81.47402
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Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Looking up at the replica of Hogwarts Castle which encloses the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
Hogwarts Castle, which houses Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Universal Islands of Adventure
AreaThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 18, 2010 (2010-06-18)[1]
Universal Studios Japan
AreaThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter
StatusOperating
Opening dateJuly 15, 2014 (2014-07-15)
Universal Amphitheater
Universal Studios Beijing
AreaThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter
StatusOperating
Opening dateSeptember 20, 2021 (2021-09-20)
Ride statistics
Attraction type
Universal Express Available
line available
Must transfer from wheelchair

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a

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".[5] The ride first opened at Islands of Adventure with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 18, 2010;[6] subsequent versions opened at Universal Studios Japan on July 15, 2014, at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016,[3][7] and at Universal Studios Beijing
on September 20, 2021.

Summary

The entrance to the ride consists of a path which proceeds between two gates before heading to Hogwarts Castle.
Entrance to the ride at Islands of Adventure

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey uses

Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods gift shop.[5][8]

Queue area

One of the scenes in the queue area is that of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. It replicates the classroom as seen in the films.
The Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom forms a portion of the queue at Islands of Adventure

To enter the ride, guests walk through the gates of

Sorting Hat and several paintings in the next two rooms.[9]

Station

The station of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey allows up to four guests to board an "enchanted bench" which is their ride vehicle for the duration of the attraction.In the back of the loading station there is a gigantic mirror.Be careful though!To get to the ride vehicle you have to walk on a moving conveyor belt!Finally, when you are about to go into pitch-black darkness, you hear Hermione's voice say three, two, one and you start to float.
The "enchanted bench" ride vehicles.

Next, riders board an enchanted Omnimover-style bench inside the Room of Requirement, which lifts off the ground and through the Floo Network for a journey with Harry. The ride combines real sets and animatronics with segments that use wrap-around projection screens.[9][10]

Ride

A scene from the film that accompanies the ride which features Harry Potter as portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe riding a broomstick.
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) in a scene from the ride-film of the attraction.

The ride begins with a dousing of

Hungarian Horntail dragon begins to chase the riders. The bench flies out of the projection screen and into a set of the uneven bridge that crosses the valley behind Hogwarts and, after falling out of a hole in the floor of the bridge, they encounter an animatronic dragon, which breathes pressurized water mist with red lighting pointed to it to make it resemble fire.[10]

The riders descend into a set of the

Salazar Slytherin's statue.[10]

Dozens of Dementors emerge from the darkness while one descends and attempts to suck out the riders' souls. This effect is achieved by projecting the riders' faces onto a cloud of fog in front of the Dementor, blasting cold air towards the riders, and using a heartbeat-like sound played through the sub-woofers built into the benches. (Though the fog effect is not present in the Hollywood version and is instead replaced with dozens of dementors surrounding the guests) After shaking the riders out of the trance, Harry causes the Dementors to flee with a protective

Chamber of Secrets cave in. They fly over the Black Lake, back into Hogwarts and through the Main Hall and Grand Staircase, where they are shouting wildly on by a series of onscreen characters from the movies who appear three-dimensional. Professor Dumbledore sends everyone back through the Floo Network to the Room of Requirement, where they exit their bench.[10]

Restrictions

Test seats, which replicate those present on the ride vehicles, exist at the entrance of the queue to ensure potential riders will be comfortable when seated.
Test seats exist at the entrance of the queue at Islands of Adventure.

While everyone may walk through the queue, all riders must be at least 48 inches (120 cm) tall. The ride has no maximum weight limit, and riders can test whether the attraction accommodates their size using test seats at the queue entrance and again at the end of the queue, which are equipped with red, yellow, and green lights that indicate whether the rider can be accommodated. Persons requiring modified seating on other rides may have difficulty closing the ride's over-the-shoulder harness.[11] If passengers are unable to secure the harness, they are not permitted to ride the attraction.[12] In an attempt to alleviate this problem, Universal has modified the restraint system on some of the seats to accommodate larger guests. These modifications will not affect the size of the seat nor create a dangerous situation for smaller guests. Guests who receive a yellow light on the test seats may sit in modified seating.[11][13][14] Modified seating is not available on the Hollywood version of the ride.

According to the Universal Orlando Resort Rider's Guide, both legs must protrude from under the restraint and form a lap. In practice, above-knee amputees will not be permitted to ride unless their residual natural limb reaches the edge of the seat (or at least includes a knee), even if the lock-bar appears to successfully engage the limb. Lower-limb prosthetics will not offset this requirement since they must be removed prior to boarding the ride. These particular restrictions are not clearly posted at the ride or on the website, which lists the height requirement only. The lower limb prosthetic removal requirement can be found at the "Accessibility Information" page under "Guests with Prosthetic Limbs."[15] The residual limb length requirement is not listed there but will be enforced at the ride prior to boarding. Wheelchair users who are able to transfer directly to the ride vehicle may do so at a separate area, which does not contain the introductory theming of the Floo Network. Instead, wheelchair users pass through a series of unthemed elevators and corridors to arrive at the accessible loading area. Only one accessible ride vehicle is available, and each party must wait for the previous group to return before they may enter the loading area.

Production

History

In January 2007, rumors arose about the possibility of a Harry Potter-themed island at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park.[16] This was followed by further rumors that part of the project was codenamed "Strong Arm" in reference to the KUKA robotic arm technology it would utilize.[17][18] On May 31, 2007, Universal, in partnership with Warner Bros., officially announced that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter would be coming to Islands of Adventure.[19][20][21] Preparation of the site for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter began in late October 2007, and the construction of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey began in February 2008.[22] Construction ended in the first half of 2010. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey began operating on June 1, 2010,[23] and officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010.[1][24] The ride was upgraded to 4K 120 FPS on June 4, 2018.[25]

On May 5, 2012, the Los Angeles Times reported that Universal Studios Japan would also be receiving a The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey confirmed as one of the attractions.[26] The Japanese ride opened on July 15, 2014. It had 3D effects added on May 21, 2015[25] and was upgraded to 4K 120 FPS on January 18, 2018.[25] The 3D effects were removed on March 16, 2018.[25]

On December 6, 2011,

Universal Parks & Resorts announced that it would open The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016, and that one of the attractions would be Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.[2][27] On April 7, 2016, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade opened at Universal Studios Hollywood with rides Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey and Flight of The Hippogriff debuting with the new section. Unlike its Florida counterpart, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey featured 3D HD Technology, in which guests wore 3D "Quidditch" goggles.[3][28][29] Although the 3D effects were removed only eight months later on December 4, 2016,[25] the ride was updated with 4K 120 FPS on March 28, 2017.[25]

Ride mechanics

Robocoasters feature KUKA robotic arms, the same technology used on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Unlike the stationary robotic arms used in Robocoasters, the technology is used in conjunction with busbar track technology to provide a differing experience.
KUKA robotic arms, similar to those used on Robocoasters (pictured), are used on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in conjunction with busbar track technology.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey features a RoboCoaster G2 ride system provided by

Van Helsing-themed ride using this technology.[38] These plans were later scrapped with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ultimately using the same technology and opening on the same plot of land proposed for the Van Helsing ride.[4] The ride's seats are mounted on robotic arms which are in turn mounted on a track. This allows the arms to travel through the attraction while performing their movements in synchronization with the ride's show elements (animated props, projection surfaces, etc.).[32][33][34][35] This concept first appeared in the 2004 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Trade Show.[37] The disadvantage of this intricate machinery is that if the ride breaks down, some guests are stranded in uncomfortable positions, such as being tilted backwards in dark enclosed spaces.[39]

For the three sections of the ride where wrap-around projection is used, each robotic arm continues its steady movement on the track but is met by its own individual parabolic projection screen and projector traveling at exactly the same pace. Each projection section uses a huge turntable with six of these enormous screens mounted facing outwards - one for each robotic arm as they pass by - and each screen is large enough that when in front of each ride bench its edges cannot be seen. The screens appear and disappear behind the edges of the physical sets. The robotic arms can then freely dive, turn and pivot each ride bench within the curved area, giving the illusion of extreme movement when synchronized with the projection, whilst the base of the arm on the track simply follows the slow circular path that each screen takes as it revolves. This is why each projection section of the ride is approximately the same length, as each ride arm must follow each identically-sized projection screen turntable for a set period of time.

Design

The attraction was designed by Universal Creative in association with Warner Bros. Recreation Group. Thierry Coup, who worked on The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Shrek 4-D and Revenge of the Mummy, was the Creative Director for the ride.[40][41]

Cast

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey features many of the main characters of the film series, which were reprised by their respective actors:[42]

Reception

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey has been widely lauded for its innovation and theming. Arthur Levine of

About.com stated that he felt he "had been taken to a truly magical place. For a few glorious moments, the Floo Network, flying benches, and willows that whomp seemed not just possible, but actual." He gave the ride a rating of 5 stars out of 5, and wrote that the ride was the best of its kind.[43] Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider commended Universal Creative for its attention to detail on the ride. Niles wrote that the company had set its expectations almost impossibly high, and that the ride is "the most advanced and engaging attraction in theme park industry history".[41] Ricky Brigante of Inside the Magic described the ride as a "jaw-dropping journey that no one should miss", but criticized the lack of continuity with the story.[44][45]

In

Golden Ticket Awards, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey debuted as the best new ride of 2010.[46] It won the Best Dark Ride category for five consecutive years from 2011 to 2015,[47][48][49][50][51] and it ranked second (behind The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror) every year from 2016 to 2019.[52][53][54][55]

Golden Ticket Awards
: Best Dark Ride
Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Ranking 4[46] 1[47] 1[48] 1[49] 1[50] 1[51] 2[52] 2[53] 2[54] 2[55]

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b MacDonald, Brady (December 6, 2011). "It's official: Harry Potter land to debut at Universal Studios Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Universal Studios Hollywood Makes Unprecedented Investment in Epic Theme Park Transformation" (Press release). NBCUniversal. April 9, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Hart, Lance (April 4, 2010). "Islands of Adventure". Screamscape. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Scull, Eric (2010). "The Wizarding World 'Forbidden Journey' ... ride preview". Muggle Net. Archived from the original on April 13, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  6. ^ "Islands of Adventure: Live the adventure of a lifetime". Universal Orlando Resort. 2010. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  7. ^ "Hogwarts Coming to Hollywood". Press Release. Universal Studios Hollywood. December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  8. ^ "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Media". Universal Orlando Resort. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Inside the Magic (May 29, 2010). "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey queue at the Wizarding World in Universal Orlando". Video. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d e Nefer, Barbara (June 18, 2010). "Blow by blow account of Forbidden Journey ride at Wizarding World of Harry Potter". Examiner.
  11. ^ a b "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride seats modified to fit larger guests". Orlando Attractions Magazine. September 11, 2010. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  12. ^ The Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator (June 19, 2010). "Follow-up: 'Forbidden' fatties at 'Wizarding World of Harry Potter'". The Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  13. ^ Hart, Lance (July 22, 2010). "Islands of Adventure". Screamscape. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  14. ^ Garcia, Jason (September 13, 2010). "Harry Potter ride tweaked for larger guests". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  15. ^ "ADA Information for Guests of Universal Orlando". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  16. ^ Levine, Arthur (January 28, 2007). "Universal to Float New Island at its Florida Park". About.com. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  17. ^ "Harry Potter / Lost Continent Transformation". Screamscape. February 1, 2007. Archived from the original on February 3, 2007. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  18. ^ Hill, Jim (February 5, 2007). "Monday Mouse Watch: You'll believe a car can fly". Jim Hill Media. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  19. ^ Sturcke, James (May 31, 2007). "Harry Potter theme park to open in Florida". The Guardian.
  20. ^ "Harry Potter theme park swoops to Fla". USA Today. May 31, 2007.
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  24. ^ Sangalang, Jennifer (June 18, 2010). "'Harry Potter' movie stars help christen Wizarding World". USA Today. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  25. ^ a b c d e f Kleinhenz, Marc (June 4, 2018). "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey's first-ever upgrade". Orlando Informer. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  26. ^ Fritz, Ben (May 9, 2012). "Harry Potter heads to Universal Studios Japan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  27. ^ Nakashima, Ryan (December 6, 2011). "Poof! Harry Potter park to appear in Hollywood". Associated Press. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  28. ^ Yu, Elaine (April 11, 2016). "'Wizarding World of Harry Potter' opens at Universal Studios Hollywood". CNN. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  29. ^ Levine, Arthur (April 14, 2016). "Wizarding World of Harry Potter: What's different in Hollywood?". USA Today. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  30. ^ "Portfolio". Dynamic Attractions. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  31. ^ "History". Robocoaster. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  32. ^ a b Harry Potter World Orlando (March 22, 2010). ""Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" Attraction Details". Harry Potter World Orlando. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
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  34. ^ a b "Kuka Industrial Robots – Robocoaster". Kuka Industrial Robots. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
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  37. ^ a b "IAAPA 2004 Innovations - RoboCoaster on track". Coasters and More. 2004. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  38. ^ Niles, Robert (November 29, 2003). "A 'Van Helsing' Robocoaster for Islands of Adventure?". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  39. ^ Jacobson, Susan (July 23, 2010). "Guests stuck on Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter ride". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  40. ^ Goh, Robin (October 5, 2011). "Getting to know: Thierry Coup". Resorts World Sentosa. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  41. ^ a b Niles, Robert (June 17, 2010). "Theme park magic in Orlando has a new home: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
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  43. About.com
    . Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  44. ^ Brigante, Ricky (June 2, 2010). "Spoiler-Free Review: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at Universal Orlando's Wizarding World". Inside the Magic. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  45. ^ Brigante, Ricky (June 4, 2010). "Spoiler-FILLED Review: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at Universal Orlando's Wizarding World". Inside the Magic. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
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  47. ^ a b "Park and ride winners" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 4, 5. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  48. ^ a b "Park and ride winners" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 4, 5. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  49. ^ a b "Park and ride winners" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 4, 5. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  50. ^ a b "Park and ride winners". Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 4, 5. September 2014.
  51. ^ a b "Park and ride winners". Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 4, 5. September 2015.
  52. ^ a b "Park and ride winners" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 10. September 2016.
  53. ^ a b "Park and ride winners" (PDF). Amusement Today. 21 (6.2): 12. September 2017.
  54. ^ a b "Park and ride winners" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  55. ^ a b "2019 Golden Ticket Awards winners". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

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