View Full Version : Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
With so many rumours surrounding this new attraction I thought it might be interesting to try to pull together some of the more credible ones. Coupled with some facts and a bit of imagination we might even be able to piece together what this ride/attraction might be like? Perhaps? Maybe?
Enjoy ...
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/harry-potter-and-the-forbidden-journey-rumours-and-facts.aspx
steph_goodrum
23-03-2010, 04:47
Steve there is a very detailed guide somewhere which el;imiates guesswork , will see if I can find. Have been to Universal today and taken some pics of the bits of the castle you can see.
There is a big announcement this Thursday at Universal (25th March) when all will be revealed including the actual 'official' opening date. However expect to see soft opening periods once the Easter crowds have gone.
Dave
There is Steph - but the details of the Forbidden Journey are still very, very sketchy ... unless there is a new guide. Rumour is that Universal will release more details about it this Thursday when they announce the official opening date of TWWOHP. The announcement is scheduled for 12pm ET.
Dave - I did hear a rumour, albeit a very sketchy one, that the Forbidden Journey might not be ready for the opening of the rest of TWWOHP. If that were true it would really shape how Universal approach the soft opening, as the rest of the attraction is basically shops plus the re-themed Duelling Dragons and Flight of the Unicorn.
wrightbuxton
24-03-2010, 16:08
What is or was the Sum of all Thrills ride at Epcot I don't think I have seen that one?
Julie
The latest report I have seen states the opening date as June 18th
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=10195753
rainyday
25-03-2010, 12:49
The Universal Orlando website also has that date (June 18th) for the grand opening - the day after we leave! - almost funny...
Universal have also said that there will be soft openings in the run up to the official full public opening, so if you are up at IOA maybe do a bit of loitering near the attraction ... you never know.
Julie - The Sum of all Thrills is a bit like the old ride from DisneyQuest where you got to design your own rollercoaster and then got to ride it in those spinning dinnerplate things. It was kind of OK, but the motion side wasn't great as the spinning things couldn't really deliver much g. The Sum of all Thrills uses a huge big robotic arm to jiggle you about while the landscape and environment are projected onto a very close canopy.
With the ability to have your legs dangle in mid air while you are on it, it would be great for simulating a broomstick ride. [msnwink]
There are a few more details starting to emerge. It's not easy to seperate fact from rumour, but here goes ...
The queue will indeed, it seems, go via recreations of some of the iconic places of Hogwarts Castle.
It starts down in the dungeons and then heads upwards through the Hogwarts' greenhouses (allegedly complete with Mandrake Root plants. Further up is the entrance to Albus Dumbledore's office where Dumbledore himself (in extremely realistic holographic form) greets you, welcomes you to Hogwarts, and gives you some advice about what is to follow.
Deeper into the castle is the classroom for Defence Against the Dark Arts. Here you meet Harry, Hermione and Ron. They are planning to escape Professor Binns' rather boring lecture and invite you to meet them in the Room of Requirement.
The Portrait Gallery (complete with talking and moving portraits) and the Gryffindor Common Room are two more places you visit on your way through the castle to meet up with Harry, Hermione and Ron,
There is an option to exit before the ride. Apparently the theming and scenery within the castle are that good that Universal expect many visitors to simply want to go through this experience without riding the ride itself.
As for the ride itself. It's being described that riders will sit on 'enchanted benches'. The visuals also show a Quidditch match. The Sorting Hat gives the final warning about riders with physical conditions and safety aspects. Rumour is that riders will be dropped, spun, twisted, pulled, pushed and 'otherwise'.
Universal are touting Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey as "a 360 degree filmatic experience" and are also claiming it has the biggest special effects of all the rides in the park. For these read effects like fire (from the Mummy Returns) and wind (from Twister), etc.
The effects are being bigged up to the point where they are so immersive that riders will have a hard time distinguising between what is real and what isn't, whether they are inside or whether they are outside, etc.
More rumours are that the ride includes Dementors, the Whomping Willow and transportation via the Floo Network.
A lot of news is likely to break very very quickly today about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter so you might well get to it before me. Drop the snippets in here if you find/hear/see them, and I'll try to do the same.
It sounds like it's going to be absolutely fantastic. And we're there are the end of July too. Yippppeeeeee. [msnsmile2]
CERICROWLEY
25-03-2010, 19:22
Due to open June 18th
Universal still seem to be staying mostly tight lipped about the details of the technology employed in the Forbidden Journey ride. They are letting one or two snippets slip out through their press releases. It does now seem like a done deal that the ride utilises the robotic arms. According to the press release ...
"the attraction's newly created ride system envelops guests in filmed action scenes and moves those scenes with them as they travel through the ride, allowing more time in the center of the adventure and with their favorite characters. This fusion of robotic technology and filmed scenes has never been achieved until now."
If you want an idea of the kind of movement these robotic arms are capable of, check out this clip taken at Universal Studios Hollywood. The quality isn't great but it works well as an example of the range of motion that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey could employ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=coBf3G_pEZU&feature=player_%20embedded
Couple this with what Universal are continually referring to as "immersive" filming and the end result should be breathtaking.
And if that isn't enough there are the special effects layered on top.
Imagine feeling the heat from the real flames of a dragon's breath, or shivering as the cold icy chill runs up your spine as the dementors try to suck out your soul.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Snapper
Imagine feeling the heat from the real flames of a dragon's breath, or shivering as the cold icy chill runs up your spine as the dementors try to suck out your soul.[/quote]Now that sounds like the Alien Encounter (that turned rather disappointingly into Stitch's Great Escape) that used to be at MK, especially if it's in the dark. Creepy and shiver come to mind!
[msnsmile2][msnsmile2][msnsmile2]
I've been thinking exactly the same Blott.
Do you remember the feeling as the alien used to walk across the top of the harnesses and then that shiver you got when it brethed across the back of your neck.
Let's hope that there are a few of these tricks in the Forbidden Journey.
Yep, and the wet saliva (or drool or blood from attacks - we never knew until we got out and inspected by another member of our party) that landed on your face... oooer, repress a scream and shiver some more... :D
CarolAnn
05-04-2010, 23:46
Wow! Steve,Blott, I was never brave enough to do Alien Econter or Stitches Great Escape, but you guys in a few words have decribed what I missed SO WELLLLLLLLLL...I know now why I didn't try either!!!:D
Enjoy anything HP at Universal brings everybody[msnwink]
ncmurray
06-04-2010, 01:02
I only tried Stitches' Great Escape once, and once only!!! I have faced the biggest and best roller coasters in Orlando, but Stitches' Great Escape....NEVER again!! I just couldn't stomach it!
Nuala
Stitches Great Escape - I thought it was just us that thought it was quite scary - my daughter was 6 when we went on it and it scared the begebbers out of her but unfortunately due to where we were sitting she had to stay where she was through the whole thing - if lilo and stitch comes on the Disney channel she stil turns it off - she is 10 now - I think it scared her for life !
Just got back from riding Forbidden Journey and it is everything and more as you describe Steve.
The whole experience from Hogsmeade village to the Castle and the ride itself are truly breathtaking. The attention to detail is amazing. I won't tell you about the ride you have to do it yourself and see how good it is, but you do need the shoulder harness!!!!!
We also sampled some Butterbeer, had breakfast in the Three Broomsticks and had a wander through Zonko's, Honeydukes and Dervish and Banges.
The merchandising is huge and there is everything you can think of.
The one place we didn't get into was Olivanders as the queue was mega, and our main reason for going was to try for the ride.
They are doing soft openings at 9am in the morning for a couple of hours, but won't confirm which days. We went yesterday afternoon as we were going to the cinema to see Shrek 4 at the Imax, so had a wander in to IOA and a cast member said it was closed for the day but to come back at 9am tomorrow morning (today), which of course we did, and it was worth the struggle to get Al out of bed [msnsmile]
Glad it all went well Rosie and you actually managed to get Al out of bed that early[msnwink][msnwink]
Sandra
Glad to hear you enjoyed it Rosie and it was worth getting out of bed for.
What does Butterbeer taste like? is it very sweet?
It's non alcoholic and it reminded us both of cream soda [msnsmile] You can buy it cold or frozen.
DisneyPrincess
09-06-2010, 23:38
I cant wait to see the island in August! Your post has made me v. excited!:D
Think I will give it a try as I like cream soda, in moderation