OK, just came back from braving a 3 1/2 hour line for Gringotts...but first my slightly revised thoughts on the HE.
I was lucky enough to enter the station while the train was in the station and it is a COMPLETELY different experience, nearly everything I criticized is a non-issue. You walk right by the engine (I'm almost positive they didn't have us even in walk in this area the last time), steam billows everywhere, you don't see the ride mechanism, it sounds like a real steam train, etc. I cannot stress what a difference this makes. It's a cinematic as I could have hoped. The steam was coming out from between cars too. Additionally the train station was full of people making the lack of a background track unnoticeable and there was background music playing (although I agree with the comments that original music should have been created - my criticism of the gringotts queue as well.)
However, I can see where this becomes a problem (as happened on my first few experiences) because if you happen to enter the station when the train is not there, you miss nearly all of this, you can't hear or see the engine, the first thing you see is the ride mechanism, and it is much, much less of a thrill. I stand by my thoughts that they should only let you into the station after a train has arrived - the experience is completely different and easily takes my rating from 6/10 to 7/10 on that alone.
The ride itself wasn't much different, though there were seat vibrations which were not there the last time. I did see a few beaming faces on my fellow passengers although I also saw several immediately taken out of the illusion and discussing amongst themselves the terribleness of Hermione's voice double.
So all in all I'm going to revise my rating to 7.5/10. I still think it has some issues, and was overhyped, but is a better experience, especially if you get your timing right, than what I experienced originally.
GRINGOTTS 10/11 (I had to rate this higher than Diagon Alley but there's a few strong negative points)
OK, let me get my two biggest criticism out the way first and the first is a doozy.
1. The overflow queue is by the far the worst, ugliest, obscene, embarrassing, thing to hit a theme park since Primeval Whirl, and on second thought, it's even worse. As amazing and immersive as Diagon Alley is, and even moreso the Gringotts internal queue, the overflow queue is the opposite. It's a cross between the bottom level of a parking deck and being stuck between a chiller plant, construction trailer, and not just a sliver of but the entire freakin show building. This isn't a case of the show building between visible behind some trees, it is an utter lack of even attempt to hide it. It is all the more disappointing because of just how immersive the few seconds are before you enter it. You go from the lavish interior of Gringotts to something that looks like a prettied up area behind the backside of your local walmart. It is in short, with no qualifications, the worst queue I have ever been in. And what is truly disheartening about this is that since the line inside Gringotts is not all that long, this is not temporary thing while lines are 3+ hours, but something Guests will continue to see. As long as the uncovered part isn't used, the worst issues are avoided, but the under cover portion is not much better.
2. My second complaint is that it is primarily a screen based ride, but more on that later.
HOWEVER, the second you set foot back into Gringotts you are then in by far the best queue I have ever been in. Frankly, calling it a queue is an insult. It might not be perfect (some audio issues, goblins are a little jerky) but I feel terrible for bringing them up because of just how over-the-top and magnificent the queue truly is. I thought FJ's queue was great but roughly on par with Indy, TOT, and a few others. Gringotts has no parallel. There are a few weird decisions (stair case after an "elevator"?) but holy cow. Universal has hit the ball so far out of the park with this queue that they've really created a separate attraction.
Gringotts the ride is almost as great as the queue. I do not celebrate the fact that it is screen based, but if a ride had to be screen-based then this is the way to do it. I've always disagreed with the praise Spidy and Transformers have gotten as "immersive" because to me, it has always been plainly obvious that not only were you watching screens, but of exactly where the screens were. Nothing could be further from the truth with Gringotts. When I say the action on the screen melds seamlessly with the environment, I mean it. It's obvious you're watching a screen but what is not obvious is where the screen ends, where the few physical set pieces, begin, and where the heck you're going to end up.
The ride system is also amazing, as it was bound to be with Universal (they love their advanced tech stuff). But unlike transformers, and even FJ, this is a case of where the ride system makes perfect sense for the action and is used properly. I was pleasantly shocked when not only the track moved as a simulator (that was expected) but when the coaster cars themselves began to spin. This is not a case of them just throwing you around in as many positions as they can for 3 1/2 minutes as I have felt most of their recent rides to be. If anything it is underused - I was left wanting more actually, but that's not a complaint. Additionally, there actually is a plot and story to the ride that is clear and makes sense. It's not just explosion, after explosion, after fight after fight, it's well thought out, has good pacing, and really has few flaws at all.
I do feel like the ride is slightly short (though not mine train short) and it would have been nice if the ride vehicles didn't spend so much time stopped, perhaps a longer coaster section?, - though it is probably necessarily for the ride system.
I also think Universal must do a better job of making it clear that this is not really a thrill ride in the traditional sense. I do think it is odd that they chose to go this route, particularly with what the ride system is clearly capable of, and with how much they forced thrill onto FJ, but I welcome it. It's truly rideable by anyone that isn't deathly afraid of rides or has chronic pain.
One final minor criticism - the whole "Gringotts security photo" thing is just odd. Why on earth is anyone going to want to buy a $30 photo of themselves in front of a wooden wall?
Overall, just wow. I can't say it will become my favorite ride, but the execution is beyond anything I've seen in a very long time, or perhaps ever. Bravo.
