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.
Hermoine's voice really is bad. Out of context, you'd have no clue that it's supposed to be her.
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.
Agreed. Forbidden Journey's outdoor queue switchbacks are mostly under the greenhouse, which, while moderately boring compared to the inside queue, is at least themed and better than nothing. The Gringotts switchbacks are literally no better than something out of a Six Flags park. Just a massive expanse of switchbacks with no theming other than a few ads for Gringotts on the wall. You are right, too - it looks like guests will frequently be using this part of the queue since the interior portion isn't all that physically long.
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.
I didn't think about this, but you're right - the screens in FJ are utilized really well to the point where you can't tell where they actually end.
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'm torn on the amount of action in Gringotts. I definitely can appreciate that the ride has a cohesive story with good pacing. While I praise Universal a lot on here, but their ride narratives are still overall pretty weak: Spiderman, Forbidden Journey, Mummy, Despicable Me, Simpsons, and Transformers all use the same approach of assaulting you with as many things as possible even if it doesn't make much sense, and that can be a bit tiring. (I also commend them for making the Hogwarts Express a more subdued experience that doesn't attempt to cram in action scenes.)
On the other hand, if there was ever a ride concept where you're
expecting nonstop crazy action, and where the story and ride system would make sense perfectly, Gringotts would be it. When you think of the Gringotts vault scenes from the movies, you think of this crazy, cavernous, twisty, fast, disorienting experience. You can't help but expect a ride with nonstop movement and action from that. But in the ride, you spend much of it just sitting and watching. Yes, there is shaking and tilting movement during these scenes, but considering you're riding the crazy rail system as depicted in the films, sitting there and watching scenes unfold with minimal movement just isn't what you're expecting. And then, as I mentioned before, the fast coaster portions are pitch black which is also not at all like the scenes from the movie. Having no physical sets or effects during the fast parts seems like a big misstep, IMO.
Also, while on the subject of ride narrative nitpicking, another theme park ride trope Universal can't seem to stray away from is making the story as big and epic as possible. I believe that a
regular ride through the Gringotts vaults where nothing goes wrong would have been equally as entertaining and exciting, but instead you of course witness the single biggest event to ever happen to the bank. At least this time, though, its an actual event in the actual story.
