What Exactly is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey?

stlbobby

stlbobby

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I have seen it described as a dark ride, but I have also seen people talk about it as if it is a roller coaster. I am confused, especially by the problems with the restraint system. If this is a traditional dark ride why is the restraint system such an issue?

Please give me some clarification.

Thanks.
 
RSoxNo1

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
I have not been on it, but I will do my best to describe the ride system, as I'm somewhat familiar with that.

The Enchanted benches are attached to a Kuka Robotic Arm. These are the same type of robotic arms used for the seats in Sum of All Thrills. If you're unfamiliar with Sum of All Thrills, think of the Robotic Arm as just that. A gigantic Arm and you're basically sitting in the palm of the hand. It's range of motion is like that of an Arm.

So this ride vehicle travels along a Roller Coaster track, but I don't believe the speed exceeds 25 mph, much of the thrill elements are derived from the motion of the Robotic Arm as opposed to the speed in which it travels.
 
Coaster3001

Coaster3001

Active Member
Pumbas Nakasak said:
An attraction that would be a lot better if Disney had made it.


Allegedly. :goodnevil
Click to expand...

So I suppose they would have given it the Everest treatment and in a year it would only work if Joe Rhode was visiting??? Because that's what Disney would have done. Not to mention it would not have had a single scary element to it because that is not "family friendly". I'm sure it would have been just as great as the bold new vision for Pleasure Island.
 
I

ILuvPenguins

New Member
First of all, the ride system is not a roller coaster. I have ridden it several times and it is more comparable to Spiderman. It has some crazy movements and spins you in almost every direction (including on your back) but does not go rollercoaster speeds.

Secondly:
Pumbas Nakasak said:
An attraction that would be a lot better if Disney had made it.


Allegedly. :goodnevil
Click to expand...

What evidence or examples do you have that Disney would have made the attraction better? I am not opposed to hearing theories that someone else could've done something better, hovever I would need to hear some solid reasons as to HOW they could've done it better before I take the statement seriously.

Before Forbidden Journey opened it was widely agreed that the best attraction in Orlando was Spiderman at IOA. For years people were saying that Disney could top it but, even though they did open some good attractions since, they were never able to. In my opinion the company that was able to build a better attraction than Spiderman, hands down, was Universal with FJ.
 
dxwwf3

dxwwf3

Well-Known Member
Pumbas Nakasak said:
An attraction that would be a lot better if Disney had made it.
Click to expand...

After experiencing Forbidden Journey myself, I really don't know if that's true or not. I actually think that Disney would have made it less thrilling and scary to be more kid friendly. Universal really knocked it out of the park with this one.
 
Skip

Skip

Well-Known Member
Though people have already explained the concept of that KUKA robotic arm pretty well, the best explanation (as far as I can see it, as I have yet to ride it) in terms of comparing it to other rides seems to be Soarin + Spider-Man + the Haunted Mansion. What a combination!

Visiting the Wizarding World this weekend for the first time... I know the crowds will be a living hell, but I have a battle plan! :D
 
W

wizards8507

Active Member
Skip said:
Though people have already explained the concept of that KUKA robotic arm pretty well, the best explanation (as far as I can see it, as I have yet to ride it) in terms of comparing it to other rides seems to be Soarin + Spider-Man + the Haunted Mansion. What a combination!

Visiting the Wizarding World this weekend for the first time... I know the crowds will be a living hell, but I have a battle plan! :D
Click to expand...

Does your battle plan include weaponry, an arsenal of Dementors, and/or the Dark Arts? Because the crowds you're likely to experience might require some help from beyond this world.
 
wdwmagic

wdwmagic

Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
stlbobby said:
I have seen it described as a dark ride, but I have also seen people talk about it as if it is a roller coaster. I am confused, especially by the problems with the restraint system. If this is a traditional dark ride why is the restraint system such an issue?

Please give me some clarification.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Have a read of this http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=590536
Gives a LOT of detail
 
dxwwf3

dxwwf3

Well-Known Member
Most of what Pumbas posts is sarcastic. I am fully aware, that's why I left off the end of the post when I quoted it. I've heard a lot of opinions that were like that though.
 
cmatt

cmatt

Active Member
dxwwf3 said:
Most of what Pumbas posts is sarcastic. I am fully aware, that's why I left off the end of the post when I quoted it. I've heard a lot of opinions that were like that though.
Click to expand...

i think tbh - we have been rather lucky down in these waters for that style of post :lookaroun
 
Skip

Skip

Well-Known Member
wizards8507 said:
Does your battle plan include weaponry, an arsenal of Dementors, and/or the Dark Arts? Because the crowds you're likely to experience might require some help from beyond this world.
Click to expand...

A chainsaw, shotgun, and grenade launcher should allow me to manage.

In all seriousness, though, my hope is to visit the area in the evening on Saturday and hope for no wait to get in (I have absolutely no qualms waiting in lines for Forbidden Journey or the shops). I'm staying on-site at Hard Rock, so I'm going to be getting to Islands between 6 and 6:30 AM on Sunday (gulp), queue in Seuss Landing for early entry, then rush to Ollivander's followed by Forbidden Journey - then ride as many times as I can, using single riders, if necessary.

And hell, if all of that doesn't work, I have another trip being set up for late August - once people start going back to school it should be much easier to enter the area.
 
JROK

JROK

Member
Skip said:
Though people have already explained the concept of that KUKA robotic arm pretty well, the best explanation (as far as I can see it, as I have yet to ride it) in terms of comparing it to other rides seems to be Soarin + Spider-Man + the Haunted Mansion. What a combination!
Click to expand...

Having been on it several times now, I will say that it is not perfect, however, it's damn close and the problems I have could easily be fixed in a rehab. With that said, the attraction is Spider-Man meets Soarin' on a Sum of All Thrills vehicle. It's amazing, and fantastic and pretty much the coolest ride there is (although I still have a soft spot for Spidey). There's no other attraction like it, and Universal has certainly shown Disney how a modern dark-ride works.

Can't wait to see Disney's rebuttal with Ariel in the Fantasyland Expansion! :hammer:
 

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