forbidden journey 3d

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Ride

Universal Orlando

• Getting There
• The Physical Track
• The Filmed Sequences
• Frequently Asked Questions

The best theme park dark rides take guests on journeys to fantastic places and engage them in adventures that embrace their imaginations and senses of wonder. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the signature attraction at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Hogsmeade  at Universal Orlando's  Islands of Adventure , is the best of its kind. Opened in 2010, the popular ride has been such a success that Universal Studios Japan, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Beijing have each opened a version of their own.

It exploits technology in new and startling ways while keeping the " how'd-they-do-that?"  magic seamless. It transports muggles into the fanciful realm of J.K. Rowling's books and the movies they inspired. Forbidden Journey is a stunning achievement and a must-see attraction.

• Thrill Scale (0 = Not Scary at All!, 10 = Yikes!): 5.5. There are lots of "gotchas" typical of dark rides and psychological thrills. This is an aggressive ride that simulates flying with sometimes startling vehicle movements. Note that some sensitive passengers experience motion sickness.
• Attraction Type: Dark ride with vehicles mounted on robotic arms.
• Height restriction (minimum, in inches): 48
• Note that the vehicles may not accommodate heavier guests with certain body types. Test seats are available prior to boarding.
• Take care to stow all loose items in the free lockers.
• Consider the single-rider line when the queue is long. Front-of-the-line passes are accepted in both Hollywood and Orlando.
• Forbidden Journey is one of the 12 Best Rides at Universal Orlando and one of the 10 best rides at Universal Studios Hollywood .

Getting to the Ride Is a Journey

Rounding the bend at the end of The Wizarding World's impeccably detailed Hogsmeade village, the sight of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry punctures the sky and stirs the senses. The mythic building, which had previously only existed in the minds of adoring readers and on-screen as part of the film series, looks picture-perfect in person. To board Forbidden Journey, guests pass through its gates and into the majestic castle.

Ambling through Hogwarts castle is, in itself, an immersive attraction. Nestled throughout the queue are artifacts from Rowling's world that will delight ardent fans. Hey! There's the Mirror of Erised. And look! We're entering Professor Sprout's Herbology gardens. In California, there are stunning views of the Hollywood hills to add to the ambiance.

Going Along for the Harry Potter Ride

The Potter-clueless, however, need not worry. If you don't know a Whomping Willow from a weeping willow, you'll still be charmed by the discoveries at every turn. And when you enter the castle's portrait gallery and discover that the paintings come to life, you'll be captivated by the talking characters, even if you don't have a clue what they're saying. The seamless theme park magic we referred to earlier is abundant in the gallery. Of course, oil paintings can't really come to life; however, the effect is so well done, guests can't help but go along for the ride.

In fact, going along for the ride is the whole point of Forbidden Journey. Professor Dumbledore, Hogwarts' headmaster, has opened the school to the outside world for the first time and has invited muggles (non-wizards) to learn about its history. Guests enter his office, and the professor (actor Michael Gambon) welcomes them. Dumbledore's ultra-high-resolution, high-frame-rate projected image (a trick that attraction conjurers have used before) is somewhat realistic if a bit ethereal.

The headmaster sends his visitors along to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom for what he promises will be a rapturous lecture. However, Harry, Hermione, and Ron doff their cloak of invisibility in the classroom to warn the visitors about the boring lecture that awaits them.

If the line gets slowed or stopped in either Dumbledore's office or the classroom, as sometimes happens, guests held in those areas may be subjected to more than one repetition of the actors' spiels. It's a slightly incongruous note in an otherwise enchanted pre-ride experience.

Advanced Robotics Are a Dark Ride First

The Hogwarts kids hatch a plan to save guests from the tedious talk by inviting them along for an extracurricular adventure. The means of egress are "enchanted benches" and the Floo Network (a kind of magical transportation system in the Wizarding World. So, it's off to the Sorting Hat to get boarding instructions for the not-all-that-forbidden journey.

The vehicles seat four riders and are on an Omnimover-style, constantly-moving track. Over-the-shoulder restraints hold guests snugly in place—a necessity given the wild ride that ensues.

While it is hidden from view in the loading area, each vehicle is attached to a robotic arm. A dark ride first (and given the incredible success of Forbidden Journey, probably not a dark ride last), the advanced robotics enable the vehicles to pivot, swoop, and otherwise move with an astonishing degree of flexibility heretofore unavailable to attraction designers. After Hermione sprinkles the benches with Floo powder, they magically rise, and guests are flying—and I mean flying—alongside Harry and his pals.

The ride alternates between filmed sequences projected onto mini domed screens and actual sets adorned with all kinds of mechanical dark ride "gotchas." The scare tactic of elements jumping out at vehicles is as old as the classic Pretzel dark rides that used to wreak havoc at places like Coney Island in the early 20th century. But the high-tech wizardry Universal employs—particularly the fluid, sudden, every-which-way movements of the robot-driven vehicles—gives Forbidden Journey a decidedly 21st-century spin.

A note of warning: Universal isn't kidding about stowing loose articles in the free lockers. The ride is not intense in a roller coaster kind of way. But we did lose items from our pockets as the bench moved us into a prone position and shook us down. You would, too, if you have anything in your pockets.

The Filmed Sequences Are an Ingenuity

The vehicles' freedom of movement combined with the enveloping screens gives a " you-are-there" dimensional quality. Among the many design mysteries that had us scratching our heads was the fact that the vehicles are constantly moving forward on a track through the ride building, yet the screens remain fixed in front of the benches for at least 20 seconds at a time for each of the filmed sequences. Each ride vehicle has its own mini domed screen that follows it for the duration of each sequence and the vehicle and screen follow a circular path for each scene. Considering the number of vehicles in the high-capacity ride, that's a lot of screens. And a testament to the ingenuity and level of attention lavished on Forbidden Journey.

In the original Forbidden Journey at Orlando's Islands of Adventure, the filmed sequences were not rendered or presented in 3D. At Universal Studios Hollywood, however, they were originally shown in 3D. There, passengers were given "Quidditch goggles" prior to their journey. The added depth and intimacy made the experience more immersive.

To accommodate the 3D, Universal Creative re-rendered the ride's footage. They also made it noticeably brighter and a bit sharper. The colors appeared to be somewhat more saturated in the Hollywood version, which was a bit distracting. Because some passengers were reportedly experiencing motion sickness, the Hollywood location removed the 3D and reverted to a 2D version of the media. However, both Orlando and Hollywood now present the media in higher resolution. While it is still 2D, it is noticeably brighter and sharper (although not as bright or sharp as media that is created natively in high resolution).

What's the Story?

As with many park rides, the story is a bit muddled. Amid all of the chaos, it's hard to follow the narrative. No matter. The encompassing attraction sends riders into its trippy, fever-dream world where things don't necessarily make sense, yet feel astonishingly real.

The story has something to do with gaining a glimpse into the often-harrowing life of the boy wizard. By traveling through the Forbidden Forest (beware the Whomping Willow!), into a Quidditch match, and to other places featured in the popular series, the attraction plays like a Harry Potter highlight reel. Although we were merely passive guests in the very active ride, we were nonetheless welcomed back as heroes by the Hogwarts gang at the end of the journey.

We can't say that we felt like heroes. (Especially when Universal tried to shake us down for a cardboard-framed picture of our enchanted-bench posse in the inevitable post-ride march through the gift shop.) But we can say that we felt like we 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.

The Forbidden Journey provides a new intersection for park attractions where magic and logic, virtual and reality, and wizards and muggles meet.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is considered a dark ride, a type of indoor theme park ride in which passengers take a vehicle through a series of scenes. In this particular attraction, passengers enjoy physical sets intermixed with filmed sequences projected onto mini domed screens.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is just over four minutes long.

Featuring Dementors, a fire-breathing dragon, and giant, animatronic spiders, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey may be a bit scary for people who don't like being spooked. If you're someone who hates roller coasters, rest assured there are no big drops, although there are some twists and turns.

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Complete Guide to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Close your eyes and try to remember how you felt the first time you saw Hogwarts castle in the  Harry Potter  film series. Imagine the majestic turrets that seemed to stack one on top of the other; the beautiful glass windows; the intricate stonework. Do you feel the warmth in your chest yet?

For many of us who truly love being immersed in Harry Potter’s world, glimpsing Hogwarts castle is a sign that we’re home again, just as it is for our hero. But what if I told you that you could take this reverie a step further and venture  inside  Hogwarts castle and on an adventure unlike any other? I’ve got great news: this is the Hogwarts letter you’ve been waiting for!

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey  is a thrilling dark ride in   The Wizarding World of Harry Potter -Hogsmeade at   Universal Islands of Adventure . On board an enchanted bench, you’ll encounter a ferocious dragon, the famed Whomping Willow, a pack of dreaded Dementors, and… I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning.

Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by the ever verbose and ghostly Professor Binns, but our favorite trio has other plans. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stealthily urge you to meet them in the Room of Requirement so they can instead sneak you down to the Quidditch pitch for a thrilling match.

It may surprise you to learn that my favorite part of this attraction is actually the part where I wait in line, but seriously…  this queue is just that good. Entering between the two tall stone pillars topped with winged boars, you’ll make your way into the castle and through its many tantalizing corridors. As relics like the Mirror of Erised come into view, your tour will start to bring back memories of your favorite moments from the films:

• In the greenhouses, you’ll be delighted to see that Professor Sprout’s mandrakes are coming along nicely.
• Professor Dumbledore’s office houses not only the magical Pensieve and the Sword of Gryffindor, but the headmaster himself will appear and greet you.
• Next, enjoy a trip to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione will appear from under the invisibility cloak and brief you on their plans.
• After a quick venture behind the portrait of the Fat Lady and into the Gryffindor common room, you’ll pass the famed Sorting Hat on your way to the Room of Requirement for your adventure.

There are   so many things to see along the way , you’ll want to keep your eyes open.

Underneath a candlelit ceiling, you’ll climb aboard an enchanted bench for a scenic and thrilling dark ride unlike any other! As you get ready to take off with a dose of Floo powder, Hermione asks you to say “Observatory” to make sure you reach the intended destination. Away you’ll fly through the Astronomy Tower and toward the Quidditch pitch, right alongside Harry and Ron on their brooms.

On this journey, your bench will twist, turn, and spin as it reacts to the world around you. And there’s quite a bit to react to:

• Hagrid is looking for a Hungarian Horntail dragon.
• In the Forbidden Forest, you’ll encounter the large Whomping Willow tree with its branches primed for clobbering.
• Dementors descend upon the Quidditch match and lead you deep into the Chamber of Secrets.
• And  then — well, I’ll leave that up to you to find out.

RIDE DETAILS

• Height requirement: 48” (122 cm)
• You will need a locker for this ride
• Child Swap is available upon request
• Universal Express Pass is available
• Single Rider is available

FILCH’S EMPORIUM OF CONFISCATED GOODS

Once off the ride, you can peruse items taken from students who got on the wrong side of the school’s resident caretaker, Argus Filch. From t-shirts, bags, caps, and scarves to plush toys, stationery, and mugs, every fan will find at least one must-have item here.

PRO TIP : There are plenty of authentic movie prop replicas stationed throughout the store. Plan to spend some time pointing out your favorites. Mine is the Marauder’s Map… complete with moving footprints!

Riding Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey feels like flying through the scenes that have lived in your imagination for years — great for both hard core and casual fans of the  Harry Potter  films. I’ll never be able to express how immersed I felt when I first got on board and realized everything I’ve always wanted to see was coming to life in front of me. 

Happy  adventuring !

What are you most looking forward to seeing inside Hogwarts castle? Tell us in the comments below!

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Kelsey Shea Weinrich

Kelsey is a Content Representative at Universal Orlando Resort. She considers The Mummy (1999) a perfect movie and doesn’t tolerate Hufflepuff slander.

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What is the weight maximum for the ride? Can you walk through the line to see the displays without taking the ride?

Hi Mark! We would recommend reaching out to our Guest Services Team at 407-224-4233 for more information on our attractions!

I am always looking over to the door that leads to Professor Snapes Potions class room. And at this moment I also remember very fondly Alan Rickman who is no longer with us, but so brilliantly portrait Professor Snape.

He was truly my favorite character in the films. Though, I loved his work before HP. He was brilliant. Out of my middle aged life, HP Orlando was the best park experience I’ve ever had.

Fantastic description of this magical experience…really amazing!!! And as she said, everyone will absolutely love it, not only the Potter’s fans. Universal is the best park EVER! But there is a part where the text is duplicated: Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by the ever verbose and ghostly Professor Binns, but our favorite trio has other plans.

Kelsey, although the story was great and I loved the ride, my OCD kicked in hard reading the beginning of the “STORY”. It went a little something like this:

“Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by Dumbledore has welcomed Muggles to Hogwarts to attend a lecture on the history of the school given by”

An edit maniac 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Keep up the great writing!!!

Oh man, Bobby. You caught a peak behind the curtain on this one! This was not on Kelsey and her fabulous writing and was 100% on me and my sloppy copying and pasting! Thanks for the catch and keep up the great editing!

What a perfect description of how I felt too. I love the room with all the moving and talking paintings. Best line to explore ever!

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Universal Studios Hollywood

Harry potter and the forbidden journey at universal studios hollywood.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Hollywood. #WizardingWorldHollywood The 3-D adventure you’ve been waiting for has finally landed in the U.S.! Make your way through the corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Then experience an unforgettably thrilling adventure on the groundbreaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride that lets you soar above the castle grounds with Harry Potter and his friends. ------------------------------------------------ Get ready for the ultimate Hollywood experience! Find a full day of action-packed entertainment all in one place: thrilling Theme Park rides and shows, a real working movie studio, and Los Angeles’ best shops, restaurants and cinemas at CityWalk. Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique experience that’s fun for the whole family. Click here to purchase your tickets: https://bit.ly/2JI6ZJ5 The World-Famous Studio Tour: Go behind the scenes of a real working movie studio! https://bit.ly/2re3XEN See What Awaits You Inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. https://bit.ly/2rbXKtY DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda. https://bit.ly/2HIFm6k Enter the post-apocalyptic world of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” in a year-round attraction. https://bit.ly/2HMhSt5 Fast & Furious – Supercharged. https://bit.ly/2Ks8MU5 King Kong 360 3-D. https://bit.ly/2FyeSyB The Simpsons Ride™ https://bit.ly/2FyJhN1 Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. https://bit.ly/2I77vDn WaterWorld®: A Tidal Wave of Explosive Action. https://bit.ly/2HJBd1K Transformers™: The Ride-3D. https://bit.ly/2JK9QkU EXTRA at Universal Studios Hollywood. https://bit.ly/2JKh0po ----------------------- SOCIAL MEDIA ----------------------- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UniversalStudiosHollywood Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unistudios Twitter: https://twitter.com/UniStudios Site: http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com

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• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Skip to: Overview | Location | Restrictions | Queue | Ride experience | Fear factor | Fun fact | Guest reviews Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

What is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey?

The first part of Hogsmeade’s signature attraction is a tour of Hogwarts Castle’s most iconic rooms, including Dumbledore’s office and the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom. The ride itself takes you on a flying adventure around the grounds of Hogwarts, as you dodge Dementors, survive a giant spider’s lair, and face a fire-breathing dragon.

Where is Forbidden Journey located?

In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade , which is in Islands of Adventure .

Forbidden Journey – height restrictions and other factors

Height requirement is 42 inches; loose articles must be stowed in lockers; Express Pass access; has a single-rider line. For guests who may have difficulty boarding a ride vehicle from the moving platform, a non-moving transfer station is available.

What is the Forbidden Journey queue like?

A huge appeal of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey lies in its queue, which snakes all throughout Hogwarts Castle and contains nearly as many Easter eggs from the books and films as all the rest of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade combined.

The greenhouse

Once you’ve entered the castle via the regular line, you’ll walk a very short distance through a hallway meant to be its dungeon (where you can catch Professor Snape’s voice chiding Neville Longbottom) and past a statue of Gunhilda of Gorsmoor, which hides the secret passageway from Hogwarts into Honeydukes  (in the source material, at least). After a few steps, you are back outside, in the partially covered section that is Hogwarts’s greenhouse. And though it’s really just a large holding area, there are still details to take notice of, such as the baby Mandrakes ready to be re-planted.

The castle’s backdoor entrance

Having navigated the switchbacks through the greenhouse, you’ll enter Hogwarts again through a backdoor. If you’re a dedicated fan of the Harry Potter movies, the sights and sounds will become familiar to you as you pass a statue of Godric Gryffindor, the scorekeeper for the House Cup, and another statue, this time of Salazar Slytherin.

Dumbledore’s office

In this extremely detailed office, the scene is set for the storyline of the ride, as Professor Dumbledore introduces you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and welcomes all muggles to the school tour. After explaining the purpose of Hogwarts – and commenting on one of its most infamous students – the headmaster informs you that you’re heading next to the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom. Once there, Professor Binns “will condense hundreds of years of Hogwarts history into a few short hours.” I hope you brought your quills and parchment to take careful notes!

Defense against the Dark Arts classroom

In this room, you’ll await the arrival of Professor Binns and his Hogwarts history lecture, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione appear instead – they sneak into the room underneath the Cloak of Invisibility (look for the door to the right cracking open) and unveil themselves in front of everyone.

The trio of students suggests that instead of staying for Binns’s “very boring” lecture, you should join them to watch the Quidditch match instead, and they arrange to meet you in the Room of Requirement. Having set the new plan, they slip back under Harry’s cloak and sneak out the door.

The Fat Lady and the Daily Prophet

From the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom, the line moves through a small hallway. In the first part, you see a portrait of the Fat Lady, who guards the password-protected entrance to the Gryffindor common room, as she picks up the storyline and gets excited about the upcoming Quidditch match you’ll be attending. Further down the corridor is a cabinet filled with Quidditch supplies and a bulletin board with a copy of the Daily Prophet pinned on it.

Gryffindor common room

For those who have been sorted into Gryffindor, entering the common room may be a dream-come-true. The talking portraits are back, and they are chatting about the Quidditch match, and, perhaps more importantly, they also start directing the conversation toward you, bringing to your attention the upcoming ride’s safety parameters.

If you selected the single-rider line, this is where you’ll enter once you climb the stairs from the sorting area at the entrance to Hogwarts. In this room, Universal team members will stop the lines and parse them into the final staging area for the attraction. If necessary, children’s heights will be double-checked, and there is a set of test seats, as well.

The Sorting Hat

You are now at the final stage before the ride! The line moves through a short hallway, where the Sorting Hat looks down at the queued guests and recites Forbidden Journey’s safety spiel – in rhyme, of course.

“Hermione did it!”

Standing in the final staging area, you’ll wait your turn to board an enchanted bench that will take you to Hermione. A Universal employee is here, separating groups into parties of four guests. (Odd-numbered parties will be joined by a single rider.)

(After you disembark the ride, you’ll walk down a set of stairs and into Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, which serves as the attraction’s gift shop.)

What is the Forbidden Journey ride experience like?

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey takes you on a flying adventure throughout the grounds of Hogwarts on a magical, enchanted… bench. Once Hermione has magicked your seat, you’ll be whisked through the Floo Network up to the Observatory, where the plan to make it to the Quidditch match quickly goes awry. You’ll encounter the familiar sights of the most famous school for witchcraft and wizardry as you dodge the Whomping Willow, zoom around the Quidditch pitch, and come face-to-face with soul-sucking Dementors, in a combination of physical sets and screen-based moments.

The visible ride vehicle for Forbidden Journey is deceptively mundane, as it sits above one of the most technologically advanced ride systems ever created – a KUKA robotic arm that runs along a ride track, providing an extreme amount of motion as it dives, turns, and pivots your bench. While you do not go completely upside-down, you will be tilted in just about every other direction you can think of. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to do some research online to see how other riders have coped with the experience.

How scary is Forbidden Journey?

We would rank Forbidden Journey five out of five Dementors in terms of scariness. Close encounters with over-sized spiders and those pesky Dementors, along with the unique ride motion, can make the experience as scary as it is amazing.

What was Forbidden Journey’s opening date?

June 18, 2010

Forbidden Journey – OI fun fact

When originally designed, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey had many more Dementors, including the ones painted on the walls in ultraviolet light that were originally going to be activated by the ride vehicles. However, Harry Potter creator JK Rowling and Warner Bros. deemed them too scary, so the Dementors remain dormant on the walls to this day.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – photo gallery

Harry potter and the forbidden journey – real guest reviews.

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I first rode this in 2011, and as both a thrill-seeker and Potterhead, this was quite an experience. The queue is beautiful, and the ride itself is awesome.

ok, not a big harry potter fan, haven't seen the movies,the ride swings up and down through different rooms, the castle and walk thru before the ride to me is better than the ride, love the area and the shops, it's like you are separated from the rest of the park

One of the best rides ever created, the Forbidden Journey is a truly unforgettable experience. Everything from the ride cue to when you first sit down is incredible. The ride system is not one used by many other big name theme park operators, making it truly unique. This ride manages to deliver an experience that everyone can enjoy, especially anyone who enjoys Harry Potter. Even if you aren't a Harry Potter fan, this ride is definitely a must see, as it's truly one of the greatest theme park rides ever crafted.

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. This is my absolute favorite ride at IOA...wish we could use the fast passes but it's TOTALLY worth the wait. Even if you aren't a big Harry Potter fan (whicbi am a huge nerd when it comes to HP) you must ride this ride!

There isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said. The special effects are impeccable and the detail is amazing. Basically, this ride is a must (for all the reasons stated below and more!!!). I think I rode this thing 13 times... and probably could have gone 13 more HAHA!

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Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

• View history
• 1.1 Pre-ride
• 1.3 Post-ride
• 3 Behind the scenes
• 4 Notes and references

Pre-ride [ ]

The queue for the ride enters through the base of Hogwarts castle, where guests learn through projected films that Muggles are being allowed in to the castle in order to attend a lecture on History of Magic by Professor Binns . At the Headmaster's Office , Albus Dumbledore extends a warm welcome to the Muggles before telling about Binns' lecture. Later Harry , Ron , and Hermione convince the visiting Muggles to skip the lecture and follow them to the Quidditch pitch . Ron tries to perform a magic trick which goes wrong, and one of several special effects, such as falling snow, is triggered. Before continuing on, the Sorting Hat and several portraits in the next two rooms give visitors safety reminders.

The ride begins with a dousing of Floo Powder from Hermione, who asks the guests to say "Observatory" in order to successfully transport them to their desired location, and the enchanted bench flies off through the Floo Network to the Astronomy Tower . The guests then come out of the Astronomy Tower's fireplace into a set of the Observatory itself, where they look out through the open arches to the hills and lake right outside of Hogwarts' bounds. As the guests fly out of one of the Observatory's arches, the ride smoothly switches to a wrap-around projection screen and they follow Harry Potter and Ron Weasley around Hogwarts' buildings and towers to their Quidditch match. As Harry and Ron travel under a bridge, Hagrid hails the riders and asks them if they have seen a dragon. As Harry redirects the riders' attentions back to their journey, Hagrid's new pet Hungarian Horntail Dragon (which he lost, as per rumours told by the paintings and "students" alike) ironically begins to chase the riders. The bench flies out of the projection screen and into a set of the uneven bridge that runs over the valley behind Hogwarts and, after falling out of a hole in the floor of the bridge, riders encounter an audio-animatronic dragon, which breathes fake fire at them. [1]

The riders descend into a set of the Forbidden Forest, where they encounter a representation of the immense Acromantula, Aragog, who spits fake venom ( water ) at them. As Hermione attempts to help the riders away from the Acromantulas (using Arania Exumai ) and towards the castle (encountering many spiders on the way), they run into an audio-animatronic Whomping Willow which swipes at them, conveniently knocking them onto the Quidditch pitch. The ride once again returns to a projection screen as the riders become caught up in Harry and Ron's game of Quidditch (which is tied). As Slytherin scores in Gryffindor's goal, Dementors begin to arrive at the Quidditch pitch, and Harry attempts to lead the riders away, through the structure of the Pitch, and back to the school, but their bench falls into the long-abandoned Chamber of Secrets through the cave entrance in a cliff through which Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fawkes , and Gilderoy Lockhart departed from the Chamber in the second Harry Potter instalment. The riders return to a real set as the Dementors pop out of the pipelines at them and chase them. The skeleton of the long-deceased Basilisk (killed near the climax of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ) lies on the floor of the Chamber, and expels Lord Voldemort 's Dark Mark into the air as the benches are drawn hazily into the mouth of Salazar Slytherin's statue. [1]

Many Dementors emerge from the darkness while one descends and attempts to suck out the riders' souls. This effect is achieved by projecting the rider's faces onto a cloud of fog in front of the Dementor, blasting cold air towards the riders, and using a deep heart-beat played through the sub-woofers within the benches themselves. After shaking the riders out of the trance, Harry causes the Dementors to flee by using the protective Patronus Charm .

After the final Dementor dwindles and while Harry casts his Patronus, the riders are thrust back into the final video dome segment, where the cliffs outside of the Chamber of Secrets begin to cave in. They fly over the Black Lake , back into Hogwarts and through the Main Hall and Moving Staircase, where they are cheered on by a series of on-screen characters from the movies, made to appear three-dimensional using the "squinching" perspective technique.

Post-ride [ ]

Professor Dumbledore sends everyone back through the Floo Network to the Room of Requirement, where they exit their bench. But before sending everyone back, Dumbledore warns the riders to not forget to pick up their belongings, unless they want them to be confiscated by Argus Filch .

Gallery [ ]

Behind the scenes [ ]

Enchanted Bench for The Forbidden Journey

• One must be at least 48" (1.2 m) tall to ride this ride.
• The film is watched inside Hogwarts Castle and is the largest among the three rides in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter because participants will tour Hogwarts Castle .
• The main cast from the films shot some exclusive footage just for the ride, to serve as guide to all who participate. [2]
• There are moving Portraits inside the castle, including the Fat Lady , [2] a role being reprised by Dawn French .
• Visitors can see some of the set locations seen on films such as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom , the Headmaster 's office , The Gryffindor Common Room , The Room of Requirement , the Grand Staircase , the Greenhouses , the Dungeons and many more. [2]
• The Sorting Hat is also seen in queue, giving safety reminders with the other paintings.
• Attendants on the ride play the role of Hogwarts students and dress in school uniforms of their House colours. They will interact in character, as if they are wizards and witches, with riders.
• Hogwarts Castle , from the exterior, is very large. Iconic rooms, such as Dumbledore's office, the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom and the Gryffindor common room are part of the queue.
• The ride has 12 scenes.
• Acromantulas are present on this ride.
• The ride features Harry Potter , Ronald Weasley , and Hermione Granger as well as Rubeus Hagrid and Draco Malfoy .
• Fred and George Weasley , Ginevra Weasley , Angelina Johnson , Neville Longbottom and Albus Dumbledore can also be seen briefly at the end.
• At the end of the ride, Dumbledore reminds the guests to pick up their belongings before leaving the castle, unless they want them confiscated by Argus Filch . Filch himself does not appear on the ride.
• This ride does not feature other Hogwarts teachers such as Minerva McGonagall , Pomona Sprout , Filius Flitwick , Severus Snape , Horace Slughorn , Sybill Trelawney , etc.
• The Forbidden Journey in Universal Studios Japan is presented in Japanese.

Notes and references [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wikipedia - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Jorney
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DVD 2nd-Disc Special Feature: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Sneak Peak

See also [ ]

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Dragon Challenge
• Flight of the Hippogriff
• Harry Potter
• 1 Tom Riddle
• 2 Harry Potter
• 3 List of spells

Universal Studios Hollywood drops 3-D from Harry Potter attraction

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Universal Studios Hollywood has removed the 3-D special effect from its Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride only eight months after the attraction opened as the centerpiece of the park’s most expensive expansion.

The Harry Potter dark ride, a complex combination of 3-D video images projected on wraparound screens and animatronic characters, is similar to the Forbidden Journey attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Fla. But the Florida version doesn’t have the 3-D effect, one of the souped-up elements touted at the April opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Over the weekend, park workers stopped distributing 3-D glasses to guests and reverted the projected videos in the ride to standard 2-D images.

Theme park officials were tight-lipped about the change, releasing this brief statement: “We continually evaluate our theme park ride experiences, and enabling our guests to enjoy Forbidden Journey without the use of 3-D is one example of how we are assessing various opportunities.”

Theme park experts and fans speculate that the 3-D effect may have been removed because — when combined with the moving seats — too many riders became nauseated.

Jonathan Green, managing editor for InsideUniversal.net, a website that reports on developments in the theme park, said he took family members on the ride before and after the 3-D glasses were removed and found that they enjoyed the attraction more without the glasses.

“I know a lot of people weren’t able to handle the ride with the 3-D,” he said.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the featured attraction at the $500-million expansion that opened in April, part of Universal Studios Hollywood’s efforts to complete with its biggest rival, Disneyland.

When the ride first opened, reports circulated on social media that some guests experienced motion sickness, although park officials said they had not received an unusually high number of complaints of nausea from riders.

Visual 3-D effects have been in use for years in other Universal Studios attractions, such as Despicable Me, Minion Mayhem, Transformers the Ride: 3D and King Kong 360: 3D. But the Harry Potter ride tries to give riders the sensation of flying by lifting and tilting the seats dramatically as they watch moving 3-D scenery on a wraparound screen.

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Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: Now in 3D

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Universal Studios Japan
• Theme Park Insider's global Wizarding World of Harry Potter coverage

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Universal Orlando’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey upgraded with new projections

Universal Orlando has taken one of its most popular attractions and quietly made it even better by bringing upgraded projections with sharper visuals and new animation to Islands of Adventure’s Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.

Ever since Islands of Adventure’s Forbidden Journey ride premiered with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Hogsmeade in 2010, one of its signature special effects has been the rotating carousels of projection domes, which allow the attraction to seamlessly transition between a dark ride and a simulator. While the original high-definition images projected inside the domes (which feature footage of original film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Robbie Coltrane and others) were state-of-the-art art the start of the decade, they have since been surpassed by successive installations of the attraction.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2014 with 3D projections, as did the version at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016. Hollywood soon removed the 3D feature (and Japan recently followed), converting their projections to two-dimensional 4K-UHD at 120 frames per second .

Hollywood’s visuals appear to be the basis for the unannounced upgrades at Orlando’s Forbidden Journey, which were accomplished without closing the attraction. Frequent riders will notice the simulator sequences are now significantly sharper and smoother than before, with less screen flicker and more detailed textures. The digital visuals are slightly brighter than before (though not so bright as to expose the surrounding sets) and the increased dynamic range reveals more detail in dark images.

The new projections have new animation, and feature several tell-tale differences from the original that frequent riders will want to watch out for:

• In the first dome, the dragon breathes fire at you an extra time before you turn into the covered bridge. • In the second dome, the Golden Snitch comes closer to you, and there are more Dementors chasing Harry through the stadium. • In the final dome, Harry’s Patronus stag is more visible, and you can see the dragon breathing fire atop Hogwarts Castle at the end.

In addition, Universal Orlando has made other minor improvements to the ride recently, such as installing better projectors for Hermione (Emma Watson) above the Floo Network fireplace and within Aragog’s forest.

Universal has not officially confirmed the Forbidden Journey upgrade, which may be because the projectors are still being tweaked by technicians.

For more information or to book a Universal Orlando vacation, visit universalorlando.com or our recommended travel partner universalfantravel.com , and watch these videos featuring the Forbidden Journey attraction:

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Harry Potter Soars to New Dimensions as The Forbidden Journey Goes 4K 3D at Universal Studios Japan

Osaka, Japan (May 21, 2012) — To celebrate greater magic in the second year at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Japan , a ceremony for the announcement of “New Magical Experience” and its advance premiere was held Wednesday, May 20th.

The world’s leading attraction “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” has been evolved into 3D and will open today as the first and only in the world.  With Harry Potter film talent Tom Felton and Katie Leung, and Universal Studios Japan’s ambassador SMAP, a spell was cast upon the magnificent Hogwarts castle to celebrate the opening of this new experience.

Thunderous cheer was heard from three hundred Harry Potter fans wearing scarves of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at 19:40, when the ceremony started, the members of SMAP, Universal Studios Japan’s ambassadors, appeared on the stage in front of Hogwarts castle, and introduced Harry Potter film talent Tom Felton, who portrayed Harry Potter’s classmate and nemesis Draco Malfoy, and Katie Leung, who portrayed Cho Chang famous for Harry’s first crush, made an appearance with Glenn Gumpel, Chairman and CEO of USJ, Co., when he announced to open “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” in 4K3D, which has been evolved into 3D for the first time. The fans reacted with cheers and surprises.

Along with the fans, they all cast “Expecto Patronum” towards Hogwarts castle. Then the crowd squealed for joy as eagle, rabbit, weasel and stag Patronuses appeared on the walls of Hogwarts, followed by a special display of fireworks.

All the celebrities had experienced “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” prior to the ceremony.

Tom commented, “It was always a great ride, now it’s even more immersive. I tried to grab the golden snitch several times. Then Katie said that I tried to grab the snitch but it was unsuccessful. Coming face to face with the dragon and Dementor was terrifying.

SMAP, who participated at the ceremony as Universal Studios Japan’s ambassadors made the following statements. Mr. Inagaki said “ I am not good at ride, but I became addicted to the ride attraction due to this Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.” Mr. Kusanagi commented “ It is awesome. I want everybody to experience it.” “Greater Magic in the 2nd Year. I was surprised that Universal Studios Japan made the world best which is beyond the own world best”, said Mr. Katori. “This attraction won’t disappoint the people who experience the ride last year and it is too awesome to remember the previous one “ Mr. Nakai commented. Mr. Kimura said that I was proud of having the world best and 1stentertainment in the world in Japan here.

CEO of USJ Co., Ltd, operating company of Universal Studios Japan, Glenn Gumpel made the following statement. “In 2014, so many guests visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan. I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of you. As promised Universal Studios Japan will continue to deliver the “World’s Best” entertainments and will keep taking on new challenges.

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A 3D, high resolution version of the dark ride featured at Islands of Adventure, this ride allows guests to take flight and tour Hogwarts, meet up with Harry Potter and friends, and even fight off dementors.

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