How scary is the Hogwarts Express? We rate the Hogwarts Express one out of five Dementors in terms of fear factor. With a smooth ride and a mostly passive experience, the attraction really is designed for the whole family.
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The main reason is this is the only way to make sure you see absolutely everything that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has to offer. The other main reason we think the Hogwarts Express is worth it is that it's a convenient way to travel between the two parks and you can enjoy a different experience both ways.
Hogwarts Express is a single-track elevated cable railway running over the backlot between the two theme parks, with a two-track passing loop at the midpoint. It is 676 meters (2,218 ft) long and has a track gauge of 1,800 mm ( 5 ft 107/8 in).
Definitely beats walking if there is little to no wait for the train, but the lines can get long, so it's actually faster to walk from park to park than to wait in this line if it's long. I'm not a die hard Harry Potter fan.
You can only access this attraction if you have a park-to-park ticket, though! In my opinion, you can absolutely fit everything you want to do in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day, even without Express Passes. You just need to be strategic about your itinerary!
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Hogsmeade)This is the most unique ride in the Harry Potter area. You're strapped into individual seats, but this is not a rollercoaster as we know it!
Yes, there are. Some people are comfortable changing in their cabins, but others change in the bathrooms. It is a long journey, so there are toilets, definitely.
They can travel in either direction as long as the guest has purchased a Park-to-Park ticket, Annual Pass, or Seasonal Pass, which gives guests access to both of Universal Orlando's theme parks within the same day.
The Hogwarts Express ride is actually a one-way transportation element bringing guests from one park to the other. So, you could travel from Universal Studios to the Islands of Adventure or the other way around.
The Hogwarts Express is scheduled for a brief closure from December 10 to December 16, 2023. This closure is likely for planned maintenance and is expected to reopen as scheduled.
Despite pre-ride warnings about high-speed thrills, Escape from Gringotts is a family coaster that most visitors, other than those with excessive scaredy-cat tendencies, should be able to tolerate and enjoy. It is most certainly not too scary for children.
But it moves around so much. I am not a coaster person, but I would rather ride a coaster than ride this again. It is also really dark and scary. Not appropriate for kids at all, which is fine since they probably wouldn't be tall enough to ride this anyway.
For Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions, the fairly mild Flight of the Hippogriff rates 3.25 on the thrill-o-meter, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey merits a 5.5, and the more thrilling coaster, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Coaster clocks in at 6.5.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Hollywood is great for a concise getaway, but ultimately, nothing beats Universal Orlando when it comes to the full magical experience. Those looking to enjoy the best of all the flavor, fun, and attractions will want to head to Orlando to find it.