can I see Forbiden Journey without actually riding

[ellenmiele]

I have heard so much about the walk thru on the way to the ride -- is there a way to bail out at the end and not get on the actual ride itself? I want to experience it but may not want to actually ride the ride.

 

[VincentR]

There is, but I think you'd be a fool to not want to ride Forbidden Journey!

 

[Lou Holtz]

There is no ride in the world where you can't back out until the moment you sit down and strap yourself in.

 

[tjlamphere]

I am prone to motion sickness...I don't know any roller coasters, even Big Thunder Mtn. at WDW. Don't they advise people with motion sickness NOT to ride FJ ???

 

[mesaboy2]

I have heard so much about the walk thru on the way to the ride -- is there a way to bail out at the end and not get on the actual ride itself? I want to experience it but may not want to actually ride the ride.

Yes. Ask the TM near the lockers for the Castle Tour queue. You will see most of the main queue, able to take your time and as many pictures as you want. Near boarding, they will show you to the exit.

 

[BLTLDZ]

I am prone to motion sickness...I don't know any roller coasters, even Big Thunder Mtn. at WDW. Don't they advise people with motion sickness NOT to ride FJ ???

There are warnings outside of the ride...
Let me say this. My husband NEVER gets motion sickness...He has an iron clad stomach.

He rode first to let me know if I could go...
Needless to say, it ruined the second half of our IOA/Universal day.
He had to sit down for a good hour after riding.. He said after the first two minutes of the ride, he had to close his eyes to keep from getting sick.

I never did ride
And I don't think he will again.

 

[ducky_love]

I am prone to motion sickness...I don't know any roller coasters, even Big Thunder Mtn. at WDW. Don't they advise people with motion sickness NOT to ride FJ ???

Just to give you another POV. I don't like BTM, it makes my woozy and nauseous. It is pretty much the max I can handle on roller coasters. That said I LOVE FJ and can ride it over and over without any illness.

FJ is not a roller coaster. It is more of a simulator. Can you ride Star Tours, Soarin, and Dinosaur? It is like those three got together and had a crazy HP baby!!

Now - if you have trouble with simulators then I would skip it. My hubby who will ride ANY coaster came off FJ green. But I would not skip it because roller coasters make you sick. It is totally different than anything else!

 

[cigar95]

Yes. Ask the TM near the lockers for the Castle Tour queue. You will see most of the main queue, able to take your time and as many pictures as you want. Near boarding, they will show you to the exit.

We first did the castle tour because we arrived when the attraction was very crowded. Then rode the main attraction later in the day. I'll add one tip -

When you get to the normal end of the Castle Tour, you're about 50 feet away from reaching the Sorting Hat. If you want to walk up the aisle to get closer to the hat for photos, just ask, it's no problem. (At that point, you'll be almost to the loading area of the ride itself.) Then you can backtrack and go out the Tour exit.

Just as an aside, I suspect that the Castle Tour line is what was designed as, and will eventually become, the Express Pass line, maybe a couple years from now when the crowds begin to slow down. When that happens, there will likely not be a Castle Tour any more.

Differences between the two lines? The Castle Tour bypasses the greenhouse, which in the regular line is longer than it is interesting. I think you may also pass through a *different* portrait gallery, but see (mostly?) the same portraits. Otherwise, I think you're just paralleling the main line, passing through the same rooms.

And perhaps it goes without saying - no need to stow your bags to take the Tour. Since a big portion of the queue at busy times is for guests just waiting to get to the lockers, make sure you ask a TM if you're at all uncertain so you don't wait in any unnecessary lines.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

The castle is great and you could probably spend about 5 hours in there if you wanted to. The ride seals the deal though. Take some Dramamine (sp) and go for it.

 

[mesaboy2]

Differences between the two lines? The Castle Tour bypasses the greenhouse, which in the regular line is longer than it is interesting. I think you may also pass through a *different* portrait gallery, but see (mostly?) the same portraits. Otherwise, I think you're just paralleling the main line, passing through the same rooms.

All correct....

 

[orcadian]

Maybe it's just me but..... Does anyone else think they should have made Hogwarts castle accessible for everyone?
I too get bad motion sickness and won't be doing FJ but I would love to see inside the castle, it plays a huge role in the books and films and I think it should have been a walk through attraction for all ages not just for riders of FJ

 

[damo]

Maybe it's just me but..... Does anyone else think they should have made Hogwarts castle accessible for everyone?
I too get bad motion sickness and won't be doing FJ but I would love to see inside the castle, it plays a huge role in the books and films and I think it should have been a walk through attraction for all ages not just for riders of FJ

It is a walk through attraction for those who don't want to ride. There is a line especially for those who want to look at everything inside the castle. Just ask as you enter and you will be directed to the correct line. That is what this thread is discussing.

 

[mesaboy2]

Maybe it's just me but..... Does anyone else think they should have made Hogwarts castle accessible for everyone?
I too get bad motion sickness and won't be doing FJ but I would love to see inside the castle, it plays a huge role in the books and films and I think it should have been a walk through attraction for all ages not just for riders of FJ

damo is correct, we are discussing the Castle Tour queue: it sounds like you are who the designers had in mind. I agree with PP who said this queue will one day become the Express queue--if that ever happens.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

You don't want to ride the ride?

Then watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxxU6ZcIBrw&feature=related

 

[head2toewinner]

damo is correct, we are discussing the Castle Tour queue: it sounds like you are who the designers had in mind. I agree with PP who said this queue will one day become the Express queue--if that ever happens.

They are already using that queue for express passes. When the ride breaks down and the have to hand out return tickets to the people in line, they use the castle tour queue as a throughput for the express line. It is a wider queue though, so I am sure that when it comes down to being a full time express queue it will serve purpose for both just fine.

 

[linnylu]

Does the FJ ride go fast in some parts and slow in others? What about the ride causes the motion sickness?

 

[ducky_love]

Does the FJ ride go fast in some parts and slow in others? What about the ride causes the motion sickness?

I think it is because you go from scenes that are "dark rides" to scenes that are "simulators". Flying in front of the movies screens seems to bother some people. Going back and forth between the two seems to make it worse.

I wouldn't say the ride goes faster and slower - but you are going to get knocked in every direction! The benches are on arms and you swing every which way. Nothing is "too far" and you don't get that dropping feeling in your stomach.

It is very different from any other ride. Once you ride it you'll understand why everyone has such a tough time describing it!!

 

[mesaboy2]

They are already using that queue for express passes. When the ride breaks down and the have to hand out return tickets to the people in line, they use the castle tour queue as a throughput for the express line. It is a wider queue though, so I am sure that when it comes down to being a full time express queue it will serve purpose for both just fine.

Special case. FJ is one of three attractions at Universal Orlando that doesn't have a dedicated Express queue. How's that?

 

[Minnie's Mate]

You don't want to ride the ride?

Then watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxxU6ZcIBrw&feature=related

I see from the video that it is a "dark" ride!

 

[orcadian]

It is a walk through attraction for those who don't want to ride. There is a line especially for those who want to look at everything inside the castle. Just ask as you enter and you will be directed to the correct line. That is what this thread is discussing.

What I meant was, Maybe the castle should have been an attraction in it's own right. FJ could have been put somewhere else and the castle used for walk through tours only!