Can someone describe Forbidden Journey?

[nigel-bigel]

My DD used to hate thrill rides - she wouldn't even go on the Unicorn (Hippogriff) attraction when we there 4 years ago (she was 7). I'm hoping now that she is older she'll be more adventurous. She loved MIB and Buzz, the Teacups and the Pteredon Flyers (however it is spelled). She finally tried BTMRR but didn't like it. Surprisingly, she loves speed (in a car) and water tubing.

Can someone tell me about the FJ ride? Is it a coaster? How fast is it? Inversions? Why is there a height requirement? I've been to WDW a lot so if you could compare it to attractions there it would be helpful.

Thanks! Nicole

 

[damo]

You are in a row of 4 seats perched on top of a robotic arm. The arm travels through a variety of scenes, some which are animatronic and some which are simulators. You are moved around in many directions by the arm but not upside down. The robotic arms are on a continuous track like Haunted Mansion. The ride is not violent as the movements are smooth. However, you do move a lot and there are spiders, dementors, dragons and other things that can scare you.

You can youtube some ride videos. However, the ride is quite dark, so it is difficult to make it out.

 

[henryk67]

Also when you take your seat, you step onto the moving floor that is going at the same slow speed as your seat, the seats are facing you so once seated you are travelling to your left, not facing in the direction you are travelling if you know what I mean.
Think she will be fine.

 

[ducky_love]

I can spin and ride simulators all day, but Big Thunder Mountain is as far as I get on roller coasters (and I certainly don't enjoy it!). That said I love FJ. It really isn't like anything else so it is hard to compare. If she is scared of going upside down or dropping then she will be fine. Just know that you are on your back at points in the ride because the seat tilts back that far.

The best advice is to ride it once without her - you know your kid and what they can handle best!

 

[hopemax]

Start with the vehicle for Dinosaur. Now chop it down from 3 rows to 1 row. And then make the back of the seat higher,more like a Doombuggy. Now stick it on an "arm" so you can move up and down, and tilt more than you can on Dinosaur. Then, not only have it move on the track through scenes like Dinosaur, but have it in front of a smaller Soarin' screen from time to time.

 

[nigel-bigel]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I think I'm getting a pretty good idea now. She really likes the Haunted Mansion and Soarin', so I think she'll be okay with FJ.

Plus, she just got home two hours ago from an overnight school trip, where they were at Nature Camp for a few days. It turns our the kids did a zip-line and she was the FIRST kid in line to ride. Oh yea, I think she is ready for some thrills.

She doesn't know we are planning on going to US/IOA, though. Shhhhh...

Thanks again! Nicole

 

[the Dark Marauder]

It has a 48" height requirement. It does have free lockers, as no bags are permitted. It's fun, smooth, and exciting.

 

[derekw]

I rode it yesterday first time and it is great ride. The movement is fairly smooth but can be disorienting and nauseous. You don't loop but are on your back a few times during some 180 degree-type movements. As for the theming/subject matter I'd lean towards a PG/PG13 for this ride. I know my 12 year old daughter would be too frightened. Some probably can handle it. It's definitely scarier than Haunted Mansion more on level just above Dinosaur with scares (Dementor level especially) but not quite Revenge of Mummy.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I think I'm getting a pretty good idea now. She really likes the Haunted Mansion and Soarin', so I think she'll be okay with FJ.

Plus, she just got home two hours ago from an overnight school trip, where they were at Nature Camp for a few days. It turns our the kids did a zip-line and she was the FIRST kid in line to ride. Oh yea, I think she is ready for some thrills.

She doesn't know we are planning on going to US/IOA, though. Shhhhh...

Thanks again! Nicole

Let me preface this by saying that DH, DS15 and DS11 thought FJ was a terrific ride and rode it many times. However, it scared both DD7 and I. IMO - It is MUCH scarier than either Haunted Mansion and Soarin and I don't really think you can compare them. To me, those are both very gentle rides and I've taken kids as young as two on the HM. FJ is completely different. But, it all really boils down to what types of things scare you. FJ is a complete assault of the senses - there is movement (think Soarin but rougher), simulators (think Body Wars, Star Wars) and things jumping out at you (think a much more intense version of dinosaur). I can handle coasters (Manta, Dueling Dragons etc...), spooky (Tower of Terror etc..) and movement (Soarin, Star Wars etc...) but I don't do well on rides like Dinosaur where things come out and scare you. I was so shaken up by FJ that I actually burst into tears when it was over. I don't know if it was the giant spiders clicking and spitting at me, the dragon breathing fire in my face or what, but it just did me in.
Whatever you decide, have a blast! The theming at WWOHP was incredible!

 

[Snape]

Let me preface this by saying that DH, DS15 and DS11 thought FJ was a terrific ride and rode it many times. However, it scared both DD7 and I. IMO - It is MUCH scarier than either Haunted Mansion and Soarin and I don't really think you can compare them. To me, those are both very gentle rides and I've taken kids as young as two on the HM. FJ is completely different. But, it all really boils down to what types of things scare you. FJ is a complete assault of the senses - there is movement (think Soarin but rougher), simulators (think Body Wars, Star Wars) and things jumping out at you (think a much more intense version of dinosaur). I can handle coasters (Manta, Dueling Dragons etc...), spooky (Tower of Terror etc..) and movement (Soarin, Star Wars etc...) but I don't do well on rides like Dinosaur where things come out and scare you. I was so shaken up by FJ that I actually burst into tears when it was over. I don't know if it was the giant spiders clicking and spitting at me, the dragon breathing fire in my face or what, but it just did me in.
Whatever you decide, have a blast! The theming at WWOHP was incredible!

It's like comparing apples to oranges. I think HM is comical and not at all frightening. FJ is very scary and I think could really frighten a little one, especially if they aren't familiar with the Harry Potter characters.

 

[KellyWasHere]

I can spin and ride simulators all day, but Big Thunder Mountain is as far as I get on roller coasters (and I certainly don't enjoy it!). That said I love FJ. It really isn't like anything else so it is hard to compare. If she is scared of going upside down or dropping then she will be fine. Just know that you are on your back at points in the ride because the seat tilts back that far.

The best advise is to ride it once without her - you know your kid and what they can handle best!

Thanks for this review ... I am just like you when it comes to rides. I was a little hesitant about FJ but from this it sounds like it will be right up my alley.

 

[chimo2u]

I really, really want to do this ride as our trip in February is just a Mom and Son trip.....I don't want my poor 14 yo son to have to experience this alone, he really wants his mom with him to experience it. I am a big ride weenie....it took me multiple chicken exits to finally get up the nerves to do RcnRC at WDW, and I opted out of TOT my first trip, finally just experiencing it last year....I LOVED IT!! now that I've done everything at WDW, I find myself worrying about the rides at Universal, LOL
I am more scared about the things popping out at me in the dark than I am about the movement of FJ. I don't like dark, scary themes....and those dementors look frightening! I also can't say I am a fan of spiders either, but I can at least tell myself they aren't real and get through that by shutting my eyes if need be.....
I am getting very anxious trying to imagine myself on this ride. I've read many reviews, but I am still quite apprehensive about it. I am hoping if I close my eyes and "peek " through my fingers as I feel "brave" that this strategy will help me be able to get through the ride and experience this with my son. I just don't know how I am going to fare!!!

 

[SmallWorld71]

I really, really want to do this ride as our trip in February is just a Mom and Son trip.....I don't want my poor 14 yo son to have to experience this alone, he really wants his mom with him to experience it. I am a big ride weenie....it took me multiple chicken exits to finally get up the nerves to do RcnRC at WDW, and I opted out of TOT my first trip, finally just experiencing it last year....I LOVED IT!! now that I've done everything at WDW, I find myself worrying about the rides at Universal, LOL
I am more scared about the things popping out at me in the dark than I am about the movement of FJ. I don't like dark, scary themes....and those dementors look frightening! I also can't say I am a fan of spiders either, but I can at least tell myself they aren't real and get through that by shutting my eyes if need be.....
I am getting very anxious trying to imagine myself on this ride. I've read many reviews, but I am still quite apprehensive about it. I am hoping if I close my eyes and "peek " through my fingers as I feel "brave" that this strategy will help me be able to get through the ride and experience this with my son. I just don't know how I am going to fare!!!

You sound just like me! I was so nervous about trying everything at Universal, but FJ was the only one that did me in!
Anyway, a couple thoughts from one chicken to another:
-Because of the style of the restraints, you can close your eyes and cover your ears while still holding on. Then it just kind of feels like someone is throwing you around ala teacups. The only problem with this was it seemed like every time I did try and peek something was coming at me. Dragons, Whomping Willow, Dementors etc.... DD7 kept one eye open a little the whole time and actually fared a bit better than I did, so maybe that's the way to go.
-If you chose not to ride, you can still walk through with your DS and then take the "chicken" exit and meet him at the ride exit. (Inside Filch's) You can't see each other on the ride or talk to each other, so there is really no reason for you to ride if you don't want to. The only time I wouldn't send someone by themself is if they were a younger child and I thought they would panic if the ride stopped. Since your DS is older, you don't need to worry about this. DH, DS15, and DS11 used the single rider line many times; it is easy to spot everyone coming off the ride.

 

[chimo2u]

Thanks SmallWorld17, you are right...we sound very much alike!! I really don't think I'll be able to get out of saying NO to my son...he'd be pretty upset. I already told him to go on it once by himself first and tell me what it's like, but he said ok...."i'll go on and tell you it's fine regardless of how I find it!!" So.....veto that idea, I might as well go in as a virgin with him, LOL I guess I will have to plug my ears and keep my eyes closed most of the ride. I will probably take off my glasses too, as things without them will be a little blurry, LOL!!!....that's IF I can keep up the courage to board the bench in the first place. I don't want to regret NOT riding, which I know I would do if I didn't at least give it a shot!!! but what I'm getting myself into, I just don't know!!! ai, ai, ai

 

[superwy]

My seven year old and I got up early on Thursday morning to ride this ride. Walking into the park when it was relatively quiet, then through the castle itself, was amazing. The ride is really an assault on the senses, with a lot of movement this way and that, frightening creatures, spiders, dementers and more. My son said he liked it but didn't want to do it again. Of course, the next morning, he woke early again and rode with my husband! He liked it a bit better knowing what to expect, but still not his favorite. His real fear is the werewolves, which I knew were not a part of the ride, so we were okay. However, I would say this is a relatively frightening (but fantastic) ride.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I was able to ride a couple of times last week after being arrested by the fat police last summer. My overall reaction was quite positive, especially regarding the simulator aspects of the ride. But I have to agree with the 2011 Universal Orlando book that some of the "scary" animatronic creatures were a little weak. I wonder whether J.K. considered vetoing that part of the ride and making the designers re-do it. The creatures aren't terrible by any stretch; it's just that they do not measure up to the superb attention to detail found nearly everywhere else in WWoHP.

 

[Timmy Boy]

^ I agree. Although there might have been something in the contract involving the construction process. I think Universal would be really really angry if Rowling did a ride through of the finished product and said "re-do it" after hundreds of millions of dollars were spent making that ride (probably the same amount of man hours too). I bet the contract said something of "once you agree to what we want to make, we are allowed to build it, then open it as scheduled."