Forbidden Journey question...

[modmama]

Was at a local park that had a 48" limit for a ride and put my twins under the "you must be this tall..." thing. And unless there is a MAJOR growth spurt between now and October - and I'm talking major! - they won't be riding Forbidden Journey. So sad, because they are huge Harry Potter fans. If you've managed to read all the books on your own more than once, shouldn't that count for something?

Anyway, DH and I will want to ride it. And I understand the line is hours long. So do we all wait in line and look at the stuff in line (I think I heard it's worth seening) and then just one of us gets to ride? Is there a kid-swap option like at Disney? Or will we all just have to skip it, because it's cruel to make 2 7-year-olds wait in a line for a ride they won't get to ride?

Thanks for your expertise!

 

[damo]

Yup, there is child swap just before you get on the ride. You can all do the queue together...it is really well done!

 

[mesaboy2]

Was at a local park that had a 48" limit for a ride and put my twins under the "you must be this tall..." thing. And unless there is a MAJOR growth spurt between now and October - and I'm talking major! - they won't be riding Forbidden Journey. So sad, because they are huge Harry Potter fans. If you've managed to read all the books on your own more than once, shouldn't that count for something?

Anyway, DH and I will want to ride it. And I understand the line is hours long. So do we all wait in line and look at the stuff in line (I think I heard it's worth seening) and then just one of us gets to ride? Is there a kid-swap option like at Disney? Or will we all just have to skip it, because it's cruel to make 2 7-year-olds wait in a line for a ride they won't get to ride?

Thanks for your expertise!

Agree with damo, the queue is worth it for all to see. Once you've done that and used child swap (to allow both of you a go), use the single-rider queue for any repeat rides. You get to go on much quicker and the kids can do something else with the other parent.

 

[Brit_Jude]

Unless things have changed the child swap area had the Harry Potter movies playing on a small flat screen. I thought it was a nice way to keep the people and kids waiting entertained a little.

The line is well worth going through. You could also do the castle tour with the kids then afterwards use the single rider line for each parent to experience the ride. The other one could entertain the kids in the Hogmead area, then swap. To me this might not make the kids feel like they are missing out as much by not getting to go on the ride part in the castle.

The castle tour has it's own line and you can go through at your own pace, not be held up or rushed, by those waiting to get on the ride.

 

[RMulieri]

We loved using CHild Swap at Universal and IOA..For forbidden journey you all go thru the queue together ( which is a major part of the attraction) and then when you get to the loading area,one parent waits in the child swap ROOM with the kids while one rides, then you switch.The room is cute, air conditioned and plays Harry Potter movies on the tv.Most of the child swap areas are awesome.DD didn 't mind waiting as much.

 

[bumbershoot]

The swap at Universal is quite family friendly. That said...I'm not sure I would do that to a 7 year old who is advanced enough to have read all the books. It would really depend on whether their desire to visit the castle is stronger than their desire to face acromantulas, dementors, and dragons up close and in your face. If they really want to see the castle, then take them in.

My then-7 year old (who isn't as strong a reader, and to whom I still haven't read past book 5) didn't even want to ride, even though he was tall enough. So it was fine to visit the castle and that's it.


REmember that Dragon Challenge will also be off limits for them, and only some aspects of that line are cool.

They can ride Flight of the Hippogriff countless times, though, I imagine! (but not alone, since you have to be 48" to ride without a parent) I went on that ride 14 times in a row with DS, before we realized that he was tall enough to ride alone....