Forbidden Journey

[butterflymouse]

My sister and I are huge Harry Potter fans and we both really want to do Forbidden Journey, but we are both very apprehensive about it. I can’t seem to get a clear understanding of how intense and thrilling this ride is. We are not roller coaster people, but we have done Disneyland Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, and Star Tours, but those rides are the top level of intensity we can handle. Is Forbidden Journey of the same level of intensity or is it even more intense? Can anyone explain what makes the ride intense? Is it fast movement or is it the tossing around or are there roller coaster type sensations? I can’t seem to find a clear explanation of how the ride works.

 

[bchbetha]

You should just try it. We all went on uninformed and that was for the best. Our youngest isn’t a thrill/ roller coaster rider at all but he voluntarily re-rode it. If I’d known that you almost get flipped upside down (just once, briefly), I might have had him skip it and that would have been a shame. It’s just a ride. You’ll be ok. My dh won’t ride it again but is glad to have done it once. ETA- it’s more of a tossing and flying feeling, not roller coaster like.

 

[autismmom1]

There are some videos on youtube of the ride mechanism, which is a robotic "arm", but I'll try to explain how it "feels" to me. At the beginning of the ride, you walk on a conveyor belt and sit on a "bench" with back and overhead restraints that come down. The seats are individual and each bench seats 4, so you will be sitting with two strangers, FYI, but you won't be touching them. The robotic arm swings and swoops, sometimes leaning all the way back, depending on the action around you. If you are in front of a screen, you will not be moving much, the action will be on the screen. When you move into a room with props (animatronic dragon, spider, whomping willow, dementors) THAT'S when the majority of the motion happens. It's fluid, and not fast...in fact, my family LOVES the whomping willow scene, because it relieves some pressure in our backs from standing in lines all day. Let me assure you, I am NOT a roller coaster person, and am not adrenaline junkie...this ride would probably only affect you if you get motion sickness, and that would mainly be from the "flying" scenes on the screens. I hope I didn't confuse you more. I think if you can handle Star Tours with no issue, this will be fine for you. It really is an amazing ride!

 

[butterflymouse]

There are some videos on youtube of the ride mechanism, which is a robotic "arm", but I'll try to explain how it "feels" to me. At the beginning of the ride, you walk on a conveyor belt and sit on a "bench" with back and overhead restraints that come down. The seats are individual and each bench seats 4, so you will be sitting with two strangers, FYI, but you won't be touching them. The robotic arm swings and swoops, sometimes leaning all the way back, depending on the action around you. If you are in front of a screen, you will not be moving much, the action will be on the screen. When you move into a room with props (animatronic dragon, spider, whomping willow, dementors) THAT'S when the majority of the motion happens. It's fluid, and not fast...in fact, my family LOVES the whomping willow scene, because it relieves some pressure in our backs from standing in lines all day. Let me assure you, I am NOT a roller coaster person, and am not adrenaline junkie...this ride would probably only affect you if you get motion sickness, and that would mainly be from the "flying" scenes on the screens. I hope I didn't confuse you more. I think if you can handle Star Tours with no issue, this will be fine for you. It really is an amazing ride!

This helps a lot, thank you.

 

[maverik85]

YEa that's a good description and as stated the ride can make people that gets motion sickness nauseous but most of that is from the screens. I'd say jsut close your eyes a bit during those moments if you start feeling that way. My husband get motion sickness easily but with Dramamine he was fine on it. Just wouldn't recommend riding it multiple times in a row

 

[HulaHoopy]

I am not a roller coaster fan, and Space Mountain is about the most I can handle. I rode Forbidden Journey a few times! It was awesome!. You do not go up real high and quickly rush to the bottom of a hill, losing your stomach, like on a roller coaster. You do move around like you are flying, but it is too incredible to miss!

 

[JenzyHP]

It isn't remotely intense. It is definitely motion sickness inducing if you are prone to it.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I agree with pp on the description however, I would like to add something. My DD and I are claustrophobic and this ride can feel like that. The rooms with the animatronics can feel very in your face. I hope you like it if you try it.

 

[butterflymouse]

This is all very helpful. I’m not really prone to motion sickness on rides, so that shouldn’t be a problem. My sister has slight vertigo and I’m not a fan of spinning, but we can probably bare that a little to try this ride. If it’s not roller coaster intense at all, we should be good. We can handle pretty much anything else, even a little dizziness.

 

[SteveMP]

I am prone to motion issues from screens, like simpsons. No issue on this ride or Gringotts.( i half expected on Gringotts with the slight spinnin motion while watching screens). I didn't even have problems on US Hollywood's 3D version. I don't think its intense at all. Only discomfortable time was one time the ride broke down when I was stuck at a weird angle reclining under the whomping willow for a few minutes.

 

[butterflymouse]

I am prone to motion issues from screens, like simpsons. No issue on this ride or Gringotts.( i half expected on Gringotts with the slight spinnin motion while watching screens). I didn't even have problems on US Hollywood's 3D version. I don't think its intense at all. Only discomfortable time was one time the ride broke down when I was stuck at a weird angle reclining under the whomping willow for a few minutes.

Good to know. How is the Gringotts ride btw? People don’t seem to insinuate any intensity on that ride like some do with Forbidden Journey. I figure it’s fine if I can do things like Indiana Jones and Star Tours.

 

[SteveMP]

Good to know. How is the Gringotts ride btw? People don’t seem to insinuate any intensity on that ride like some do with Forbidden Journey. I figure it’s fine if I can do things like Indiana Jones and Star Tours.

Gringotts is awesome. I was a little worried about the spinning that i saw on a video. But i was fine, really smooth. Indiana Jones is a pretty intense ride out there in terms of jerkiness. If you can do that you'll be fine on Forbidden Journey.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

This is all very helpful. I’m not really prone to motion sickness on rides, so that shouldn’t be a problem. My sister has slight vertigo and I’m not a fan of spinning, but we can probably bare that a little to try this ride. If it’s not roller coaster intense at all, we should be good. We can handle pretty much anything else, even a little dizziness.

My DH gets vertigo and can’t do spinning rides. He even stays away from Dumbo type rides but he’s fine on FJ.

 

[butterflymouse]

Gringotts is awesome. I was a little worried about the spinning that i saw on a video. But i was fine, really smooth. Indiana Jones is a pretty intense ride out there in terms of jerkiness. If you can do that you'll be fine on Forbidden Journey.

Awesome! I went on Indy my last Disneyland trip after skipping it for a couple years. I think it must have been the most intense version they have because I was borderline being tossed out of my seat, but hey, I survived.

My DH gets vertigo and can’t do spinning rides. He even stays away from Dumbo type rides but he’s fine on FJ.

My sister does Dumbo and the teacups every time, so sounds like she can handle Forbidden Journey.

 

[KsGiGi]

I don't ride roller coasters, but love Forbidden Journey. I tend to get a little motion sick during the scene where you are "flying" on a broom behind Harry. But I have found that if I just concentrate on Harry, I am fine. It is definitely a ride you don't want to miss since you are a Harry Potter fan.

 

[SteveMP]

The other good news is the the Hogwarts Express ride is one of the best rides there for HP fans. And make sure to ride both directions! I've been on the real train at Leavesden and this one is a spitting image, every detail.

 

[butterflymouse]

The other good news is the the Hogwarts Express ride is one of the best rides there for HP fans. And make sure to ride both directions! I've been on the real train at Leavesden and this one is a spitting image, every detail.

That’s the ride I’m most excited for, to be honest. I too have been in the real train at Leavesden, which was an unreal experience, but actually riding the Hogwarts Express may be just as amazing.

Side note... can you ride both directions at one time, or do they make you get off and get on again?

 

[bchbetha]

That’s the ride I’m most excited for, to be honest. I too have been in the real train at Leavesden, which was an unreal experience, but actually riding the Hogwarts Express may be just as amazing.

Side note... can you ride both directions at one time, or do they make you get off and get on again?

You have to get off and back in line.

 

[SteveMP]

That’s the ride I’m most excited for, to be honest. I too have been in the real train at Leavesden, which was an unreal experience, but actually riding the Hogwarts Express may be just as amazing.

Side note... can you ride both directions at one time, or do they make you get off and get on again?

Well as a fellow HP fan you want to get off anyways(even though you have to). Here is why: when you get to the HP area, you go through the brick wall to Diagon Alley, as when Harry went to buy all his supplies. Then you go back out to Kings Cross and leave from Kings Cross, just like Harry did, then you arrive at Hogsmeade and see the castle, etc just like as if you were in the book/movie. Then after that you can ride your rides, eat, shop etc can ride the train back for the rest of your adventures.

 

[jpkkld]

I recently came back from a trip where I actually rode both Gringotts & FJ with my eyes closed. Neither is at all "intense" from a motion perspective. Both have a few sudden starts or sideways motions, and Gringotts has a quick drop in the dark, and that's about it. FJ has one movement where you're flat on your back, and the cart tips up just enough to slide you off your rear. By no means are you remotely close to being upside down.

The intensity is all the sensory effects. The 3D visuals are a huge part of that on Gringotts. The gentle ride car motions are amplified by the visual and audio stimuli. I addition, there are fans moving air to make you feel like you're going faster.

Add in some thrilling music, and what is essentially a gentle swing becomes a "wild ride".

FWIW, I rode with closed eyes to test for any issues that may impact my Mom's back. I have heard a lot of people get motion sickness on FJ, so take that into consideration too.

Basically, for movement, if you can do Space, the HP rides are way less motion.