Foribidden Journey compared to Soarin'?

[Disneyqueendenmark]

Yeah! Two weeks and I'll be at Universal Studios Orlando!!

Just wondering..... How does Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey compare to e.g. Soarin at Epcot WDW & California Adventure Park DL?

My mom, grandma and cousin is not roller-coaster people - and I'm afraid that they won't like it?..... My mom and grandma both like Soarin, but I don't think they can "take" much more than that. As I understand it, it is not like soarin' at all - but maybe you could describe it for me and compare it to Soarin?

Btw... how is Spiderman? And is Simpsons the same as in Hollywood? And is Despicable me like a 4D "ride"??

Thanks.....

 

[Cold71]

Yea it's not even close to soarin as soarin just makes you feel like your moving and in Harry Potter you are actually moving. My wife hates rollercoasters and I could not get her on Harry Potter a second time. I didn't think it was quite as extreme as any rollercoaster I had been on but it's a lot of movement so I could easily see someone getting sick. As for spiderman, I thought it as fun but the technology seemed a bit outdated after getting on Harry Potter. Same thing with The Simpsons, I felt like I really had to pay attention to feel like I was moving. It was very outdated technology. I'm not sure if you ever had a chance to ride the Back To The Future ride that use to be there but it was pretty much just a rebranding of that same ride.

 

[SnapesGirl]

I agree with Cold71. Its not even close to Soarin. You move around a lot and at one point, are on your back and almost tipping upside down. Although it didn't both me or my mom (who is 56) we saw a lot of people who looked sick after the ride!

I wouldn't worry about Spiderman or the Simpsons though. You're sitting and don't really move that much. Spiderman is a bit bumpier than the Simpsons, but not what I would call intense.

 

[damo]

Take Soarin' but have the vehicle moving from side to side and up and down and you are getting a teeny bit closer to Forbidden Journey.

 

[Planogirl]

You lay on your back a lot as the vehicle pitches back and forth too and that can feel kind of strange. It's way more intense than Soarin'.

 

[jrtoastyman]

There are a few segments that are similar to Soarin' in that you are staring at a screen that wraps around you as you do a fly through, but the sensation of speed is MUCH more intense. As compared to Soarin', those segments are like comparing a Sunday drive to a drag race.

That's only part of the ride, though -- as others have said, you don't just have simulated motion, you have a lot of ACTUAL motion as you progress through the ride. You're required to take everything out of your pockets, and for good reason -- I actually forgot on one of my rides and had to catch my cell phone with my back as it flew out of my pocket while inverted.

With all of that said, I view it as the gold standard in theme park rides right now. I love the sheer adrenaline of roller coasters, but there is so much going on in this ride. There's nothing else like it...

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

Thank you SO much for all of your replies

I'm now certain that my grandmother (81-years old and in a wheelchair) can't handle The Forbidden Journey! But I'm thinking that my mom and cousin might try it out... It seems quite amazing! I, personally, can't wait!!! But it sounds very much like a roller-coaster....and not really something you can compare with Soarin'. I thought they were more a like....

The line for Forbidden Journey is thru Hogwarts, right?? Is there another way to get inside Hogwarts, than standing in line??!

Thanks again! Really appriciate it!

 

[newdisneyfan]

Yes you can go through Hogwarts, and then just take the exit before the ride queue goes into the ride load area. There is a sign for the exit- my dd was too small to go on the ride but we visited Hogwarts and then just took the exit. I recommend you do this even if you don't go on the ride, it's very very good!

 

[jrtoastyman]

I'm now certain that my grandmother (81-years old and in a wheelchair) can't handle The Forbidden Journey!

Oh yeah, cannot recommend that at all. Keep in mind, unlike roller coasters where you have the restraints but you also have centrifugal force holding you in, you would absolutely go flying out of the ride were it not for the substantial restraints on FJ, so it would be a pretty taxing physical experience for someone that age. My grandmother is also wheelchair-bound and about that age, and I would never dream of putting her on it.

re touring the castle, just tell them that's what you'd like to do at the entrance, and they'll point you the way. It's also the single rider line, which will save you enormous amounts of time in line. That said, it doesn't show you the entire castle, so you should go through the line the first time to make sure you see everything. It loads fast and there's so much to see, it will go quickly.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would compare Spiderman and Simpsons more to Soarin'. With both you can close your eyes and *most* of the feeling of movement will go away. Well, throw a little bit of Star Tours into it and you're closer.

Half of the time I have a problem with Forbidden Journey (I think it has to do with being properly fed and watered, as well as getting enough rest, that gives me the best chance to feel OK when riding), and there's nothing I can do about it if I start feeling bad on the ride. But with Spiderman and Simpsons, I just close my eyes and *most* of the motion is gone.

If I'm sitting towards the front of the car on Simpsons (I'm short and can't easily see over the "side" of the vehicle when I'm in the back) I can just look to the side and see my real surroundings, much like looking from side to side (and up and down) to see the other people on Soarin', to sort of ground yourself. To know that you are NOT, actually, flying over CA, or going on a deathly-scary rollercoaster with the Simpsons. Or plummeting to the ground for that matter, with only Peter Parker to save you.

 

[r2girl]

So is it safe to wear flip flops and prescription glasses on FJ? Since they require you to empty your pockets, just curious if your flips or glasses can fly off too?

 

[pigletto]

So is it safe to wear flip flops and prescription glasses on FJ? Since they require you to empty your pockets, just curious if your flips or glasses can fly off too?

I put my sunglasses in my pocket and no, you have to take off your flip flops so you can't wear them. I think we sat on them to be honest but I can't remember for sure.

 

[cigar95]

So is it safe to wear flip flops and prescription glasses on FJ? Since they require you to empty your pockets, just curious if your flips or glasses can fly off too?

I attach a strap to my glasses when I'm on FJ, but I can't recall ever feeling like the glasses were about to come off without the strap. Perhaps if your glasses are loose-fitting it might be an issue.

As for the poster who wondered about seeing Hogwarts Castle - if you take the "Castle Tour" instead of the regular queue, you can go through Hogwarts as fast or as slow as you wish, rather than have to go along with the relatively slow-moving line. When in doubt, ask a TM at the entrance. You do miss one room this way, but I'd say it's the least interesting room, as it's mostly switchbacks.

 

[Squirlz]

So is it safe to wear flip flops and prescription glasses on FJ? Since they require you to empty your pockets, just curious if your flips or glasses can fly off too?

Rode it about 15 times in October with my glasses and sandals on. No problems at all.