Help me decide if Gringotts is OK for my child

[100acreHiker]

We've never been to Uni Orlando. Going next week and very excited. Short split stay between HRH and Disney BC. I have two boys, 7 and 10. The 7 year old does not like thrill rides. We only have Disney rides to compare things to. Basically, he did not like 7 Dwarfs Mine Train or Splash at all, and felt like Star Tours was a bit too much for him but may be able to handle it again. He does like Soarin' and Pirates of the Caribbean quite a bit. He loves Harry Potter and I'm feeling a bit bummed that there don't seem to be any rides that are meant for younger kids. What do you think? I've read that Gringott's has one drop that's a bit big bigger than Pirates but way less than Splash. He can handle a bit bigger than Pirates, I think. How fast is the rest of the ride?

 

[Heidi K]

I think Gringotts is more intense than either Pirates or Splash because of the immersive nature of the ride. More intense than Star Tours as well because you're actually moving, not just in a simulator. It's not exactly fast, but I'm thinking it might be a no for him.

 

[Kivara]

Sounds like my youngest He LOVES Flight of the Hippogriff, tried and did not like Forbidden Journey or Gringotts (especially the scene where it looks like they are tipping you into a straight down, endless drop)

My son likes to watch the ride videos on YouTube, so he can get a feel for the ride before riding them (FYI we forgot to look up Gringotts, so he decided to give it a shot...he said he will never ride it again )

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Gringotts is a bit scary if Star Tours is too much. It's VERY immersive, loud, and has a fairly big-feeling drop.

 

[HM2012Butler]

I agree with Heidi. It is probably a no. If you're very much on the fence, try Forbidden Journey first. I think that is a little less intense.

 

[100acreHiker]

I agree with Heidi. It is probably a no. If you're very much on the fence, try Forbidden Journey first. I think that is a little less intense.

Interesting! Everything I've read said FJ is scarier. I think what we may wind up doing is having my older son and me go and give it a try and then I'll decide if my younger one can handle it. Means standing in line twice, but oh well.

Sounds like my youngest He LOVES Flight of the Hippogriff, tried and did not like Forbidden Journey or Gringotts (especially the scene where it looks like they are tipping you into a straight down, endless drop))

How is Flight of the Hippogriff compared to Mine Train?

 

[HM2012Butler]

Interesting! Everything I've read said FJ is scarier. I think what we may wind up doing is having my older son and me go and give it a try and then I'll decide if my younger one can handle it. Means standing in line twice, but oh well.


How is Flight of the Hippogriff compared to Mine Train?

You know, its really just my opinion but I think FJ is a little more tame in comparison. But that could just be me! Both are intense but I just think the show aspect and roller coaster feature of gringotts give it a little more intensity. However, when it comes to motion sickness, my one motion-sick-inclined friend has a tougher time on FJ. I cant really explain why but I understand how she could feel that way

 

[schumigirl]

Definitely say FJ is more intense and scary than Gringotts.

Gringotts has a little drop, bigger than Pirates but nowhere near Splash........then it's fast for a few seconds.......then you're kinda whooshed around.....not too fast.

Good idea to try YouTube.........ones I saw weren't that clear, it's quite dark inside and the giant trolls can be quite intimidating so your little guy may not like those either.

It's a good idea for you to do the ride first......you know your little guy best.

 

[bchbetha]

Try it. Lesson learned if it winds up being too much. .

 

[damo]

Why don't you go on it first through the single rider's line and then make the decision? It is really tough to compare. We had our 5 year old niece with us and she adored Gringott's.

 

[houseofthrees]

We made the mistake of it being the first ride we took our son on during our first trip to Universal (I believe he was 8 at the time). We learned quickly that he does not like rollercoasters and he is still leery to get on any ride he hasn't ridden before, now. I would say try it once yourself. I think the issue with the drop on this one isn't the drop as much as the stop before the drop that makes it intense for some.

FJ may be more intense overall, but the drop makes Gringott's worse for half of my family.

 

[Jujumama]

Truthfully its all very subjective and every child's perception of scary is different. Trying it first is a great idea, also consider doing Child Swap that way they can at least get the experience of the queue then you can try it first while he waits in the Child Swap room and determine if its the right choice. My 5 year old loved Gringotts so much he went on 6 times. 1 time with each parent and then his uncle and cousins (another benefit of child swap). He however did not like FOTH or the Woody Woodpecker coaster go figure. You kind of never know until you try. We are hoping this year he will be tall enough for FJ.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I think I would let him try Spiderman or Transformers first. They don't have the big drop, but they are similar in the way you are in a big car that is kind of slung around - you're kind of interacting with the movie in each of these. If he can handle those, then take the next step to a quick (but steep) drop followed by the same kind of ride.

 

[fivikse]

My girls were 9 last year when we went and previously did not like any thrill rides. They were maybe 6 the last time at Disney - hated Pirates, one hated Splash, both hated BTMRR, and they wouldn't try many others.
Last year at 9, because they are such huge Harry Potter fans, they wanted to try both FJ and Gringotts. They LOVED both and we rode them over and over. But I couldn't get them on very many of the other non HP rides. I did get them on Spiderman, and one didn't like it. Point is - going on the less intense rides (like Spidey) first might not be helpful. Mine might have been afraid of Gringotts if we had done Spiderman first and I told her it was like that. They powered through the HP rides because they were HP and they love HP. Also, your youngest needs to see both lines if he is a big HP fan. We haven't been on Mine Train yet, but I thought Hippogriff was similar to Barnstormer, but it's been a while since I've been on Barnstormer. Hippogriff is very mild and my ride chickens loved it.

 

[kohlby]

I always let my kids decide, though there is sometimes encouraging. (And I admit to bribery for my youngest - but we're talking about bribery for rides that kids far younger than him can handle. I don't do this for any I don't think he can handle). My 7 year old has some sensory issues and forcing him on a ride that won't work for him would be the end of him doing any rides - so not worth it. He did not do Gringotts on our last trip. It's the only ride he didn't do last time that I think he might be ready to handle. I won't bribe him for this one, but I will encourage it this time. He loves Woody Woodpecker and Hippogriff though - and liked 7Dwarfs. He's never tried Splash due to the whole splash thing, as water drops result in a reaction like they're acid.

Spiderman is still out for my 7 year old though, as is Transformers. My other two kids could handle Spiderman at 3 years old, but it still likely won't work for my 7 year old. Of course, I'll let him do them if he wants, but they aren't rides I'm going to encourage knowing him.

It comes down to more than intensity. I have a child who is scared of the dark in some situations. Fire on the ride would likely also be a struggle.

On our last trip, he was finally willing to try Men In Black. (This may have been a bribe ride . . . ) He did it with his eyes closed the entire time. He was willing to do it again later in our trip (without bribery), again with his eyes closed.

I would not try FJ first. FJ is far more intense.

 

[jerseygal]

My DH, 2 DS love any kind of ride and I have always been the "bag holder", relaxing, people watching. REALLY looking forward to trying Griggots. I also have read that FJ is more intense, but I will check it out on You Tube. LOOKING FORWARD to May!

 

[Minniesgal]

Gringotts does have a drop but it is a very little one and the rest is just sideways motion it is worth giving it a try

 

[schumigirl]

Gringotts does have a drop but it is a very little one and the rest is just sideways motion it is worth giving it a try

Sideways motion is a better description than I gave.........lol.......think I said swooshes you around!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Our 17 yo will not ride roller coasters. His brain just can't get around very high or drop rides being safe. Last summer we managed to get him on Gringotts, and while he thought the ride was kind of ok (he LOVES HP), he said he would not ride again b/c of the drop. He still has not ridden FJ, even though the rest of us love it. We also managed to get him on the Jurassic Park river ride, and he loved it right until the drop. Some people just don't get into that type of thing. He had a blast on Popeye, though, which I think means he will ride Whitewater Canyon at King's Island this year - baby steps!

 

[fivikse]

Last night my girls and I were talking about the various rides (I was trying to encourage them to try more when we go back). They both said without any hesitation that Gringotts was way more intense/scarier to them than FJ. They didn't think FJ was at all scary. They were 9 last year when we went and total ride chickens.
It made me think of this thread. I guess we all have different ideas of what makes a ride scary or intense, but they thought I was crazy when I asked if FJ was scary and said not at all!