How intense is Escape from Gringotts

[Skywalker3]

I don't even think of Gringotts as a coaster, even though it is. It has so many stops/starts w projections, that it's hard to compare. Like I feel just when it really gets going, it'll stop. But there are definitely fast pick ups, and at least what feels like a steep drop. And it could be kinda scary, like Voldemort might be creepy to young kids. But the queue is so awesome, even if you decide against the ride, do the queue. But it's not an intense coaster to me.
I wonder if it was the speed in the dark for GotG that was too much? My DS went through a phase where some dark elements scared him, like the creepy intro in ToT, but not the drop or ride itself, just the preshow...
Hagrids, has a lot of launches. a LOT. Drop is similar to Rise, but it does go backwards, which gets to me. It's quite a bit more intense tho than like BTMRR or Slinky. Has your daughter done Everest or Space mtn?
I love the idea of GotG, LOVE it, but I've had several rides where it made me very nauseous. Last 2 rides were not great....so idk.
But it's such an incredible, innovative ride, I'm going to keep trying...
Hope y'all have a wonderful trip to Universal!!

 

[georgina]

I can’t do gforce or rides where my head is jerked around so which rides at Universal should I avoid? I don’t mind darkness, scary or motion sickness

This is not a full list, because there are some rides I don't bother with that could make the list. Definitely (obviously) not Hulk, Rip Ride Rockit, or Velocicoaster. Hagrid's goes very fast, so even though it doesn't have huge hills or super tight spirals, probably a no also. Mummy is not a smooth coaster and has 2 HARD stops that will make a head jerk. I know where to expect them but I have seen kids have a few issues.

Next level down - Forbidden Journey is on an arm that swings you about through different scenes, I don't feel my head being jerked around but not sure about G. Flight of the Hipogriff reminds me of Goofy's Barnstormer coaster, while small it might cause some g-force issues? As was mentioned, the Gringott's cars do some spinning as they move between scenes but the motion feels pretty smooth to me. The Men In Black cars spin around fast once or twice also. Even the Spiderman cars can be jerky as they move about. Jurrassic Park is like Splash Mtn with one big drop. I don't have a good feel about how any of these rides would affect you. If you skip them it doesn't leave you with much!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I can’t do gforce or rides where my head is jerked around so which rides at Universal should I avoid? I don’t mind darkness, scary or motion sickness

Depends on what level of jerkiness is problematic. If even minor jerkiness is an issue, that's pretty much everything except the Dr Seuss rides, Hogwarts Express, Minions VillainCon, Fallon, ET, and Kang & Kodos (Dumbo style). Possibly Despicable Me Minion Mayhem & Forbidden Journey - FJ is relatively smooth and non-jerky, but does tilt you in all directions.

Simpsons, Spider-Man, Transformers, Kong, and Fast & Furious are all about the same level of jerkiness. MiB is very smooth but has a few fast spins (this is the worst for my friend's spinning induced nausea). The water rides jostle and/or have drops with rapid deceleration.

 

[Dakota731]

Depends on what level of jerkiness is problematic. If even minor jerkiness is an issue, that's pretty much everything except the Dr Seuss rides, Hogwarts Express, Minions VillainCon, Fallon, ET, and Kang & Kodos (Dumbo style). Possibly Despicable Me Minion Mayhem & Forbidden Journey - FJ is relatively smooth and non-jerky, but does tilt you in all directions.

Simpsons, Spider-Man, Transformers, Kong, and Fast & Furious are all about the same level of jerkiness. MiB is very smooth but has a few fast spins (this is the worst for my friend's spinning induced nausea). The water rides jostle and/or have drops with rapid deceleration.

Can you compare any of these rides to Disney since we haven’t been to Universal in many years? I can ride ROR, Slinky, Dinosaur and Mine Train if any of them are similar?

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

For me, the problem is that Universal makes liberal use of screens/3D glasses in a way that Disney doesn’t. There really isn’t anything comparable to Despicable Me or Simpsons (huge screens, Simpsons will rattle you around a bit). Off the top of my head, MiB is a shooting game like Buzz, but as PP said has some fast spins that make it feel different. ET is kind of like Peter Pan (flying ride). Hogwarts Express is kind of like the train.

Disney also doesn’t really have any “big” coasters so those comparisons are tricky as well. Eg Hagrids and Tron are both “motor bikes,” but Hagrids has 7 (?) launches and goes backwards. Tron has a great launch, but the whole thing is over way too quickly. Everest also goes backwards, but it’s a lot slower.

Of the 4 rides that you list, Dinosaur is closest in feeling to a lot of the rides at Universal.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I can’t do gforce or rides where my head is jerked around so which rides at Universal should I avoid? I don’t mind darkness, scary or motion sickness

How well do you do on motion simulators? Can you handle Star Tours? This will be helpful information in making recommendations.

 

[Dakota731]

I know I won’t do the big coasters because of launches and gforces so that rules them out. I do ok with simulators though Star Tours was a little jerky for my issue! I just want to be able to ride something during our week!

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I know I won’t do the big coasters because of launches and gforces so that rules them out. I do ok with simulators though Star Tours was a little jerky for my issue! I just want to be able to ride something during our week!

If Star Tours is jerky for you and you don’t do coasters then Universal may be kind of tough.

 

[kbelle8995]

If I had a choice between Hagrid's and Gringott's I pick Gringotts. Hagrid's can be scary and not fun. If you are unsure put the nervous person in the sidecar. The Motorcycle is much more intense. I've ridden in both and I felt much more secure in the sidecar. In the motorcycle section, I was literally gripping the handlebars so hard my hands were red.

I am not a thrill person but I actually really love Escape from Gringott's. It's my favorite Harry Potter ride. Weird I know. There's only one section where they tilt the ride vehicle so you are facing down. But if you are near the front of the car, it's not so bad. It does whip around and I have never found it to be Jerky.

 

[Dakota731]

It’s hard because everything is so subjective! I e seen people describe the same ride as smooth as another person describes it as jerky. Maybe I’ll send my husband on first to vet the rides for me!

 

[georgina]

Yes, that's part of the problem. Post above says Hagrids can be scary and not fun. For me it is NOT scary and so much fun!

But if you have issues I tend to err on teh side of caution when recommending anything. Perhaps sending someone on first to vet is a good idea. The single rider lines on Mummy and Men In Black are usually very short.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I know I won’t do the big coasters because of launches and gforces so that rules them out. I do ok with simulators though Star Tours was a little jerky for my issue! I just want to be able to ride something during our week!

If Star Tours is an issue, you are going to be limited. I'm thinking the two minions rides/attractions might be okay. For Minion Mayhem, ask for the seats that do not move. Race Through New York with Jimmy Fallon might be okay. King Kong might be okay. The Suessland rides will probably be okay as would Kodos and Kang. That is what immediately comes to mind. Everything else I can come up with is probably not going to work for you or is a horrible ride I would not recommend to anyone.

Have you thought about looking at POV ride throughs on YouTube? It might help you decide before you get there.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

King Kong might be okay.

Kong and Fast & Furious are akin to a bouncy truck ride. Since that's what they're simulating, I suppose that is what Universal was going for.

ET remains on the OK list, it really doesn't jostle.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Still a few months away, but this will be the first time at Universal Studios.

My 6year old daughter was great with all the rides she went on during the last Disney trip (was 5 back then), with the exception of one - guardians of the galaxy cosmic rewind. Slinky Dog, 7 dwarfs, flight of passage, etc... she loved. Just Cosmic Rewind had her overwhelmed.

How's the intensity of Gringotts vs. a slinky dog or cosmic rewind?

I'd say Gringotts is definitely not as intense as cosmic rewind. It's mostly a motion simulator with a little bit of roller coaster. I don't think it's more intense than a slinky dog dash.

 

[Dakota731]

Kong and Fast & Furious are akin to a bouncy truck ride. Since that's what they're simulating, I suppose that is what Universal was going for.

ET remains on the OK list, it really doesn't jostle.

Are they similar to the Safari or Dinosaur rides at AK? I can handle those

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Are they similar to the Safari or Dinosaur rides at AK? I can handle those

Kong & F&F jostle way less than Dinosaur IMO.

 

[barb969]

Kong & F&F jostle way less than Dinosaur IMO.

Agree. I won’t ride Dinosaur. The Indiana Jones’ ride at DL is the same as Dinosaur, just different scenery. Kong and F&F are tame in comparison

 

[zavandor]

Still a few months away, but this will be the first time at Universal Studios.

My 6year old daughter was great with all the rides she went on during the last Disney trip (was 5 back then), with the exception of one - guardians of the galaxy cosmic rewind. Slinky Dog, 7 dwarfs, flight of passage, etc... she loved. Just Cosmic Rewind had her overwhelmed.

How's the intensity of Gringotts vs. a slinky dog or cosmic rewind?

Is it a problem with motion sickness or speed?
I ask because for me Guardian of the Galaxy is the worst offenders, by far, for motion sickness. Even after taking a Dramamine I feel a bit queasy after Guardians. But I have no problem with Gringotts or even Forbidden Journey. Hagrid instead is a bit problematic because of (spoiler) the backward section.
Motion sickness is very personal, many find FJ a nightmare, but I can do it easily (just not back to back).
If motion sickness is a problem, avoid the Simpson too, it should be similar to Star Tour but it's surprisingly much worst.

 

[disneyseniors]

It’s hard because everything is so subjective! I e seen people describe the same ride as smooth as another person describes it as jerky. Maybe I’ll send my husband on first to vet the rides for me!

That's so true. I rode it once and never again for me.
But you can go through the que into the castle. That part of the experience was wonderful, just so much to see. Then you can leave when you get to the actual ride.

 

[CeCe0906]

I was at Universal with my 7, 9, and 11 yr old granddaughters. The 7 yr old loved Hagrids( in the side car), looped Flight of the Hippogriff during early entry 3 times, and enjoyed the Seuss area, ET ( loved!), the train, Olivanders, rode Forbidden journey( although covered her eyes when the Spiders ans Dementors showed up.)

That being said, she is pretty adventurous- if you liked the Avatar ride, you're probably good with Forbidden journey. Gringotts isn't more fast or jerky than 7 Dwarves train, but has some 3 D effects that might be a little intense for a 6 yr old. If you've gone to California Disneyland in their Marvel area, the Spiderman ride is similar as far as 3d effects.

We watched you tube videos and let them choose ride or not, and did rider switch if not, they have a cool room to rider switch at for Gringotts and the Mummy ride also.
7 yr old was a no for Gringgotts- even though she rode and liked both Spiderman and Transformers rides which are simillar)

My grandkids loved the water rides, especially Pluto barges - but beware that one got me wetter than any water ride I've ever been on. 7 yr old was not a fan of Jurassic park water ride.

There is also a neat DreamWorks area with a Kung fun Panda water play area and a kiddie Coaster based on Trolls that the kids enjoyed

Doing "spells" with the special wands was fun also. Don't forget to stop at the night bus outside Diagon Alley, he's funny.