HP FJ sux.What am I missing

[Timmy Boy]

You're on an enchanted bench.

For an attraction that cost easily over 100 million dollars to make, you sure don't appreciate much of anything.

 

[damo]

Please forgive me for dissin' HP, I shouldn't have to read wikepedia to learn about what's happening on the ride. It is mentioned by HP(i think) about the bench very vaguely and quickly. Now I am starting to get it, I am a muggle (of course...just like all the muggles with their muggle t shirts) and I am the first muggle to tour the castle and audit the class. But I choose not to, i choose to cut the class, I choose to let the dementors follow me and I choose to wreck the castle. I am applauded by the $6.25 pumpkin juice drinking student body and invited back to hogwarts any time because of my actions which should lead to me being expelled.

I have never heard of a magic flying bench in the HP novels...shouldn't I be on a broomstick instead? Even when I am saving the green planet on ET I am on a bicycle, shouldn't I be on a broomstick at least. How did someone (JK) who fabricated the urine stained, green algae covered bathrooms permit this?

3 more days to figure it out....see you at 8 am Saturday....I am the one pushing the green jogging stroller.

It would have been tough to have broomsticks with proper restraints allowing the motion that the benches do. The benches are simple and effective. If they would have done broomsticks, muggles would have complained that there is no way they would have known how to fly that well. There is never a way to make everyone happy.

The story really isn't that hard to follow. The whole Griffindor Common room part of the queue is talking about the benches. The toughest part is making sure you listen during the entire ride instead of getting distracted by the special effects. I am sure that trying to get some kind of creative storyline that incorporates as many different scary things from the movies and books wasn't easy. If this one is tough to follow, anything more detailed would have been impossible.

Wrecking the castle? The dragon burns down the owlery but that's about it.

 

[Brit_Jude]

On my first ride I thought the screen image wasn't that great and it moves fast. However the second time I rode it I paid a lot more attention and concentrated on the screen and the images - looking at HP while following him etc, taking it all in. I found it much better, also I was not concerned about what was going to happen. I think the first time you ride it overloads the senses, combine that with not knowing what to expect and I can see why people think it blurry.

I don't understand not getting story and why we are on benches. It goes through Hermione casting a spell and this would be the first time, the congratulations when she accomplishes etc Anyway as muggles we would need some training on how to ride broomsicks sucessfully without falling off

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I would not consider this ride to be jerky, nor were the screens blurry to me. I really like it. It is somewhat like Spidy, but you feel more like you are flying with your legs dangling.. just the way I look at it..

 

[disneysteve]

the second time I rode it I paid a lot more attention and concentrated on the screen and the images - looking at HP while following him etc, taking it all in. I found it much better, also I was not concerned about what was going to happen. I think the first time you ride it overloads the senses, combine that with not knowing what to expect and I can see why people think it blurry.

Having only ridden it once, I'd have to agree. The first time, I think you are so overwhelmed, trying to look in every direction and take it all in, perhaps take pictures, etc. It is impossible to do all of that AND focus on what is being said. I certainly didn't catch anything about the storyline and don't recall hearing anything explaining why we were on benches or why we were being greeted and congratulated on the return to Hogwarts. I wish I could have done it a 2nd time to pay more attention but the lines were too long.

 

[Brit_Jude]

I would not consider this ride to be jerky, nor were the screens blurry to me. I really like it. It is somewhat like Spidy, but you feel more like you are flying with your legs dangling.. just the way I look at it..

I did not find it jerky, it does twist and turn, at one point your are on your back and it pauses in places then starts moving again but it was smooth in my opinion.

 

[disneysteve]

I did not find it jerky, it does twist and turn, at one point your are on your back and it pauses in places then starts moving again but it was smooth in my opinion.

I think this depends partly on the individual, specifically the size of the person. I didn't find it to be rough but my wife, who is 5'1", came off with a bruise on her right arm from where she was gripping the restraints so tight to keep from shifting around in her seat. I'm normal sized at 5"10" and 150lbs and felt no need to hold that tight. I just kind of rested my arms on the bar that extends out in front and I was fine.

 

[damo]

I think this depends partly on the individual, specifically the size of the person. I didn't find it to be rough but my wife, who is 5'1", came off with a bruise on her right arm from where she was gripping the restraints so tight to keep from shifting around in her seat. I'm normal sized at 5"10" and 150lbs and felt no need to hold that tight. I just kind of rested my arms on the bar that extends out in front and I was fine.

I'm around your wife's size and don't find it rough at all. In fact, I find it incredibly smooth. However, her reaction may be a result of her being scared and hanging on for dear life if she isn't used to thrill rides. I find all of Disney's coasters, including Thunder Mountain, much rougher than this.

 

[Hombre59]

Please forgive me for dissin' HP, I shouldn't have to read wikepedia to learn about what's happening on the ride. It is mentioned by HP(i think) about the bench very vaguely and quickly. Now I am starting to get it, I am a muggle (of course...just like all the muggles with their muggle t shirts) and I am the first muggle to tour the castle and audit the class. But I choose not to, i choose to cut the class, I choose to let the dementors follow me and I choose to wreck the castle. I am applauded by the $6.25 pumpkin juice drinking student body and invited back to hogwarts any time because of my actions which should lead to me being expelled.

I have never heard of a magic flying bench in the HP novels...shouldn't I be on a broomstick instead? Even when I am saving the green planet on ET I am on a bicycle, shouldn't I be on a broomstick at least. How did someone (JK) who fabricated the urine stained, green algae covered bathrooms permit this?

3 more days to figure it out....see you at 8 am Saturday....I am the one pushing the green jogging stroller.

lol...now i thnk youre overthinking it...read the books...i found the ride to be pretty similar, also try not to nitpick on everything... if you enter the setting with nothing but a bad mindset of course you're gonna be upset about how it is...a seat is a seat

 

[inkkognito]

It's true, it's true, I admit it! FJ sux big time! I've ridden it 50+ times so you can trust my opinion. DO NOT ride this ride! I repeat, avoid this ride at all costs if you don't want to be bored by tears. Ollivanders is a much, much better use of your time.




(Now maybe the FJ line will cut down if I can just sucker some people into believing that.)

 

[Planogirl]

It's true, it's true, I admit it! FJ sux big time! I've ridden it 50+ times so you can trust my opinion. DO NOT ride this ride! I repeat, avoid this ride at all costs if you don't want to be bored by tears. Ollivanders is a much, much better use of your time.




(Now maybe the FJ line will cut down if I can just sucker some people into believing that.)

I followed the story pretty well and I'm not a Harry Potter freak or anything. I do like a bit of mystery in my attractions though so I enjoy having a little to figure out.

It's a great ride IMO. Even great rides won't be enjoyed by everyone though and that's OK.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Please forgive me for dissin' HP, I shouldn't have to read wikepedia to learn about what's happening on the ride. It is mentioned by HP(i think) about the bench very vaguely and quickly. Now I am starting to get it, I am a muggle (of course...just like all the muggles with their muggle t shirts) and I am the first muggle to tour the castle and audit the class. But I choose not to, i choose to cut the class, I choose to let the dementors follow me and I choose to wreck the castle. I am applauded by the $6.25 pumpkin juice drinking student body and invited back to hogwarts any time because of my actions which should lead to me being expelled.

I have never heard of a magic flying bench in the HP novels...shouldn't I be on a broomstick instead? Even when I am saving the green planet on ET I am on a bicycle, shouldn't I be on a broomstick at least. How did someone (JK) who fabricated the urine stained, green algae covered bathrooms permit this?

3 more days to figure it out....see you at 8 am Saturday....I am the one pushing the green jogging stroller.

I actually got quite the laugh out of your description of the ride. I guess that's one way to describe the plot.

But really, the entire plot line is told in the queue line through Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione and Ron. The trio sneak you out of Prof. Binns history class(for fans of the books, it is known that no one should have to suffer through one of Binn's lectures). Hermione came up with a charm to allow muggles to fly on benches, you follow Harry and Ron out towards the qudditch pitch, but Hagrid looses a dragon, and you get knocked off course by the Whomping Willow and into the Forbidden Forest. And of course something evil must come, else it would not be Potter, and so here come the Dementors. Harry patroniums their butts and you get sent back to Hogwarts via the floo network.

As for the students cheering at the end, I just figured it was because the muggles didnt end up dead or without their souls, which would be horrific PR for the wizarding world in general, so that's why they are happy. Everything in the ride, is pretty much everyday life in the world of Potter. Things go off course, people are attacked, dragons are missing, something gets set on fire, Voldemort kills things ect ect. So really, the muggles causing a small hole in a wall is really no cause for concern or expulsion.

 

[figmentgirl]

damo, thanks for the explaination. I am excited to ride this ride.

Humphrey, i don't think its too much to ask for a proper storyline.

 

[sicjoy]

Just returned from Universal and I have never seen a HP movie or opened one of the books, but after waiting in line for an hour+ I can say that it was worth it. Yeah, some of the props looked dull and unrealistic, but how realistic should a ride about kids on brooms really be? That's not a dig to anyone out there its just my opinion.

Not being a HP fan, I probably did not get all I could out of the ride, but I thought it was great and would go on it again and again.

Overrated...probably, but HP is HUGE; so many people love the story. Is the ride worth going on once? IMO, yup.

 

[humphreydog]

ok...another 8am day and it's starting to make sense to me.....thank you all for bearing with me. I have only gone on if there's no wait and even though I am walking through the complete queue, I am doing it too quickly. Slowly I am picking up bits and pieces and today I stopped and watched the final 3 talking pictures by the "people of size" test seats. This explained the benches. I am also starting to understand the plot. HP must be involved with all sorts of hijinx for the hp novels to exist and this ride is no different.

The queue is important for this ride...just as important as timing for the riders pictures is in the gift shop.

 

[Qtips4Mick]

Having only ridden it once, I'd have to agree. The first time, I think you are so overwhelmed, trying to look in every direction and take it all in, perhaps take pictures, etc. It is impossible to do all of that AND focus on what is being said. I certainly didn't catch anything about the storyline and don't recall hearing anything explaining why we were on benches or why we were being greeted and congratulated on the return to Hogwarts. I wish I could have done it a 2nd time to pay more attention but the lines were too long.

I went twice and agree the second time was better. The first was overwhelming, the rush of being there etc. My only regret is later that evening we went again, unplanned, and I was too busy holding onto my flip-flops to totally enjoy.

 

[nhrenee]

Just returned. The ride is incredible. Not jerky at all as we didn't even need to remove our glasses.

I would agree you need to experience the whole thing more than once. The first run through is very overwhelming. I rode it 6 times and even on the last trip I saw something new. That said, I didn't really get the entire storyline until I read this thread.

 

[La2kw]

I thought it was amazing, fun, and so very Harry Potter. I don't like big steel roller coasters, but instead prefer detailed and immersive ride experiences. FJ fits that bill.

 

[rstamm]

Love H P Land at IOA and love HP. Love the atmosphere and que.. the ride sux...being shuffled from room to room on the car seeing cheap unbelievable props (spider, tree, etc.) thrown at you repeatedly and blurry vision on the large screen just doesn't do it for me...How come I feel that spiderman (yes spiderman) is more believable than fj.

Am I the only one or the first to admit it?

I rode this for the first time Thursday and couldn't wait to be on the most fantastic ride of all time according to many who have rode it.

I certainly would not have started a thread but since I read your post I had to say I feel the same way you do.

I felt like I was in a haunted house with cheap props popping out around me.

The start of the ride looking at a screen of Harry and friends on their broomsticks turned me off and it only got worse from there.

I loved the queue and am glad others love the ride but its not for me.

 

[damo]

We rode Spiderman and FJ back to back today. I still prefer FJ but perhaps it is just because the Spiderman characters are of no interest to me and I have a tough time understanding what they are saying. I also find Spiderman very jerky. I can see where some would prefer it though. You really need to do FJ a few times to be able to take everything in.