Is Gringotts comparable to Pirates, Splash Mountain or Dinosaur at Disney?

[FiveofusNL]

Would you say Gringotts is comparable to Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain or Dinosaur at Disney? I am finding it hard to tell from the rider videos I have seen. I thought a comparison to rides we know would be helpful in deciding and convincing my son (and me!) to try it. As HP fans, we would like to ride Gringotts with the other 3 family members rather than holding the bags on the sidelines while we wait for them. However, neither of us are good with most roller coasters and hate big drops. It can throw both of us off for a couple hours afterwards. We both disliked Splash Mountain, and would not attempt Dudley or Jurassic Park as a result. The last time we visited, the other 3 members of our family did FJ and enjoyed it but were unanimous in that DS1 and I could not handle it. One of my favorite rides is Big Thunder at MK and we don’t mind the drop in Pirates. I am also okay with Minetrain, but that’s pretty well the extent of our coaster rides. I found Dinosaur a very jerky and rough ride but was fine with the rest of it. Although my son is good with them, even some simulator rides throw me off if I am not careful. I need to close my eyes through sections of the Minions, Spiderman and Transformers but am okay with riding them other than that. Any thoughts on the subject would be welcomed! Basically, we would hate to miss the opportunity to ride it and then find out it was pretty tame. Likewise I don't want either of us to end up ill afterwards so we don't enjoy the rest of the day.

 

[Skippyboo]

It’s more like the Spider-Man ride at Universal. The car tills but I don’t think there is a physical drop like Splash Mtn. It’s done more with the screens like Transformers and Spider-Man than a traditional coaster

I found the Castle HP ride to more likely to upset my stomach than the Gringotts.

 

[davper]

It is a 3d motion ride like many of the others at Universal.

 

[Marc D]

Unlike PP said, there is a very important forward-facing drop at the start of the ride. The entire vehicule is tilted forward and you ride down in the dark. The rest of the ride includes some jerky movements and very effective use of large screens. You'll need to close your eyes many times during the ride.

 

[MikeNamez]

I wouldn't call it tame. Based on your OP i would say pass on it. Its a 3D motion roller coaster with some slow points in between. I would liken it more to The Mummy at Universal than anything at Disney.

 

[Liljo22]

The drop is similar in size as the Pirates drop. The difference is that they suspend the car in the drop position before letting the breaks go. Its quick and dark. Besides that its pretty tame. You should be ok on it.

 

[damo]

My 88 year old mother went on it and enjoyed it.

I am very prone to motion sickness and have never, ever gotten sick on Gringotts.

 

[bchbetha]

I think it would be totally doable. I don't think the drop or the "jerkiness" is anything of note. The ride is really fun and it'd be a bummer to miss.

 

[gotomu212]

It’s so hard to compare but I think it’s much better than FJ. FJ really turns you every which way and jerks you but Gringotts in more of a cart and as others said most of it is screens with 1 or maybe 2 drops or drop like moves. If you can do Mine Train I think you’d be okay.

 

[Livelovedance]

I hate roller coasters, but I love Gringotts (I love FJ too for different reasons)! There’s one drop in the ride in the very beginning that I always find myself bracing for. I think it’s worse because it’s suspends you in the drop position for a bit, and it’s dark so you have no perception of how far the drop will go. Once the drop is over, I’d compare it to Spider-Man also. I don’t think it’s anything like Pirates, Splash Mountain, or Dinosaur, but that’s just my opinion!

 

[sparky68]

It is a 3d motion ride like many of the others at Universal.

No, you are wrong there. It is a combination of simulator, practical effects, and a classic rollercoaster. It uses a very unique ride system designed for this ride.
As for as motion sickness goes, FJ is the only ride to ever make me think I was going to throw up.

 

[FiveofusNL]

Thank you for your input and advice everyone! Based on what the majority have said, I think we will try it. I am going to have my son read all of your responses too. Personally, knowing that the drop is coming but isn't that big will help me when we are just suspended there ready to fall. Knowing this information, I will try to sit in the middle if possible so we won't feel as tilted while suspended before the drop.

 

[PattiPB]

I appreciate all the comments, too. Really hope to ride next month.

Can anyone compare it with Flights of Passage?

 

[mrsclark]

Unlike PP said, there is a very important forward-facing drop at the start of the ride. The entire vehicule is tilted forward and you ride down in the dark. The rest of the ride includes some jerky movements and very effective use of large screens. You'll need to close your eyes many times during the ride.

I just want to second what Marc D said - there is a part where you are perched at the top of a drop and kind of held there. My stepmom (66) rode it with us last year and had to close her eyes during that part because it freaked her - most of the rest of it is pretty tame.

@PattiPB - I have only ridden FoP once, so my comparison may not be perfect, but on FoP it was very obvious (to me at least) that I was on an object that wasn't actually moving forward or backward. Gringotts, on the other hand, is in a roller coaster vehicle on a roller coaster track and does move from screen to screen including as has been stated a drop at the beginning.

 

[BubblyTrip]

If you want to lessen the intensity I’d ask to sit in the third row. I loved the hanging drop. My 9 yr old DS not as much (he was forewarned). We rode once in back row and once in front. Back row certainly less intense for the drop.

In general for Transformers, Spidey and Gringotts, I think riding in a row other than first is a bit less scary effects wise because you see the heads of the people in front of you and are ever so slightly not as immersed in the ride. For a kid on the verge of being comfortable enough to ride, its a good option.

The coaster part reminded me of Space Mountain as its dark and jerky (but not Dinosaur jerky), but my kid likes that part. I didn’t feel like the coaster intensity was worse than Big Thunder except that it’s dark.

On the other hand it was hell to get my kid on FJ. We actually had to leave the line. But then I bribed him a little later in the day because I knew he’d be fine. And he loved it. Big time. And we went on it 12 times in two days (and it’s my new favorite ride ever).

 

[damo]

I appreciate all the comments, too. Really hope to ride next month.

Can anyone compare it with Flights of Passage?

It really isn't like FoP at all, other than the fact that there are screens in FoP and there are some screens in Gringotts. Gringotts ride vehicles move from set to set where FoP is bolted to the floor. It is more like Dinosaur.

 

[FiveofusNL]

there is a part where you are perched at the top of a drop and kind of held there. My stepmom (66) rode it with us last year and had to close her eyes during that part because it freaked her - most of the rest of it is pretty tame

I feel that my eyes will be closed as well! I can suffer through it though knowing the rest of it is tame.

If you want to lessen the intensity I’d ask to sit in the third row.

Perfect! Will do!

The coaster part reminded me of Space Mountain as its dark and jerky (but not Dinosaur jerky), but my kid likes that part. I didn’t feel like the coaster intensity was worse than Big Thunder except that it’s dark.

Thanks for the comparison. I find it helps a lot to compare it to rides I already know.

 

[soniam]

I hate big drops too. Gringott's feels big but really isn't. It's definitely longer than Pirates but not even close to Splash. When I ride Splash, I reach the point of "I can't take this anymore" and the drop goes on for a bit more. Whereas, on Gringott's, I reach the point of "I might not be able to take this for much longer" and you hit bottom. Pirates isn't very noticeable to me anymore.

Gringott's isn't jerky at all like Dinosaur, but there are fast moving points and a spin or 2. I would much rather ride Gringott's than Dinosaur.

As for motion simulator, that's where this might get, but you can always close your eyes, especially on the simulated drop. There's a real drop too. Motion simulators don't really bother me, so it's hard for me to say.

The best comparison I can give is a milder Mummy. It wouldn't quite call it a roller coaster, even though there is some movement like that. The coaster-like portion is shorter in time than Big Thunder Mountain or any traditional coaster, except Barnstormer which is shorter than a sneeze.