just got back from Harry Potter!

[KerriK85]

My concern is motion sickness and asthma.

I'm fine on Soarin' but can not stand the Star Wars ride. I also do OK on Spider Man.

The smoke/fog is my other concern. Is there a lot of it?

the only "smoke" i can remember is from the dragon. he breathes it in your face, and it was a little too much for one puff. but nothing that can effect asthma i think

 

[Janell]

Its to bad that they don't have a set of the test sets outside the park, so those who want to try before buying a ticket can. I would hate to think I could ride the ride, pay the money to get in, then find out I can't ride it. I think that would turn me off from Universal all together. Universal knows so many are coming just for HP, so they should do something to help before you buy your ticket. I know Universal wants your money, they are running a business, but you don't want to really upset people so much that you loose them as guest.

 

[glocon]

I have to say that the motion did not make me queazy, it was the special effects of flying through the air and diving down towards the ground. I think the ride itself is pretty smooth. The only smoke i remember is from the dragon, and it is not hot, but the dragon, whomping willow, spiders and dementors do get pretty close. They don't look vey real, but the effects are fun, and the scene changes quickly from one second to the next, so it can take your mind off your fears. Definitely give it a shot, it is great!
Also, my husband is 6 ft. and about 280 pounds, broad in the shoulders and chest, not in the behind. He made it on but barely, and he said he could not take a deep breath through the whole ride. But he also said he would definitly ride it again. He does have a bad back and can't do fast twisty things like DD, but this ride did not bother him. It is definitely my favorite ride at IOA!

 

[Pirate Granny]

OH NO...how large is large...height, weight...info people...
irate:

 

[damo]

Its to bad that they don't have a set of the test sets outside the park, so those who want to try before buying a ticket can. I would hate to think I could ride the ride, pay the money to get in, then find out I can't ride it. I think that would turn me off from Universal all together. Universal knows so many are coming just for HP, so they should do something to help before you buy your ticket. I know Universal wants your money, they are running a business, but you don't want to really upset people so much that you loose them as guest.

But the Wizarding World is much, much more than just the four minute ride. No Harry Potter fan is going to be turned off just because they can't do that part. Even without the ride, everything is amazing. The queue itself, even without the ride, is worth the experience.

 

[damo]

OK, I can handle the "wimpy" version of Mission Space ~ DS & I love it, but not the "scary" version. Does this mean I cannot do FP? It is not the scary parts, but the spinning.

There is no spinning.

 

[Janell]

But the Wizarding World is much, much more than just the four minute ride. No Harry Potter fan is going to be turned off just because they can't do that part. Even without the ride, everything is amazing. The queue itself, even without the ride, is worth the experience.

I can see people wanting to see the area just for the sake of seeing the area. From what I can tell they did a great job. Its just sad hearing how people aren't about to get on the ride. Oh well I guess those are the breaks and what Universal wanted to do.

 

[dicar123]

I just made my hotel reservations for December and I can't wait!

The burning question at the dicar house is: Is Dobby anywhere in the park?

 

[curiouslittleoyster]

Thank you so much for posting! The butterbeer looks and sounds delish! I lurve cream soda so this sounds very much up my alley! I really want to go now! DH is 6'2" and over 230lbs. He has very muscular broad shoulders and a large chest. I'm concerned he may not be able to ride. Hmm...we'll have to see, I guess.

 

[Planogirl]

Do they no longer have the test seats outside the ride? I just watched a video that showed them. Are they gone?

 

[Indy Denise]

Its to bad that they don't have a set of the test sets outside the park, so those who want to try before buying a ticket can. I would hate to think I could ride the ride, pay the money to get in, then find out I can't ride it. I think that would turn me off from Universal all together. Universal knows so many are coming just for HP, so they should do something to help before you buy your ticket. I know Universal wants your money, they are running a business, but you don't want to really upset people so much that you loose them as guest.

You mean OUTSIDE of IOA?
If you are going to pay all of that money to go there based on doing ONLY HP then that is just not smart. There is so much else to do there. I found both parks ( US and IOA ) to be very clean, well themed, and staffed with great TM's. You would be missing a lot of fun if you skipped everything but HP.

 

[damo]

Do they no longer have the test seats outside the ride? I just watched a video that showed them. Are they gone?

Yes, there are test seats outside Hogwarts and inside Hogwarts. Very, very few people use the test seats outside.

 

[JenM]

You mean OUTSIDE of IOA?
If you are going to pay all of that money to go there based on doing ONLY HP then that is just not smart. There is so much else to do there. I found both parks ( US and IOA ) to be very clean, well themed, and staffed with great TM's. You would be missing a lot of fun if you skipped everything but HP.

But they are selling entire vacation packages based around the HP experience, so people are buying these packages based on specifically getting into that part of the park, only to get there and find out that they can't get on the star attraction of the WWoHP. There's nothing I can find on the official site that mentions that the ride has such strict size restrictions. That's not really fair.

Yeah, there's a lot more to do...but people are coming there just for this. I would be crushed if I'd gotten bumped from the ride, I'm a huge Harry Potter fan.

They'd never put the test seats outside the ticket booths, they don't want to lose the money...but it's not the worst idea from a customer relations standpoint.

 

[damo]

But they are selling entire vacation packages based around the HP experience, so people are buying these packages based on specifically getting into that part of the park, only to get there and find out that they can't get on the star attraction of the WWoHP. There's nothing I can find on the official site that mentions that the ride has such strict size restrictions. That's not really fair.

Yeah, there's a lot more to do...but people are coming there just for this. I would be crushed if I'd gotten bumped from the ride, I'm a huge Harry Potter fan.

They'd never put the test seats outside the ticket booths, they don't want to lose the money...but it's not the worst idea from a customer relations standpoint.

I don't think people are paying all that money just to ride the ride.

 

[Janell]

Yes I was talking about outside IOA. Why you ask? Because when I did the research for our tip in 2003, which included WDW and US/IOA. I never say anything that said that guest of a certain size may not be able to ride some of the rides. I wasn't on Disboards or any other boards at the time. So when we got to IOA there were some rides we could ride. My dad is 6'2" I say 170 pounds and he couldn't get locked into the seats. And please don't flame me and say you are or know someone is the same hight and weight and had no problems riding the ride. Every single person is different. And my point is not that we couldn't ride it, it is that we didn't know until after paying to get into the park. I guess we are spoiled by Disney and never had this problem(other then in Japan, we were to tall for some rides).

I think for the guest that aren't on the boards like we all are, that don't know that they may not be able to ride a ride that its unfair. It could turn people off of IOA. But then again it must not because they designing rides like that.

And to answer well its only one ride. Yeah but its a big one, right now. And like PP they are selling HP packages. We looked into one and now wont bother. Im not going to risk paying so much and not get to do each ride, if I wanted too.

But it doesn't matter what I will do or where I will go. I still think its should be stated somewhere on the web site or when you buy tickets that there maybe some rides people can't ride. And it would't hurt if they put a set of seats outside the gate to IOA so people could try. Why they don't is for ticket sales. Which turns me off of the parks. Which again is fine, its just my opinion/money.

Oh and yes, I was only going to IOA on our next trip for HP. And I do know there is more to do there, but that is why I was going.

 

[jimmyzluck]

for anyone who is interested,we just got back!!we waited for 2 hours last sunday and never got in but tried again wends.and got lucky.rode H.P.
it is a great ride and the layout is cool.I am 6"3 230 plus and I didnt even
do a test seat and had no problem.room to spare.I agree with other people that everyone is different and am just trying to give people an idea of where they stand.IMO there will not be as many turn backs as people think.I was worried to death the whole time and looking around the hundreds of people in the last 2 rooms waiting I was taller or bigger then 98% of everyone in the room.also I dont know if its been said but there is a small storage in the back rest of the seat that held my hat,watch,and wallet.if you are not bringing alot you might skip lockers.

 

[DBEAR]

This is because almost all the denied people turn away outside. They try checking almost everyone who is large outside. I bet you that there were no large people in the queue because they get frustrated outside and don't bother with the great "tour" of the castle.

 

[TwingleMum]

Is Universal trying to address the problem for larger guests??? Is this leaking out to the media?? Any bad press because of it???

 

[Lou Holtz]

My dad is 6'2" I say 170 pounds and he couldn't get locked into the seats.

You must mean 270 pounds.

 

[glocon]

My husband is 6' 280 lbs. and wears 3x clothing (top and bottom). He did fit, but is was a tight fit. He did say he would ride again none the less.