just got back from Harry Potter!

[KerriK85]

First off, it was all so amazing! i actually attended the day nbc was there, and they were everywhere we were, so i may get on this special tomorrow, cant wait to watch!

forbidden journey now!
me and my husband both got pulled to the side, i got to ride he didnt. he is on the larger side, me i have a large chest in the ddd's and i just made it. (i got pulled aside 3 times b/c they didnt believe the other workers were doing their jobs- THANKS UNIVERSAL!) my husband actually witnessed a fight at the "denied access" exit. this is no chicken exit, everyone that went through these doors were denied! a man bought the package and was not allowed to ride because of his broad shoulders. he was a skinny man, so this was so shocking! he demanded a manager because he spent all the money solely for the ride.

-spoiler-
i can understand the reasoning though. if you are afraid of small spaces, you will not like this ride! the entire ride is up against you. the dragon is huge! the spiders are right on you, the tree is gigantic, the dementors are in your face, and you even come face to face with a wall of webs. i panicked a few times since i hate spiders and skeletons. even the screens with the fake scenes are right there on you.

-over-

if you want to participate in olivanders, it aint happening unless you are a child! this is more for the children! they like to only pick kids to participate, but it is still fun to watch

i had butterbeer!

i think it is good for one time during the day. it was more good when i had it, but it made me full and not feel all that great in the heat. it also had a taste that is good in the moment, but too much you wont care for it. it tastes just like cream soda.

the actors are good at their jobs! i bought a scarf over there and the actors constantly came over to me asking if i just enrolled, and things like that. they are so much fun. i also had random people in the parks approaching me cheering me on for gryffindor!

keep an eye on the window across from the line from olivanders. there are instruments in this window, and every once in a while you will hear yelling and papers are flying everywhere! so cool!

i ate breakfast at three broomsticks. it was huge! me and my husband actually shared the breakfast. keep an eye on the walls, there are shadows that magically appear on occasion.

right by here is the bathroom, and yes moaning myrtle can be heard! it is so faint though. they have the new hand dryers that you put your hands inside of, and everyone kept turning them on for the 10 minutes i just stood in their waiting, and i can hardly hear her.

im sure there is more, so feel free to ask anything!

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[ear_poppin]

me i have a large chest in the ddd's and i just made it. (i got pulled aside 3 times b/c they didnt believe the other workers were doing their jobs- THANKS UNIVERSAL!)

I think that is terrible !! At least if you "passed" once they should stamp your hand so you don't get picked on again. How embarrassing - shame on Universal for allowing that to happen !

 

[Indy Denise]

Hello! I am back too.

Here are some thoughts:

FJ is pretty cool. Make sure you aren't carrying your plastic BB mugs in the line, you will have to throw them away...if it isn't in your pockets you can't have it. I watched one woman put chocolate frogs down her shirt trying to sneak them on. No go. Have the stores send your packages to the Trading Post in the front of IOA if you don't want a locker.

The other helpful hint I can give you concerns flip flops. They were passing out rubber bands to wear on them...then they stopped. The TMS will not suggest removing them ( DO!!! and sit on them! ) because they will tell you that shoes are required. But if you take them off they aren't saying anything. It's like they want YOU to figure out what to do. I imagine it's because that way if anything happens it's your fault. Some people just didn't ride because they didn't know that to do.

FJ did " stop" with us on it ( twice ) ...a largish man demanded to ride and got in the bench and the TM shut down the ride until he decided to remove himself. The other time a TM touched her radio and the ride stopped. I guess some TMs have emergency buttons on them.

That said, there were A LOT of mad people because they couldn't ride. The TMS try to direct people to try the seats outside but everyone rushes in.

 

[Perrine]

Thanks for sharing your personal experience with us !

I would like to know if Kids can be really afraid (I've read the first post so I know what it is about...) but are these only "pictures" or animatronics ???
(My kids are 9 but one is a little be scared when it's dark or when it's fast !)

How much time did you wait ??? Is there a FP ?
What did you eat ?? Is there a good restaurant or only fast food ?

Sorry I've got a lot of questions because we come this summer from France to visit Universal !
Thanks for answering

Perrine

 

[surgefest]

So is it comparable to spiderman in a way? the way the ride is.... How long is the actual ride?

 

[Bradsdadg]

Thank you for the interesting reviews!

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

First off, it was all so amazing! i actually attended the day nbc was there, and they were everywhere we were, so i may get on this special tomorrow, cant wait to watch!

forbidden journey now!
me and my husband both got pulled to the side, i got to ride he didnt. he is on the larger side, me i have a large chest in the ddd's and i just made it. (i got pulled aside 3 times b/c they didnt believe the other workers were doing their jobs- THANKS UNIVERSAL!) my husband actually witnessed a fight at the "denied access" exit. this is no chicken exit, everyone that went through these doors were denied! a man bought the package and was not allowed to ride because of his broad shoulders. he was a skinny man, so this was so shocking! he demanded a manager because he spent all the money solely for the ride.

-spoiler-
i can understand the reasoning though. if you are afraid of small spaces, you will not like this ride! the entire ride is up against you. the dragon is huge! the spiders are right on you, the tree is gigantic, the dementors are in your face, and you even come face to face with a wall of webs. i panicked a few times since i hate spiders and skeletons. even the screens with the fake scenes are right there on you.

-over-

if you want to participate in olivanders, it aint happening unless you are a child! this is more for the children! they like to only pick kids to participate, but it is still fun to watch

i had butterbeer!

i think it is good for one time during the day. it was more good when i had it, but it made me full and not feel all that great in the heat. it also had a taste that is good in the moment, but too much you wont care for it. it tastes just like cream soda.

the actors are good at their jobs! i bought a scarf over there and the actors constantly came over to me asking if i just enrolled, and things like that. they are so much fun. i also had random people in the parks approaching me cheering me on for gryffindor!

keep an eye on the window across from the line from olivanders. there are instruments in this window, and every once in a while you will hear yelling and papers are flying everywhere! so cool!

i ate breakfast at three broomsticks. it was huge! me and my husband actually shared the breakfast. keep an eye on the walls, there are shadows that magically appear on occasion.

right by here is the bathroom, and yes moaning myrtle can be heard! it is so faint though. they have the new hand dryers that you put your hands inside of, and everyone kept turning them on for the 10 minutes i just stood in their waiting, and i can hardly hear her.

im sure there is more, so feel free to ask anything!

i like that! There should be something for the children afterall! I'm SO excited!!!

 

[roxy5400]

Thanks for sharing your adventure. We leave in a few weeks and cannot wait. My son is the big HP fan, but I am just as excited or maybe more,he is 14 though and since he is unable to take a friend he is not sure if he will have that much fun.TEENAGERS!!!! I know he will though once we get there. Really enjoyed reading your post. It sounds like you had a great time. That is great that you were there when nbc was, I recieved an email yesterday about the special and already have it set to record in case we are not home tonight at 7.

 

[ChrisFL]

I think that is terrible !! At least if you "passed" once they should stamp your hand so you don't get picked on again. How embarrassing - shame on Universal for allowing that to happen !

Remember, they're still in testing phases and working out the issues, both with the attractions and organization of staffing.

It's been open barely a week, and sometimes for only a few hours a day.

 

[toonaspie]

-spoiler-
i can understand the reasoning though. if you are afraid of small spaces, you will not like this ride! the entire ride is up against you. the dragon is huge! the spiders are right on you, the tree is gigantic, the dementors are in your face, and you even come face to face with a wall of webs. i panicked a few times since i hate spiders and skeletons. even the screens with the fake scenes are right there on you.

-over-

Damn, I mean I knew this ride is going to be intense (since it's Universal and all) but now I'm starting to have my doubts as to whether or now I can handle this ride. It sounds way too scary for me to handle. I have height fears and vertigo issues and all but I was willing to give this one a chance. Now I just dont know...

 

[xxliz28xx]

Hey Kerri! Didn't know you were on the DIS boards! Great review! Sorry about the girls getting in the way!

 

[iwork2play]

Explain what you mean when you said " the spiders are right on you." Virtual spiders,animitronics or what? I'd rather fight a bear than mess with a spider.As long as its something thats virtual,Im fine,if its an actual spider of some sort,fake or not,I guess I'll just have to cowboy up.
One more question,how long does the FJ ride last,barring no hangups that is?

TIA

 

[tink1957]

Hello! I am back too.

Here are some thoughts:

Make sure you aren't carrying your plastic BB mugs in the line, you will have to throw them away...if it isn't in your pockets you can't have it.

I rode FJ last Sunday with my Butterbeer mug attached to the waist strap on my fanny pack. I think they will only take issue with loose items that might fall off duing the ride.

 

[Maleficent27]

(i got pulled aside 3 times b/c they didnt believe the other workers were doing their jobs- THANKS UNIVERSAL!)

Lovely. You'd think they would have a stamp or something...way to waste your time and theirs, and possibly embarrass people who are more sensitive.

This is putting a bad taste in my mouth. I want to experience Hogsmeade and see the castle, but I'm kinda pissed about giving my money to a company who can't be bothered to make their ride to standard industry sizes. I'm a fellow DDD and have NEVER been turned away from a coaster (standard seats even not the larger ones), but people weighing less than me have reported being denied access.

 

[KerriK85]

height fears should not be an issue. you cant see down really. you are on a slight slant back and at one point on your back. plus, everything being so close to you, there really is no distance in the far to see how high you are. the animatronics are all so close, but nothing actually touches you, just the water from the spitting spider! lol ...i would say this ride is like spiderman, but everything is closer.

the only place i ate at was the three broomsticks, but it was breakfast, not the regular lunch/dinner service. we shared pancakes, croissant, eggs, sausage. i think that was all from the one platter! so much food.

ill message more later for everyone, i was just checking in quick!

also, i recorded a whole lot (not the actual ride though, that was too dark to show on my flip), so follow me on youtube, one video is up so far. im kerrik85 and the first link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=walb4jFOgCc

feel free to subscribe! more to come tonight

 

[knieriem]

if you want to participate in olivanders, it aint happening unless you are a child! this is more for the children! they like to only pick kids to participate, but it is still fun to watch

Can you still buy a wand if you're not picked?

 

[KerriK85]

Thanks for sharing your personal experience with us !

I would like to know if Kids can be really afraid (I've read the first post so I know what it is about...) but are these only "pictures" or animatronics ???
(My kids are 9 but one is a little be scared when it's dark or when it's fast !)

How much time did you wait ??? Is there a FP ?
What did you eat ?? Is there a good restaurant or only fast food ?

Sorry I've got a lot of questions because we come this summer from France to visit Universal !
Thanks for answering

Perrine

if the kids are afraid of spiders and skeletons (the dementors have a similarity) they may be afraid. i actually rode with another family of 3...the son next to me looked about 9ish? and he was laughing when i would scream. (even in the picture i was clentching with a silly scared look- and he wasnt). nothing actually touches you unless you reach for it, so there is nothing to worry about. the ride is slightly dark at parts, but it is not too dark that you cant see your hand in front of you and it is not fast, it is actually slow paced. the ride was definitely enjoyable scary if that makes sense? things may startle you and make you jump, but it will make you laugh. also, this is one ride that i was saying WOW the whole time. it will really mesmorize any riders, and i dont think it would scare anyone away. this is definitely a ride that if you miss, you will kick yourself later.

they were all animatronics, and there were a couple rounded screens that you can definitely tell when you are in front of them.

if you check my youtube videos (a couple posts up) you will see i was at islands of adventure on line since 730am since i was staying on property at Hard Rock, so i got a preview before the soft opening that day. once i entered the area at 8am, the walk through was maybe about 10 min? i forgot to time the walk through :/...but there was no wait time, i went ride through the castle onto the ride (well, a few min added on for the seat check stops). i would say the ride itself was about 4 min.

there is a line for express pass, but since it was a preview and not officially opened yet they are not doing the express pass...just in case you dont know, the express pass is only available for purchase, they dont have machines like disney. if you are staying at a universal resort though, it is included on your room card.

i ate breakfast ate 3 broomsticks which is a quick service restaurant but im not sure if they are always doing breakfast or if it was just for the preview. it was very fast moving, and you are not allowed to sit until you paid for your food, so there is no table saving which i LOVED! plus, they have managers walking around making sure all is well. (may just have been for the preview though)

 

[KerriK85]

Can you still buy a wand if you're not picked?

yes! they have a store right after the "show area" where you can pick wands off of the shelves, take them out of their boxes and hold them. they have TM's walking around asking if you need help picking a wand and ask you not to cast any spells while in the store! also, the wands are all categorized, so if there is a specific type you are looking for, it is very easy to find.

 

[KerriK85]