ahecht Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Does the single rider line bypass the elevator and preshow? Where does it split/merge? It does. It puts you into the room with the spiral staircase and single rider had their own staircase. Both the regular line and single rider merge right at the top so they can put uneven parties together. Sounds like a good setup. I assume there's a tour-only line like Forbidden Journey to just see the preshow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chroniq Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Looks like Universal has another winner on their hands. I remember when Forbidden Journey opened and the lines were nearly to the park entrance, but this ride has four times the capacity and still had wait times of 450 minutes. It took 160 minutes to get through the single rider line? WOW! Years ago, many enthusiasts thought it was stupid for Universal to build anything Harry Potter related. That was a funny time. Now we have one of the most detailed theme park environments in the US. I need to make a trip down to check it out myself. -chris "and I actually don't like harry potter, but this ish looks awesome" con Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrlandoGuy Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Does the single rider line bypass the elevator and preshow? Where does it split/merge? It does. It puts you into the room with the spiral staircase and single rider had their own staircase. Both the regular line and single rider merge right at the top so they can put uneven parties together. Sounds like a good setup. I assume there's a tour-only line like Forbidden Journey to just see the preshow? Nope, the only people who will see the queue are people lining up to ride the ride. No Hogwarts-esque tour line this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 I assume there's a tour-only line like Forbidden Journey to just see the preshow? I never even knew this existed! I'm also assuming it's there because the height restriction of that ride is 48" which is much higher than most family rides like it here in Orlando (most are between 38" - 42") so that way younger kids could at least see some of the Potter stuff? Gringotts is 42" so it doesn't have that same problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltrane Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Great report Robb. Thank you for sharing it. And is if I didn't have enough reasons to like you, seeing that Coke Zero made my day. Nothing is better than an ice cold Coke Zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simtanic8 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) Before I start, I will say that I am a potter fan. So if I sound insane, biased, and am just "fanboying" all over the place, you know why. Reading the books, watching the movies, and then actually being able to live the world is a dream come true. Even to non-potter fans, it's hard to deny that this whole land is beautiful and amazingly detailed. In my opinion, you "Leave" Universal and enter a whole new world. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is mind blowing. The ride system is fantastic and the "coaster" sections are indeed short like Robb said but they pack a punch for the first time. If you want to not be lost in the story and want it to make sense, go through the regular queue. In single riders you bypass the entire preshow and the lift. To me the lift makes the Stretching room at Haunted Mansion seem like a county fair ride, I was mind boggled both times I got on the lift. To non potter fans, the preshow explains why you're at Gringotts. You're here to open an account and the goblins are going to take you to your vault, but in good old Universal fashion, something goes terribly wrong. After riding through and returning to the station my entire cart erupted in applause. The show scenes are massive, filled with detail and beautiful transitions. I was lucky enough to ride twice, once with no wait, second with about 45 minutes. First time in the back very back row, second in the very first row. I arrived at Universal around 5:50 or so. Not a car in sight, even the toll plaza was empty. They were prepared for the rush that just didn't come at that time. They had barricades running from Fossil all the way to IOA and back. Lined with staff and carts, but still not many guests in sight. Park was open to let guests in, but still not many to be seen. Barricades and staff wrapped around Simpsons and MIB, but I finally made it. about 500 or so in London, everyone else waited outside. My view point of the opening. The ceremony was short and sweet. The fireworks set off were in the colors of the four houses which I thought was a nice touch. Looking back, shows just how many guests arrived after me. With the ceremony finished, we were let in. They gave us the red carpet treatment, literally. Confetti was flying everywhere and the streets were lined with all the shop keepers. The amount of tears shed around me was astounding. I threw my bag in the fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo and darted for the single riders queue, which at this point no one was using. Everyone darted for the regular queue, which was at a 75 when I entered. They only had 2 rvs, but each rv has two carts with each holding twelve. My first time and I went straight on with no wait. So I went back in line and rode again, this time waiting for 45minutes. Leaving after my second ride, the wait time jumped to 300. There was even a wait for the fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo. I saw nothing but organized chaos when I left. No pushing, shoving, no angry guests. I was shocked thinking I was in a dream, but I think everyone was just high off of Butterbeer ice cream. Required fire dragon shot. Confetti, Confetti everywhere! After leaving, the line wrapped backstage into the queues for HHN and all the way to Transformers. Now for some random shots taken from the past few days. Overall, I give it 23.5 out of 10 stars, Universal definitely stepped up their game. . Edited July 8, 2014 by simtanic8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 The ride system is fantastic and the "coaster" sections are indeed short like Robb said but they pack a punch for the first time. Wow! Great pictures! I did just want to clear something up, though - There really is only one "coaster section" in the ride. The first one. That's the only time it really uses gravity to propel the ride vehicle. All the other places that are you moving along it's not "coasting", but is powered and controlled as the car moves along the track much like Spider-Man or Indiana Jones is. It goes fast (or more like briskly) in other places, but it's not actually "coasting" in the same way Test Track, while it's going 60+MPH, is not actually "coasting." Just wanted to make that clear! Thanks for the update! Great stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) Wow! Great pictures! Thanks for the update! Great stuff! Agreed! In fact, added some of the photos to the park index. Please post more photos to the site! Edited July 8, 2014 by ernierocker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COASTER FREAK 11 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Can someone clear this up for me please: What in the hell is a giant bridge thing doing in the middle of the entrance? At the top of the photo below. In promotional images, it showed a train crossing this section, but that clearly doesn't happen in real life. Its just a large walkway. So, is this train track in the story? I don't remember it in the movie. It just really seems weird and out of place. Can anyone explain it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 ^ I don't know how it's "explained" but walking under it is just would appear to be an elevated train that would be part of the London Underground. You hear train noises like you would in London. I'm not a Potter person so I have no clue how it fits into any stories, but as a non-Potter person, it didn't seem out of place or weird in any way. Kind of reminded me a bit of the elevated train at Toyko DisneySea, except that you just don't actually see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Thank you guys for the reports! Seems like it is a pretty successful opening day overall. One thing I was wondering, does anyone have an overview shot of the land? Like a layout of the streets and where the coaster/train/shops/food places are all located? There may have been a shot of the park map or something but I missed it. Thanks! From the park map: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
necoastergp Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 ^^^I believe it's a walkway for employees to move in and out without being seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 ^^^I believe it's a walkway for employees to move in and out without being seen. That's exactly what it is, but I think he meant how does it fit into the "theme." Honestly, it's not that much different than the road that runs smack down the middle of DisneySea, but you never notice because it's extremely well hidden and themed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COASTER FREAK 11 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 ^^^I believe it's a walkway for employees to move in and out without being seen. That's exactly what it is, but I think he meant how does it fit into the "theme." Honestly, it's not that much different than the road that runs smack down the middle of DisneySea, but you never notice because it's extremely well hidden and themed! That answered it, its for employees. I knew there was an actual reason it was there, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 I was a Potter geek back in the day, and there wasn't a train bridge over Diagon Alley in the books. Universal added it for convenience as mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adeuce02 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 I got there at 5am this morning. The only thing that was bad was the line for escape from gringotts was confusing and just went everywhere and each direction. Stand-by was posted at 150 when my party enter the bank. Ended up waiting two hours in stand-by and that was with the breakdowns. Overall as a Potter fan its one of the best things I've experienced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcmolloy Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 This is just awesome! Thanks for heading to the park today guys to get the photos and reviews of everything. I'm really tempted to head to Orlando soon to make my rounds of the parks since it has been quite sometime. I really hope that it does live up to the hype! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Can someone clear this up for me please: What in the hell is a giant bridge thing doing in the middle of the entrance? At the top of the photo below. In promotional images, it showed a train crossing this section, but that clearly doesn't happen in real life. I think it's just so Diagon Alley feels like a london back alley. It's weirdly one of the details I really like! As it really does remind me of the similar streets around London where abouts I used to live, with quirky old shops and cobbled streets with the overground trains running overhead. I LOVE the look of the area and am dying to fly over and visit next year. I hope the atmosphere is what I'd hoped. Just curious though about Gringotts, lately I've struggled abit with simulator rides due to motion sickness (never had it before but it seems to have developed) how is the ride for that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackdude101 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 How's it going Jack? Gonna try to help you out with a few things here. Dynamic Structures built the ride system for FJ (Forbidden Journey) the RV bases, busbar track system, operating system, and so on. Kuka Robotics supplied the arms that attach to the RV and operate on the system Dynamic Structures put in place. Kuka also supplied the arms that animate the movement of the Dementors and Whomping Willow. Universal Creative wrote the program that Dynamics program controls. Gringotts on the other hand is an even larger collaboration of companies including all the ones you listed plus Intamin. Gringotts is not a SFX Coaster from Dynamic Structures. It's an in house creation and executed through a massive collaboration of companies & engineers. Can't really get into Gringotts but trust me it's pretty advanced lol. If your interested I'm gonna and paste part of a write up I did on The Forbidden Journey last year. It includes a break down of an earlier version of the ride. Take care! Would you happen to have some sort of online source for this juicy info? If so, I can add it to the ride's Wikipedia page so the world can see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
necoastergp Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Thank you guys for the reports! Seems like it is a pretty successful opening day overall. One thing I was wondering, does anyone have an overview shot of the land? Like a layout of the streets and where the coaster/train/shops/food places are all located? There may have been a shot of the park map or something but I missed it. Thanks! From the park map: Any one else think it's coincidence that the Leaky Cauldron and Florean Fortescues on the map are letters J and K, I see what you did there Universal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WFChris Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 I apologize if I missed it, but I recall reading that there was supposed to be some kind of effect on the Hogwarts Express entering the station platform. I'm not a Potter fan but I understand in the books and movies the platform is accessed via a wall between two platforms, and USH was going to emulate this experience. Can anybody explain what it's like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTF Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 The effect of guest walking through an actual brick wall or in the story Platform 9 3/4 is achieved via peppers ghost effect. A large piece of glass is camouflaged into a large luggage cart directly in between those parading through the effect and those watching it. In addition lighting is key to pull off this effect as is the angle in which guests see it. Watch this video, stop after the first 20 seconds if you don't want on ride spoilers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTF Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 How's it going Jack? Gonna try to help you out with a few things here. Dynamic Structures built the ride system for FJ (Forbidden Journey) the RV bases, busbar track system, operating system, and so on. Kuka Robotics supplied the arms that attach to the RV and operate on the system Dynamic Structures put in place. Kuka also supplied the arms that animate the movement of the Dementors and Whomping Willow. Universal Creative wrote the program that Dynamics program controls. Gringotts on the other hand is an even larger collaboration of companies including all the ones you listed plus Intamin. Gringotts is not a SFX Coaster from Dynamic Structures. It's an in house creation and executed through a massive collaboration of companies & engineers. Can't really get into Gringotts but trust me it's pretty advanced lol. If your interested I'm gonna and paste part of a write up I did on The Forbidden Journey last year. It includes a break down of an earlier version of the ride. Take care! Would you happen to have some sort of online source for this juicy info? If so, I can add it to the ride's Wikipedia page so the world can see. No this was article written in partnership with those cannot be named sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denning Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 It's Pepper's Ghost effect similar to the Haunted Mansion. You actually don't see the effect but the people in line behind you do. So you have to ask a friend to hold back and take the picture. I am attaching a video of the wife going through. IMG_0774.MOV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon8899 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 On the one side I envy you guys for being there on opening day - on the other side I would despise the lines, opening day or not... Big thanks for the live-tweeting and all the info. Is Gringotts worthwhile without the 3-D glasses? I have a special eye condition that makes all 3-D stuff not work for me so would it be wise to line for this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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