“Yer escaping from Gringotts, Harry!” ...that's what Hagrid says in the movies, right?
Escape from Gringotts is the second best Harry Potter ride in Universal Orlando, just behind Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. This is a great mix of a 3D dark ride and a roller coaster, similar to Revenge of the Mummy, with several setpieces and digital screens featuring the original actors from the movies like Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Mr.Weasley. Sorry, I forgot his name. Don’t hate me, Weasley.
The Good
As it’s also the case with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the queue for this attraction is amazing. Universal probably spent all the money stored in the Gringotts vaults to build several animatronics and awesome scenes that really immerse you in the Wizarding World. Even if you have no plans to ride this roller coaster, you should definitely come here just to take some pictures.
I told you already that this ride resembles Revenge of the Mummy a lot, right? Yeah, there are several animatronics, digital screens, and the original actors reprising their roles and telling a story. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are attempting to infiltrate the highly secure Gringotts bank and trying to find an artifact that can help them defeat the evil Lord Voldemort. Speaking of Voldemort, he also makes an appearance alongside Bellatrix Lestrange. This ride is certainly a treat for Potterheads, probably even more so than Forbidden Journey.
The ride itself is a pretty good time as well. Expect to flee from Voldemort, follow a dragon in a high-speed chase, and come face to face with living metal armors that look like something from Dungeons & Dragons. Escape from Gringotts is a roller coaster, but I wouldn't say it’s overly intense. Taking into consideration that a lot of kids will probably want to come here, it’s cool that turns aren’t overly intense, and there aren’t any steep drops, corkscrews or loops. I’d say that it’s even more gentle than Revenge of the Mummy.
The Bad
The main problem with Gringotts isn’t the abundant use of 3D screens, but that the 3D visuals simply do not look very good. Characters tend to look blurry, and I will never forget that one time when Daniel Radcliffe appeared on top of a dragon, and a guest next to me squinted her eyes and asked, “Is this Harry Potter!?” We were all thinking the same thing, my friend. I do wonder if Universal will get rid of the 3D glasses sooner or later and upgrade the visuals to an ultra-high-mega resolution to provide better colors and textures, similar to what they did with Minion Mayhem.
Another bad thing is the waiting times. This is one of the most popular rides in Universal Orlando, and the only big Harry Potter ride located in the Diagon Alley. You know what that means, right? Not even an Expelliarmus spell can clear that many guests from the line. Expect to wait around an hour in the queue during peak times.
Will Kids enjoy it?
Absolutely. Kids of all ages should enjoy this ride. It has a good theme, it’s a ride that’s not overly intense, and it’s a great mix of a dark ride with a family coaster. There are a few drops and turns, but nothing I'd consider too scary. You do come face to face with the Dark Lord Voldemort, and there is also a fire-breathing dragon, which might be scary for the little ones.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts FAQ
Where is Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts located?
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is located in Universal Studios Orlando.
What is the height requirement to ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts?
You must be at least 42″ to ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
Is Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts scary for children?
It’s not very scary, no. However, there are parts of the ride that take place in the dark, and there’s a big dragon as well as the appearance of Voldemort. Since it’s also a coaster, it might be intimidating for younger children.
Do we recommend Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts?
Yes! Even with some blurry visuals, this is a very fun coaster with a great queue and amazing set pieces.
