Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is the centerpiece of the Diagon Alley expansion at Universal Studios Florida. It’s impossible to miss this attraction when you cross through the magical barrier into the Wizarding World, but there are some things you might miss along the way.
Check out these great details and make sure you don’t miss a single highlight of the experience.
Note: there are some minor spoilers in this article (which are necessary to provide hints and tips on what to look out for), but nothing that gives away major plot elements.
1. The single rider line can save hours, but at a price
When Diagon Alley first opened, the queue for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts exceeded seven hours, making this single attraction an all-day investment. Though the lines have since shortened significantly, the wait still lingers at around two hours even on slow days. This is further complicated by the fact that the brand new ride system is still dealing with some kinks.
Gringotts reportedly has an 18-minute safety reboot which can significantly lengthen your wait time if the attraction experiences technical difficulties while you’re in line. If you don’t have all day to invest in the attraction, the single rider line is a much shorter option. With a posted wait time of about 90 minutes, Team Members quoted the single rider line as just 20 to 25 minutes. Guests can generally expect the line to cut their wait time to about 25% of the standard line. As a single rider, you can stand with your party in the line and pass the time together, but you won’t get to sit side-by-side on the attraction.
The biggest drawback to the single rider line, however, is that you’ll miss a significant portion of the pre-show. Single riders pass by a small opening that looks into the bank lobby, but without actually entering the massive space, some of the details are lost. Single riders also miss the preshow featuring Bill Weasley, skip the photo identification process, and bypass the elevator. In fact, the only thing you do see in the single rider line is a talking portrait of a goblin offering a brief safety spiel and a short video featuring a simulation of the ride’s movement.
2. The roller coaster is only one part of the ride
If you don’t opt for the single rider line, you’ll experience more than just the Gringotts roller coaster. The attraction also features a simulated elevator ride that adds a great deal of depth to the story line. The elevator vibrates and features immersive sound and video effects as it plunges you deep into the earth. Just as the Haunted Mansion would seem incomplete without the stretch room, so too can the Gringotts experience feel distinctly lacking without the elevator trip.
3. The regular queue features a photo op
While most attractions take your photo on the ride, Gringotts offers a creative alternative. After passing through the Gringotts bank lobby, you’re directed to a room where you have your photo taken for a security ID. This identification purportedly grants you access to the vaults. You can check out your photo and purchase a copy of the ID after you exit the ride. Keep in mind that this, too, is only available in the standard queue.
4. The ride system is somewhat familiar but completely new
The ride system for Gringotts will seem distinctly familiar to guests who have experienced other parts of Universal Studios in the past. At first glance, the cars are very similar to what you find on Revenge of the Mummy. The ride restraint system is very familiar from this attraction with a lap bar that locks down over your legs.
What makes the ride system unique from Mummy, however, is that the cars can rotate, rumble, and perform a host of other movements while on the ride track. You’re also given 3-D glasses. These elements are strongly reminiscent of Transformers and Spiderman (which are themselves nearly identical). The ride makes use of both elaborate sets and 3-D videos, though the latter are much more prevalent. Unlike Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which uses a few video screens but many actual ride pieces, like the dementors, spiders, and Whomping Willow, nearly all of the action in Gringotts takes place on the screen.
5. The exterior dragon is more than a statue
The exterior of Gringotts looks exactly like the set from the films with one giant addition. The escaped dragon perches atop the building. If you drive past Universal Studios on the right streets, you can actually see the backside of the dragon’s wings from outside the park. Take Turkey Lake Road north to Vineland and turn right. The massive grey building you see on your right is the show building and you can spot the dragon sitting atop. Best leave the dragon spotting to your passenger, though, as this road is prone to accidents and drivers should keep their eyes on the tricky traffic.
The tail of the dragon is the only part of the hidden Diagon Alley world that’s visible from elsewhere in the park. Settle in for a taco in Springfield, and you’ll notice the conspicuous tail poking up above the rooftops of the London façade opposite you.
Though the dragon doesn’t move (consider the massive structural failure of the Yeti in Disney’s Expedition Everest and you’ll understand why a moving dragon was probably ruled out), it does come to life periodically. A series of rumblings heralds the dragon’s roar, and the sound it makes as it breathes fire above the streets of Diagon Alley is so distinctive that it’s easily heard in the Leaky Cauldron.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is everything that avid fans hoped it would be, with a thrilling ride system and many of the film’s most beloved characters. However you decide to experience the attraction, you’re sure to have an amazing time.
