Harry Potter Wizarding World, Trip of a Lifetime - Part 2: The Rides

There are three rides in the Potter portion of Universal Studios: Flight of the Hippogriff, Dragon Challenge, and Forbidden Journey.



The Hippogriff ride was surprisingly fun for a short traditional coaster. Connor and I rode it over and over because there was almost no line.

Dragon Challenge, formerly known as Dueling Dragons, is an old coaster that has been refitted for the new Potter park. As its name suggests, there are two coasters that run at the same time, coming within 18 inches of each other at one point. Once was enough for me, but Dylan and Brad rode it 10 or 12 times. The queue for Dragon Challenge winds through some interesting stuff like

Mr. Weasley's flying Ford Anglia,

the Tri-Wizard Cup,


and the dragon egg.



The big attraction ride of the Potter park is the Forbidden Journey, which is housed entirely inside the huge Hogwarts Castle. The ride itself is an amazing, realistic simulation of a broom flight. I got pretty queasy both times I rode it, but Brad and the boys rode it four times altogether.

Since we were there before the park's official opening, this ride ran only intermittently.

Aside from the ride, the queue for it was very long and really cool, worth walking through even without taking the ride. This part of the queue was the greenhouse, complete with mandrakes.


We covered our ears just in case.


Looks like Gryffindor is beating Slytherin in house points. We wondered if these points change from time to time.


One of our favorite parts of Hogwarts Castle was the portrait hall, where several of the portraits move, talk, and converse with each other.


Dumbledore's office, where a realistic projection of him would step to this balcony to address the queue.


The pensieve


Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom


More than once while we were in this DATDA classroom, it snowed!


This balcony had a projection of Harry, Ron, and Hermione having a discussion. It looked very real.


The Mirror of Arised



"No Muggles"


This copy of the Daily Prophet showed photos that moved.

The last part of the queue was the Gryffindor common room.

We were impressed with how park designers carried the Potter theme through the rides added to the thrill of the whole experience.