Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [140]
Hogsmeade Village was designed to emulate the narrow winding streets, nooks, and alleys of the Harry Potter film series, and the fact that they’ve done a good job also means that traffic bottlenecks are the norm all day long. It’s best to embrace the fact that you’ll be moving slowly, and use the time to savor all the wonderful details of this magical and painstakingly recreated world.
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Map Location 14
This attraction, which lies deep within Hogwarts Castle, is the heart and soul of The Wizarding World. The queue is wonderful—which is good news, considering you might be in it for quite a while. You’ll meet the four founders of Hogwarts in the form of framed portraits that come to life and converse with each other. Dumbledore greets you in his office, you pass the famed Sorting Hat, and you’ll ultimately wind up in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Harry, Ron, and Hermione—played by the movie actors, naturally—persuade you that going off with them to a Quidditch match is far more fun than staying behind for a boring history lecture. One wave of Hermione’s wand, and your bench becomes capable of flight.
Your first clue to the intensity of the attraction is that your enchanted schoolbench comes equipped with harness restraints. Indeed, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a big-deal ride in both a physical sense, with lots of pitching and jerking action, and a psychological sense, as various villains from the books show up and try to divert your flight. The spider section is especially scary for kids, and let’s just say that the Whomping Willow ain’t kidding around. When Harry shows up to rescue you and you do finally make it to the Quidditch match, you experience the real feel of flight. And the ride ends on a happy note, with all the students of Hogwarts cheering your victory.
The Scare Factor
The 48-inch height requirement on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey means that many kids ages 5 to 8 will be able to ride. That said, there are reasons why this journey is forbidden. Older kids love it, and young fans of the book will probably be determined to ride. Just prepare everyone: the bench sometimes feels as if it’s flipping over backward, and much of the journey is dark and scary, with dragons and spiders coming from all angles. Note, too, that the attraction has an exit for those who want to go through the queue and see the characters but who aren’t up to taking on the actual ride.
This is a 360-degree wraparound experience, combining live action, robotic technology, and filmmaking tricks that make you feel as if you’re actually flying from scene to scene. Make no mistake—Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is Island of Adventure’s signature ride, representing their highest technology to date. The entire experience, including the interactive queue, takes close to an hour. Note that this ride has a minimum height requirement (48 inches) and maximum height and weight limits (6’3”; 250 pounds).
The Flight of the Hippogriff
Map Location 13
This is a fun little coaster for the younger set, and zippier than you’d guess with some sharp dips and turns. Young Harry Potter fans, who aren’t up to the Dragon Challenge, will enjoy the ride, which is a good “first coaster” experience. The really cool part is that you zoom around a perfect replica of Hagrid’s Hut.
The Scare Factor
The Flight of the Hippogriff is fast enough to elicit a few squeals, but most kids love it.
Dragon Challenge
Map Location 12
This double roller coaster is one of the wildest rides in the park, running at speeds of up to 60 mph. Two suspension-style coasters (that is, they hang beneath the track for maximum side-to-side swinging action) operate at once, coming within inches of each other at certain points. For the ultimate thrill seekers, riders in the