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More family friendly attractions at WWOHP?

Universal Orlando: I think so

From Matt Babiak
Posted November 22, 2011 at 12:29 PM
My sister hates thrill rides and refuses to ride anything fast or any motion simulators. She won't ride Space or Big Thunder Mountain (without singing animals, she wouldn't ride Splash either). So when we went to WWOHP, she was bored about how she couldn't do anything. Sure, we saw Ollivander's Wand Snooze, but she didn't ride anything in the land because they were all thrill rides. So here's my question:should WWOHP add more family friendly rides(or atleast some non-rollercoasters).


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Matt Babiak
Posted November 22, 2011 at 1:54 PM
A family-friendly dark ride through the Chamber of Secrets would work wonders here...
An gringotts coaster is a terrible idea. They have more than enough thrill rides at IOA

From Andrew Carrieri
Posted November 22, 2011 at 2:17 PM
This is going to sound crazy but: should Universal consider tearing down Dragon Challenge and putting other things such as a Gringotts coaster and a couple of child friendly attractions on that space? Now that the dragons no longer duel, I don't see much purpose to the attraction. Plus, the wait times are apparently low anyway.

From Matt Babiak
Posted November 22, 2011 at 2:24 PM
That's a good point. I hear that DC isn't worth a trip since they don't "duel".

From Amy Smith
Posted November 22, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Okay, this really annoys me. Wizarding World should NOT have child friendly attractions in it because the fans are no longer children. The youngest that you should be reading the 4th-7th books is also around 7th or 8th grade because of the content too, so new readers should be older as well. By middle school pretty much everyone should meet the height requirements as well as the thrill factor, even if just for hippogriff.

They are going to expand Potter and the rumors from the people who are higher ups there is that a Gringotts coaster and quidditch show are on the way along with Diagon Alley. If they cancel the coaster because of wimps I will be so upset, especially if they put some kiddie ride in instead.

From Matt Babiak
Posted November 23, 2011 at 3:45 AM
I'm not asking for kiddie rides, just stop with the coasters. And maybe my family is beyond there years, but my sister is in 5th grade(she's 10). She is the biggest HP geek I know. Heck, I read the books before I was 12!

From Andrew Mooney
Posted November 23, 2011 at 8:22 AM
Amy, it isn't child rides that we particularly want. I'm no child at 18 but honest to goodness I can't handle simulators or rollercoasters. Thunder Mountain was hard enough for my stomach. I would love a nice meandering dark ride where I could actually visit the different parts of the castle rather than being chased by dragons - I actually have no idea what happened on The Forbidden Journey as I kept my eyes closed to help beat motion sickness. For a guy who has grown up with Harry Potter, it was disappointing that I couldn't feel part of the magic.

From Andrew Carrieri
Posted November 23, 2011 at 8:38 AM
Matt:
Yeah, I read the fourth book right when it came out when I was ten (just before fifth grade). Also, just because someone is a Potter fan, it doesn't necessarily make them a thrill ride fan even when they reach seventh grade or whatever.

From Fred Koury
Posted November 23, 2011 at 9:04 AM
A dark ride would be a good fit. Maybe utilize the Poseidon's Fury building. I feel bad for you guys that can't take any rides with thrills. That's half the experience.

From Mike Gallagher
Posted November 23, 2011 at 9:28 AM
I read all of the books when I was in my 40's..as I still am. I came to them late on the recommendation of people I trust..who also were not kids.

From Manny Rodriguez
Posted November 23, 2011 at 11:09 AM
my familys rule is at least try it once if you dont like it then you dint need to ride it again

From Amy Smith
Posted November 23, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Okay, sorry. I thought you were asking for kiddie rides, but I guess maybe an in-between type of ride would work. Not really sure what that would be, but it would be better than a harry potter version of dumbo anyway.

I know that younger kids read the first couple of books, but I have never met any child who had read beyond Prisoner of Azkaban and actually understood what it was they were reading about. The basics of the plot yes, but not the underlying themes. So that's what I meant about most people reading after elementary school, besides the fact that for most original fans who waited for the books to come out were in secondary school or college when it ended and therefore are adults or near enough now.

Honestly, I think as long as they expand Wizarding World and it is all themed properly and there is a Gringotts coaster, I don't really care what else goes in. I just really want that coaster because watching it in 3d/DBOX (like shrek 4d where the seats move) it was like it was a ride already and I want to ride again.

From Tony Perkins
Posted November 29, 2011 at 9:02 PM
Universal definitely needs to put in a long family dark ride through scenes from the books. That should be the next thing they do, unless they want to take down and sell Dragon's Challenge and replace it with the Gringott's coaster. I won't shed any tears to see DC go since it no longer duels and is hardly Potter themed anyway.

From Anon Mouse
Posted December 1, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Many new rides have plenty of motion. It might be a good idea to once in a while make an exception. She should have went on the Harry Potter rides to at least have the experience. Take the motion sickness pill.

As I am getting older myself, I can't handle it as well. I avoid very intense rides, but I can still handle the more gentler roller coasters and most simulators. I will still do one or two, then I'll stop. There are few options other than this. Otherwise, you're wasting your money and its better to not go.

From the looks of it, the Wizarding World have plenty of things to do. The Forbidden Journey/School queue alone looks spectacular. Did she skip the queue? Her loss.

From Skipper Adam
Posted December 1, 2011 at 4:21 PM
As cool as a queue is (which the majority of FJ isn't that great...) I would not want to wait in line for a ride I can't ride. I don't blame people for skipping the queue if they could be doing something else.

From Andrew Carrieri
Posted December 1, 2011 at 4:39 PM
I agree with Skipper Adam. If I can't go on a certain attraction, I'm not going through the queue just to see that (especially if it is really congested). I know there are some amazing queues out there such as Potter and Everest but I unfortunately could care less about them--I just want to experience the attractions and don't much care if I don't fully understand the story.

From N B
Posted December 1, 2011 at 5:48 PM
I think Skipper is fishing for a debate about the FJ queue with that comment.... I would like an example of something that is equal in detail and technology (not the ride, just the queue).

The outdoor portion is not that exciting, but that is the whole idea. You build up anticipation as you get closer to the castle doors to view the interior.

Apparently, USF can do nothing right.... eh, Skipper?

From Anon Mouse
Posted December 1, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Considering that the queue recreates a lot of what you see in the movie with respect to Hogwarts, it is shortsighted to merely dismiss it as a queue, when it is actually much more. The built up is part of the story in the book. Although in a busy day, you could be in the line for over an hour, the ride itself is only 5 minutes. In fact, missing both (the queue and ride) is missing the highlight of the Wizarding World. Thus, why bother buying a ticket?

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