As you move on you can see a ride which is called Flight of the Hippogriff, which used to been the Flying Unicorn. This has changed a lot as there is a new train – a hippogriff as its body and matching scenery. Queuing times vary around 10-15 minutes. As you queue Hagrid will give you a talk about the Hippogriff, how to approach and ride it safely. The ride has no loops, but it’s a fast and twisty track, suitable for the younger children. You can see Hagrid’s hut as you fly! The highest point of the ride is by far the best, as you capture the magnificent view of Hogsmeade village and the Castle, also the rest of the park.
As you exit Flight of the Hippogriff, you will see a line, forming outside of the Hogwarts Castle. This line takes you to some lockers which you put your possessions in before queuing for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It takes about 20 minutes to queue for a locker this is because there is a certain amount of lockers, this queue in unnecessary if you have no bags (if this applies to you, ask one of the staff members by the gate of the castle and they will let you proceed up to the castle and join the queue, take this queue if you have a fast pass). After placing your belongings in the lockers, you can join either a single rider queue, or the normal queue. (For a more detailed description on this ride, look at our other article Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey! )
When queuing for this ride you tour Hogwarts, starting off in the green houses and ending up in Hogwarts. Moving photos and replica’s of many of the props shown in the films, really makes you feel as though you’re in the Harry Potter World! The ride is a moving motion simulator. There are many carts/trains seating four people turned sideways, moves you along a twisty track whilst the arm in which the cart is attached to, moves you left, right, down, up, forwards backwards, and close but not all the way upside down! The effect is that you are flying, and it really does achieve this. The ride shows all the main things mentioned in the stories; flying a broomstick, a dragon, spiders, the whomping willow, dementors, the chamber of secrets, the Quidditch pitch, and the Great Hall. It is a spectacular ride, which I would recommend for anyone willing to take the challenge.
This park is amazing and I can not wait to visit it again in the summer with my family!
Olivia Taylor – Aged 15
As you exit Flight of the Hippogriff, you will see a line, forming outside of the Hogwarts Castle. This line takes you to some lockers which you put your possessions in before queuing for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It takes about 20 minutes to queue for a locker this is because there is a certain amount of lockers, this queue in unnecessary if you have no bags (if this applies to you, ask one of the staff members by the gate of the castle and they will let you proceed up to the castle and join the queue, take this queue if you have a fast pass). After placing your belongings in the lockers, you can join either a single rider queue, or the normal queue. (For a more detailed description on this ride, look at our other article Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey! )
When queuing for this ride you tour Hogwarts, starting off in the green houses and ending up in Hogwarts. Moving photos and replica’s of many of the props shown in the films, really makes you feel as though you’re in the Harry Potter World! The ride is a moving motion simulator. There are many carts/trains seating four people turned sideways, moves you along a twisty track whilst the arm in which the cart is attached to, moves you left, right, down, up, forwards backwards, and close but not all the way upside down! The effect is that you are flying, and it really does achieve this. The ride shows all the main things mentioned in the stories; flying a broomstick, a dragon, spiders, the whomping willow, dementors, the chamber of secrets, the Quidditch pitch, and the Great Hall. It is a spectacular ride, which I would recommend for anyone willing to take the challenge.
This park is amazing and I can not wait to visit it again in the summer with my family!
Olivia Taylor – Aged 15