Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts — Attraction in Orlando

A very underwhelming ride. It's barely even a roller coaster. It would be classified better as a railed dark ride. About every 15 seconds you stop for a 3D screen segment. It's just a disappointing ride. I would probably not wait more than 20 minutes for it. On top of that, the crew running the ride was very undertrained. While riding the ride there was a technical error, which is no big deal. I realize theme park rides especially roller coasters have safety systems that engage to prevent accidents. However after a few attempts to resume operations we finally made it back to the unloading station (We were the train just behind the train unloading at the station). I was riding with a party of 9 who all used the single riders line so we were spread throughout the attraction when it broke. When we returned to the station a member of my party who was sitting behind me released his lap bar but couldn't get the lap bars for the empty seats next to him to release. While he tried to get them to release so he could unload off the train one of the crew members from across the station began screaming at him to exit the train and to just pull up on the lap bar. The crew member helping to unload the train came over and tried assisting in releasing the restraints and couldn't get them to release either. His response was to climb over the closed restraints (Which is typically a big no-no in roller coaster safety). He ended up deciding to exit back to the load side and then cross over a cleared row. We then waited towards the exit for the rest of our party. While we waited the crew was notified they would have to evacuate the guests from the ride. This resulted in members of the crew yelling at each other and a very tense feeling between them. Another one of my parties members who was evacuated in the ride said that the evacuation crew came but seemed really frantic and ended up having to grab additional equipment to get them out of the ride. In addition to everything the way the seats are designed results in blood loss to your legs in a fairly short period of time especially if you are short and your feet can not touch the floor. Multiple children around my ride vehicle complained that their legs had gone numb after about 5 minutes of us sitting. We ended up being delayed about 30 minutes. The crew just appeared to have little to no idea of what they were doing which is very concerning considering that nearly all coaster accidents occur when the rides are not operating normally. They occur when manual overrides are needed to reset the ride's systems and communication breaks down between the crew running the attraction. (For further information I'm a coaster enthusiast and understand many of the safety features that are installed. I have also been evacuated off of a different ride in the past and had a calm and professional...

This was my first visit to Diagon Alley and number one on my list of things to do was this ride. As you approach the ride you can't help but notice the huge dragon curled around the top of the building. Every 15 minutes the dragon shoots out a ball of fire so get your camera for an awesome photo opportunity.

The ride queue takes you through the vaults finally depositing you in the opulent bank lobby with marble columns and a giant chandelier. Hard at work are the goblins giving you the eye as they go about their business. I loved the sign offering to exchange my muggle money.

Once you have made your way through the lobby there is a preshow starring Bill Weasley. You then enter a elevator that made me think of the Haunted Mansion. You are brought deep into the vault where you are told to have your photo taken for identification but it's really so Universal can magically suck some more money out of your wallet. Then it's up stairs and down stairs and finally you make it to the ride. Just getting to the ride is such a process that I can imagine the line is normally hours long. We were at a special after hours event, Orlando Informer Meetup so the line was minimal. This ride offers a single rider line normally which truncates the preshow but if you are short on time it might be a good option.

The ride itself is a fairly mild roller coaster that requires you to wear glasses for the 3 D effects on screen. During the ride you are menaced by Bellatrix LeStrange and Voldemort. Huge stone trolls take a swipe at you with their clubs. Finally Harry Potter and friends rescue you by tying your car to the back of their dragon and you fly up behind him to safety. The dragon part was my favorite. The ride goes completely dark so I wasn't able to see how they achieved the effect but it really felt like you were flying up and into the air.

As a true Harry Potter fan I loved this ride. I found it to be much smoother and more technically advanced than the older ride in Hogsmeade, Forbidden Journey. You can only experience it once for the first time and I think that will be the most special ride. Part of the fun is in not knowing what is going to happen next. Even if you are riding it for the 500th time it is still an amazing ride. I think it beats anything at Disney except for possibly Flight of Passage in the new Avatar land. I hear that one is pretty amazing but I have yet to experience it myself. Until then this is my pick for top ride in any of the parks. Universal did such an outstanding job with this ride that I can't wait to see what they come up for the replacement of...

We come to Universal Studios Orlando all the time, and no visit is complete without riding Escape from Gringotts. No matter how many times we experience it, it never loses its magic. From the moment you step into Diagon Alley, the entire area feels like you’ve walked into the films — and Gringotts is the crown jewel.

The experience begins before you even get on the ride. The Gringotts building itself is breathtaking — that massive dragon on the roof that actually breathes fire? It still makes us stop and stare no matter how many times we’ve seen it. Walking into the bank’s lobby is just as impressive. The chandeliers, the marble floors, and especially the goblins working at their desks — the attention to detail is unbelievable. We always point out something new each time.

The queue is honestly part of what makes this ride so great. Between the elevators, the underground offices, and the pre-shows with Bill Weasley and the goblins, it feels like a full adventure even before you board the ride vehicle.

And the ride itself? Absolutely phenomenal. It blends coaster thrills, 3D effects, and practical sets in a way that makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the Gringotts break-in scene. The drops, the spins, the heat from the dragon’s fire, Voldemort and Bellatrix right in your face — it’s such a wild and immersive experience. Every time we ride, we notice different little details or feel that adrenaline rush like it’s our first time.

A couple of tips from regular riders: ✅ Try to ride early in the day or later in the evening when lines are shorter — this one is popular for a reason. ✅ If you can, slow down in the bank lobby and really take in the goblins — they are incredibly lifelike. ✅ Express Pass is a lifesaver on busy days, especially if you want to ride more than once (and trust us, you will!).

Gringotts combines thrilling coaster elements with incredible storytelling and theming. It’s one of those rides that shows what Universal does best — pulling you into the world of the movies in a way that’s exciting, immersive, and unforgettable. We ride it on every single visit and it never gets old. A...