At a Glance
Duration: 5 minutes
Look Out For: mild coaster elements and spinning ride vehicles as well as several perilous scenes involving villains, dragons, trolls, and the like
Opening on July 8th, 2014, Escape from Gringotts is a thrilling roller coaster/dark ride hybrid that takes you deep under Gringotts bank. But how scary is Escape from Gringotts? Let’s take a look at the stats:
1. Ride Length
Escape from Gringotts has a ride duration of 5 minutes. However, you can expect a few extra seconds in the ride vehicle due to slight delays with loading and unloading.
2. Height Requirement and Warnings
Escape from Gringotts has a height requirement of 42 inches. In addition, children under 48 inches must be accompanied by an adult. Universal also warns against heart conditions or abnormal blood pressure, back or neck problems, expectant mothers, or those sensitive to motion sickness, strobe lights, or fog effects.
3. Ride Vehicles and Restraints
The Escape from Gringotts ride vehicles consist of individual cars (or mine carts) that seat 12 passengers in 3 rows of 4. In addition, each guest gets an individual lap bar and 3D glasses for the sections involving screens.
4. How Does Escape from Gringotts Work?
In many ways, Escape from Gringotts works like a standard dark ride, moving its passengers through the show scenes on a roller coaster-type track. What certainly makes this attraction unique are the several sections involving high speeds and coaster elements as well as the swiveling ride vehicles (much like what you’d find on Cosmic Rewind in Epcot). The show scenes are displayed on large floor-to-ceiling screens and involve 3D effects to give you as immersive an experience as possible.
5. Is Escape from Gringotts Scary?
Escape from Gringotts is definitely scary. Not only does this attraction feature intense and perilous situations (like you might find in any Harry Potter movie), but the thrills are all the more elevated with the many coaster elements and high speeds throughout the ride. You’ll also encounter the Dark Lord himself as well as Death Eaters, dangerous spells, trolls, and a fire-breathing dragon.
The ride as a whole is very dark, adding to a sense of feeling disoriented. There is one simulated drop (a lot like what you’d find at Runaway Railway in Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in Epcot) that doesn’t actually involve falling but can be pretty intense all the same.
In addition, the loud ominous music, crackling magic, roars, screams, and coaster elements all lend themselves to sensory overload – so keep that in mind if anyone in your party might not appreciate that. As far as actual roller-coaster-intensity goes, it’s really not a terribly thrilling attraction. Personally, I would be much more wary of this ride for its scary and sensory elements rather than the coaster part.
6. How High is Escape from Gringotts?
While Escape from Gringotts does not actually involve heights, it does simulate being in a seemingly bottomless cavern under the bank. The ride vehicles are technically suspended a few feet above ground, but the real heights are only on the screen. Nonetheless, this is a pretty immersive experience and can really feel like you’re careening through a deep dark cave – and at one point, almost “falling” to your death.
7. How Fast is Escape from Gringotts?
Escape from Gringotts does briefly go fast, reaching a top speed of approximately 25 miles per hour. However, most of the ride is as slow as any dark ride, saving its high speeds for short bursts between show scenes. For reference, this coaster goes about as fast as Disney’s kiddie coaster, The Barnstormer, and has similarly small twists and turns – albeit in the dark and with excellent theming.
8. Does Escape from Gringotts Have Drops?
Escape from Gringotts does have some mild drops and coaster elements. As I mentioned before, these segments are made much more intense by the dark (think Space Mountain and Cosmic Rewind) but don’t actually do anything crazy. For a nice glimpse into the actual track and ride mechanics with the lights on, be sure to check out the short video by IllumaScottie linked at the end of this review. Personally, I found this attraction much less intense than any “real” roller coaster and the little drops and twists are over before you really have time to register them.
It’s worth noting, however, that there is a pretty hefty simulated drop near the start of the ride that sees a troll ripping apart the track so that you “plummet” downwards suddenly. This is all simulated on a large screen, but your car does tilt forwards to make that sensation feel very convincing. While many will find this sequence pretty tame, I certainly got that stomach-in-throat feeling, even though it was simulated.
9. Does Escape from Gringotts Cause Motion Sickness?
Escape from Gringotts may cause motion sickness for some riders. While certainly fast-paced and immersive, this attraction does involve both spinning ride vehicles and massive screens with rushing visuals. Those prone to motion sickness may want to take a moment to consider this one.
10. Is Escape from Gringotts Claustrophobic?
Escape from Gringotts could certainly feel claustrophobic to some guests. In fact, its theming alone may be enough to make your skin crawl, as you’re brought deeper and deeper into the mines. While it may put you at ease to know that the entire attraction takes place in very above-ground show building, it certainly feels like you’re descending deep underground.
The queue alone feels very confining at times and even involves a simulated elevator ride that seemingly lowers you hundreds of feet below ground – as if elevator rides weren’t claustrophobic enough! The loading station and actual ride sticks with the underground theming but the fast pace and short run time really takes the edge off in my opinion.
11. Are There Animatronics on Escape from Gringotts?
There are no animatronics on Escape from Gringotts. However, you will certainly encounter stunning animatronics of goblins in Gringotts’ lobby as you make your way through the queue. They keep to themselves and really just add to the immersive scenery more than anything – but you may want be aware that they’re there all the same.
Escape from Gringotts Queue Walkthrough
The queue entrance is located outside in the Diagon Alley section of Universal Studios. As you enter the building, you’ll find yourself stepping into the gorgeous lobby of Gringotts Bank, passing rows of goblins hard at work behind their counters. From there, you’ll enter a stone corridor and make your way down a long hallway filled with offices, bookshelves, and other excellently themed props.
You’ll encounter Harry, Ron, and Hemione planning their heist behind closed doors and eventually will be led into the “elevator” that will take you to the loading station. This section of the queue involves the elevator rumbling and moving around you as lights flicker and well-placed screens give you the illusion of descending hundreds of feet below ground. While it only lasts about 60 seconds, it certainly adds to the claustrophobic, underground feel of the ride.
From there, you’ll pick up your 3D glasses and ascend a large spiral staircase. At the top, you’ll find yourself at the loading station and you’ll simply wait to be assigned your mine cart.
Escape from Gringotts Ride Walkthrough
As the ride sets off, you’ll zip through the darkness until finding Bellatrix and some other baddies blocking your way. She shoots a spell at you and you’ll go down a small drop and a few twists and turns before arriving at the next show scene. Here you’ll encounter our heroes but will quickly be interrupted as huge guard trolls appear, sending you down the track before grabbing onto your minecart and “plummeting” you downwards with a simulated drop.
Luckily, you’re caught by a levitation spell and find Bill Weasley fending off the dragon, allowing you to escape. You’ll zoom through the mines only to stop in front of a crumbling wall, revealing the Dark Lord himself accompanied by Nagini and other baddies. They attack you with magic in hopes that “a little dose of pain” might “help you remember” but you are saved at the last minute by Harry, Ron, and Hermione on the dragon’s back.
Your minecart will drop into the darkness and take you through another series of twists and turns before arriving at the final show scene. You’ll see the dragon breaking into the sunlight as Bill thanks you for your help and sends you on your way to the loading station.
That’s it! Remember, everyone’s riding experience is a little bit different and only you can decide whether to hop on that ride vehicle or not. I just hope this guide helps you be prepared and enjoy every second of your Universal experience!
So what do you think? How scary is Escape from Gringotts? Leave a comment to help keep this guide up to date!
For a full visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out these videos from Theme Park Shark and IllumaScottie:
