One of the common questions I get about visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure is, "Is there anything there for younger kids?" The Orlando resort boasts the groundbreaking Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride--more on that in another post--as well as a daredevil coaster, the Dragon Challenge, and an incredibly detailed recreation of Hogsmeade and the shops of Diagon Alley.
Kids 36 inches and taller can enjoy the Flight of the Hippogriff family coaster that combines swooping thrills with amazing environments straight out of the books and movies. Hagrid's hut, Buckbeak's nest (occupied by an animatronic Buckbeak) and the overgrown pumpkins of the Hogwarts gardens all surround the coaster.
Not sure if the coaster will be too much for your little ones? Check out these clips of the ride: First an overview, then a ride-along from the front car.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ484GLghhs[/youtube]
The ride-through: N.B. that is NOT me screaming. I'm a roller-coaster sissy of the first degree, but even I don't find this one scary--just fun.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh_dTBUwXrM[/youtube]
High points and low points of the ride:
High: It offers amazing views of the whole Harry Potter attraction, especially Hogwarts Castle, and is incredibly beautiful at night.
Low: The ride, as you may have noticed from the video, is about a minute long. That's good for a speedy progression through the line, but worth bearing in mind to help gauge how long you're willing to wait for it.
If you have questions/comments about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we'd love to hear from you in our travel forum.
