Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Dragon at the top of Gringotts Bank that houses Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Universal Studios Florida
Park section The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley
Coordinates 28°28′48.92″N 81°28′12.04″W / 28.4802556°N 81.4700111°WCoordinates: 28°28′48.92″N 81°28′12.04″W / 28.4802556°N 81.4700111°W
Status Operating
Opening date July 8, 2014[1]
Replaced Jaws
General statistics
Type Steel
Designer Universal Creative
Length 600 m (2,000 ft)
Site Area 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m2)
Height restriction 42 in (107 cm)
Single rider line available
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at RCDB
Pictures of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at RCDB

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a 3-D motion-based steel roller coaster dark ride at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida. The ride themed to the Gringotts Wizarding Bank became the flagship attraction for the expanded Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort when it opened July 8, 2014.[1]

History

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter officially opened in the Islands of Adventure theme park on June 18, 2010.[2][3] The Harry Potter-themed area saw attendance at Islands of Adventure rise by as much as 36% in 2010. According to Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel, this saw resort executives pondering "when to expand Wizarding World and how to keep business balanced between Islands and Universal Studios Florida".[4] In April 2011, Brady MacDonald of the Los Angeles Times speculated that an expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter would see attractions such as Diagon Alley and a Gringotts-themed dark ride replace Islands of Adventure's Lost Continent themed area.[5]

On December 6, 2011, Universal Parks & Resorts announced that they would be expanding The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The expansion was described as "significant" by officials.[6][7] The announcement came just four days after Universal Studios Florida announced that they would be closing their Jaws ride on January 2, 2012.[8] Demolition of the Jaws ride and the surrounding Amity area began almost immediately after its closure.[9][10] After the site was levelled, work began on land reclamation as well as the construction of a series of buildings including a large show building for the Gringotts ride.[11][12][13]

Further details about the expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter were announced on May 8, 2013. Officials confirmed that the expansion would predominantly be set in the adjacent Universal Studios Florida theme park and would feature attractions themed after Diagon Alley and London.[14][15][16][17] On January 23, 2014, officials announced the name of the flagship attraction would be named Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.[18][19][20]

On July 8, 2014, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts opened alongside other attractions in the newly added Diagon Alley section.[1]

Ride experience

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a steel roller coaster with a track length of 600 metres (2,000 ft).[21][22] The ride encompasses motion based vehicles, detailed sets, physical effects, and 3D projection screens similar to those used in Transformers: The Ride and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.[23][24]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Niles, Robert (July 8, 2014). "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley opens officially at Universal Studios Florida". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. ↑ Garcia, Jason. "Big day is here: Universal hopes Harry Potter's magic will last". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park opens". Australia Times. June 19, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ Garcia, Jason (December 16, 2010). "Universal Orlando ponders how to take full advantage of Wizarding World's popularity". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (April 6, 2011). "Universal Studios wonders how and when to expand Wizarding World of Harry Potter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  6. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (December 6, 2011). "Wizarding World of Harry Potter to expand at Universal Orlando". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Significant Expansion Also Planned for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort". Press Release. Universal Orlando Resort. December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  8. ↑ Garcia, Jason; Bevil, Dewayne (December 2, 2011). "Universal Studios to close Jaws to make way for new attraction". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  9. ↑ Garcia, Jason (August 12, 2012). "Universal works to fill gaps ahead of debut of 2nd phase of Wizarding World". Orlando Sentinel (Tribune Company). Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  10. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (November 2, 2012). "Universal Studios Orlando set to open Transformers ride next summer". Orlando Sentinel (Tribune Company). Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  11. ↑ Gworek, Don (July 1, 2012). "Soundstage 44 now fully demolished at Universal Studios Florida". Orlando Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  12. ↑ Armenia, Anthony (December 8, 2012). "Photo Update: Transformers and rumored Grignotts Bank coaster buildings being enclosed at Universal Studios". Orlando Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  13. ↑ Armenia, Anthony (March 13, 2013). "Aerial view of the Jaws and Wizarding World areas at Universal". Orlando Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  14. ↑ Goldman, Eric (May 8, 2013). "Details on Expansion of Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando Confirmed, Including Diagon Alley as Second Location". IGN. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  15. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (May 8, 2013). "Universal Orlando: Harry Potter expansion to open spring and or summer of 2014 at Universal Studios". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  16. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (May 9, 2013). "10 burning questions about Universal's Harry Potter expansion". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Universal Orlando announces new Harry Potter expansion with Diagon Alley, London". The Washington Post. Associated Press. May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  18. ↑ McIntyre, Gina (23 January 2014). "Diagon Alley: Universal reveals new Harry Potter plans, Gringotts ride". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  19. ↑ Thurston, Susan (23 January 2014). "Harry Potter's Diagon Alley plans Escape from Gringotts ride, new stores". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  20. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (23 January 2014). "New details about Harry Potter Diagon Alley: Lots of shops, Gringotts ride gets name". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  21. ↑ Niles, Robert (31 December 2011). "Plans for Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida revealed". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  22. ↑ Coasters and More
  23. ↑ "Survey". Universal Orlando Resort. May 2013.
  24. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (13 April 2012). "Behind-the-scenes tour of Transformers ride at Universal Studios". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). Retrieved 19 May 2013.

External links