Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Harry Potter and the escape from Gringotts ride in Universal Studio and the real one in London!
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is one of the most magical ride’s in Universal Orlando. In fact the whole Gringotts themed bank is amazing! From using your own Gringotts money in the theme park to visiting the original film location in London, we love it!
Here are my top tips to enjoy this ride.
If you have early park entry make sure this is your first stop of the day where you will expect less queuing. There is a single rider line which will get you on quicker but you will not want to miss the elaborate queue. Be sure to check the universal studios app for wait times for rest of the day as you can not use a fastpass on this ride.
After you are over just how magnificent the exterior looks like, the interior is super stunning and the queue itself is interactive. You walk through an amazing bank lobby with goblin animatronics, huge chandeliers and impressive marble columns.
Before you are then whisked off for a security check and a photo which you can purchase on the exit.
Be sure to check out the animated Newspapers on route and the many talking paintings.
You are then entertained by two different pre shows. In the first holographic goblin banker and Bill Weasley prepare you for your tour of the bank vaults inside a bankers office.
In the second you will enter a large elevator that will transport you below ground to board the train in a huge underground cave.
The ride is 3d and 4d rollercoaster, you will be sprayed with water, and misted with fog and warm air.
Expect drops and thrills and amazing 3d holographic effects.
The cart consists of 4 rows, we found sitting at the front the best to see all of the action and a more visual experience when falling through the vaults. The back row you get more of a rollercoaster thrill ride, we did both, and the whole ride is exhilarating from start to finish.
Be aware that bags are not allowed on this ride, there are lots of free lockers to use outside around the park. Bumbags that were attached around the waist were allowed.
The Gringotts experience doesn’t finish there! be sure to check out the dragon on top of Gringotts bank who breathes flames just after he roars.
You can even step inside Gringotts bank to exchange your money for some real Gringotts bank notes.
With an animated Goblin clerk who talks as you enter, you can purchase your notes to be used anywhere within universal studios parks.
We handed ours over in the gift shop but you can even use them in the Leaky Cauldron for lunch.
If you manage to do all this while you are at Universal you can also bring the magic home by visiting the filming locations in London too!
It was inside Australia House, home to the Australian High Commission, that interior shots were filmed for the scenes featuring Gringotts, the wizards bank run by goblins.
I have walked past this many times its not far from Temple underground tube station on The Strand.
We fell in love with the whole Harry Potter experience when we were there, and this was just one of many different things to do.
Be sure not too miss a thing if you do get the chance to visit. I hope you enjoyed my Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
D x
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I am not a Harry Potter fan but husband and the kids are. They would have loved to do this last time we went back in 2013 if it was open. I am guessing it is a good excuse to go back to Orlando x
It really is amazing we loved it and want to go back! x