New Details and Concept Art Emerge for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

by · May 13, 2014

As we reported previously, there was to be new content released today regarding the Diagon Alley expansion in Universal Orlando. Most of the new content we have seen right now is in relation to the feature attraction: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

The Gringotts Bank interior will feature some exciting details for visitors to explore, with the Universal team having captured the storyline from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It will include goblins, a great marble floor entrance, and more. According to Thierry Coup, the Senior Vice President of Universal Creative, who spoke directly with the Orlando Sentinel on Monday,

We wanted the level of thrills that Forbidden Journey has but maybe make it more visual than physical in some ways, trying to strike the right balance. The time you spend in each scene with the characters is greater than we’ve been able to achieve in any ride. It’s really going to give you the sense of being there with your favorite characters.

Thanks to the extremely large design of the Gringotts carts, entire families will be able to experience the ride at once, with each cart holding twelve passengers at a time. Since the ride will be more visually than physicall stimulating, unlike the Forbidden Journey ride, the height requirements for this ride will only be set at 42″ tall – that’s six inches shorter than those for Forbidden Journey.

Once inside the Gringotts Bank facility, guests will be able to open up a Gringotts account and will need to journey miles under London to access their vault. Guests will find themselves transported into the tunnels at the same exact time as Harry, Ron, and Hermione attempt their break-in into the Lestranges’ vault, leading the riders right into the heart of the action. Unfortunately, things go horribly wrong for the riders as they speed through the depths of the vaults, passing trolls, dragons, Bellatrix, and ultimately encountering Voldemort himself.

Universal Creative President, Mark Woodbury stated,

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts will change the way you think about theme park attractions. We’ve created an entirely new type of ride that propels guests into the story like never before, and guests will remember it long after their visit to Diagon Alley.

 

Check out this OFFICIAL video from Universal Orlando:

 

 

Inside the Magic put together this short video with the concept art:

 

 

And from the Orlando Sentinel:

 

 

Finally, from the Universal Orlando Twitter on the grand opening of Diagon Alley:

Don’t forget to check out all of our information regarding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in our “Theme Parks” section.

Press Release

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT REVEALS FIRST-EVER DETAILS ABOUT HARRY POTTER AND THE ESCAPE FROM GRINGOTTS – THE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED ATTRACTION IN THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER – DIAGON ALLEY

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 13, 2014) – Today, Universal Orlando Resort revealed details about Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts – the revolutionary attraction found in the heart of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. The Grand Opening date for the spectacularly themed environment will be announced at a later date.

Imagine being part of the iconic moment from the Harry Potter film series where Harry, Ron and Hermione break into one of the most guarded places in the wizarding world – Gringotts bank – to retrieve a magical object that will help defeat Lord Voldemort. You’ve seen the action on-screen, and now you get to be part of it.

Universal’s creative team worked hand-in-hand with Stuart Craig and his production team from the Harry Potter films to immerse guests in this pivotal scene from the final Harry Potter book and film. During an action-packed, fully-immersive journey on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, you will:

  • Marvel at the 60-foot, fire-breathing Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon atop Gringotts Wizarding Bank
  • Tour Gringotts bank and pass through the marble hall where you’ll see goblins hard at work
  • Race through a labyrinth of underground Gringotts vaults
  • Encounter the villainous Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange, as she attempts to send you to your doom
  • Come face to face with He Who Must Not Be Named
  • Experience even more mind-blowing moments

The multi-dimensional, multi-sensory attraction, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, will revolutionize theme park entertainment. This next generation thrill ride seamlessly integrates a compilation of the most innovative technology ever created, 360-degree themed sets, 4K digital high-definition animation, state-of-the-art 3-D Infitec projection systems and live special effects with beloved characters and breathtaking moments from the Harry Potter books and films.

“Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts will change the way you think about theme park attractions,” said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative. “We’ve created an entirely new type of ride that propels guests into the story like never before, and guests will remember it long after their visit to Diagon Alley.”

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley will bring even more of Harry Potter’s adventures to life. The new area will double the size of the sweeping land already found at Universal Orlando, expanding the spectacularly themed environment across both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Inside the land, guests will enjoy themed shops, dining experiences and the groundbreaking thrill ride – Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.

For additional information about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/WizardingWorld.

About the Harry Potter Series

Harry Potter continues to be a global phenomenon. Each of the seven books by author J.K. Rowling has broken sales records, with the series to date having sold over 450 million copies worldwide and translated into 77 languages. The Harry Potter films, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, have grossed more than $7.7 billion to date worldwide at the box office, making Harry Potter the largestgrossing film franchise in history.

About Universal Orlando Resort

Vacation like you mean it at Universal Orlando Resort – where every heart pounding, jaw-dropping, goose-bumping second counts. It is the only place where you can turn spending time with your family into spending time as a family. Together, you can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, become a Minion in the hilarious and heartwarming Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, and join Optimus Prime in the fight to save mankind on the new megaattraction, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D. And, coming this summer, you can step into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Universal Orlando Resort is home to two incredible theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure; four magnificently themed on-site hotels: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and the newest addition, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort; and Universal CityWalk - a nighttime entertainment complex featuring a collection of nightclubs, restaurants and shops. And located just minutes from Universal Orlando Resort is Wet n’ Wild, Orlando’s premier waterpark.

About Warner Bros. Entertainment

Warner Bros. Entertainment is a global leader in all forms of entertainment and their related businesses across all current and emerging media and platforms. A Time Warner Company, the fully integrated, broad-based studio is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainment production and worldwide distribution to DVD, digital distribution, animation, comic books, video games, product and brand licensing, international cinemas and broadcasting.