New pictures from the ride can be found here.

To cater to fans everywhere, who will be dying to get on this ride, Universal have re-thought the entire queuing system, to make it totally immersive and seamless with the narrative of the ride.

- The entrance is heralded by statues of winged boars on pillars. The pathway then leads to dimly lit dungeons, which are lined with items from the books/movies, such as the Mirror of Erised and the one-eyed witch statue.
- The line then goes outside to the Greenhouses, which are covered in vines and have potted mandrakes on display.
- Back inside there are more props including a statue of the Hogwarts architect (featured in the entrance hall in the films/video games), the House Points counter, a statue of the first headmaster of Hogwarts and the massive Griffin which guards the entrance to Dumbledore’s Office.



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- Next is a corridor lined with tapestries and portraits, featuring a professor and some Quidditch spectators. The portraits also include the four founders; Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin, who were specially cast for the theme park. Some of the portraits, including these, come to life, with the founders bickering about house rivalry. For example; “Hagrid’s lost a dragon again.” (Helga) “Another breach of the Warlock’s Convention of 709.” (Salazar)



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[Helga bottom centre, Godric far right]



- This leads into Albus Dumbledore’s Office, where the Headmaster himself greets visitors, warning of elves, giants and dragons. He also cautions, in regards to the decision of whether to get on the ride or not (as you can walk through Hogwarts, up to a point, without getting on), “You must choose between what is right and what is easy.” The technology used to bring characters such as Dumbledore to life, creates an authentic experience and truly makes you feel as if the character is there, talking to you.



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- Harry, Ron and Hermione greet you in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, warning you to skip the lesson which Professor Binns is about to teach, as it will no doubt be a lecture on the history of magic. (“We’ve got to help those who’re scared of Binns’ lecture!” – Hermione). Hermione does, however, recommend that you read Hogwarts, A History, as it’s a fascinating read. Ron and Hermione bicker and Ron lifts his wand, accidentally causing snow to fall in the room. They leave under the invisibility cloak but not before Hermione casts a spell, telling you to meet them on the Quidditch Pitch.



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- The Fat Lady, played by Dawn French, sits in her portrait in a corridor, bemoaning, “Am I supposed to let you all in without a password.”
- A notice board with a copy of the Daily Prophet displays moving footage of Harry playing Quidditch from past films.
- This leads into the main Gryffindor Common Room area, with more portraits and tapestries. The portraits give instructional details about the ride, talking at length about the enchanted benches, on which you ride, and give precautionary messages about health reasons for not continuing.
- Finally the Sorting Hat gives another message prior to entry into the Room of Requirement, where the journey begins…

During the ride many experiences from the Harry Potter world are brought to life including; the Whomping Willow, a Quidditch match (which Harry, Ron and Draco play in), Dementors and the Forbidden Forest.

There will also be a slightly shortened Express Entrance, which takes a route through an extra portrait room, lined with stairs (this is also the way out if you decide not to ride). This entry method avoids the dungeon and the greenhouses.