They group got in line for the “Forbidden Journey”.  The line snaked through Hogwarts and gave visitors various scenes to view set up similar to the movie sets. There was the classroom used by Professor Lockhart and Dumbledore’s office. There was a hall of actually talking portraits and a green house with mandrake plants. There were several wizards and witches about in their school robes acting as guides and making sure that the crowd did not take any of the props as souvenirs.  Before getting into the line, the family was directed to a large room of lockers. There each pair selected a locker to put their valuables, hats and sunglasses. They were then locked via computer with a password and would open in two hours automatically. Management had determined that you could get through the ride within that amount of time. But if you got back prior to that, you sign in with your locker number and then your pass word and your locker opened. Margaret thought this was an amazing bit of technology. She wondered if the school could set something like this for those students who forget their combinations. Would save a lot of locks being cut off of lockers because of lost keys and forgotten combinations.

After walking through the line for about 15 minutes, they reached the ride itself. The vehicles were large bowls on their side with four seats facing the opening of the bowl. The attendants check to see that everyone was belted in and a bar was then pulled up and secured the passenger. From your seat, you could not see any of the other passengers including those beside you in the same bowl or in the other bowls. It was as if you were truly alone on the ride. When the ride started to move, the most amazing visit to the world of Harry Potter was presented. You were taken on a ride on the train, and a ride with Ron and Harry as they drove the flying car to Hogwarts, and you went through the Forbidden Forest to a visit with Aragog and his family. You were invited and taken on a breath-taking flight over Hogwarts on a broom which was phenomenal until you came upon a dragon. But Harry and Ron fly with you and save the day. They felt the wind in their face and the ride made their stomachs leap into their throats, but the scenery was so beautiful that it was the real feeling of flying on a broom.