Note: This rumor is unverified, and none of the following information has been confirmed by Universal at this time. This post will be updated if we receive further details.
There is a new rumor that Universal has been thinking about making a big change to one of the Harry Potter rides at Universal Orlando. According to anonymous sources, the company has been testing a 2D version of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios Florida.
Located within the Diagon Alley section of the park, the Escape From Gringotts attraction features roller coaster type ride vehicles that run along a track, combined with 3D screen moments and some motion simulator effects.
The rumor for removing 3D from this attraction feels like it could be true, as it would continue a trend within this particular park. This would not the first time this park has removed 3D from an attraction.
Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem went from 3D to 2D back in 2019. Just one year prior, Fast & Furious: Supercharged was originally planned to open with 3D, same as its Universal Studios Hollywood counterpart. The queue for that ride was apparently even built with glasses distribution windows, but 3D was supposedly removed last minute before the ride opened.
Now, it sounds like the company has been testing Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts in 2D after hours, possibly to see if the conversion can be done or not.
Removing the 3D feature would save money, not only on replacing lost or damaged 3D glasses, which can wear out over time and be extremely costly, but, it also decreases the number of projectors by half, saving on upkeep costs like new projector bulbs. It also would save on staffing, no longer requiring Team Members to collect and clean 3D glasses, or “Cart Goggles” as they’re called on the ride.
Furthermore, it feels like the company believes that there may be 3D fatigue with their guests, which could explain why Shrek 4-D closed after Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon opened. (Although, one could argue that Universal Studios Florida relies too heavily on screen-based rides, and not necessarily 3D rides.)
Magic effects appear to fly towards the riders on Escape from Gringotts, Universal Orlando Resort
Unfortunately, attractions that were created with 3D projection in mind from the start will never play as realistically in 2D as those intended to be displayed in 2D. The magic wand effects for Escape from Gringotts were clearly developed for being shown in 3D. You will even see riders put their hands up over their faces to protect themselves from this realistic magic illusion.
The scale of objects and characters within a large-format projection can also feel off when 3D is removed from a film developed for 3D productions. I have spoken in the past about why guests feel Vin Diesel is 20-feet tall on Supercharged, which is a side effect of removing the 3D element from that attraction. Similarly, the banana on a string used to tempt you on Minion Mayhem no longer appears right in front of you, but instead now 30-feet tall.
Realistically distanced characters appear further away with 3D projection, Universal Orlando Resort
If this change occurs for Gringotts, that would leave only Transformers: The Ride 3D and Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon as the remaining 3D rides in Universal Studios Florida, (despite 3 other attractions in the same park having been originally developed for 3D projection).
Islands of Adventure has The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Skull Island: Reign of Kong, which are projected using 3D technologies. So, it seems like the company may prefer to only have two rides that require 3D glasses per park at a time, I suppose?
It certainly seems like the company may be moving away from 3D, with attractions like The Bourne Stuntacular and the upcoming Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast opting for other methods of screen elements that do not require 3D glasses.
Universal’s upcoming theme park, Epic Universe, is not rumored to have any 3D-based attractions. According to rumors and early information, the closest thing to having 3D glasses at the new park would probably be the Mario Kart attraction. Instead of 3D glasses that combine two screen-projected images into one image with depth, Mario Kart will utilize an Augmented Reality visor that is worn to add digital characters and objects on top of actual reality.
What do you think? Will the quality of the Escape from Gringotts attraction suffer without the use of 3D, or would you be happy to no longer have to wear “Cart Goggles” on a roller coaster-type attraction?
This is a developing story, and again, I must stress that Universal has not confirmed any of the above details. This is merely a rumor circulating at this time, and does not mean that the company will in fact remove 3D from the ride. This post will be updated with further information as we get it.
Subscribe to the news feed or enter your email address below to never miss an update. Original Photos: Alicia Stella | Official Images: Universal Orlando Resort
