Rider Panics as Universal's Harry Potter Ride Malfunctions

A panicked rider on the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park called 911 when passengers became temporarily stuck.

Turns out there was no real cause for alarm.

Guests had to be helped off the ride after it experienced a technical glitch which caused it to stop, Universal spokesman Tom Schroder tells the Orlando Sentinel.

Schroder adds the ride's system is designed to stop in the event of a malfunction and did what it was supposed to. No one was hurt in the incident.

Nonetheless, the newspaper says one of the guests "felt uncomfortable while stuck in an awkward position," on the ride through fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and called authorities.

There were reports as many as 138 passengers were onboard at the time of the incident. The ride, on which guests encounter characters from the J.K. Rowling books including scary Dementors, resumed normal operations over the weekend.


The ride is a key feature at the 20-acre "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" attraction, which opened in June and is so popular local hotels say it is actually leading to a rise in Orlando hotel rates.

Photo courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort.