Alright guys--I went on Gringott's for the first time this weekend!!! Twice on Saturday, and 5 times on Sunday. I stayed at the Cabana Bay so I had early admission both days and went straight for Gringott's. Possibly spoilery--I'm going to bore you with a lot of details:
WAIT TIMES:
Saturday: Got to the park gates at 7:30, was walking inside of Gringott's by 8:00. The sign outside said it was a 15 minute wait, but I breezed through the line and didn't have to "wait" until shortly before the elevator. I was one of the first people in the line though, so it moved so fast I didn't really get to appreciate it. Loved the ride, it was just like I expected because I had read and watched spoilers and other reviews. I was in the first row. The drop was not very far, but I know it's because I was in the first car. After riding I immediately went back and got in the single riders line to ride again. While I waited, the ride broke down briefly. About a minute after announcing the ride was experience a delay, they announced the ride vehicles would begin moving immediately, then it took about 5-10 minutes to unload everyone before it was up and running again. I rode with a few people that were re-riding it because they got stuck on it. This time I was in the 6th row so I got the full height of the first drop. What a difference!
Sunday:
I also went straight to Gringott's and did the full queue for my first ride. This time I didn't get to the main gates until just after 8:00, so not quite as much of a head start. The sign said 20 minute wait, and I came to a stop in the vault rooms. After riding, I did the single riders line and it broke down while I was in line. This time it was more like 15 minutes before it was up and running again. After riding I did some other attractions before returning to Gringott's later. When the ride said it was a 30 minute wait, I decided to get in the main line again so I could see the entry hall better. I think 30 minutes is the ideal wait because you're moving slowly through the entry hall so you can see the goblins for an extended period of time. I would rather wait 30 minutes in the full queue than 20 minutes in the single riders line, because in the single riders line you end up standing in one place on the stairway.
Both days the line started filling up to longer wait times by 11am, and so I would just spend my time elsewhere during the busy part of the day. I don't like waiting more than 30 minutes, so I chose to avoid Diagon during the afternoon rush.
SEAT POSITION/SEAT COMFORT:
I mentioned this above, but to elaborate, I think sitting in the front whips you around more especially during the dragon/launch ending. In the back, you have a much larger drop in the beginning of the ride, but the rest of the ride seems a bit more tame. I guess it balances out so everybody gets a thrilling ride. I think a perfect seat for me would be anywhere in the second car.
I found the lap bar and shin guards very comfortable, and I'm over 6 feet tall with long legs. No complaints here.
3D:
Overall I think this ride is outstanding. For a couple rides I preferred riding without my 3D goggles on, so I could better take in all the scenery and physical sets around me. Without glasses, the screens are not as blurry as you would expect. Seeing POV videos just don't do this ride justice, it's amazing in person. Also incredible that they can achieve the 3D effects when the 2 cars are looking at the same screen from different sides, and each row is a different distance from the screen. Yet it always looks like the characters are looking "at you" and casting a spell directly at your face.
HEAT/WATER/FOG EFFECTS:
The heat would occasionally come a second or two too early, but maybe that was when I was in the first couple rows? When seated in the back it seemed on point, perhaps it just takes a couple more seconds for the blast of heat to reach the people seated in the back? During one of my rides, there was no heat in the lava room Voldemort scene, but that was the only time the heat was not on at all.
The water always came at exactly the ride time for me no matter what, BUT about two seconds after the water part was over (on screen, and falling on you) you would get a second shorter drizzle of water that just felt "off", like it shouldn't have been happening. I don't know if anybody really cared--but it seems they could fix this to eliminate the second spritz that doesn't coordinate with what you're seeing.
During one ride there was no fog during the Dragon/launch scene at the end. On the rides where it was working, I think there should have been more. It was cool to see the screen move out of the way, but I think they intended it to be totally hidden for the surprise of launching "through" the screen. More fog, please!
QUEUE:
Amazing. Second only to the Hogwart's castle. There was only 1 time that they were taking souvenir photos in the line though, they must not start that until 9am when the park fully opens? After riding multiple times I decided to take the elevator down after the ride instead of taking the stairs. I found it awesome that it was themed in all gold inside, kind of like the inside of a vault.