The 'Escape from Gringotts' virtual reality rollercoaster at Harry Potter theme park will blow your mind

Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts
Photo: Universal Orlando/AP

A new wing at Universal Orlando's Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park is projected to open as soon as mid-June 2014– and Monday, word broke that the new "Diagon Alley" section's major ride will be "Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts," a roller coaster virtual reality hybrid that sounds insane.

The ride's storyline is set in the series' seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Visitors will walk into a recreation of the Gringotts Bank, where they'll be greeted by Bill Weasley and asked if they want to open an account with the goblins. Suddenly, Ron, Harry and Hermione break in to steal a Horcrux. Visitors then ride down into the vault of the bank, where they'll get some 3D glasses and board the roller coaster in a cavern with stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The ride is packed: lucky Muggles get cursed by Voldemort and Bellatrix, attacked by trolls, plow through a waterfall, chased by a dragon, and hopefully make it out alive.

As with a lot of these virtual reality rides, the actual coaster is only four minutes long. But the pre-show experience, which happens while park-goers wait in line is probably going to be phenomenal. (Or, you know, as phenomenal as waiting for hours can be.) Universal says it has "created an entirely new type of ride that propels guests into the story like never before."

Check out a full gallery of concept art from the ride here — hopefully, it'll tide you over until you can apparate down to Orlando this summer.

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