Thestral carriages through the Forbidden Forest is such a simple, banger idea that can have low-threat thrills and no height requirement. Have Grawp and Fenrir Grayback be the scariest things on the ride (no Dementors or Death Dealers), and you could have something adorably awesome.
Edit - I’m suddenly kinda obsessed with this idea. There’s a slew of creatures that aren’t included in Hagrid’s that could still exist in the Forbidden Forest we haven’t seen. It becomes a variation of Newt’s suitcase, but with a ready-made ride vehicle (which is the one thing Newt’s suitcase is damned to not have).
I personally believe and agree with those that have said the Forbidden Forest has been tapped out.
One. It's already somewhere we visit on two entirely different attractions at a completely separate park. It's the entire basis of one single ride that already shows us that it's not a place to linger in, and it's a short stop on another ride that shows us how terrifying it could be.
Two. Thematically, it's supposed to be dangerous - hence the two thrill rides we already have at that park. It's
not a nature preserve that everyone is
allowed to and
should frequent. To me, that's like saying a Lord of the Rings ride should be a nice carriage ride through Mordor - it doesn't quite math.
THAT BEING SAID - i do think you're onto something here, Legacy.
Let's make PB&J.
PB = kid-friendly Thestral carriage-drawn animal ride.
J = the thematics of Epic Universe's Ministry of Magic portal and land.
Story: After the events of Le Cirque Arcanus, Gwenlyn Jenkins agrees to work with Newt Scamander on establishing a safe habitat for his creatures. However, the FRENCH ministry catches wind and confiscates Scamander's suitcase and arrests him for purported illegal and dangerous creatures being smuggled into and out of France by him. Together, we join Gwenlyn and Bunty Broadacre(who is inside the suitcase protecting the creatures at the time of Newt's arrest and is communicating with Gwenlyn from inside) in their plan to get back into Ministry and plead Newt's case. She does this by SHOWING the French Ministry that the creatures inside are nothing to fear - by taking them on a tour via thestral-drawn carriage. It is pleasant, magical, and beautiful for everyone involved. At the end of the ride, Tina and Queenie Goldstein show up with Jacob Kowalski to break Newt out of jail only to find that he's been pardoned by the French ministry for having opened their eyes and broadened their perspective on Fantastic Beasts (
and where to find them).
Queue: The FRENCH Ministry - the land being called The Ministry of Magic now makes EVEN MORE sense. We're taken into the offices and led to the suitcase where we get a COOL optical illusion pre-show that allows us to enter Newt's suitcase ourselves. This can even be done with separate rooms and smaller audience groups like the theater transition behind the screen in Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.
Ride system: Dark-ride omnimover a la Secret Life of Pets but bigger ride vehicles that fit parties of 8-12. Think M&M:RR in execution meets Navi River Journey in habitat exploration (or, Living with the Land
if you want to be a sadist). The skeptical French Ministry act as a ride tutorial showing us how to board the carriages correctly and we -as muggles visiting Wizarding France and friends of Gwenlyn- come along for the ride. Nothing goes wrong. In fact, everything goes right! We go through the varied ecosystems of the animal habitats, narrated by Gwenlyn and Bunty along the way. We learn fun facts about the creatures and while some may appear scary or daunting, we learn through our tour guides how they're tamed and how we can live in harmony. Newt's message is received and appreciated, and the ride ends with him thanking us and for understanding his love of magical creatures. Music swells. Exit through the gift shop.