The Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando Resort will close for a week in December 2023, likely for regular maintenance.
Hogwarts Express Refurbishment
The Hogwarts Express will be closed from December 10 through 16, 2023, just before the holiday rush. The ride is both a popular attraction and a convenient transport between Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. It connects the two Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands: Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. A two-park ticket is required to ride.
The train is a unique experience in each direction, with different characters and locations appearing on the window screens in the cabins. Guests also see the silhouettes and hear the voices of different characters through the frosted glass of their cabin doors.
The train ride closed for an unexpected 6-day refurbishment last September. This summer, Universal Orlando Resort has been testing various guest improvements on the Hogwarts Express, including speaker announcements.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
The two Wizarding Worlds at Universal Orlando Resort are Hogsmeade in Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida. A third Wizarding World inspired by Place Cachée, as seen in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” is rumored for Epic Universe.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade also exists with slight variations at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing. All versions of Hogsmeade include Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and family coaster Flight of the Hippogriff, which was originally a re-skin of The Lost Continent’s Flying Unicorn. The Ollivanders Experience is also available in all versions of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
In Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests can ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, a large roller-coaster that replaced Dragon Challenge, which was itself a re-skin of Dueling Dragons.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, unique to Universal Studios Florida, is headlined by Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. It also features live performances of The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees.
Guests can dine at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade or The Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. Both serve traditional British dishes like fish and chips.
For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.