Nearly 10 years after the attraction first opened, Universal Orlando Resort has updated the voice of Hermione on the Hogwarts Express.
Hermione’s Voice on the Hogwarts Express
Since the Hogwarts Express opened at Universal Orlando Resort in the summer of 2014, fans have shared their negative opinions of the voice used for Hermione Granger because it sounds so little like actress Emma Watson.
While Watson and fellow “Harry Potter” film star Daniel Radcliffe participated in the creation of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, neither returned to play their characters for the attractions of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Rupert Grint, who portrayed Ron Weasley in the films, did return. His real voice juxtaposed next to Hermione’s voice just highlighted how bad she sounded.
But that has all changed. As of Thursday, November 2, Universal Orlando Resort has updated the voice (either with a new impersonator, by pulling audio clips of Watson, or AI) and it now sounds more like the actress. Hear the updated Hermione voice in our TikTok video below or by clicking here.
The Hogwarts Express connects the two theme parks of Universal Orlando Resort with stations in each Wizarding World. It opened with Diagon Alley, the second Wizarding World, located at Universal Studios Florida. Guests can board the Hogwarts Express at a recreation of King’s Cross.
Guests with a 2-park ticket can ride the Hogwarts Express in either direction between each park. “Harry Potter” characters and locations show up on the screen window and appear to walk by the compartment doors. The dialogue and scenes vary depending on which direction the train is moving in.
“The Golden Trio” (Harry, Ron, and Hermione) passes by the compartment a few times. In the scene in our video, Ron asks Hermione to conjure up some food. She explains that she can’t, citing Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration.
Though Hermione’s voice has been updated, the script and shadows on the door are the same.
Universal Team Members promised earlier this year that they would be making various guest experience improvements to the Hogwarts Express. At the time, they were testing a change to the announcements system. More enhancements may be on the way for the transportation attraction.
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. Check out an Epic Universe construction update featuring a look at Place Cachée.
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 Hogsmeade.
In Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests can ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, a large roller-coaster that replaced Dragon Challenge, which was in turn 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.
What do you think of the new Hermione voice update? Do you like the new voice, or do you prefer the previous version? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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