Do you want to ride Hogwarts Express and relive the experiences Harry Potter did on his first journey to Hogsmeade, from the brick wall he walked through at Platform 9 3/4, to sitting in the actual cabins (well, an exact replica!)? Soon it will all be happening, and we cannot wait!
Exciting information from the press release:
One of the most memorable and exciting experiences from the Harry Potter series will come to life at Universal Orlando Resort this summer:
• Being transported from the Muggle world to the wizarding world as you pass through the brick wall at King’s Cross Station to arrive at Platform 9 ¾
• Watching in amazement as the Hogwarts Express pulls into the station – its billowing steam and authentic whistle beckoning you to hop aboard
• Sitting in one of the train’s cabins with your family and friends and actually riding the Hogwarts Express – just as your favorite characters did in the Harry Potter films
• Looking outside your cabin window and enjoying a scenic, breathtaking journey through the British countryside as you encounter magical creatures, some of your favorite Harry Potter characters…and even Dementors…
Universal Orlando just revealed never-before-released details about the Hogwarts Express experience that will debut as part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley – the all-new, magnificently themed land opening this summer. The train will connect the new land in Universal Studios Florida with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure – allowing guests with park-to-park admission to enjoy a real journey aboard the iconic locomotive.
Never before has this been done – creating an actual train ride experience to connect two spectacularly themed environments. The Hogwarts Express experience combines powerful storytelling, live special effects, lifelike animation and state-of-the-art technology to take riders on the journey of a lifetime. Guests will enjoy two completely different experiences depending on whether they’re traveling to Hogsmeade or London.
Once seated in the cabin, guests will be able to look out their windows as an incredibly authentic and magical adventure unfolds before them. They’ll see Hagrid come alongside the train on his flying motorbike, below you can see him at Hogsmeade Station:
Buckbeak the Hippogriff swoop gracefully over the black lake:
and the Weasley twins on brooms and up to their usual antics:
Also, the Knight Bus swerving through London traffic – and other special moments and surprises!
Universal’s Creative team has been working closely with Warner Bros., Stuart Craig and the production team from the Harry Potter films to create a sensational Hogwarts Express experience that the entire family can enjoy. The Creative team has gone to great lengths to ensure the experience is true to the books and films. Everything about the train is authentic – from the paint and the materials used to build it….all the way down to the whistle.
I attended a press event on Thursday evening to hear all about the newest details available about this addition to the Universal Orlando theme park. My son is beside himself with excitement, I can still see his face as we went through Hogsmeade last summer, he couldn’t believe he was walking in Harry Potter’s world. And soon there will be much more! Universal Orlando is also opening a new hotel on property and adding almost 3500 new staff, some great news in this economy!
Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company. Follow Universal Orlando Resort on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post.
Park-to-park admission is required to experience the Hogwarts Express journey from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley (located in Universal Studios Florida) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade (located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure). For more information about the Hogwarts Express – including a new video that features a first-look at the ride experience – and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter.
Here I am with George Weasley, I mean Oliver Phelps, from the Harry Potter movies. I am very excited to have finally met someone from the series!
I have been dying to take my boys here. We go to Disney every year, but my six year old is a peanut & I have been waiting until he grows a little before we go to Universal. I want to make sure he is tall enough for all the rides!
Universal is my favorite! I dare to say I love it more than Disney… and that’s saying something! 😉 I love how they are constantly adding new attractions. Can’t wait for this one!
Great picture! I can’t wait to experience this – we will be there in October!
I only watched the first episode of Harry Potter and really enjoyed it. The train was an amazing part of the movie and part that stood out for me. Love that they are adding this. We went to HP a few years ago when it first opened and it was so crowded… can’t wait to go again.
I can’t WAIT to go to Hogwarts!! or… I mean…to bring the kids. yea. that’s it.
Oh this looks like a lot of fun, my daughter loves Harry Potter!
We are heading to Florida this summer and my daughter is BEGGING to go to Universal JUST to walk around Hogwarts. The train ride is a great addition, and I can’t wait myself!
My nephew would really enjoy this.
This looks like an awesome ride! I never really followed the Harry Potter series but I would totally being into trying this. Dying to go to Universal!
How fun is this?! We’re considering going to Orlando next year. If we do, we’ll have to check this out.
I’m completely clueless when it comes to Harry Potter, but this ride looks awesome nonetheless! So neat that you got to meet one of the actors from the movie!!
Wow! This looks so amazing. My husband and I are huge Harry Potter fans, so we would love this ride as much as our kiddos…if not more.
I still need to go to Harry Potter World in ORL. So much on my to-do list!
Although my sons are too young to appreciate Harry Potter, anything to do with trains they would love. I bet they would love it. Thanks for sharing!!
That will be such a cool attraction! I can’t wait to see it come to life!
I would love to see this! I am such a Harry Potter geek!
It is incredible the way the way the designers are able to bring the movie to life at the amusement park.
I can not wait for this!!!!! I am so going to go there and ride. I am such a HP fan, it’s possibly embarrassing LOL
My grandson would love this.
My daughter has been begging to go here since before it opened. I’m sure she would really love this!
Oh Mitch I’m so excited!! I can’t wait to visit Universal Orlando!
I love Universal Studios! I would love to see the Harry Potter.
I’ll be there in August, so I simply can’t wait to experience this. So much fun!
That is so awesome! My husband would love to go to Universal just for this!
This looks like it is going to be so much fun! The boys would adore it.
I think this would be so fun. This is something def. on our ‘to visit’ list for the summer.
Can you believe we’ve never been to Disney, let alone Florida!!! I know, right?! My husband would love this though…he’s such a Harry Potter fan!
I am a 31 year old Harry Potter lover! I want to go SOOOOOO bad!
My kids are BEGGING me to take them to Universal just so they can go on this ride. When we go to Orlando we always go to Disney. This summer we are gonna tag a couple of extra days so we can finally go!
My kids are Harry Potter freaks. We’ll have to go see this during the summer.
I know a couple of boys who would love it!!! I hope to one day get there with my boys so they can enjoy it all! Looks fantastic!
I am so ridiculously excited for this to open! Will be there in August for Family Forward and my boys are already counting down with me!
That is so incredibly cool! We’re big fans of Harry Potter!
Oh so cool. I can not wait to get out there this year.
Oh, I was just there a few weeks ago and I loved it. It was so much fun – so glad to hear that it will be even better soon!
This looks AMAZING! I’m so jealous, I can’t wait for this exhibit to arrive.
I plan to go for my birthday in the fall. It is too hot in the summer and will be way too crowded!
This looks so fun! I can’t wait to take the family!
What an awesome review! I’m impressed that they were able to recreate a lot of the important and memorable scenes/locations from the Harry Potter movies. I’d love to ride that train as your descriptions brought all of it to life.
Sooo cool! I can’t wait until my girls get old enough to do fun stuff like this! They would be thrilled!
OMG I want to go, especially for this new attraction. MY boys would leave a blast. Seems like you did too! Thanks so much for sharing with us.
I have been wanting to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter since it opened at Universal. Now that the Hogwarts Express is coming, I really need to get to booking a trip.
That sounds like it’s going to be an amazing addition. I can’t wait to go when it opens!
I loved Harry Potter books! My boys are too young (almost 3 years old and a 4 month old) to know what this is at all, but I’d still check it out! My big one loves trains lol