Real-life Hogwarts Express Train Debuts At Universal Orlando, Bringing Muggles From Diagon Alley To Hogwarts And Back

in Entertainment

Hogwarts Express

Credit: Universal

Universal Orlando will soon be bringing “Harry Potter” fans on the ride of a lifetime, offering trips aboard a real-life version of the famous Hogwarts Express train.

In the films, the Hogwarts Express transports students from their Muggle lives to the Wizarding World en route to begin school at Hogwarts. At Universal Orlando, this trip is recreated using special effects and exciting visuals aboard the train that connects the Universal Studios Florida theme park to Islands of Adventure.

When the Hogwarts Express officially opens on July 8, 2014, park-to-park tickets Guests will be able to board the train at either the Hogsmeade Village Station or King’s Cross Station (at Diagon Alley) take the trip between the parks.

The videos below offer a full look at both directions, starting from King’s Cross to Hogsmeade and vice-versa. Warning: Spoilers aplenty ahead!


Video: Hogwarts Express full ride POV – Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando


Video: Hogwarts Express train pulls into Hogsmeade Station at Universal Orlando


Video: Hogwarts Express full ride POV – Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando


It makes sense to first travel from the new London section of Universal Studios Florida to the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Islands of Adventure. That is the journey Harry Potter took in the films en route to his Hogwarts school. The convincing London embankment becomes even more realistic upon entering King’s Cross Station, a near replica of the real-life location.

Diagon Alley London waterfront at Universal Orlando

Diagon Alley London waterfront at Universal Orlando

Entering King’s Cross, Guests pass through a series of passageways and tunnels with mock train announcements playing along with sound effects, making it feel just like stepping into an actual train station.

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

But there are hints of “Harry Potter” to be found throughout King’s Cross, such as the mock perfume ad that reads, “Make a little magic.”

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

The extensive Hogwarts Express queue winds and winds with very little entertainment to be found. Stacks of suitcases and a few wall signs are all that Guests will have to look at while waiting to board.

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Of course, King’s Cross is located in the Muggle world. So to transition to the Wizarding World, Guests must pass between Platforms 9 and 10 to reach the famed Platform 9 3/4. This magical moment is achieved by some simple, special effects allowing onlookers to see other Guests seem to run through a brick wall.


Video: Platform 9 3/4 wall effect for Hogwarts Express


Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express

The actual act of passing through this area isn’t anything special, simply walking down a hallway between the “9” and “10” signs. But it does make for a great photo or video opportunity for friends and family to capture from around the corner. A Hogwarts Express conductor is stationed nearby to ensure everyone understands how to view the moment properly.

Stepping onto the platform and seeing the Hogwarts Express for the first time is exciting, with the train fully exposed in the giant space, steam billowing from its engine. There’s even Harry Potter’s owl – Hedwig – in a cage alongside luggage, waiting to be loaded. Guests are quickly placed into groups of no more than 8, each escorted by conductors into their own cabins.


Video: Hedwig animatronic in Wizarding World of Harry Potter


Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

On the other side of the track, the Hogsmeade Station is perfectly squeezed outside the original Wizarding World, with architecture that matches the area and wide-open spaces throughout the queue. Seeing the train pull up into this station is more exciting than at King’s Cross, as it enters forward rather than backward. However, it is a little odd to see the Dragon Challenge roller coaster soaring overhead.

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando

The exit of Hogsmeade Station offers an additional familiar “Harry Potter” element, an animated carriage pulled by Thestrals – the skeletal horse-like creatures that can only be seen by those who have witnessed death.


Video: Animated Thestral Carriage in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter


Cabins look just as they appeared in the “Harry Potter” films. There are individually marked places for up to 8 people to be seated inside comfortably. Small lighting and pictures adorn the cabin walls, and a large window faces outward, initially only offering a view of the brick wall and steam wafting by.

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

The frosted doors slide shut just before the train leaves the station, enclosing passengers inside their cabins. Along with the windows, these doors are where the show takes place during the roughly 4.5-minute ride from one side of the Wizarding World to the other.

The ride is packed with entertaining, exciting, thrilling, humorous, and sometimes scary visuals and moments. All of the action takes place via screens, though some minor movement to the cabin itself. The cabin window offers London landscapes, familiar buildings like Hogwarts castle and Malfoy Manor, and plenty of fly-by characters, including Hagrid, the Weasley twins, Buckbeak, and Hedwig plus some other brief occasional cameos. The view out of the window is not 3D but does have some perceived depth due to the curvature of the edges of the display, making the journey seem rather real.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

But by far the more entertaining side – surprisingly – is the one with the frosted glass. Silhouettes of figures appear quite regularly throughout the ride and, coupled with dialogue, make Guests really believe like people are standing outside. And not just any people – Harry, Hermione, Ron, and other familiar characters make appearances with rather amusing dialogue.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

This is also where the single most convincing effect takes the place of either direction’s journey when Ron Weasley presses his face and hands up against the glass to try to look inside. It is shockingly real as if Rupert Grint were really standing outside.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

But there are creepy moments, too, like when Dementors pass through frosting the glass with every touch.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

The Hogsmeade Station is situated just outside the footprint of the Dragon Challenge roller coaster, made to fit into the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Its open-air loading area offers outstanding views of the Hogwarts Express pulling in.

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando

Related : PHOTOS: Hogwarts Express celebrates one million riders at Universal Orlando with free Butterbeer ice-cream from Diagon Alley

Some will prefer the ride to Hogsmeade for its increased spookiness, while others prefer the ride to Diagon Alley for its humor. But both are highly entertaining and create an outstandingly unique theme park experience.

(Photos by Michael Gavin and Daniel Andersson.)

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