| Hogwarts Express | |
|---|---|
 A Hogwarts Express train arriving at Hogsmeade station in Islands of Adventure | |
| Universal Studios Florida | |
| Area | The Wizarding World of Harry Potter –Diagon Alley |
| Coordinates | 28°28′46″N81°28′13″W / 28.4794°N 81.4703°W /28.4794; -81.4703 (King's Cross station) |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | July 1, 2014 (2014-07-01) |
| Opening date | July 8, 2014 (2014-07-08) |
| Replaced | Amity Island |
| Universal Islands of Adventure | |
| Area | The Wizarding World of Harry Potter –Hogsmeade |
| Coordinates | 28°28′27″N81°28′22″W / 28.4741°N 81.4727°W /28.4741; -81.4727 (Hogsmeade station) |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | July 1, 2014 (2014-07-01) |
| Opening date | July 8, 2014 (2014-07-08) |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Train ride |
| Manufacturer | Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group |
| Designer | Universal Creative CWA Constructions |
| Model | People mover |
| Theme | Hogwarts Express(Harry Potter) |
| Music | London Symphony Orchestra |
| Length | 676 m (2,218 ft) |
| Speed | 12.2 km/h (7.6 mph) |
| Vehicle type | Cable car (railway) |
| Vehicles |
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| Riders per vehicle | 168 +3attendants[1] |
| Duration | 4:01 |
| Height restriction | Supervision required if under 48 inches (120 cm)[2][3] |
| No. of Tracks | Single (withpassing loop) |
| Track gauge | 1,800 mm (5 ft 10+7⁄8 in) |
 Universal Express Available | |
 Wheelchair accessible | |
TheHogwarts Express is an1,800 mm (5 ft 10+7⁄8 in)broad gaugecable railway,people mover, and attraction within theUniversal Orlando Resort inOrlando, Florida, United States. The route runs 676 meters (2,218 ft) betweenHogsmeade station in theIslands of Adventure theme park andKing's Cross station in the London area of theUniversal Studios Florida theme park. It provides a connection between theDiagon Alley andHogsmeade areas which, together, formThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter, based on theHarry Potter film series.
The system, which was manufactured by theDoppelmayr/Garaventa Group, is operated with two replicas of the fictional Hogwarts Express. The two directions of travel show two different videos. Because the trains transport guests between stations in two separate theme parks, riders must have an admission pass valid for both theme parks, withticket inspectors checking prior to boarding.
The Hogwarts Expresssoft-opened to the public on July 1, 2014, before officially opening seven days later along with the rest of theDiagon Alley expansion. The service was immediately popular and within one month of opening, one million journeys had been made.
The idea of creating a Hogwarts Express-related element came from Mark Woodbury, the president of Universal Creative.[3][4] After the opening of the Hogsmeade attraction at the Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010, Universal began considering how to keep attendance balanced between the adjacent parks.[5] At first, the creative team considered putting Diagon Alley within Islands of Adventure. Eventually they decided that the London and Hogsmeade environments should not be visible from each other. As a result, Woodbury proposed building Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida and then connecting the two Harry Potter-themed lands.[3] Several means of transport were proposed for the connector before planners settled on the idea of the Hogwarts Express train.[1][3]
In early 2011,construction surveying was spotted in theLost Continent section of Islands of Adventure, and the resort had begun surveying visitors about a possible expansion. This led to rumors that Universal Orlando was planning to expand The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.[6] At the end of the year, the resort announced theJaws: The Ride would close on January 2, 2012, to make way forHarry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.[7] Almost two and a half years later,WESH-TV, the localNBC affiliate for the Orlando/Central Florida area, reported that an elevated track system had been installed at Universal Orlando and that the track ran between Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and a construction area in Universal Studios Florida.[4]
In May 2013, Universal Orlando announced the expansion of Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley, along with the Hogwarts Express train, to be located on the former site of the Jaws attraction.[8][9][10] By the end of August 2013, all six passenger cars and bothtenders were ready to be assembled on the track.[11] The first of the two trains was installed on the track on October 24, 2013.[12] The second train was placed on the track in early December 2013.[13] On December 2, 2013,Orlando Attractions Magazine, an amusement park website, spotted one of the trains being tested.[14]
The resort previewed the interior of the Hogwarts Express in January 2014 through alive cast.[15][16] In mid-March 2014, Universal Orlando Resort released further information about the ride, including concept animations.[17] The resort announced in June 2014 that the Diagon Alley expansion, including the Hogwarts Express, would officially open to the public on July 8, 2014.[18] A week later, Universal Orlando soft-opened the Hogwarts Express, without any announcement.[19][20] Within a month of the Hogwarts Express' opening, one million riders had ridden the Hogwarts Express.[21] It had taken approximately two and a half years to develop[22] by a team of 150 people.[1]
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It is only possible to ride the Hogwarts Express after having already entered either theme park and presenting a ticket that allows admission to both of them on the same day.[2] The train carries 30,000 passengers per day, and operates 365 days per year.[1]
Hogwarts Express is a single-trackelevatedcable railway running over thebacklot between the two theme parks, with a two-track passing loop at the midpoint.[3][23] It is 676 meters (2,218 ft) long and has a track gauge of1,800 mm (5 ft 10+7⁄8 in). On the track, there is a haul rope and a counter rope, each with a diameter of 46 millimeters (1.8 in). The cable winding motor is at King's Cross station and has arated load of 215 kilowatts (300 hp) and a peakpower rating of 636 kilowatts (900 hp).[24]
The Hogwarts Express uses two trains that can transport 168 passengers each, giving a total of 336 passengers per cycle.[25] Each train is an articulatedcable car formed of five sections: a replica of a steam locomotive and its tender plus a set of three passenger coaches each with seven passenger compartments. Each compartment holds up to eight seated passengers and has its own projection system instead of windows.[24][26] Originally each train was planned to have two passenger coaches; the number was increased following a survey that suggested potential passengers saw the Hogwarts Express as an attraction rather than a means of transportation between the parks.[27] The locomotive on the 70-meter-long (230 ft) trains weigh 13 metric tons (29,000 lb), the tenders weigh 15 metric tons (33,000 lb), and each passenger carriage weighs 27 metric tons (60,000 lb). Because movement of the trains is controlled by cable from an engine house, they depart and arrive at the end stations at the same time, and always reach the halfway point at the same time.[28] The cable moves at the speed of 3.4 meters per second (12 km/h; 7.6 mph).[24]
On both trains, the locomotive faces towards Hogsmeade station; it is not possible for the trains to face King's Cross. As a result, the Hogwarts Express departs from Hogsmeade and enters King's Cross in reverse.[29] At each station, the platforms are located on the left side of the trains. The trains are therefore only designed to be seen from one side; the other lacks the locomotives' falsedriving wheels and specific detailing.[30][31][32] Over 70 percent of the cabling in the trains are for the show effects and physically animated components.[1]
The trains were built inGoldau, Switzerland.CWA Constructions designed both the exterior and interior of the trains to make them look as similar as possible to the Hogwarts Express seen in the Harry Potter film franchise.[1][22][24] They are based on thesteam locomotiveGWRHall class 5972Olton Hall (as 5972Hogwarts Castle) and were built from aluminum and glass-reinforced plastics. Afterwards, an artificialweathering process was applied to give the appearance of a historic train.[33][34][35]
Frey AG was responsible for wiring the trains for the video and sound components. The company also installed other technical equipment that allows the trains to be controlled by a computer system.[24]
Each compartment has a curved screen where the window would be.[36][37] There are two different videos, depending on the destination of the train. The special effects in both videos were byDouble Negative.[30][31][38]
In addition, shadows of characters appear on the compartment windows, which exchange dialogue. Notably, due toEmma Watson not reprising her role as Hermione for the attraction, a voice double was hired in her place. This voice double controversially did not sound anything like her, withRupert Grint reprising his role as Ron for the attraction making it more obvious as to how off it was. As a result, in late 2023, Universal hired a new voice double that sounded more like her to dub over the original dialogue to rectify the controversy.[39]
TheLondon Symphony Orchestra recorded the music played throughout the journey atAbbey Road Studios on March 25, 2014. The music for the northbound journey is called "Connector Train – Hogsmeade to London".[35]
Theme park guests may use the Hogwarts Express to travel between Hogsmeade and King's Cross in London, close to Diagon Alley. They can travel in either direction as long as the guest has purchased a Park-to-Park ticket, Annual Pass, or Seasonal Pass, which gives guests access to both of Universal Orlando's theme parks within the same day.[2] Two different videos are provided depending on the destination of the train, both of which are approximately four minutes long.[24]
The King's Cross station is built on a site that previously held the Jaws attraction. The entrance to the station, which is a quarter-scale replica ofLondon King's Cross railway station, is located in the London area, close to Diagon Alley.[10][40][41] Passengers enter the station building and have their admission ticket checked. They then enter a queue which takes them farther into the station building, under asplit-flap departure board, and past London-related advertisements, several stacks of suitcases and a shop selling British brands of food and drink. After ascending a flight of stairs, passengers find themselves between signs for King's Cross Platform 9 and Platform 10. They can see those ahead of them walking through the "wall" forming the entrance to Platform9+3⁄4. This effect uses thePepper's ghost illusion. After continuing around several corners, guests arrive on Platform9+3⁄4 to wait for the next train. After the Hogwarts Express has reversed into Platform9+3⁄4 and the arriving passengers have disembarked, the next passengers enter one of the twenty-one compartments in the three passenger coaches.[29][31]
As the train departs King's Cross, the video sequence in the compartments starts withHedwig the owl flying alongside while passing through the outskirts of London. Hedwig flies away andDementors arrive from over the nearby buildings. At the same timeHarry Potter,Ron Weasley, andHermione Granger pass along the corridor side of the coach looking for food. The journey enters a tunnel; upon its exit, it passes by Malfoy Manor during a stormy night. Next, the train passes through a second tunnel and the lights in the compartments go out as a Dementor enters the train and passes along the corridor; Harry Potter uses his magic to defeat the Dementor. After exiting the tunnel, riders are greeted byRubeus Hagrid flying on a motorbike withHogwarts in the background. As the train enters a forest, the flyingFord Anglia appears and starts driving through the terrain. The car crashes soon after and the train leaves the forest, passing by Hogwarts once again before arriving at Hogsmeade Station with Hagrid greeting passengers.[29][31]
Passengers then disembark from the train, walk down a ramp past the front of the Hogwarts Express and follow a path leading to Hogsmeade.[29][31][42]
At the entrance of the queue, ticket inspectors check passengers' tickets for Universal Studios. The line then leads into a forested area which leads into the Hogsmeade station building. Upon climbing a flight of steps, travelers reach the Hogsmeade station platform. Once the arriving passengers on the Hogwarts Express have left the platform, passengers waiting may then board the train and enter one of the twenty-one passenger compartments within the train.[30]
As the train departs towards King's Cross, the video sequence in the compartments begins with Hagrid waving goodbye outside of the window. Shadows of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger can also been seen walking down the train corridor, looking for an empty compartment. Following this,Buckbeak flies outside the window, while Hogwarts can be seen in the background. Shortly after, the train enters a forest wherecentaurs are running. Upon exiting the forest, Hogwarts can be seen once again in the background.Fred and George Weasley appear, flying broomsticks and playing with fireworks. The Hogwarts Express then enters a tunnel, after which riders find themselves in the middle of a storm and passMalfoy Manor. A flash of lightning strikes a tree, providing a glimpse ofLord Voldemort. The journey then enters a second tunnel; Harry, Ron, and Hermione appear again in the train corridor. As a licorice spider crawls up the compartment door, Harry eats it (to Ron's horror) and the trio continue to walk on down the corridor. After the tunnel the journey continues intoLondon passing by an industrial factory and then a residential area. TheKnight Bus then appears; squeezing between buildings and shrinking to pass under a bridge. As the bus drives away, the train enters King's Cross station, whereAlastor Moody greets passengers.[30]
Passengers then disembark onto Platform9+3⁄4 of King's Cross and proceed down some stairs into a 2010-era King's Cross station, before arriving at the London waterfront area, adjacent to Diagon Alley.[30]
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Robert Niles fromTheme Park Insider mentioned how the attraction "broke walls". Examples included the separation of the Wizarding andMuggle worlds; how Universal made the audience the performers (in the part of the King's Cross queue where guests walk through the wall leading to Platform9+3⁄4). He wrote: "It's become convention for theme park attractions to drop you off at or very near the same point where you boarded the ride, so it's a bit disorienting when you exit the Hogwarts Express and find that you're not only in a different train station — you're in a different theme park."[43]
Arthur Levine fromAbout.com was disappointed that Universal had not tried to re-create the magical aspect of guests entering Platform9+3⁄4: "When it's time to make their own way to the platform, however, it appears to would-be wizards that they are merely entering a darkened corridor. Aside from an audible "whoosh" sound, there is, regrettably, no attempt to reproduce the magical, molecule-shifting phenomenon". He also found it awkward that the Hogwarts Express reverses into Platform9+3⁄4 at King's Cross—although in Hogsmeade the train arrives facing forwards. Overall Levine said that the attraction does more than just making it a ride: "By making it an integral and compelling part of The Wizarding World, most guests would want to ride it to get the complete Potter experience. By making it an inter-park ride and requiring a two-park ticket to board it, Universal will surely helpup-sell a lot more customers to higher-priced passes, encourage multi-day visits, increase demand for its on-property hotels, and drive business at its CityWalk dining/shopping/entertainment district".[29]
In 2014, attendance at Universal Studios Florida increased to 8.3 million visitors, compared to 7.1 million in the previous year. Attendance at Islands of Adventure did not change. According to vice president ofAECOM's economics, Brian Sands, the attendance increase at the Studios was likely due to the Diagon Alley expansion. Sands also mentioned attendance at Islands of Adventure remained the same since "visitors go to the new thing", though the Hogwarts Express likely prevented attendance from decreasing at the park.[44][45]
168-FUL: Project 722-C: Hogwarts Express ... Number of places per trains: 168p. [originally targeted] Carrying capacity 1,747p/h ... idea of linking both parks. ... considered various means of transportation. Then, one day, the idea to use the Hogwarts Express hit home ... every seven minutes the train starts ... 41⁄2 minute train ride ... 2 trains consisting of 1 locomotive, 1 tender and 3 coaches for 56 passengers and one attendant each ... More than 70 percent of the cables serve show effects in the 42 compartments
Thierry Coup ... "created the whole idea of the Hogwarts Express. ... everyone can ride the train, which we thought "This is fantastic." There's no limitation, no ride-height limitation. You get on the train, and it's a train except the journey is magical. ... we worked on that and created the layout, the path. Where would the train go? Of course, it will go backstage, but the guests will never know because we're going to take them on the actual journey."
proves the permits clear the way for a track that connects the current Wizarding World at Islands of Adenture [sic] to the 8-acre corner of Universal Studios, ... The track gives major traction to a rumored Hogwarts Express attraction.
executives are wrestling with questions such as when to expand Wizarding World and how to keep business balanced between Islands and Universal Studios Florida — the park without Potter.
One million passengers have now ridden the Hogwarts Express, the train that connects the two halves of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, ... The vehicle, ... links Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks
composed of two carriage sets, is a faithful reproduction ... from the Harry Potter films. The train is made up of a steam locomotive, a coal tender and three passenger carriages. ... Faithfully reproducing every detail ... The carriage set is constructed to look of solid, heavy iron and wood sections and the interiors of the carriages are accurately lit
Universal was somehow surprised by a survey that showed guests considered the Hogwarts Express an attraction rather than merely transportation connecting the two parks. ... the stations and track were already under construction and designed to handle only two cars carrying guests.
two trains will pass at the midpoint along parallel tracks much like a funicular.
The design of GWR 4900 Class 5972 Olton Hall locomotive is highly functional, built for a specific purpose in 1937. The artistic need to make an authentic visual representation of J.K. Rowling's Hogwarts Express in the visionary world of Harry Potter has, however shifted this utilitarian product into a highly stylistic and lucrative merchandising world.
a special aging process to achieve a realistic effect for a historical train.
We are at the load station for the Connector, which is King's Cross Station, London. ... It has the dimensions of a real station
patent, titled "Display for immersive window effect," looks to improve on the curved windows or displays used on attractions by adding more angles of perception ... Images provided in the patent show how this could be used for a train attraction that resembles the Hogwarts Express ride that connects Universal Studios Florida's London and Diagon Alley areas to Islands of Adventure's Hogsmeade area.
Double Negative also contributed to the Hogwarts Express — a transporter that takes guests between the two theme parks of Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida at the Universal Orlando Resort. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter spans both parks. Guests on the Hogwarts Express have views showing them leaving London and arriving at Hogsmeade ... projected onto curved screens outside the train windows.
a one-fourth scale replica of King's Cross station
Geographic data related toHogwarts Express (Universal Orlando Resort) atOpenStreetMap| Marvel Super Hero Island |  | |
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| The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade | ||
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