Vacation savings from Orlando Informer!Save with Orlando Informer!X

velocicoastervelocicoaster

Save $50

on select Universal Orlando Resort tickets

Rumor SPOTLIGHT for March 14, 2014: Hogwarts Express ride details reveal the world’s most authentic theme park attraction

|

At the beginning of this week, Universal teased that it was going to be sharing some new details today about the Hogwarts Express train ride that connects Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida to Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure. The company has certainly lived up to that promise, inviting several Harry Potter fansites to New York City last night to chat with Vice President of Corporate Communications Tom Schroder, Senior Show Producer Michael DoQui, and, of course, the ubiquitous Oliver Phelps, who portrayed George Weasley in the film series.

In order to file this report for you, we’ve compiled a number of different sources, most notably Mugglenet, Snitchseeker, Disney Dish podcast, and the freshly-updated Universal Orlando website. We also, of course, continue to draw heavily from our very own Complete Guide to Diagon Alley, which is regularly updated with the latest information and exclusive vacation planning advice.

 

What we already knew: The basics

Sadly, a good amount of the “revelations” coming out of last night’s press event are merely reconfirmations of previously-announced information, such as the fact that guests will need a park-to-park ticket in order to ride the Hogwarts Express, and that a ticket upgrade desk will be located at both King’s Cross and Hogsmeade Stations.

King's Cross Station - Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando.
King’s Cross Station concept artwork.

In addition, it’s been reaffirmed that all queuing for the Express will take place directly at the stations themselves, which are (strategically) placed outside of the Wizarding Worlds proper. While this will help considerably with crowd flow, it also means that, after you’ve done your shopping and riding at either Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, you’ll then have to exit the area, loop over to the train station, and wait in that line.

King's Cross Station - March 13, 2014.
King’s Cross Station – March 13, 2014.
Hogsmeade Station - March 13, 2014.
Hogsmeade Station – March 13, 2014.

Let’s just slip in an extra piece of brand-new information right here: once the train arrives at its destination, you have to disembark; if you’d like to make a round trip, you’ll just have to queue all over again.

 

What we didn’t know: The queue experience

While new information was handed out, most of this, again, simply officially confirms what has been turning about the rumor mill for the past several months – meaning no news on an opening date or what the “story” of the attraction will be. As such, Universal fans expecting a cavalcade of new announcements will be disappointed, but those who are content with reveling in the immaculately-themed details will find much and more to be happy about, starting with the queue.

Author J.K. Rowling was adamant that every guest have the opportunity to experience the transition from the Muggle King’s Cross to the magical Platform 9 3/4 for him- or herself (unlike the entrance to Diagon Alley, due to the sheer amount of people passing through it every minute of every hour of every day).

In order to accommodate this, Universal will pulse small groups of individuals at the famous brick column, which – yes – you most certainly will have to run at, just as in the books and movies. All those guests still waiting in line will actually see the people in front of them disappear by means of some sort of optical illusion, which Universal wasn’t too keen on divulging just yet.

Platform 9¾.
Platform 9 3/4, as seen in the movies.

Once on Platform 9 3/4, luggage carts and animatronic animals, such as owls in their cages, will greet you. And the Hogwarts Express itself, of course, will billow steam and sound her whistle – special effects that Universal Creative took extremely seriously, as it dispatched a team of designers to the United Kingdom for a month to ride the trains, record the sounds, and, even, track down the manufacturer of the cloth that was used to create the pillows onboard. Even the bolts seen on the Express’s movie sets were replicated exactly, which Universal hopes will help to make this one of the most immersive rides available at any theme park around the world.

Eight people will be seated per cabin, with each train holding roughly 200 passengers total (remember, as one train is busy being loaded at Hogsmeade, another is doing the same at King’s Cross). And each cabin is separated from all the others by closing doors.

 

What we didn’t know: The ride experience

Let’s get the two biggest pieces of news out of the way up front. On the positive side, there will be no height restriction for the Hogwarts Express; Universal promised a ride “for the whole family,” and it’s delivering on that promise.

On the negative side, however, it looks like all those rumors of randomized ride experiences, as seen on such attractions as Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, are completely false. Only two experiences will be on hand for passengers: one on the way to Hogsmeade, and the other on the way back to Diagon Alley.

But what guests encounter in these two variations looks to be extremely promising. Universal worked very closely with a number of production and visual effects personnel from the films in order to render the Express’s approach to Hogwarts; the view of the castle from the train as it makes its way around the Black Lake is an entirely new one, never before seen in any media – which should be something of a thrill for diehard Harry Potter fans. On the way there, Mad-Eye Moody, Hedwig, the Centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, and Hagrid on his flying motorcycle will be spotted, and Universal has finally confirmed what is sure to be the show-stealing scene of the entire ride: a Dementor attack, replete with ice-cold air being pumped into the cabin.

Concept artwork from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Concept artwork from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Departing Hogsmeade for London, passengers will first see Hagrid walking alongside the train, waving goodbye (as seen in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). Then, as you pass the Black Lake, Buckbeak the hippogriff will soar down and graze the water (as in Prisoner of Azkaban), and as you head past the Forbidden Forest, George and Fred Weasley will arrive on their broomsticks and barrage you with an impromptu display of fireworks (Order of the Phoenix). Finally, upon entering downtown London, the Knight Bus will be seen zipping and squeezing through traffic (Prisoner of Azkaban).

Hagrid at Universal Orlando.
Hagrid waving goodbye at Hogsmeade Station, direct from Universal.
Buckbeak at Universal Orlando.
Buckbeak gliding beside you, direct from Universal.
Fred Weasley at Universal Orlando.
Fred Weasley showing off, direct from Universal.

Universal also announced a small number of additional details: the ride will last approximately six minutes, apparently offer a slightly different perspective depending upon where on the train you sit, and will not feature seasonal changes to the ride film – meaning it’ll be perpetually summer, as it is in Florida itself. Oliver and James Phelps recorded new footage for their part of the story, and all their new dialogue was personally approved by Rowling herself. Lastly, as expected, the existing Hogwarts Express locomotive in Hogsmeade will remain as a photo-op.

Oh – there’s one final tidbit: Universal Creative has come out and said that the fabled trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione will certainly be on the train with you, and it coyly hinted that you’d see or otherwise notice their presence somewhere along the way.

 

Odds & ends

That may be it for the official information coming out of Universal’s press event, but there’s so much that has been unofficially conveyed.

The most pertinent piece of info for vacation planners is that, unfortunately, it looks more possible that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley will miss its intended June opening date by as much as a month; given the huge amount of money and customer expectation that is riding on the expansion, Universal is being more cautious than ever in ensuring that all its ducks are in a row and that everything goes off without a hitch.

Spring Break 2014 crowds inside Hogsmeade.
Spring Break 2014 crowds inside Hogsmeade.

Want an idea of how much is at stake? The original Wizarding World cost the company somewhere around $250 million and was expected to bring in roughly $50 million a year – making the expansion a five-year investment, which is no small gamble. Thanks to the unforeseen popularity of butterbeer (and all the other heaps of exclusive merchandise) and the unexpected boom in attendance, that figure was actually recouped in just four months.

And Diagon Alley is expected to outperform its predecessor handily.

 

Official Hogwarts Express 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. Imagine:

  • 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 3/4
  • 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

Since the very first Harry Potter film, every fan has dreamed of taking the same classic journey Harry Potter did aboard the Hogwarts Express. And this summer – they will get to live it.

[youtube_video]5gmSf4R2Ac4[/youtube_video]

Today, Universal Orlando 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, Buckbeak the hippogriff swoop gracefully over the Black Lake, the Weasley twins on brooms and up to their usual antics, 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.

 

View all of our Rumor Round-Ups, learn more about the Harry Potter expansion by studying our Complete guide to Diagon Alley, or see all our latest Universal photos by visiting our Flickr page (we just uploaded 149 photos shot yesterday!).

 

[sws_author_bio user=”msunyata@yahoo.com” size=”105″ authorposts=”More OI posts by Marc” name_format=”About the author”] [/sws_author_bio]

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Previous

THE BIG 5: Five more of our favorite Orlando “hot spots” for drinks & dinner

Reader poll: How long will you wait for your first rides at Diagon Alley?

Next
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
grace12345
grace12345
March 14, 2014 12:45 pm

Hi do you have any idea when they might announce when the grand opening will be? 🙂

OrlandoInformer
OrlandoInformer
March 14, 2014 12:54 pm

grace12345  No, I do not… if things turn out to be on schedule, I’d say the announcement is coming really any day now. If the rumors are true that the project is a month or more behind, well then it could be several weeks before Universal makes the announcement. We just have to play the waiting game right now.

ramon
ramon
March 14, 2014 1:00 pm

grace12345 Some other site claims “We’re hearing our first credible rumor of a soft-opening date for Diagon Alley: May 14” . I don’t even see how this is a possibility.

MatthewLynch1991
MatthewLynch1991
March 14, 2014 6:27 pm

I would think that it will open as a definite by Mid-July unless Universal may lose millions if they miss even a few weeks of summer crowds. If I was them I would be wanting cost reduction if they get an external engineering contractor to build it all.

But it’s better for Uni to wait till they can definitely get the date right, unless people may ask for refunds as Universal may have said Diagon Alley would be open. But it’s safer for them to be hush hush on it for now.

luismarrerodavila07
luismarrerodavila07
March 14, 2014 11:02 pm

Reading all this information makes me wonder if there is going to be a food trolley inside the Hogwarts Express, just like in the books and the movies. That would be great!

Marc N Kleinhenz
Marc N Kleinhenz
March 14, 2014 11:41 pm

luismarrerodavila07 I had always assumed there would be one (as you’ll see in my previous articles), but now I’d have to say almost conclusively that there won’t be — there’s just not enough time within the ride’s ten-minute window to sell concessions.
A bummer, I know.  =(
~M.

Marc N Kleinhenz
Marc N Kleinhenz
March 14, 2014 11:43 pm

I’m surprised no one’s disappointed about the Hogwarts Express’s lack of randomized experiences.  Will two really be enough to warrant repeat rides?

~M.

CaptainAction
CaptainAction
March 15, 2014 10:29 am

Hey Marc, I’m a little disappointed about the Hogwarts Express’s lack of randomized experiences. I do think it will be pretty simple to upgrade the system with random options later though. Universal has to know that the guests would like to have different experiences on the train trip between London and Hogwarts and the technology would be easy for them to pull off.
I’ll bet they will wait and upgrade the attraction with the random trips to burst some new life into the ride after it’s been open for a couple of years.

Jenny Noble-Campbell
Jenny Noble-Campbell
March 14, 2014 1:13 pm

*crys* wish i wa there

Candace Harmon
Candace Harmon
March 14, 2014 1:27 pm

I can’t wait 🙂

Frances Downey
Frances Downey
March 14, 2014 1:38 pm

They made $250 million in 4months?! That is shocking!

Amanda Loughran
Amanda Loughran
March 14, 2014 1:40 pm

There are no words to describe how awesome this is going to be!!

Marc Kleinhenz
Marc Kleinhenz
March 14, 2014 2:13 pm

We just updated the article to include an additional five(!) characters you’ll encounter on the train ride — including a certain Harry, Ron, and Hermione. 😀

Julie Smith
Julie Smith
March 14, 2014 3:30 pm

I can’t believe they made their $250 million back in 4 months!!

Bev Loose
Bev Loose
March 14, 2014 3:51 pm

I’m so excited about riding on the Hogwarts Express, we’re going in October

Lauren Ballani Levin
Lauren Ballani Levin
March 14, 2014 4:26 pm

I already paid about $300 in fees to change my reservations from mid June to July so as to not miss it, if it is not open when we get there we will be be so upset!

Harleysmom
Harleysmom
April 25, 2014 9:58 pm

I think its good for them to hold off randomized rides for now. Not sure if this has anything to do with their decision, but if they have many different experiences people are going to want to keep riding it. The lines no doubt will be long enough if people only ride it once each way! This will make it easier for everyone to get a chance on the train I think….

About Marc N. Kleinhenz

Marc N. Kleinhenz is the former editor of Orlando Informer.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x