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Why is the Hogwarts ride closed?

Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando Resort Closing For Refurbishment in December 2023. The Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando Resort will close for a week in December 2023, likely for regular maintenance.



In February 2026, the Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando Resort is temporarily closed for routine annual maintenance. Specifically, the attraction is scheduled to be down from February 9th through February 23rd, 2026, with a planned reopening on February 24th. This type of closure is standard for complex attractions that involve heavy machinery, moving ride vehicles, and intricate show effects that cannot be fully serviced during the few hours the park is closed overnight. During this window, technicians perform deep-cleansing of the track, service the internal projection systems (which create the "window views"), and perform safety inspections on the train cars themselves. Because the Hogwarts Express serves as both a ride and a transport link between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, its closure requires guests with Park-to-Park tickets to walk between the two park entrances, which is roughly a 5-to-10 minute stroll. These planned refurbishments are essential for ensuring the ride remains reliable and safe for the millions of "witches and wizards" who ride it each year.

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The show will have its last performance on May 9, the same day that Poseidon's Fury closes permanently. Universal Orlando have only said that the show is closing for for “future show enhancements.”

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The attraction will be closed from December 10 through December 16, 2023. Please keep in mind that these dates can change. The brief closure is most likely maintenance related.

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Universal removed the coaster to make room for their new Harry Potter attraction. But over the years, I feel like they got rid of it because it was getting outdated, hard to keep up, and they had a lot of reported injuries. Also, they removed the dueling aspect of it after awhile, so it lost it's appeal.

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016, Replacing The Adventures of Curious George which closed on September 6, 2013.

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The ORR report noted that train stewards failed to prevent passengers from operating secondary door locks, a critical safety oversight. Additionally, passengers were observed leaning on train doors and hanging out of open windows while the train was in motion, further exacerbating the risk to their safety.

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The train journey is regarded as one of the best in the world so it's worthy of being a bucket list activity in its own right. That being said, if it's just a good photo of the Jacobite train passing over the viaduct you want, then I recommend getting the ScotRail train to Glenfinnan and waiting at the viewpoint.

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Alternatively, you can book a single or return (round-trip) ride on the train directly at the West Coast Railways site. Jacobite Steam Train ticket prices (2023): Standard seat adult day return £57. First Class adult return ticket £89.

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A Universal CEO has officially confirmed an expansion to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A significant CEO is speaking out for the first time in a long time about the status and what guests can expect from Universal's newest theme park.

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Dumbledore's Island (and other Harry Potter locations) The Island of trees, Eilean na Moine, located on Loch Eilt, Lochaber is the setting for Dumbledore's grave.

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Alnwick Castle In the first two Harry Potter films, Alnwick Castle in Northumberland stood in for exterior shots of Hogwarts Castle. You might recognize the outer bailey as the place where Harry first learned to fly, and the inner bailey as the spot where he and Ron crash landed the Weasley's flying car.

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