Universal Orlando Resort is testing guest experience improvements, including new speaker announcements, on the Hogwarts Express in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Hogwarts Express Announcements

Previously, after guests boarded the Hogwarts Express, a porter would go to each cabin and give guests the safety spiel, telling them to remain seated, pointing out the switch under a seat for emergencies, and closing the door.

Today, we were loaded into a Hogwarts Express cabin and the porter immediately closed the door. A Team Member then made the safety announcement over a speaker to all cabins at once.

A Team Member told us that they are currently testing the speaker announcements, which could speed up the entire process. He also indicated there may be more improvements to look out for in the near future.

Hogwarts Express

The Hogwarts Express is both an attraction and transportation, connecting Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure via The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The train is a unique experience in each direction, with different characters and locations appearing on the window screens in the cabins. Guests also see the silhouettes and hear the voices of different characters through the frosted glass of their cabin doors.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The two Wizarding Worlds at Universal Orlando Resort are Hogsmeade in Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida. A third Wizarding World inspired by Place Cachée, as seen in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” is rumored for Epic Universe. Check out a recent Epic Universe construction update featuring a look at Place Cachée.

Epic Universe has contracted some firms that previously worked on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the main attraction of Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, will temporarily close for refurbishment in June.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade also exists with slight variations at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing. All versions of Hogsmeade include Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and family coaster Flight of the Hippogriff, which was originally a re-skin of The Lost Continent’s Flying Unicorn. The Ollivanders Experience is also available in all versions of Hogsmeade.

In Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests can ride Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, a large roller-coaster that replaced Dragon Challenge, which was in turn a re-skin of Dueling Dragons.

New Magical Creatures experiences, including a Hippogriff encounter, recently debuted at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Japan. The Japanese version of the land also includes the Black Lake.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley, unique to Universal Studios Florida, is headlined by Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. It also features live performances of The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees.

Guests can dine at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade or The Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. Both serve traditional British dishes like fish and chips.

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