Universal Orlando Resort has added a new closure to its calendar. This one affects one of the most popular ways to travel between its two original theme parks. The Hogwarts Express will be unavailable to guests on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
The closure now appears on the attraction’s page on the official Universal Orlando Resort website, which states: “The Hogwarts Express™ will be temporarily closed on November 4th, 2026. The attraction plans to reopen to Guests on November 5th, 2026.”
That puts the downtime plan at just 24 hours. Guests visiting on that date who planned to ride between Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure should expect to make the trip on foot instead. Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure and King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios link the two parks, and guests need a park-to-park ticket to board. The ride itself is far more than a shuttle. Passengers watch the Hogwarts grounds and the wider wizarding world roll past the windows of their compartments, with an appearance from dementors along the way.
The one-day pause comes shortly after news of a much longer closure elsewhere in the land. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the flagship attraction inside Hogwarts Castle at Islands of Adventure, is scheduled to close from February 8, 2027, through February 19, 2027.
Both closures land during a busy stretch for Universal Destinations and Experiences. Universal Epic Universe opened as the Orlando resort’s third theme park in May 2025. It brought lands like How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD to the East Coast, and it extended The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with the Ministry of Magic. That land is home to Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, where guests join Harry and his friends on a major dark ride.
Beyond Florida, Universal Kids Resort opened in Frisco, Texas, earlier this year. Work also continues on the proposed Universal theme park in the United Kingdom, planned for the Bedford area of England.
Even with that growth, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure remain central to the company’s success. Both parks draw millions of visitors each year, and many of those guests split their Central Florida vacations between Universal and Walt Disney World Resort.
The Wizarding World is spread across all three Orlando parks. It began with Hogwarts and Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, then grew into Universal Studios with Diagon Alley and King’s Cross Station. The Ministry of Magic followed at Epic Universe.
Refurbishment schedules can shift, so guests should check the official Universal Orlando Resort website or app before their visit for the latest attraction status.
Which is your favorite park to experience the Wizarding World? Let us know in the comments down below!
