The Hogwarts Express stands as one of Universal Orlando’s most beloved attractions, transcending its practical function as a park-to-park transportation system to become an immersive experience that captures the magic of traveling between The Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands. Since its debut, the attraction has allowed guests to board the iconic scarlet steam engine at King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios Florida and arrive at Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure, or make the reverse journey from Hogsmeade back to London.
Credit: Universal
Unlike typical theme park transportation options that simply move guests from one location to another, the Hogwarts Express creates a fully themed journey complete with enchanted windows showing countryside views, encounters with familiar characters, and different experiences depending on which direction you’re traveling. The attraction requires park-to-park admission tickets, making it both a premium experience and a significant operational component of how guests navigate between Universal’s two main theme parks. For many visitors, riding the Hogwarts Express multiple times throughout the day becomes as much a part of their Universal Orlando experience as the attractions themselves, offering a relaxing break from walking while maintaining complete immersion in the Harry Potter universe.
Now, guests planning February visits need to adjust their expectations and logistics. Universal Orlando has announced that the Hogwarts Express will temporarily close starting Monday, February 9, 2026, and remain unavailable through February 23, reopening to guests on February 24. The two-week closure is scheduled for routine maintenance designed to keep the attraction operating smoothly and address any technical needs that have accumulated since previous maintenance periods.
Understanding the Maintenance Schedule
Credit: Universal
The Hogwarts Express represents one of Universal Orlando’s most technically complex attractions. The ride system involves actual trains moving along tracks between two separate theme parks, synchronized show elements visible through the cabin windows, audio systems delivering character dialogue and sound effects, and climate control systems managing Florida heat for guests enclosed in train compartments. This complexity means the attraction requires regular maintenance beyond standard daily inspections and overnight servicing.
The February 9-23 closure continues a pattern of periodic maintenance that the Hogwarts Express has required throughout its operational history. Last year alone, the attraction closed three separate times for maintenance in May, September, and December. These closures, while inconvenient for guests whose visits coincide with the downtime, reflect Universal’s commitment to maintaining the attraction’s technical systems and ensuring guest safety rather than allowing issues to compound until major repairs become necessary.
Routine maintenance for an attraction like the Hogwarts Express typically involves inspecting and servicing the train cars themselves, checking track systems, updating show technology including projection systems and audio equipment, testing safety systems, and addressing any wear and tear from daily operations. The two-week timeline suggests comprehensive work rather than simple adjustments, giving maintenance crews adequate time to complete thorough inspections and repairs without rushing.
What Guests Can Still Experience
While the Hogwarts Express won’t operate during the closure period, Universal Orlando is providing a consolation experience for Harry Potter fans who want some connection to the iconic train. A stationary train car will be available for viewing at Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, allowing guests to take photographs and interact with a train conductor character.
To find this photo opportunity, guests should head toward Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. The train car is positioned in an alcove area behind the ride’s locker facilities. This location keeps the train accessible without creating crowd flow issues in Hogsmeade’s main pathways, which can become congested during peak attendance periods.
The stationary train car offers a partial substitute for the full Hogwarts Express experience. While guests won’t get the immersive journey between parks with moving scenery and character encounters, they can still capture photos with the iconic scarlet engine and interact with Universal’s excellent character performers who bring the conductor role to life. For families with young Harry Potter fans, this photo opportunity may help offset disappointment about the ride closure.
Park-Hopping Alternatives During the Closure
Credit: Universal
The Hogwarts Express closure creates logistical considerations for guests who purchased park-to-park tickets specifically to use the train as their primary method of moving between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Without the train operating, guests must exit through the main entrance of whichever park they’re currently visiting and walk to the other park’s main entrance.
Fortunately, Universal Orlando’s two main theme parks sit remarkably close together, connected by a wide pedestrian pathway. The walk between entrances takes approximately five minutes at a comfortable pace, making it far less burdensome than similar park-to-park transitions at other multi-park resort destinations. The pathway passes through Universal CityWalk, the resort’s entertainment and dining district, providing air-conditioned retail and restaurant options if guests want to break up the walk or grab refreshments between parks.
For guests unfamiliar with Universal Orlando’s layout, the walking route is straightforward and well-marked. Exiting either park leads directly to CityWalk, where clear signage directs guests toward the other park’s entrance. The pathway is entirely accessible, accommodating wheelchairs, ECVs, and strollers without difficulty. Security screening occurs at each park entrance, so guests should factor in a few extra minutes for bag checks when moving between parks.
The five-minute walk between parks actually offers some advantages compared to the Hogwarts Express during peak periods. When the train operates with heavy demand, queue times can extend to 30-45 minutes or longer, particularly during morning hours when guests are initially moving between parks and during evening hours when guests are heading back toward Universal Studios for nighttime shows or events. Walking eliminates wait times entirely, and some guests may find the February weather pleasant for the brief outdoor stroll.
Planning Around the Closure
Guests with Universal Orlando visits scheduled between February 9 and February 23 should adjust their touring plans to account for the Hogwarts Express closure. Most importantly, don’t purchase park-to-park tickets solely for the purpose of riding the train during this period, as the attraction won’t be available. However, park-to-park admission still provides value for guests who want to experience attractions in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure during a single day.
Consider starting your day at Islands of Adventure if Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure or VelociCoaster are high priorities, as these attractions typically see heavy demand from park opening through midday. After experiencing Islands of Adventure’s highlights, make the five-minute walk to Universal Studios for afternoon and evening activities. This approach minimizes backtracking and keeps your day flowing efficiently without the Hogwarts Express as a transportation option.
Alternatively, guests staying at Universal Orlando resort hotels can take advantage of Early Park Admission, which grants hotel guests entry to select attractions one hour before official park opening. This benefit allows you to experience high-demand attractions with minimal wait times, reducing the need for extensive park hopping throughout the day.
The Attraction Returns February 24
The maintenance closure concludes on February 23, with the Hogwarts Express scheduled to reopen for guest operations on February 24, 2026. Guests visiting on or after that date can expect the full Hogwarts Express experience, ideally with improved reliability and performance resulting from the maintenance work completed during the closure.
Universal Orlando typically doesn’t provide detailed information about specific maintenance activities performed during attraction closures, but the two-week timeline suggests thorough attention to the systems that keep the Hogwarts Express operating as designed. When the attraction reopens, guests should find the same immersive journey between parks that has made the Hogwarts Express a fan favorite since its debut.
If you’re visiting Universal Orlando between February 9 and 23, don’t let the Hogwarts Express closure derail your plans. The walk between parks takes five minutes, the stationary train car in Hogsmeade gives you photo opportunities, and honestly, skipping the sometimes-lengthy queue times for the train means more time for butterbeer and actual rides. Just remember that February 24 is when the Express gets back on track, so plan your visit dates accordingly if riding the train is non-negotiable for your Potter-obsessed crew.