{"id":405799,"date":"2026-09-21T00:34:48","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T00:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/405799\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T00:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T00:34:48","slug":"harry-potter-fans-left-devastated-after-universal-replaces-hogwarts-castle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/405799\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Harry Potter\u2019 Fans Left Devastated After Universal Replaces Hogwarts Castle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/hogwarts-castle-800x400.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-image size-post-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle illuminates Hogwarts at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando.\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"  \/>\t\t<\/p>\n<p class=\"entry-image-caption\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon fa fa-camera\" src=\"https:\/\/insidethemagic.net\/wp-content\/themes\/itm\/includes\/svgs\/camera.svg\"\/>Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the Magic<\/p>\n<p>Harry Potter fans aren\u2019t happy with Universal\u2019s decision to update the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.<\/p>\n<p>Hogwarts Castle has towered over Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando Resort since 2010, serving as both the land\u2019s centerpiece and the home of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Its queue takes guests through familiar locations, including Dumbledore\u2019s office, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and the Gryffindor common room, with cameos from Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and more.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-498112\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Untitled-design-19.png\" alt=\"The Harry Potter Castle at Universal Orlando lit up at night.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\"  \/>Credit: Universal<\/p>\n<p>The Florida castle has been joined by other versions of Hogwarts and Forbidden Journey over the years. Another castle opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2014, Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016, and Universal Studios Beijing in 2021. Judging by <a href=\"https:\/\/orlandoparkstop.com\/news\/theme-park-news\/harry-potter-possibly-confirmed-for-universal-uk-park\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">recently filed permits<\/a>, there\u2019s every chance that Universal United Kingdom will also receive its own version when it finally opens in 2031.<\/p>\n<p>But in the meantime, guests aren\u2019t happy with Universal\u2019s decision to make drastic changes to the castle in Orlando.<\/p>\n<p>New Version of Hogwarts Castle Sparks Backlash<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, <a href=\"https:\/\/insidethemagic.net\/2026\/04\/universal-orlando-harry-potter-hogwarts-update-cj1\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Hogwarts was temporarily removed from Islands of Adventure<\/a> when Universal conducted a renovation of the castle\u2019s exterior.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The exterior refurbishment of Hogwarts Castle is expected to be completed by May 21. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/UniversalORL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">@UniversalORL<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/auSYqMmj2T\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/auSYqMmj2T<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/insideuniversal\/status\/2042638012081660016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Hogwarts Castle was covered by scrim and scaffolding for months, upsetting some guests who planned on taking pictures with the fixture during their visit.<\/p>\n<p>While <a href=\"https:\/\/insidethemagic.net\/2026\/06\/hogwarts-castle-reappears-as-universal-orlando-ends-major-project-bwb1\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">the castle was back in full view by early June<\/a>, not all guests are happy with the finished results today.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@sarahisinthestars\/video\/7687165261589269792?_r=1&amp;_t=ZN-99rmvrDQ7QE\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">recent TikTok<\/a> showed the before-and-after of the castle\u2019s refurbishment. Guests have complained that Universal has replaced the castle\u2019s exterior with an inaccurate and unattractive color scheme.<\/p>\n<p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@sarahisinthestars\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@sarahisinthestars?refer=embed\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">@sarahisinthestars<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Glow up or down? I didn\u2019t think it would look much different but what a change! <a title=\"hogwarts\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/hogwarts?refer=embed\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">#hogwarts<\/a> <a title=\"harrypotter\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/harrypotter?refer=embed\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">#harrypotter<\/a> <a title=\"universalstudios\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/universalstudios?refer=embed\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">#universalstudios<\/a> @Harry Potter @Universal Orlando Resort @Warner Bros. UK <\/p>\n<p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c orijinal ses - \ud80c\udf6f\ud80c\udc83\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/orijinal-ses-7673178143884200720?refer=embed\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">\u266c orijinal ses \u2013 \ud80c\udf6f\ud80c\udc83<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>The castle is no longer made up of several noticeably different gray, beige, and weathered tones. The repaint gives the structure a much more uniform cool gray finish, particularly across the main walls and towers, while the rockwork beneath Hogwarts has also been darkened and made more consistent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat the hell have they done?\u201d wrote one TikTok user.<\/p>\n<p>Another said, \u201cNow it looks like the battle of hogwarts version and not in a good way,\u201d referring to the gloomier castle seen in\u00a0Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows \u2013 Part 2\u00a0(2011).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo it needs to be the first one so it looks like the original broooo,\u201d said one fan.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-820875 perfmatters-lazy\" alt=\"Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle illuminates Hogwarts at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789950887_324_hogwarts-castle.jpg\"  data-\/>Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the Magic<\/p>\n<p>And one wrote, \u201cIt just reminds me of 3d printed plastic now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other \u2018Harry Potter\u2019 Changes<\/p>\n<p>The castle is the latest in a string of changes for Universal\u2019s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.<\/p>\n<p>What do you think of the updated Hogwarts Castle?<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>          <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"160\" height=\"154\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"itm-stars perfmatters-lazy\" alt=\"Four vibrant sparkle icons in red, green, orange, and blue twinkle against a light gray backdrop, evoking the festive energy of a theme park celebration.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789950888_92_stars-1.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>            Get daily updates from Inside the Magic<\/p>\n<p>\n            You\u2019re subscribed!<br \/>\n            Thanks for signing up.\n          <\/p>\n<p>\n            There was a problem with your signup. 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