Universal Orlando is taking the Hogwarts Express out of service starting February 9th for a two-week maintenance period that won’t wrap up until February 24th.
If you’ve got a trip planned for mid-February, this matters because the train won’t be running as your transportation option between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. The closure kicks off tomorrow and affects one of the resort’s most popular attractions, forcing guests to adjust how they navigate between the two parks during their visit.
The Hogwarts Express does more than just shuttle people between theme parks. Since opening, it’s become a signature experience that lets Harry Potter fans live out the journey to Hogwarts through enchanted windows, character encounters, and immersive storytelling that changes depending on which direction you’re traveling. Guests board at King’s Cross Station in Universal Studios or Hogsmeade Station in Islands of Adventure, experiencing different adventures each way. The attraction requires park-to-park tickets, making it both a premium add-on and a practical way to move between locations without exiting the parks and walking through CityWalk. For many visitors, riding multiple times throughout the day becomes part of the Universal experience itself, offering breaks from walking while staying completely immersed in the wizarding world.
Technical Complexity Drives Maintenance Schedule
The Hogwarts Express ranks among Universal Orlando’s most technically demanding attractions. You’re dealing with actual trains moving on tracks between two separate theme parks, synchronized projection systems creating the illusion of countryside views through windows, audio delivering character dialogue at precise moments, and climate control managing Florida heat inside enclosed train compartments. All these systems need to work together flawlessly to maintain the experience.
Regular maintenance goes beyond what can be accomplished during overnight servicing or daily inspections. The attraction closed three separate times last year for maintenance work in May, September, and December. These scheduled closures let Universal address issues proactively rather than waiting for systems to fail and cause unexpected downtime.
The two-week February closure gives maintenance teams time for comprehensive work. Expect them to inspect and service train cars, check track systems for wear or alignment problems, update show technology including projections and audio equipment, test safety systems, and fix any accumulated damage from daily operations. A two-week window indicates thorough inspections rather than quick repairs.
Photo Opportunity Available in Hogsmeade
Universal isn’t leaving Potter fans completely without access to the iconic train. A stationary train car will be set up in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure for the duration of the closure. Guests can take photos with the scarlet engine and meet a train conductor character, capturing at least some of the Hogwarts Express experience.
The train car sits in an alcove area behind the locker facilities for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. This positioning keeps it accessible without creating traffic jams in Hogsmeade’s main walkways, which get crowded during busy periods.
Obviously, standing next to a parked train car doesn’t replicate the full ride experience with moving scenery and character encounters. But for families with young Potter enthusiasts, having some interaction with the locomotive helps soften the disappointment of the closure. Universal’s character performers typically do excellent work with guest interactions, so the conductor meet-and-greet should be more engaging than just posing for pictures.
Walking Between Parks Takes Five Minutes
Without the Hogwarts Express operating, you’ll need to exit whichever park you’re visiting and walk to the other park’s main entrance. Park-to-park ticket holders who planned to use the train as their primary transportation method will need to factor this into their touring strategy.
Universal’s two main parks are positioned close together, connected by a pedestrian pathway that runs through CityWalk. The walk takes about five minutes at a normal pace, which is significantly shorter than park-to-park transitions at other major resort destinations. CityWalk offers air-conditioned shops and restaurants if you want to take a break or grab food between parks.
The route is simple to navigate. Exiting either park puts you directly in CityWalk, where signs point you toward the other park’s entrance. The pathway handles wheelchairs, ECVs, and strollers without problems, though you should account for security screening at each park entrance since bag checks happen every time you enter.
Walking actually beats the Hogwarts Express during peak demand periods. When the train is popular, queue times can hit 30-45 minutes or more, especially in the morning when guests are first moving between parks and in the evening when they’re heading back to Universal Studios for shows or events. Walking eliminates wait time completely, and February weather usually makes the brief outdoor stroll comfortable.
Adjusting Your Touring Strategy
Guests visiting between February 9 and 23 need to plan around the closure. Don’t buy park-to-park tickets just for the Hogwarts Express during this window since it won’t be available. However, park-to-park admission still makes sense if you want to experience attractions in both parks during a single day.
Think about starting at Islands of Adventure if Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure or VelociCoaster are must-dos. These rides typically see the heaviest crowds from opening through midday. After hitting Islands of Adventure’s major attractions, walk over to Universal Studios for afternoon and evening. This keeps your day flowing smoothly without backtracking.
Universal hotel guests can use Early Park Admission, which lets you enter select attractions an hour before official opening. This perk helps you knock out popular rides with short waits, potentially reducing how much you need to hop between parks throughout the day.
New Hogwarts Express Experience Coming in 2026
While Universal’s Hogwarts Express undergoes maintenance, another train experience is in development for Harry Potter fans. Rail Events Inc., known for Polar Express and Peanuts themed trains, announced they’re creating Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure launching in 2026. This separate experience uses real trains traveling through various locations nationwide instead of operating at theme parks.
“We’ve been hard at work developing an incredible train-based experience,” said Jamie Ryan, director of marketing for Rail Events Inc. “And the highlight is that most of the experience takes place on a real moving train.”
Rail Events’ version will include a Platform 9¾ inspired pre-boarding area, interactive competitions with Hogwarts-themed characters onboard, and post-journey perks like Butterbeer and exclusive merchandise. Specific dates and locations haven’t been announced yet, but the touring format follows Rail Events’ model with Polar Express experiences that visit cities across the country.
This touring Hogwarts Express brings the experience to fans who don’t live near Universal parks, expanding the brand beyond traditional theme park boundaries. It’s not competing with Universal’s attraction but offering an alternative way to experience boarding the famous scarlet steam engine.
Reopening Set for February 24
The Hogwarts Express returns to service on February 24, 2026, after the maintenance period concludes on February 23. Guests visiting on or after the 24th get the full park-to-park experience with hopefully improved performance and reliability from the maintenance work.
Universal doesn’t usually share detailed information about specific maintenance tasks during closures, but two weeks indicates significant attention to the systems keeping the attraction running properly. When it reopens, expect the same immersive journey that’s made the Hogwarts Express popular since it debuted.
The February 9-23 closure is inconvenient if your visit coincides with the maintenance window, but it’s manageable. Walking between parks genuinely only takes five minutes, the stationary train in Hogsmeade gives you photo ops with a conductor, and avoiding Hogwarts Express queues means extra time for rides and exploring the wizarding world. If riding the train is essential to your trip, schedule your visit for February 24 or later when normal operations resume. Otherwise, embrace the walk through CityWalk and remember that Universal is doing this maintenance to keep the experience working properly for future visits. Sometimes a forced detour ends up being more efficient than the original plan anyway.
