Theme Park Scope

Wizards, witches, and Muggles with a Universal trip on the calendar, I come bearing news you’ll want to hear before you pack.

The Hogwarts Express at Universal Orlando Resort is closing for refurbishment beginning November 4, 2026.

The Hogwarts Express is the train that connects the two Wizarding World lands, running between Hogsmeade station at Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley’s King’s Cross station at Universal Studios Florida. When it’s closed, both stations are out of service, which means no train in either direction.

Here’s the part that matters for your plans. Riding the Hogwarts Express takes a park-to-park ticket, and on the days it’s closed, you can still visit both parks with that ticket. You’ll just need to walk between them instead of taking the train. Both Wizarding World lands stay open, so you aren’t missing the butterbeer or the wand shops, just the train ride.

The closure begins November 4, and Universal has not shared a reopening date. If a train ride is the must-do of your Harry Potter day, a quick check could save a lot of disappointment.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Hogwarts Express take a break. It was also closed for a couple of weeks in February earlier this year, so regular refurbishments are clearly part of keeping the train running. That makes sense when you think about how many guests ride it every single day. It’s one of the most popular attractions at the resort, and anything that moves thousands of people between parks is going to need some upkeep.

Let me talk to the families for a second, because that’s where this closure hits hardest. If you have little wizards in tow, the Hogwarts Express is more than a way to get from A to B. It’s a show, with the platform, the compartments, the scenery out the window, and the characters appearing along the way. For a lot of kids, it’s one of the highlights of the entire trip. And walking between the parks with a stroller, tired kids, and a backpack full of snacks takes a bit more time and energy than a train ride. If you’re planning a visit in the coming weeks, build in extra time between parks and consider doing one park per day instead of trying to hop back and forth.

A few simple ideas if the train is closed during your trip. Start your day at the park you most want to see, so the walk happens when everyone’s fresh. Plan a stop for a snack or a drink in Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley before heading across. And if you were only buying a park-to-park ticket for the train, it’s worth checking whether a one-park ticket suits your plans better during the closure.

There’s also good news on the horizon for Universal fans. The Jurassic Park River Adventure is expected to return in November after a long refurbishment, so there’s some fun coming back even as another favorite takes a break.

I’ll admit this one made me sigh. The Hogwarts Express is the best part of the Wizarding World experience for me, and the idea of it being unavailable for any stretch is a bummer. That said, I’d always rather see Universal take care of it than let it wear down, because a train that’s out of commission for a short while is better than one that breaks mid-ride.

If you’re heading there in November, don’t panic. You’ll still get butterbeer, wands, and castle views, and a walk between the parks isn’t the end of the world. I’d just recommend a little extra planning and a good pair of walking shoes.

Are you planning a Universal trip around the closure, and is the train a must-do for your family? Tell me in the comments, and keep checking back with Theme Park Scope, because I’ll share every Universal Orlando update as soon as I have it.