Universal Studios Hollywood : Harry Potter Diagon Alley Construction to Start Soon, Hogwarts Express Envisioned, More Wizarding World Soft Openings...

Soft openings have already started for Universal Hollywood Wizarding World of Harry Potter as you can see in the Mice Age pictorial report HERE. During March more soft openings - or technical rehearsals - will happen both for both USH guests and cast-members as well as families of the ones who built it.

Now, a few weeks ago in a post related to the Star Wars land coming to DL - and WDW of course - i was saying that now Universal Hollywood and Disneyland were rushing to be the first to open the big one. Some were surprised as they were thinking about USH Potter Wizarding World which open in six weeks and Star Wars land won't open before at least two years - no official opening date was announced yet. But i was NOT referring to Wizarding World but about Universal Hollywood next move, i.e Harry Potter Diagon Alley.

Yes, Diagon Alley is coming for sure to Universal Studios Hollywood, and even sooner than you may expect as not only they've already cleared the land where it will be built but apparently the construction will begin anytime soon, may be even before Wizarding World open on April 7. If not, it will be soon after as they'll need also two years to build it, and that's where the "rush" is between USH and Disney to open "the big one".



You can expect exactly the same Diagon Alley than in Florida with the same amount of details and of course the fantastic and award winning Escape from Gringotts ride but the big question is: will they build too the Hogwarts Express? In Florida, it was not only that they wanted to built it but they needed to build the Hogwarts Express to transport guests from Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure, the two lands being in two different parks. Now, and although Wizarding World and Diagon Alley won't be stuck one to each other at Universal Hollywood they don't really need it as much as in Florida, but they know that guests will expect the Hogwarts Express and would be disappointed if it was not there.



A few weeks ago, Lance on Screamscape said that the Hogwarts Express may "not move anywhere this time around" but could be a "simulated Hogwarts Express ride" meaning that the train will be built but not really "move". Well, from what i've heard this shouldn't be the case and Universal is thinking to add a moving Hogwarts Express although the track length might be less long than in Florida. As we know, the ride in the Hogwarts Express is an attraction in itself thanks to the movie and others visual effects happening during the ride and all the question is to know if they will reduce the length of the movie - or only the speed of the train so the length of the ride can match the one of the original movie.

Anyway, South Cal Harry Potter fans and USH guests will be happy to learn they won't have to go to Florida to experience the two Harry Potter lands and basically everyone will be happy about this news... except probably Disney which will see with more worries the opening of Diagon Alley - with one of the best ride in the world - at the same time than Star Wars land. A titanic battle is coming and we wouldn't miss it for anything in the world, would we?

Pictures: copyright Universal Studios

Universal Orlando Harry Potter Hogwarts Express is in Fact a Funicular Railway !

I've learned something today about Universal Orlando Hogwarts Express that i didn't knew. Well, may be you were aware of it or may be it's obvious when you do the ride between Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure... And i learned it thanks to a post from Swiss company named CWA.

So, in fact the Hogwarts Express, although having all the aspects of a real steam train ( locomotive, smoke, whistle, etc... ) is in fact a funicular railway, meaning - if i've understood it well - that the Hogwarts Express doesn't go from USF to IOA like a steam train, thanks to the power of the  locomotive, but pulled by a machinery at both ends of the track on which are attached a system of cables. If you don't know what a funicular is, here is the Wikipedia definition:
"The basic idea of funicular operation is that two cars are always attached to each other by a cable, which runs through a pulley at the top of the slope. Counterbalancing of the two cars, with one going up and one going down, minimizes the energy needed to lift the car going up. Winching is normally done by an electric drive that turns the pulley. Sheave wheels guide the cable to and from the drive mechanism and the slope cars."

Generally a funicular is done when there is a big slope, which is not the case here, but it can be done also when it's not the case, when the track is flat. So, basically the Hogwarts Express locomotives, even you can see the steam and hear the whistle is probably not used to pull the train between the two parks. Again, this is what i've understood from what you'll read below, and if i'm wrong please let me know. That said, the illusion works pretty well, and you need to have a real close look at videos to finally see the cable underneath. Okay, it kills a little bit the magic knowing that it's not totally a "real" steam train but not too much, that's okay.

Update: A kind D&M reader - Simon De Bruijn - sent me these pictures in which you can see the mechanism of cables located under the train. The last picture shows that even some of the steam which seems to come out of the train is in fact coming... from the ground!

Here is more infos about the Hogwarts Express from what CWA has posted recently, and i also have a great video for you right after it:

Swiss expertise is embedded in the all-new Hogwarts Express experience, created for guests of Universal Orlando Resort by Universal's creative team.

From July 8, the Hogwarts Express began transporting guests between Hogsmeade Station at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure to Kings Cross Station and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley, in Universal Studios Florida. The two lands are expansive, themed areas that include shops, restaurants and the attractions, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

The four-minute Hogwarts Express journey transports visitors between the two lands, giving them a chance to ride the iconic train.

The various components making up the new funicular railway mostly come from Switzerland, from the companies Garaventa, CWA Constructions S.A. and Frey AG, Stans. The Hogwarts Express, composed of two carriage sets, is a faithful reproduction of the iconic locomotive from the Harry Potter films. The train is made up of a steam locomotive, a coal tender and three passenger carriages, all the product of engineering from Switzerland.

A unique railway project

As general contractor, Garaventa AG entered into new territory in building the Hogwarts Express. Due to the significant weight of the train (overall length around 70 metres) and tight curve radii and high rope tension, a funicular railway in this form had never before been built. Garaventa AG is proud to have mastered the technical aspects and designs needed to create a one-of-a-kind funicular railway that is true to the Harry Potter films and honoured to have been entrusted by Universal Orlando Resort with recreating such a beloved and iconic element of the Harry Potter stories.

Lightweight construction with a venerable appearance

When visitors board the Hogwarts Express, they have Swiss craftsmanship to rely on. To achieve a faithful visual reproduction, Garaventa commissioned CWA Constructions S.A. in Olten, a company specialising in the construction of innovative funicular railway cabins and also part of the Doppelmayr / Garaventa Group. Faithfully reproducing every detail of the Hogwarts Express was a unique challenge for the Swiss cabin builders. The carriage set is constructed to look of solid, heavy iron and wood sections and the interiors of the carriages are accurately lit and equipped with best-in-class entertainment systems to innovatively present the most realistic images, sound and acoustics.

Controls ‘made in Stans’

For the controls behind the funicular railway, general contractor Garaventa commissioned a third Swiss company, Frey AG from Stans in Nidwalden, on the state-of-the-art wiring of 42 train compartments for film and sound installations. Additionally, Frey AG Stans was tasked with outfitting all compartments with industry-standard technical equipment traditionally used in the construction of both aerial funicular systems and funicular railways, enabling a fully automatic railway drive system.

Technical details

Year of construction: 2014
Length: 676 metres
Speed: 3.4 m/s
Number of trains: 2
Diameter of haul rope: 46 mm
Diameter of counter rope: 46 mm
Diameter of line sheaves: 400 mm
Track gauge: 1800 mm
Weight of locomotive: 13 tonnes
Weight of tender: 15 tonnes
Weight of carriages: 27 tonnes

North station drive
Required rated performance: 215kW
Required peak performance: 636kW

Companies involved in the project

General contractor for railway engineering:
Garaventa AG

Compartment construction:
CWA Constructions S.A., Olten

Funicular railway controls:
Frey AG, Stans

We'll end with this pretty interesting video of a trip between Kings Cross Station and Hogsmeade Station and the reason why is because not only he filmed the stations up to the exit, which allow you to have a better view of how all this is for those who haven't been to Universal Orlando yet, and the ether reason is because how they've resolved the problem of a family boarding the train with a large twin stroller - the wall of the last compartment of the wagon is literally "opening" to let the twin stroller go inside it!




Video: copyright Temporary Tourist

Universal Studios Florida Celebrates One Million Riders on Hogwarts Express!

Universal Studios Florida celebrates the first one million riders on Hogwarts Express! Already? Yep, just one month after Diagon Alley opening a milestone has been reached and cheers from guests filled the air at Hogsmeade Station!

And to celebrate this milestone, Universal orlando gave to two hundred guests complimentary Butterbeer ice-cream, which was probably very welcome during a hot summer day in Florida!`

Pictures: copyright Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Orlando Unveil Hogwarts Express Scenes !

In addition to yesterday's video showing the Goblins of the Gringotts Bank Universal Orlando released another preview video unveiling some of the scenes that guests will see during their trip aboard the Hogwarts Express!

Here are some HD screen captures, first a picture of the locomotive...

Then, of some of the scenes, including Hagrid, the Hippogriff, the blue double decker bus in the streets of London, and more...

Also include in the video a series of digital renderings, some never seen before and showing Diagon Alley...

O-kay, time to watch the video, isn't it?




Pictures and video: copyright Universal Studios

Universal Orlando Release New Details on the Hogwarts Express Experience

Universal Orlando released today new details on the Hogwarts Express experience! 200 guests will be able to embark inside the train which will be departing from Hogsmeade station at Islands of Adventure or Kings Cross Station at Diagon Alley for a ride that will last around 7 minutes! 





And now, today's Universal Orlando press release:


ORLANDO, Fla. (March 14, 2014) – One of the most memorable and exciting experiences from the Harry Potter series will come to life at Universal Orlando Resort this summer. Imagine:

• Being transported from the Muggle world to the wizarding world as you pass through the brick wall at King’s Cross Station to arrive at Platform 9 ¾
• Watching in amazement as the Hogwarts Express pulls into the station – its billowing steam and authentic
whistle beckoning you to hop aboard
• Sitting in one of the train’s cabins with your family and friends and actually riding the Hogwarts Express – just as your favorite characters did in the Harry Potter films
• Looking outside your cabin window and enjoying a scenic, breathtaking journey through the British countryside as you encounter magical creatures, some of your favorite Harry Potter characters... and even Dementors... 

Since the very first Harry Potter film, every fan has dreamed of taking the same classic journey Harry Potter did aboard the Hogwarts Express. And this summer – they will get to live it.

Today, Universal Orlando revealed never-before-released details about the Hogwarts Express experience that will debut as part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley – the all-new, magnificently themed land opening this summer. The train will connect the new land in Universal Studios Florida with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure – allowing guests with park-to-park admission to enjoy a real journey aboard the iconic locomotive.

Never before has this been done – creating an actual train ride experience to connect two spectacularly themed environments. The Hogwarts Express experience combines powerful storytelling, live special effects, lifelike animation and state-of-the-art technology to take riders on the journey of a lifetime. Guests will enjoy two completely different experiences depending on whether they’re traveling to Hogsmeade or London.

Once seated in the cabin, guests will be able to look out their windows as an incredibly authentic and magical adventure unfolds before them. They’ll see Hagrid come alongside the train on his flying motorbike, Buckbeak the Hippogriff swoop gracefully over the black lake, the Weasley twins on brooms and up to their usual antics, the Knight Bus swerving through London traffic – and other special moments and surprises.

Universal’s Creative team has been working closely with Warner Bros., Stuart Craig and the production team from the Harry Potter films to create a sensational Hogwarts Express experience that the entire family can enjoy. The Creative team has gone to great lengths to ensure the experience is true to the books and films. Everything about the train is authentic – from the paint and the materials used to build it.... all the way down to the whistle.

Park-to-park admission is required to experience the Hogwarts Express journey from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley (located in Universal Studios Florida) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade (located in Universal’s Islands of Adventure)."

Universal also released the three images below and these scenes with Hagrid, Weasley and Buckbeak the Hippogriff are some of the scenes that the passengers will see when they look out the "window" of the Hogwarts Express. Of course, the window will be video screens that will give the illusion to the passengers that they are travelling through the Scottish highlands. The movies on the "windows" of the Hogwarts Express will be more of a kind of a 3D experience, as it won't just be a flat movie screen and guests will be able to see around the image in front of them (including above and below, and to the sides). 

More infos about the differences between the two rides from Snitch Seeker as it will be two different experiences:

From Hogsmeade/Hogwarts to London/Diagon Alley:
- Fred and George Weasley flying on broomsticks in Muggle clothes across the Scottish countryside outside of Hogwarts, presumably as they escape from the castle after their seventh year. 
- Hagrid waving goodbye to students (and guests) riding to London on the Hogwarts Express, from the Hogsmeade train station.
- A visual of the Muggle London street, including the big, purple Knight Bus, as guests and the train get closert to Diagon Alley and King's Cross.
- Buckbeak the Hippogriff flying over the black lake at Hogwarts.

From London/Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade/Hogwarts:
- Watch as the Dementors come to the attack, just like in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 
- See a general visual of the British countryside, as in the movies.
- Watch Hedwig gracefully fly across the countryside by the window.
- See Hagrid riding on Sirius' motorcycle next to the train as it zooms north to Scotland.

All this looks incredibly exciting and i, personally, am very curious to see how they will achieve the pass through the brick wall at King’s Cross Station to arrive at Platform 9 ¾. As obviously they won't take the risk to let the guests crash their head on a real brick wall  i'm betting on a projection of a high-definition image of the wall on a mist screen through which guests will walk to enter Platform 9 ¾ ... we'll see if i'm right or not!

Pictures and video: copyright Universal Studios, Warner Bros

Universal Release Pictures of Hogwarts Express Being Placed on its track at Universal Orlando

Universal Studios released on their Facebook page pictures of the Hogwarts Express being placed on its track at Universal Orlando. The train experience, which will take guests from the new London/Diagon Alley to the original Hogsmeade area in Islands of Adventure, is rumored to give guests the feeling of traveling through the england countryside up to Hogwarts ( or return to London when it'll come back ) with plenty of surprises along the way.

On the pictures above and below you can see the iconic locomotive and train tender being placed onto a track which is currently backstage between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Guests of Wizarding World of Harry Potter can see at the entrance of Hogsmeade a locomotive which is still currently there, but we don't know yet if this non working locomotive will remain once the Hogwarts Express will open next year.

Pictures: copyright universal Orlando