On Friday, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter made an exciting announcement with details on the new Hogwarts Express attraction coming this year. Fans will actually be able to ride from Hogsmeade to the new Diagon Alley expansion by riding the very train that Harry Potter himself travels by! Not only does this get you from one part of the park to another in a truly authentic fashion, but great attention has been paid to making it a true-to-the-books experience, including animations out the window to create a truly immersive ride experience – check out these screen grabs from the animations that will be shown during the journey:

Is that cool, or is that cool?! Check out the official press release for more details on what to expect:

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). For more information about the Hogwarts Express –
including a new video that features a first-look at the ride experience – and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,
visit www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter.