The Hogwarts Express attraction will run between Universal's two Wizarding World of the Harry Potter lands, the original Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and the new Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida, which will open in June or July of next year.
Video screens make to look like windows will give passengers the illusion of steaming through the English and Scottish countrysides as they ride between Kings Cross station in London (in USF) and the wizarding village of Hogsmeade (in IOA). Most of the ride will happen "backstage" between the two theme parks, so the lack of real windows also will prevent riders from seeing those "back of house" support facilities between the parks.
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One question keeps haunting me though.
The trains will shuttle back and forth along the track so obviously that means in one direction the train will have to reverse with the loco pushing the coaches backwards. The carriages won't have windows so the passengers won't see it happening from inside the train, but when they board it it's going to be pretty obvious the loco is at the wrong end...
How are Universal going to get round that problem?
Or is that just too geeky? :)
I dont think the seats will be a problem if you have seen the movies the guests are seated facing each other so one set of passengers will always travel backwards.
@Tom I think he means that it will be "bad show" to guests from the outside seeing the train travel backwards.
@Jacob:
We know the track isn't a loop as we saw pictures of it before they built the stations - it's just straight track that comes to and end - no turntable and no loop.
In terms of capacity there has to be a very fast turn around so there's no time for anything other than shuttle into the platform and shuttle out again. It's possible some guests wont' notice and if they do they won't care. I'm just intrigued as to whether Universal will have some clever wheeze to explain the engine being at the wrong end of the coaches...
When you arrive at IOA the locomotive will slide into the long narrow part under the coasters and the last wagon does snug fit partially in the tunnel. When guest leaves and walk into hogmed they magically see the front of the train.
When the train leaves from ioa the station will be empty so no one will see the train going backwards.
Of course there will probably always be spots where you can see the train drive backwards (or forwards) from the parks as you also can see the flat back of the Yeti mountain in AK, The ride building for Splash mountain etc. As always in theme park you have to suspense some disbelieve and enjoy the fun.
That train is going to look so odd from Dragon Challenge. It certainly isn't going to be traveling through the English countryside unless the backstage support areas is Universal's definition of countryside.
At Epcot you can see the Swan and Dolphin, at Magic Kingdom you can see Bay Lake Tower, at Hollywood its all a "hot set" with little theme, and at Animal Kingdom on your way in you can see a giant half mountain building and a fake pine tree cell phone tower.
Regular guests are not going to care. I'm impressed that Universal took the extra step of dressing up the outside of the simulator cars for a backstage ride.
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