The Hogwarts Express is an attraction in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in The Islands of Adventure. The attraction is a recreation of the Hogwarts Express and will stand in the Hogsmeade Station in Hogsmeade.\r
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At the entrance of Hogsmeade, billowing steam and an iconic whistle signal the arrival of the Hogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station.\r
A re-creation of the Hogwarts Express lies at the entry to Hogsmeade. The re-creation features billowing steam and an iconic whistle and is accompanied by the conductor of the train. In the Potter series the Hogwarts Express is the train used to transport students from London to Hogwarts. The Owl Post is a working post office (where postcards and letters will be delivered with an authentic Hogsmeade postmark) that also sells stationery, writing implements, stamps, and owl-related gifts.\r
The Actual Ride\r
When guests visit Diagon Alley from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios, you will reach Kings Cross Station, go through Platform 9 3/4, and board the train. Going to Hogsmeade and back again, you will see (via TV window screens) the scenic views of the English countryside, plus many of the characters and elements showing up throughout.\r
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a themed area spanning two theme parks – Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida – in the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, USA.\r
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The first phase was officially announced for Islands of Adventure on May 31, 2007,[9][10] and after a two-and-a-half-year construction period, the area officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010.[2][11] The areas flagship attraction is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which exists within a re-creation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It takes riders on a journey through Harry Potters wizarding world.[12] Other attractions include Dragon Challenge, a pair of inverted roller coasters, and Flight of the Hippogriff, a family roller coaster. The area also features a re-creation of Hogsmeade containing many gift shops and restaurants from the series of Harry Potter books including Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, Ollivanders, Zonkos Joke Shop (though it houses Honeydukes), the Three Broomsticks, and the Hogs Head.\r
The second phase was initially announced on December 6, 2011, as a significant expansion of the existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter. On May 8, 2013, it was officially announced that a substantial portion of phase two would be constructed in the adjacent Universal Studios Florida theme park with a replica of the Hogwarts Express taking guests between the two lands. This areas flagship attraction will be a roller coaster called Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. The remaining attractions will be themed around London and Diagon Alley. The second phase opened on July 8, 2014, during the red carpet premiere.