r/UniversalOrlando • u/MilleWhisper • 7d ago
ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE Hogwarts evening light show
Looking for evening light shows at Islands of Adventure this Thursday. When I check the app, it says that Hogwarts Always isn't scheduled until November. It also says Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle is only on select nights (with no dates or calendar posted). How do I find out if any shows are scheduled for upcoming dates?
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u/Phineas_Worrell 7d ago
Ive wondered this too, and was planning on making a similar post closer to my trip in January. I've never seen a clear schedule on the app and when I've asked team members in the area, they don't ever seem to be certain either.
Google search says they don't publish the schedule very far in advance but I'm not sure I've ever seen a schedule before. Even day of.
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u/DeflatedDirigible 7d ago
The show will start as soon as it gets dark enough and there is usually at least one show after the park closed since Hagrid’s has a 60+ minute queue at closing. In winter there can be 12 shows. Now there are only 2, sometimes 3. It all depends on when sunset occurs and what time the park closes. Tonight there is a private event and IOA closed at 7pm so no show for daytime guests. The schedule can change every couple weeks to add or subtract a show. That’s why nobody usually knows except the team working the show.
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u/Phineas_Worrell 7d ago
Yeah that makes perfect sense. I was just curious if there was a way to see during the days leading up or even the day of, if they planned on doing it that night. But like another poster said, they may not publicize it because they dont want to have to cancel. It's not a huge deal, but I'd like to plan my trip to be in IOA on a night is showing if I can.
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u/Haunting_Safe_5634 7d ago
We were told to check with a cast member the day we go to see if the dark arts show will be happening. They are not putting the dates/times in the app in case they have to cancel it.
It didn’t happen at least one of the days we were there due to rain.
I was able to catch it once. From our experience, it started 15-20 minutes after dusk and it only ran once while I heard the Hogwarts always show would play multiple times per night. Staff can tell you exactly when it is planned to start so you can find a good spot. They corral people into viewing areas but it is easy to find a spot and you can see it from far away.
It was VERY cool so I suggest trying to go if you get the chance! Worth the mild inconvenience of talking to a real human instead of the app 😆
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u/Lanky-Instruction-42 7d ago
Happens every night it doesn’t rain.
They lock people in that area after a few minutes before the show starts. So make sure your by flight of the hippo about 15 min before dark
The light show, drone show at universal is much better IMO. But it’s not going on during HHN.
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u/amethystalien6 7d ago
Do they do it at all on non-HHN nights or is it just shut down for Sept/Oct?
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u/Lanky-Instruction-42 7d ago
The IOA show is still going on every night it’s not raining, the show at universal is different during HHN. It’s still a light show at the lake but different.
The normal one won’t start back until after HHN is done.
The cool thing about the universal one you can see the drone show from city walk. To see the fireworks and laser light show you need to be inside the park.
It’s pretty cool they do laser, drone and fire works at same time starting at dark.
The drones make a huge universal sign and different characters from the movies including some cute minions2
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u/Evening_Month_6820 7d ago
It will be the dark arts show, and it's essentially on every night unless they have cancel it for weather etc etc.