Harry Potter fans have noticed something very different about Hogwarts.
For more than 16 years, Hogwarts Castle has dominated the skyline of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure. The land officially opened on June 18, 2010, helping transform Universal Orlando Resort into a major destination for Harry Potter fans.
The castle is more than scenery. It houses Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, whose queue leads guests through locations such as Dumbledore’s office (featuring a cameo from Dumbledore himself), the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and the Gryffindor common room before sending riders through Hogwarts and beyond.
Universal later exported the concept around the world. Versions of Forbidden Journey opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2014, Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016, and Universal Studios Beijing in 2021.
Now, however, fans say Orlando’s original Hogwarts no longer looks like the castle they have known since 2010.
Hogwarts Looks Different After Months of Work
Universal began a major exterior refurbishment of Hogwarts Castle in March.
The exterior refurbishment of Hogwarts Castle is expected to be completed by May 21. @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/auSYqMmj2T
— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) April 10, 2026
Scaffolding and themed scrim covered much of the structure for weeks while crews repainted the facade, though Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey continued to operate throughout the project.
The work was largely complete by early June, with scaffolding removed and Hogwarts once again visible across Hogsmeade. Reports at the time confirmed that the entire castle exterior had been repainted as part of the months-long project.
Months later, fresh before-and-after comparisons are drawing renewed attention to the finished facade. A recent TikTok from @sarahisinthestars compared the castle before and after its refurbishment, prompting criticism from fans who preferred its previous weathered appearance.
The biggest complaint is the color. The older facade featured more visible variation between gray, beige, brown, and weathered stone tones. Following the refurbishment, sections of Hogwarts appear noticeably cooler and more uniform, while the rockwork beneath the castle also looks darker.
@sarahisinthestars Glow up or down? I didn’t think it would look much different but what a change! #hogwarts #harrypotter #universalstudios @Harry Potter @Universal Orlando Resort @Warner Bros. UK
For those fans, that means the “original” Hogwarts Castle has effectively disappeared — even though Universal has not replaced the physical structure, changed its silhouette, or removed the Forbidden Journey attraction.
“What the hell have they done?” wrote one TikTok user.
Another said, “Now it looks like the battle of hogwarts version and not in a good way,” referring to the gloomier castle seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).
“No it needs to be the first one so it looks like the original broooo,” said one fan.
One viewer was even less convinced by the new finish, writing, “It just reminds me of 3d printed plastic now.”
Universal has not indicated that another repaint is planned. The company also has not publicly characterized the refurbishment as a redesign of Hogwarts, making the backlash largely about how the completed maintenance work changed the castle’s appearance to some guests.
Universal Brings Dark Magic Back to Hogwarts
The debate comes as Universal puts Hogwarts back at the center of its Harry Potter offerings.
Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle returned to Islands of Adventure on September 5 for the first time since 2022. The nighttime projection show will run on select dates through November 1.
The show covers the newly refurbished castle with Dementors, Death Eaters, Lord Voldemort, and other Dark Arts imagery. Universal Studios Florida is also hosting roaming Death Eaters in Diagon Alley on select dates through November 1.
Both offerings arrive during Harry Potter’s 25 Years of Magic, Universal’s yearlong celebration marking 25 years since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) hit theaters. Other 2026 offerings have included Butterbeer Season and Back to Hogwarts.
More Wizarding World construction may also be ahead elsewhere at Universal Orlando. Permits tied to Epic Universe reference “P905,” the project code associated with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, for work covering roughly 150,000 square feet.
Universal has not announced exactly what that construction will become. Separate permits have also referenced a new building behind the existing Ministry of Magic area, keeping speculation about an expansion alive less than two years after Epic Universe opened.
The franchise itself is also approaching another major visual reset.
HBO’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres this Christmas, with the series already revealing a reimagined Hogwarts, new house heraldry, school uniforms, props, and other designs distinct from those established by the original movies.
The new series is led by Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, introducing another generation of fans to Hogwarts just as Universal’s original theme park version takes on a different appearance.
What do you think of the updated Hogwarts Castle?
