Updated on August 18th, 2024
Epic Universe— Universal’s new high-tech theme park scheduled to open in Orlando in 2025 — is one of the most anticipated projects being worked on in the theme park world right now. For years, the company stayed tight-lipped about what was coming to the new park. However, they’ve recently begun divulging new and exciting details about Epic Universe and its lands.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the last decade-and-a-half of Universal history, Harry Potter fans should be VERY excited for Epic Universe.
FIVE themed lands are coming to the park (including a Super Nintendo World and a land themed to Universal’s classic monsters), but those into magic wands and wizards will be thrilled to know that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will also have a special place in this park with a land themed to the Ministry of Magic! Let’s go over ALL the details.
Background
It’s no secret that Universal was struggling in the early-to-mid 2000s. Despite strong reviews from theme park press and fans alike, the opening of Islands of Adventure in 1999 had been a bit of a mess, mainly thanks to the somewhat confusing “Universal Escape” advertising campaign which failed to get the message across that IOA was a whole new park as opposed to an expansion of the original Universal Studios Florida park.
From there, the parks dealt with corporate upheaval, the unpopular closings of classic attractions, and the tourism downturn post-9/11. It was at this moment, when things seemed bleakest, that “The Boy Who Lived” fell into Universal’s lap…almost gift-wrapped by their competition.
The Harry Potter franchise first launched with the publication of the first book in the series in 1997. Over the next decade, Potter became a pop culture juggernaut, with each book — and then the corresponding film adaptations — permeating the zeitgeist. During this period, the Walt Disney Company began pursuing the theme park rights to the property.
As we’ve detailed previously, Disney had the inside track on landing them. However, the Mouse House’s unwillingness to allow Rowling and her team creative control of the lands, combined with their somewhat…unimpressive plans for the land (which mainly consisted of a light retheme of an area of Fantasyland and a slow-moving shooter-style dark ride) led to the deal fizzling.
Once Disney was out of the picture, Universal swept in with the speed of Professor Dumbledore’s phoenix (Fawkes) and snapped up the property. They gave Rowling and her team the creative control they desired and vowed to build a high-budget land from scratch, faithful to the descriptions in the books and set design of the films.
The first Universal Potter land, now called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade, opened at Islands of Adventure to massive success in 2010. The land shattered attendance and merchandise records and was widely lauded by critics and fans alike thanks to its theming and groundbreaking Forbidden Journey attraction.
A second land — Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley, headlined by the Escape from Gringotts attraction and featuring a facade of Muggle London — opened at Universal Studios Florida in 2014.
The land was another rollicking success, and the Hogwarts Express that connected the two lands — and two parks — was a game-changer for the industry. In the near-decade since, Universal has continued to go all-in on Potter, opening versions of the original Hogsmeade land at their Japan and Hollywood locations, while adding the revolutionary Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure to the original.
With all these expansions in mind, it’s probably a no-brainer that Universal’s new Epic Universe park will open with a new Wizarding World land. However, this land will be different.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic
The Harry Potter land in Epic Universe will be focused on the Ministry of Magic.
Universal has said that we’ll be able to “discover a different era of the wizarding world in an all-new land that blends 1920s wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures’ Fantastic Beasts films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.”
In another description of the land, Universal says “From 1920s Paris to the 1990s British Ministry, explore international wizarding communities and the magic that connects them in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Ministry of Magic™.”
Entrance
The entrance to this land, like others within Epic Universe, will be through a portal. This one seems to be topped with a statue of a hand holding up a wand.
According to Universal, “Beyond the world’s ornate portal, guests will first journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the breathtaking spectacle of 1920’s Place Cachée – a hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance.”
Here are a few looks at the land in general.
Looks pretty neat!
It looks like there will be plenty of spaces to explore…
…and details to find!
Let’s go through the attractions coming to this land.
Attractions
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
The main attraction in the space is called Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Universal says that this dark ride uses “massive environments, powerful storytelling and first-of-its-kind ride technology.”
According to the story, your “adventure begins when [you] travel by Métro-Floo – a unique mode of wizarding transit inspired by the iconic Floo Network seen in the films – to journey from wizarding Paris to the British Ministry of Magic for the long-awaited trial of the infamous Dolores Umbridge.”
You’ll “enter the Ministry’s jaw-dropping grand atrium and venture through other departments before boarding magical, omnidirectional lifts to watch the trial take place…until Umbridge attempts to escape.”
“Guests then join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and a house-elf named Higgledy in a thrilling chase that will propel them up, down, forward, backward, sideways and more throughout the Ministry as they try to capture Umbridge – all while dodging attacks from Death Eaters, rampaging creatures and more along the way.”
The ride will have a minimum height requirement of 40 inches.
Also — here’s a fun fact — according to Universal, “Both the queue and attraction spaces for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry™ are covered by tiles. The Métro-Floo alone has over 80,000 subway tiles and the British Ministry of Magic™ spaces have over 125,000 of the iconic Ministry tiles in five colors!”
Le Cirque Arcanus
Another attraction within the land will be a show called Le Cirque Arcanus. This is a “live, full-scale theatre experience” with “live performers and aerialists, amazing puppetry, brilliant special effects and more to take guests on a whirlwind journey where they’ll encounter fantastic beasts like never before.”
According to Universal, “The show follows Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase – where Demiguise, Diricawl, Mooncalves and more reside – to try and bring the failing Le Cirque Arcanus back to its former glory.”
You’ll then get to see how circus employee Gwenlyn attempts to “rescue these creatures before they end up in Skender’s greedy hands forever.”
Universal indicates that the show is kid-friendly but does warn that there will be “sudden and intense sound effects, theatrical lighting effects, and performers in close proximity to the audience.”
Also, you’ll want to keep those eyes open! Universal shares that “Guests can explore the strange and unusual acts of Le Cirque Arcanus as they stroll past the many sideshow booths on their way to the main stage.”
Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique
Looking to get a new wand? Then you’ll want to stop by Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique, where you can get “some of the world’s finest wands designed by esteemed artisan wandmaker, Cosme Acajor.”
You’ll find “popular imports from Ollivanders,” as well as “a selection of exquisite wands packaged in unique three-sided boxes – each containing a list of locations throughout the wizarding world where guests can practice casting spells.”
While in this shop, be sure to look UP! Universal notes, “Crafted with over eight hundred crystal wands and adorned with brass Pixies, the chandelier is a wonder to behold, and a well-suited complement to the remarkable wand designs in the shop.”
Wand Magic
Once you’ve got an interactive wand, it’s time to MAKE SOME MAGIC!
Throughout the streets of wizarding Paris, you’ll be able to use your interactive wands to “create magical experiences” as you “cast spells at various locations, interact with fantastic beasts such as Nifflers, Bowtruckles and a Demiguise…
…and engage with enchanted objects in many of the storefront windows plus other areas throughout the marvelous Place Cachée.”
Entertainment
In terms of other entertainment, you’ll want to chat with some of the folks strolling around wizarding Paris. According to Universal, “guests will also encounter other visitors, officials and residents from the wizarding world, including exchange students from the Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry, an Auror from the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France who roams inquiring of suspicious characters, talking portraits of delightful wizards who engage with locals about the happenings in Place Cachée, and more.”
Dining
Get ready to EAT. Within this Wizarding World land you’ll find a few different snack spots.
Café L’Air De La Sirène
This cafe will be a quick service restaurant featuring “French architecture adorned with fabulous carved marble and details of fantastic beasts hidden in the tile and mosaic designs.”
The cafe will have indoor and outdoor dining, and will serve French sandwiches, French baked goods, plats du jour, and desserts.
Plus, you’ll be able to find “Butterbeer™ along with a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks including beer, cocktails and French wines.”
Fun fact — Universal shares, “Guests to this quintessentially French café will be amazed and enticed by the towering dessert displays constructed of almost 2,000 decorative individual cream puffs.”
Le Gobelet Noir
This restaurant is within the “shadowy corners of Place Cachée.” Universal describes it as a “mysterious timeworn auberge, where international Dark witches and wizards gather to escape the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry and have a hearty meal over hushed conversation. Menu offerings include starters such as soups and salads as well as a variety of entrées and desserts.”
Bar Moonshine
American witches and wizards can stop by Bar Moonshine for “a taste of home,” with “exclusive beers, wines and cocktails served amid U.S. Quidditch team pennants and other items of wizarding Americana.”
Bièraubeurre Cart
And finally, you’ve just got to stop by the Butterbeer Cart for a taste of this iconic drink!
Shopping
Aside from the wand shop, you’ll also find souvenirs at other shops in the land. Universal has identified these 3 spots so far:
- Les Galeries Mirifiques — wizarding gear and memorabilia
- K. Rammelle — a French confectionary shop with all kinds of sweets
- Tour En Floo — a Métro-Floo gift shop with Ministry of Magic-inspired items
Click here for our page that is FULL of details about Epic Universe!
Are you excited for the upcoming Wizarding World land at Epic Universe? Let us know in the comments below, and keep following All Ears for the latest on Epic Universe!
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Any HP expansion sounds good. But they need to be careful not to oversaturate the lands with identical wand and gift stores. Paris sounds ok as a land and the London ride sounds good. But getting to fly brooms avatar style was surely a no brainer and seems a real shame if such a ride has been dropped! I’d have thought a new land needs more than one ride and a load of shops to sustain it.
Potter fans including our whole family can never get enough of Harry Potter. We bought season passes just to go again and again to do Harry Potter things. Never enough.Harry Potter fan base rivals Marvel fan base. Keep building
Looking forward to the Wizarding World updates. The Fantastic Beasts was intended to explain how Dumbledore got the elder wand FROM the Harry story…. too many took to proving a point to JKR to give FB a chance… they couldn’t separate their opinion of the author from than love of her art… plus the switching of actors playing Grindelwald due to THAT whole false accusation debacle… didn’t help the FB franchise either…
I think that for Potter lovers, a Fantastic Beasts themed park will be a bust. Stick to Harry, he’s the money maker.
I mean the Potter Lands are great and successful, but I think its enough Potter for the parks. Maybe they could have build a kind of throwback land together with classic monsters. So Jaws, Back to the Future and other moved out IPs could get back their places. Maybe they could also move Jurassic Park there and transform the IOA version into Jurassic World, fitting in with Velocicoaster.
Pretty sure they have confirmed several times there will be a Universal classic monsters space. I also can’t see them moving Jurassic Park given they just built velocicoaster. I’m an annual passholder and happy for more magic in the parks. It’s the reason I go.