A Jarring Problem Theme Park Enthusiasts Will Have With Universal’s Harry Potter Ride

Epic Universe has been open for a few months now, and I’m lucky enough to say I’ve been to the park enough times to lose count!

I’ve tried the incredible snacks, formed a few hot takes, and ridden every ride a few times. I’ve been thinking a lot about the park lately, and I’m here to say that there’s a big issue with the most popular ride in the park — Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.

Before you come at me for detailing problems with the most popular ride in the park, just hear me out! Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry takes you back into the 1990s during Professor Umbridge’s trial after the war.

This ride begins as she breaks out just before the trial takes place. Then you join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger as you race around the Ministry, defying Death Eaters (and time) to get her back! This ride is incredibly popular, seeing wait times that average over 2 hours a day.

I have really enjoyed this ride each time I’ve experienced it, but one thing that I think no one is talking about is how it isn’t really re-rideable. By that, I basically mean that after the first ride through, it just isn’t as cool. Now I am aware that I’m saying this from a place as someone who has gotten to reride this attraction multiple times, and not many people have, but the statement still stands true.

The first time you experience the attraction, you feel like you’re flying through the air, and it can be honestly overstimulating at how much you’re seeing at once. It blew me away, and I even had a friend say that they felt like the ride was changing the face of the theme park industry. (After reriding, he feels like he spoke too soon.)

Once I knew what to expect on the ride, it just wasn’t as fun as it had been that first time. Physically, the experience on the ride isn’t that fun or exciting, especially when you compare it to rides like Monsters Unchained.  This ride does bounce and throw you around, but there are no major drops (that aren’t simulated drops created by a screen), it isn’t super fast, and the most exciting animatronics (Harry, Ron, and Hermione) feature projected faces, making them look a little odd.

None of these things is really a big deal! The storyline is still super fun, and the ride is amazing, but it can feel like a big deal when you have to wait 2 hours for it. Rides like Monsters Unchained, Hiccups Wing Gliders, and more just have a lot more physicality that makes the rides fun when riding over and over again.