Come down with the Floo at Epic Universe

New Potter land will complete the Wizarding World trilogy

Has Universal saved the best for last? The anticipation is off the charts for Epic Universe, the theme park rapidly taking shape at Universal Orlando’s new campus and set to open next year. I’ve been geeking out over the AR-infused attraction, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, and the first-of-its-kind cantilevered coaster, Mine Cart Madness, that will be featured at the park’s Super Nintendo World. Then, there is the lushly landscaped Celestial Park and its highlight, Starfall Racers, a dual-launch racing coaster. The rich, immersive themeing of How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk should be captivating. And the rumor mill is spinning in overdrive about the purportedly next-level attraction, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, coming to the park’s Dark Universe. (Not to mention that land’s spinning windmill, which will be firing up guests when it bursts into flames.)

However, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, the flagship attraction at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, will be “the most ambitious ride we’ve ever created,” according to Scott Verble, assistant director, executive producer at Universal Creative. That’s saying a lot for the team that developed The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, The Bourne Stuntacular, and other mind-blowing achievements. “This is absolutely a game changer,” Verble adds.

The unique ride vehicles for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (Universal Studios)

Verble offered his enthusiastic assessment of the forthcoming attraction in a video that Universal just released as part of its reveal of the fifth and final land that guests will be able to explore when Epic Universe opens in 2025. Coming on the heels of Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure and Dragon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, the new land will complete the theme park resort’s Wizarding World trilogy. It would seem that Ministry of Magic will adhere to the same level of groundbreaking immersion and wild attraction innovation that characterize the other Potter lands.

After muggles make their way though the portal, they will pass under the massive Phoenix Arch and enter into Place Cachée, a 1920s-era Parisian neighborhood inspired by the Fantastic Beasts series.

Place Cachée cityscape (Universal Studios)

“We built to scale streets in Paris,” says Patrick Braillard, senior show writer for Universal Creative. “This is the biggest thing we’ve ever built.” Similar to Diagon Alley, the cityscape will completely embed guests in the Potterverse and shield them from any visual intrusions beyond its confines.

“Our shortest building is taller than the tallest building in Diagon Alley,” adds Eileen Stephens, senior director, projects at Universal Creative, referring to the sheer scale of this Wizarding World.

Muggles will be magically transported to the British Ministry of Magic. (Universal Studios)

Perhaps taking a cue from Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, it sounds as if Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry will be a grand-scale, multi-act experience with at least two ride systems. Making their way to the Métro-Floo, guests will be able to enter fanciful fireplaces and magically trek from 1920s Paris to 1990s-era London and the British Ministry of Magic. They will ostensibly be there to witness the trial of Dolores Umbridge. Of course, in the tradition of theme park attractions, things will go horribly wrong. In this case, Death Eaters will bust the Potter baddie out, and Muggles aboard Ministry of Magic lifts will find themselves in the middle of a good-versus-evil battle.

It’s unclear how Universal will replicate the lifts, but the attraction’s designers say that it will combine different and new technologies. The elevators will have the ability to move sideways as well as up and down. Some are speculating that the ride vehicles will be a variation of the Scoop roving motion base vehicles first used on the Spider-Man attraction. Battle at the Ministry will be “a heart-pounding adventure and on a scale we have never attempted before,” promises Braillard.

The circus comes to Place Cachée. (Universal Studios)

Returning (again via the Métro-Floo?) to Muggle Paris, guests will be able to enter a circus tent where Le Cirque Arcanus will be presented. Possibly drawing at least some inspiration from Cirque du Soleil, Universal is promising an all-out theatrical show with high production value that will incorporate puppetry, live aerialists, and special effects. Fantastic beasts will be among the performers.

No Wizarding World would be complete without a shop to upsell pricey wands. At Epic Universe, muggles will be able to peruse the shelves of Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique. As at the other lands, wand-wielding guests will be able to cast spells at tricked-out spots throughout Place Cachée. Using the gizmos, guests will also be able to interact with fantastic beasts wandering the land.

Hungry would-be wizards will be able to grab French-leaning bites at the ornate Café L’Air De La Sirèn as well as the more foreboding Le Gobelet Noir. US expats will be able to grab some brews and other drinks at Bar Moonshine, an American outpost in Paris. Butterbeer will undoubtedly be on tap at the bar. A Bièraubeurre (that’s the addictive concoction en francais) Cart will also serve the frozen and non-frozen beverages that are staples of the Wizarding Worlds.

Universal has revealed details about two hotels, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort, that will be opening soon at the new campus. But it has yet to come clean on the in-park Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which looks mighty impressive.

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Now that all of the lands and attractions have been revealed, what are you most looking forward to at Epic Universe? What do you think about this Wizarding World multiverse where Fantastic Beasts and the original Harry Potter franchise will exist alongside one another?