Potterheads know that the closest thing to receiving a Hogwarts acceptance letter and living out their wizard fantasy is by riding out to Universal Orlando, which is home to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
But now, the resort has revealed details about its newest and most magical installment headed to Epic Universe. Named “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic,” this will be the fifth and final world that makes up the new park, slated to open in 2025.
The land will bring together 1920s Paris from the Fantastic Beasts films with the iconic Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series. Upon entering, guests will journey from a Muggle park into the breathtaking Place Cachée, a bustling shopping district lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés and historic Parisian domes. It’s here where visitors can travel across space and time to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo, a mode of wizarding transit.
There’s so much to expect, from restaurants to entertainment, but most excitedly, the “most ambitious, groundbreaking” ride the park has ever created. Let’s take a look!
Newest attraction
Universal has announced an exciting new ride, “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry,” which it says will employ “first-of-its-kind” ride technology. After arriving to the British Ministry of Magic via Métro-Floo, riders will enter a grand atrium before boarding omnidirectional lifts to join Harry, Ron and Hermione in a thrilling chase to capture Dolores Umbridge.
Riders will be propelled up, down, forward, backward and sideways, all while dodging attacks from Death Eaters, rampaging creatures and more along the way.
Circus show
In addition to the ride, visitors will be able to encounter fantastic beasts at a circus show in the heart of the land. “Le Cirque Arcanus” will be a full-scale theater experience with live performers, aerialists, puppetry, special effects and more.
The show follows Ringmaster Skender, who steals Newt Scamander’s suitcase full of magical creatures, and a circus employee named Gwenlyn, who tries to rescue them.
Wand magic
In true Universal magic, those exploring the streets of wizarding Paris can use their interactive wands to cast spells, come face-to-face with fantastic beasts like Nifflers and Bowtruckles and engage with enchanted objects in many storefront windows. They’ll also come across a variety of characters, including exchange students from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny, an Auror from the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France and talking portraits of wizards.
There’s the “Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique,” a premier Parisian wand shop in which guests can shop for some of the finest wands by esteemed artisan wandmaker, Cosme Acajor.
Additional highlights
The land will, of course, feature multiple themed dining locations, such as the charming French Café L’Air De La Sirène, the shadowy Le Gobelet Noir, the boozy Bar Moonshine, the Butterbeer-filled Bièraubeurre cart and confectionary shop K. Rammelle for those with a sweet tooth.
As for shopping, guests can get wizarding gear and memorabilia in Les Galeries Mirifiques and make a stop for Ministry of Magic-inspired items at Tour En Floo.
For a full animated fly-through of the park, check out the video shared by Universal Orlando Resort below:
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is one of five immersive worlds featured in the upcoming Epic Universe park. While Universal has not specified an exact opening date, all that’s left to say is 2025 cannot come fast enough!