Countdown to Epic Universe: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Have you ever wanted to travel to London via magical Floo powder? You’ll soon get your wish at the new immersive land inspired by Wizarding World Harry Potter at Universal’s Epic Universe. Let’s discuss. 

Epic Universe is the fourth universal theme park in Orlando, Florida, separate from the existing Universal Studios (where you can find the Diagon Alley) and Islands of Adventure (where you can find Hogsmeade). 

About The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

The new land at Epic Universe is called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic; thats a bit of a misnomer because the land is primarily inspired by the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchise and largely set in 1920s in Parisian neighborhood called Place Cachee. Let me explain. 

Place Cachee, Explained

In case you didn’t know, in the Fantastic Beasts films, Place Cachée was a wizarding section of Paris, accessible through in the magical bronze statue in the Montmartre through the Phoenix Arch. Universal hewed closely to the film, as that’s exactly where the portal to the land takes you. You’ll notice the elaborate Parisian architecture of winding streets, quaint shops, eateries, and more, including Sacre-Coeur in the background. 

The scale of the land is impressive, boasting near realistic heights of actual buildings. According to Universal, the shortest building in the new land, is taller than the tallest building back at Diagon Alley at Universal Studios – Florida. How’s that for perspective?

Le Cirque Arcanus

The main attraction in the Paris-themed section is a show called Le Cirque Arcanus. The story goes that Skender, the ringmaster of Le Cirque Arcanus, has stolen Newt Scamander’s  suitcase in hopes that the enchanting menagerie inside will revive his struggling circus. Now it’s up to circus employee Gwenlyn to rescue these creatures. Featuring talented performers, advanced puppetry and dazzling special effects, Universal claims guests won’t know where the effects end and the magic begins. This is giving me Harry Potter and the Cursed Child vibes, and that is exciting.

Dining Options

For food, the main option is Café L’air De La Sirène, a colorful cafe offering indoor and outdoor seating where you can enjoy French baked goods, sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts. There will also be Butterbeer—of course—other non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, including beer, cocktails and French wines. Be on the lookout for Towering Choux à la Crème, which are dessert displays constructed of almost 2,000 decorative individual cream puffs.

For treats and Confections, try K. Rammelle, and watch for the  spinning carousels and Ferris wheels made of sweets in the storefront window. This place looks like an equivalent to Honeydukes over there in Hogsmeade, and I’m eager to try the unique items. 

For the adults, you can drop by Bar Moonshine, a Bar Américain, featuring 1920s American cocktails, wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks like Butterbeer. The décor is deliberately all-American, so you can see American Quidditch team pennants for some of your favorite teams and relive your wizarding school days with Ilvermorny memorabilia. Guests not old enlightened for drink  can stop by a cart for Bièraubeurre—also known as butterbeer. 

And if you’re looking to walk on the dark side, hit up Le Gobelet Noir, a mysterious time worn auberge (small inn) that sits in the shadowy corners of Paris’s Place Cachée. As described by Universal, this is away from the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry, and Dark witches and wizards where gathered for centuries to share a hearty meal, a drink and hushed conversations.

Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique

It wouldn’t be the Wizarding World without a place for a new wand. At Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique, witches and wizards will find some of the finest wands in the world, designed by esteemed artisan wandmaker, Cosme Acajor. According to Universal, Acajor’s unique approach to wandlore, couture influence, and utilization of distinct wand cores results in an outcome that is not a wand, but a work of art. Make sure you pay close attention to your wand boxes: the elegant three-sided boxes represent the three key aspects of a wand: material, core and length.

Other shops include Metro-Floo and Les Galeries Mirifiques. 

Harry Potter and Battle at the Ministry

This is the big one, the marquee attraction in this land and quite possibly, the entire Epic Universe. Now before we get into ride specifics we must discuss the queue because it is more than a queue, and almost like a land within the land itself.

Guests will enter the queue via Floo Powder, which here is ostensibly taking us from 1920s Paris to 1990s London, but regardless, the results are jaw dropping. The mix of light and smoke give the effect of floo powder travel and take you straight into the enormous ministry of Magic lobby made famous by the Order of the Phoenix Film. 

Fun fact:  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!

At the center of the Ministry’s atrium is the Fountain of Magical Brethren, with large golden statues depicting a witch, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf.

In addition to the massive atrium, you’ll find find reception booths, stacks of the daily prophet, case files for Aurors, Higgledy, Umbridge’s former house elf, Umbridge’s brilliantly pink office, and even the magical archives. 

Based on, the photos and videos I’ve seen, this queue looks to inspire awe the way the famous room of stormtroopers does on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  I think it may be even grander—but i can’t certain until I personally visit. 

Let’s talk ride details: it’s a post-Voldemort world (I’ve heard that one before) and Delores Umbridge and is on trial for her crimes. When dear Umbridge tries to escape before her trial, we’ll join Harry, Ron, Hermione and  Higgledy on an incredible thrill ride to chase after her and make sure she pays for her crimes at long last.

The unique ride system mimics an omnidirectional lift, mixed with large screens and motion simulators, deep into the Ministry’s many departments, deep into the  ministry’s depths to fight Umbridge, and of course—death eaters. The scale of this ride is impressive, and is being as touted as the the best attraction Universal has created, which is saying a lot considering the successes oif Forbidden Journey, Gringotts, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures. 

My Thoughts

• Honestly, my thoughts have a changed since I started researching this land. I am a diehard Potterhead, a true millennial loyal to the original books and thus I have not had the same connection with the Fantastic Beasts franchise (as I wrote here when the lands for Epic Universe were originally announced). But after seeing the work put into this land, the scale of the creations, the details AND the Battle at the Ministry attraction—color me excited. And I think that’s intended effect: come for Harry Potter, stay for Newt Scamander, so to speak.
• Thought the theme park hasn’t opened to the public, I can’t help but think of what’s next. Universal has already announced it is planning for Epic Universe’s expansion. Will that include Harry Potter? And if so, will the land lean more Fantastic Beasts or original Harry Potter? Time will tell.
• There are so many opportunities for after hours and seasonal events in this land. Imagine Halloween and Christmas parties? It will be interesting to see how they handle such events at Epic; Universal Studios already excels in horror with Halloween Horror Nights, and Disney corners the family friendly market with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas. Universal had the opportunity to offer something unique with the new lands here.
• What about kids? This is a question for Epic Universe writ large, but there aren’t many things to do for little ones. I know that’s more of a Disney thing, but this land is supposed to be a draw for Orlando tourists—those with little kids many not consider it worth the hassle of kids can’t really ride many of the attractions. (Most have ride height requirement of 40 inches or higher.) As a dad to little ones, this is impotent when planning our theme park days.

I am so hyped for his land! And Epic Universe opens NEXT MONTH. What are your thoughts?

Stay tuned for next entry in my Countdown to Epic Universe series: Super Nintendo World!

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