“The most ambitious, groundbreaking ride Universal has ever created,” will highlight the third installment of Universal Orlando Resort’s popular Harry Potter-themed lands when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, opens in Orlando in 2025.
Set in the wizarding Paris from the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films and the British Ministry of Magic from the ‘Harry Potter’ film series, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will be one of five lands in the new Universal Epic Universe theme park.
The new WWHP land builds on the global phenomenon that began in 2010 with the debut of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure and continued with the 2014 launch of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.
Here’s a first look at the new land:
WWOHP rendering
- Beyond the world’s ornate portal, guests and clients will first into the 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, visitors will cast spells throughout the magical streets using interactive wands, encounter fantastic beasts at a travelling circus, and, using first-of-its-kind technology – travel to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo, a unique mode of wizarding transit inspired by the Floo Network seen in the films.
- Upon arrival, guests will 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 and friends 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 rampaging Death Eaters.
- Le Cirque Arcanus – For the first time ever in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, guests will enjoy a live, full-scale theatre experience in the heart of the land with Le Cirque Arcanus. The show features 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.
- Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique – Guests can shop some of the world’s finest wands designed by esteemed artisan wandmaker, Cosme Acajor, in the premier Parisian wand shop, Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique.
- While exploring the streets of Place Cachée, 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 wizards who engage with locals about the happenings in Place Cachée, and more.
- Guests can also an array of international fare and shop for souvenirs and merchandise during their visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at highly-themed dining and retail locations.
More details about Universal Epic Universe will be revealed in the months ahead.