First look inside Harry Potter-themed land at huge new theme park opening in 2025
THEME Park giant Universal has today revealed a sneak peek inside its Harry Potter-themed land opening at Epic Universe next year.
Today (November 19), Universal Orlando Resort shared an exclusive look inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.
Images from Universal Orlando Resort show a full-scale recreation of the British Ministry of Magic, which Potter fans will know from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Slated to open on May 22, 2025, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry promises to be “Universal’s most impressive ride” thanks to “powerful storytelling” and “unprecedented ride technology“.
Park-goers will journey through the wizarding government building exploring ministry departments and Dolores Umbridge’s office before boarding magical, omnidirectional lifts.
Fans of the Boy Wizard will be able to spot details from the film, such as copies of wizarding newspaper the Daily Prophet and interdepartmental memos belonging to their favourite characters.
Set in the 1920s, guests will enter the Potter-themed land from a Parisian Muggle park and travel through Place Cachée, a wizarding shopping district.
The Harry Potter-themed land will also feature an all-new live show, Le Cirque Arcanus, which has been inspired by the Fantastic Beasts film.
The story sees Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander’s Suitcase, try and bring the circus back to life with the creatures inside.
Along the way, characters to meet include visitors, officials and residents from the wizarding world, exchange students from the Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as talking portraits of wizards.
For places to eat and drink, there is Café L’Air De La Sirène serving French sandwiches and desserts as well as Le Gobelet Noir for “international Dark witches and wizards” which will have soups, salads and entrées.
Otherwise drinks can be found at Bar Moonshine for exclusive beers, wines and cocktails, or a butterbeer at the Bièraubeurre Cart.
And souvenirs such as sweets and Ministry of Magic merchandise can be found at Les Galeries Mirifiques, K. Rammelle and Tour En Floo.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic is the fifth and final land at Florida‘s Epic Universe.
Epic Universe was first announced in 2019 and will feature four other theme lands, including Celestial Park, How to Train Your Dragon, Super Nintendo World and Dark Universe.
Celestial Park will be the central land of the theme park, with ‘portals’ to all the other lands.
The main ride will be the dual-launch, 62mph rollercoaster Starfall Racers, with other rides including the Constellation Carousel and wet-play area Astronomica.
Set at the Isle of Berk, the four rides at the How to Train Your Dragon land include family coaster Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, and water cannon ride Fyre Drill.
Entering via the iconic green pipe, the main ride at Super Nintendo World will be AR racing ride Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
Set around Frankenstein Manor, dark ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is to be Universal’s “most terrifying yet” at the Dark Universe land.
Use these tips on your next theme park trip
Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.
- Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
- Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
- Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
- Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
- If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.
A new £300m theme park could soon open in the UK – despite not having any rides.
Meanwhile, a new indoor theme park could open in Europe next year, with a huge castle, a water flume and a family rollercoaster.