The final portal: Details revealed on ‘Harry Potter’-themed world at Epic Universe

ORLANDO, Fla. – July 31 has historic significance in the Wizarding World.

It’s Harry Potter’s birthday (along with book series author J.K. Rowling) and was the deadline to reply listed in Harry’s Hogwarts acceptance letter.

In the Muggle world, July 31, 2024, is the day fans got official details of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, coming to Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park.

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Set in wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Fantastic Beasts” films, and the British Ministry of Magic from the “Harry Potter” film series, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe features an awe-inspiring collection of experiences that include fantastical dining, whimsical retail, spellbinding entertainment, and another ground-breaking attraction that’s on-brand for Universal.

Non-Magique Park

When guests journey through the portal, they will transported from a Muggle park to 1920s Paris.

After passing through the Phoenix Arch, guests can mingle with wizards and fantastic beasts while casting spells throughout the magical streets using interactive wands.

Place Cachée

Place Cachée is a hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance.

Guests will also notice a Parisian spin on the signature drink of the Wizarding World — Biere au Beurre. French translation: Butter Beer.

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.

The show follows Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase – where Demiguise, Diricawl, Mooncalves, and more reside – to try and bring the failing Le Cirque Arcanus back to its former glory. It’s then up to circus employee Gwenlyn to rescue these creatures before they end up in Skender’s greedy hands forever.

Paris wands

In Paris, the place to shop for wands is Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique.

In addition to popular imports from Ollivanders, visitors will find a selection of exquisite wands packaged in unique three-sided boxes — each containing a list of locations throughout the wizarding world where guests can practice casting spells.

As guests explore the streets of wizarding Paris, they can use interactive wands to create magical experiences as they cast spells at various locations, interact with fantastic beasts such as Nifflers, Bowtruckles, and a Demiguise, and engage with enchanted objects in many of the storefront windows plus other areas throughout the marvelous Place Cachée.

Magical Parisian dining

A wonder of French architecture adorned with fabulous carved marble and details of fantastic beasts hidden in the tile and mosaic designs, Café L’Air De La Sirène is a charming café where guests can delight in French sandwiches, plats du jour, and desserts.

In the shadowy corners of Place Cachée is a mysterious timeworn auberge, Le Gobelet Noir, where international dark witches and wizards gather to escape the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry and have a hearty meal over hushed conversation.

Menu offerings include starters such as soups and salads as well as a variety of entrées and desserts.

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

For the first time ever within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, guests will travel across countries to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo for a thrilling adventure set inside the iconic British Ministry of Magic.

With its first-of-its-kind ride technology, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry builds upon the historic theme park innovation Universal is known for. This main attraction stars a character most Harry Potter fans love to hate.

The adventure begins when guests travel by Métro-Floo — a unique mode of wizarding transit inspired by the iconic Floo Network seen in the films — journeying from wizarding Paris to the British Ministry of Magic for the long-awaited trial of the infamous Dolores Umbridge.

Upon arrival, guests will enter the Ministry’s grand atrium and venture through other departments before boarding magical, omnidirectional lifts to watch the trial take place.

But then the “jury is out” when Umbridge attempts to escape.

Guests will join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and a house-elf named Higgledy 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 Death Eaters, rampaging creatures and more along the way.

Ministry of Magic will join two other distinct lands at Universal Orlando Resort, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure, with the Hogwarts Express connecting the two.

The reveal of Ministry of Magic now completes the first look line-up of the worlds that make up Epic Universe:

• Super Nintendo World: Featuring beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong in an interactive gaming experience.
• Dark Universe: A realm of myth and mystery, where guests encounter the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein and traverse a shadowy landscape inhabited by monsters like Dracula and the Wolfman.
• Celestial Park: Thrilling rides, entertainment, dining, shopping, plus the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, all come together to create an amazing world of discovery and excitement.

Details have yet to be revealed on Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel, which is walking distance from Epic Universe and has a dedicated and exclusive entrance into Celestial Park.

Epic Universe is set to open to the public in 2025. More details about the new theme park will be revealed in the months ahead.

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