Universal Epic Universe: A New Era of Magical Adventures

Universal Epic Universe is the next theme park for Universal Orlando Resort and will feature five astounding worlds that go beyond anything you’ve ever experienced before. In The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic, you’ll explore multiple eras of magical thrills and wonder.

There are very few movies my entire family would come together to watch. Harry Potter was one of them. We love the Fantastic Beasts films because it gave us a more global view and a chance to step into another era of The Wizarding World. We really felt that we owed our guests the expansion of the Wizarding World.

It all began with Hogsmeade, bringing the village and Hogwarts Castle to life, then Diagon Alley, creating the magical hidden streets of London. And now, with Epic Universe, guests will experience even more adventures inspired by both of these beloved film series.

Wizarding Paris: A Step into the Fantastic Beasts Film

We’re bringing to life Wizarding Paris from the Fantastic Beasts film and the British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter films. As guests walk through the portal, they’re instantly transported to 1920s Muggle Paris, where they pass through the Phoenix Arch that takes them to Place Cachée in Wizarding Paris, inspired by the Fantastic Beasts film.

We built to-scale streets in Paris. This is the biggest thing we’ve ever built. Our shortest building is taller than the tallest building in Diagon Alley. It’s going to be overwhelming with all of the whimsy and charm you’ve come to learn and expect from the Wizarding World, but with an all-new Parisian twist.

The streets of Place Cachée are so alive with activity. There are shops and restaurants to explore with nods to Fantastic Beasts throughout. You can just feel magical Paris surrounding you. Being able to smell the French cuisine at Café L’air de La Seine, hearing the different music that we have playing in the background that’s both Wizarding and French—there’s a lot.

And of course, we’re serving beer or butterbeer as everybody knows it in Britain. You may get chosen by a wand at Ollivanders, but here in Paris, you go to Cosme Acour, the premier wand maker famous for exquisite haute couture designs. With your wand, you can cast spells and play with Fantastic Beasts on the loose throughout the streets.

Imagine a kid in a robe turning to his mom and yelling, “I’m a wizard!” That’s literally what we strive for.

The Heart of Wizarding Paris: L’Arc Arani

In the heart of Wizarding Paris, guests will find an incredible show, L’Arc Arani. They’ll go on a journey of excitement, surprises, and compassion as they encounter Fantastic Beasts they know and love. The show is mind-blowingly cool. You’re going to just be amazed at this beautiful theater that exists within this tent. This is the first time we’ve created a full-scale indoor show for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

We have aerialists, special effects, puppetry, and so much more coming together. It’s going to be really fun for guests to see some of the creatures come to life. I’m really looking forward to it.

The British Ministry of Magic: A Journey Through Wizarding Mass Transit

I’m most excited to build the Ministry of Magic. With the help of the Floo Network, guests get to journey from Wizarding Paris to London to embark on this incredible adventure inside the British Ministry. You go through these giant fireplaces and journey through the Metro Floo, which is wizarding mass transit that we collaborated with the filmmakers to create.

It’s a multi-sensory experience. The guests will be fully engulfed. It really mimics the flames flying up around them. It’s fun, and finally, you arrive at the iconic British Ministry of Magic. You’re going to see what you saw in the films at full scale, and now we have the opportunity to actually travel into the ministry at a very crucial moment and help save it.

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is an amazing new attraction that represents the decades of innovation that Universal has created. The story takes place after Voldemort has been defeated, and finally, this is the day in which Dolores Umbridge is standing trial for her crimes against the Wizarding World. As we board our elevator lift, we end up realizing that Umbridge has escaped.

The guests join Harry, Ron, and Hermione on a quest to capture Dolores Umbridge and stop her from bringing back the time of Lord Voldemort. It’s a heart-pounding adventure and is on a scale that we have never attempted before. You’ll be right in the middle of this giant battle against Umbridge and Death Eaters throughout the entire Ministry. We’re combining so many different and new technologies to bring this adventure to life at a scale never seen before. This is the most ambitious ride we’ve ever created, and it’s an absolute game changer.

I was on site, and I actually just took a moment to step back and stare at what we’re building because it’s nuts. I truly believe from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley, Diagon Alley to the Ministry of Magic, we’ve continued to bring the storytelling to the next level.

 

Epic Universe: A New Level of Immersive Experiences

Epic Universe is all about immersing our guests in these larger-than-life worlds. Creating a space that guests are going to make memories in for decades to come is so special. And doing it with stories as powerful as Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts is just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I’m so grateful to be a part of.

We’re thrilled to expand the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and bring even more adventures to life for our guests. The addition of this world creates an incredible Wizarding World trilogy across Universal Orlando. Get ready—tons of excitement awaits on the other side of the portal at Universal Epic Universe.