First Look at Groundbreaking New Harry Potter Ride Coming to Epic Universe

Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry is the groundbreaking new attraction coming to the new Harry Potter land opening at Epic Universe on May 22, 2025. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic will take guests to 1920s Paris from the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Theme films.

This new Harry Potter land will join the existing two lands at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida expanding their most popular franchise. In fact, one of Universal Orlando's most popular rides to date is Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure which just further demonstrates the strong popularity of Harry Potter in the theme parks.

Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry is the e-ticket attraction in this new land and we just got full details of the immersive queue that takes guests into the Ministry of Magic and further details of the storyline of this ride. This is sure to be one of the most popular attractions at Epic Universe along with the other ground breaking Monsters ride!

Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry

The e-ticket ride in the new Harry Potter land, Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry, will combine massive environments, storytelling and “first-of-its-kind ride technology.” Universal is already saying that this will be one of its most impressive attractions to date.

The villain of the attraction is Dolores Umbridge first featured in the Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix films. Umbridge is easily one of the most iconic villains in the franchise so this is a fitting choice! I love this idea to incorporate a different villain as Voldemort is already predominantly featured in the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts attraction.

New Harry Potter Ride Uses Groundbreaking Technology

One of the main features of the attraction is the entrance into the ride itself as guests will get to enter the Ministry of Magic atrium and venture through Ministry departments before boarding the new attraction which will use “omnidirectional lifts.” Guests will watch the trial of Dolores Umbridge take place and then follow the story as she tries to escape.

The Classic Trio is Featured on the Ride

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger are featured in the ride. The classic trio is joined by a new character, a house-elf named Higgledy. The ride will be a “thrilling chase” that will “propel guests up, down, forward, backward, sideways” as they chase Umbridge through the Ministry. Guests will also be dodging attracks from Death Eaters, “rampaging creatures” and other obstacles as they chase down Umbridge.

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First Look at New Harry Potter Ride

We just got the first look at the new ride coming to the Harry Potter land at Epic Universe called Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry! This attraction and queue looks absolutely mind blowing.

The storyline of the ride takes guests through the depths of the Ministry of Magic before seeing Dolores Umbridge stand trial for her crimes against the Wizarding World in the final Harry Potter film. Guests will enter the attraction via the iconic Floo Network seen in the films as they emerge from fireplace structures right into the lobby of the Ministry of the Magic. This large, expansive queue takes guests through many iconic moments from the films and is filled with hidden details.

First Look at Ride Vehicle

Once guests finish working their way through the immersive queue, they will board this omnidirectional lift that seats up to 14 guests. This lift uses similar technology to the The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT! attractions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

However, Universal states that these lifts are “unlike any ride vehicle ever created” and will propel guests “up, down, forward, backward, sideways” and more as they move through the Ministry of Magic! Once guests board the ride, they will be on a thrilling chase to catch Umbridge as she tries to escape her trial. Guests will encounter Death Eaters and “rampaging creatures” along the way.

Ministry of Magic Queue

Guests will journey through the Ministry of Magic building exploring key parts of the Ministry like the atrium, Dolores Umbridge's office, and other Ministry departments before boarding the attraction.

Ministry of Magic Atrium

The details of the atrium in the Ministry of Magic include these office windows guests pass by.

Atrium Statue from Harry Potter Films

Guests will also pass a restored version of the Fountain of Magical Brethen in the atrium as they move through the queue.

Ministry of Magic Reception

Guests will also pass by the Ministry of Magic reception booth.

Dolores Umbridge's Office

And of course, the queue will take guests through Dolores Umbridge's office which stands out with her famous pink and gold gaudy decor.

Animatronic House-Elf

Guests will also see this animatronic house-elf, called Higgledy, that worked for Umbridge. Higgledy is a big part of the storyline in the attraction itself and guests will get a first look at it in the queue.

Daily Prophet Memos

The queue will be filled with details that tie into the story like these Daily Prophet papers with the headline announcing Dolores Umbridge's trial.

Ministry of Magic Memos

In the films, we see some of the classic Ministry of Magic memos flying around the offices. In the queue guests will pass by stacks of these.

The Magical Archives

Guests will pass through the Magical Archives on the ride itself which is a cavernous library filled with towering cabinets that hold centuries of Ministry archives and wizarding documents.

The Department of Magical Creatures

Guests will also go through the Department of Magical Creatures and see creatures that have escaped and are running “amuck.” I love that we get to see all these corners of the Ministry of Magic that have been spoken about in the films and books!

The Time Room

The ride also takes you through the Time Room which is filled with a variety of Time-Turners. These are the same devices that Hermione used in the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban film and book.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic

The setting of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic  brings guests into the 1920's spectacle of “Place Cachée” – a hidden, shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance. Along with this groundbreaking new ride, there will also be an all-new live show, Le Cirque Arcanus, inspired by the Fantastic Beasts films and a variety of highly themed dining and retail experiences.

This is going to be one of the most popular lands at Universal Orlando's Epic Universe!

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