Hoping to magically increase visitor numbers, Universal Resort Orlando announced new details about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic attraction, scheduled to open in 2025.
The new Harry Potter world will blend the setting of “magical Paris” and the British Ministry of Magic. According to Universal, guests will first travel from a Muggle park in Paris to the “stunning spectacle” of 1920s Place Cachée, described as “a hidden, bustling shopping district in magical Paris.” They can then travel through time and space on the “Métro-Floo” (a wizarding mode of transport inspired by the Floo network in the Harry Potter films) to 1990s London for an adventure inside the Ministry of Magic.
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The biggest highlight worldwide is “Harry Potter and the Battle for the Ministry,” which Universal says uses “first-of-its-kind ride technology,” including “omnidirectional elevators.” After arriving in London via the Metro Floo, guests enter the Ministry’s grand atrium and explore other departments before boarding the ship to watch the trial of the villain Dolores Umbridge – until Umbridge attempts to escape.
Guests then join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and a house elf named Higgledy on a “thrilling chase that takes them up, down, forward, backward, sideways and more throughout the Ministry” as they attempt to capture Umbridge while avoiding attacks from Death Eaters, angry creatures and other dangers.
In addition, the new attraction will feature Le Cirque Arcanus, featuring live performers and aerialists, puppetry and more. As guests explore the streets of magical Paris, they can cast spells with their interactive wands at various locations, interact with fantastical beasts such as Nifflers, Bowtruckles and a Demiguise, and engage with enchanted objects in many of the store windows and other areas of Place Cachée.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic also features several themed restaurants and shops, including Café L’Air De La Sirène, Café L’air De La Sirène, Le Gobelet Noir, the Moonshine bar (with exclusive beers, wines and cocktails served amidst pennants of the US Quidditch team and other items of American wizarding culture), a Bièraubeurre cart (with butterbeer, of course), the French patisserie K. Rammelle and the gift shops Les Galeries Mirifiques and Tour En Floo.
“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic” is part of the Universal Epic Universe, which, according to the company, will feature “more than 50 immersive attractions, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences” and “transform the award-winning resort into a week-long vacation destination.”
In the second quarter, Universal theme park revenue fell 10.6% to $1.975 billion, while adjusted operating income fell 24%, according to parent company Comcast. A key factor affecting attendance at domestic parks “is the timing of our investments in new attractions, where we have few in Florida before Epic opens next year,” Comcast President Michael Cavanagh told analysts. In addition, “our lapping of Super Nintendo World in Hollywood also creates a headwind for us.”
“While parks results are below our original expectations for the year, we still view parks as a great long-term growth business for us,” Cavanagh said on Comcast’s second-quarter conference call. He said the company expects Universal Epic Universe “to have a meaningful impact by driving increased attendance, longer visits and higher per capita spending once the park opens in 2025.”
The history of Universal theme parks featuring the Wizarding World of Harry Potter began in 2010 with the opening of Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure and continued in 2014 with the opening of Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Harry Potter attractions can be found at four locations: Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan and Universal Beijing Resort.
Watch Universal Studios Florida’s promo video for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – The Ministry of Magic, developed by the Universal Creative Team and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment:
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