Coming in 2025 (still no word on the official opening date), Epic is truly a word befitting the experience that awaits you… and Universal saved the best land reveal for last!
Enter the next portal from Celestial Park to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. This portal takes us to the world as we see it in the Fantastic Beasts films- 1920s Paris with a side quest to the British Ministry of Magic circa the 1990s for the main attraction.
Traveling through time and space, this land brings us a dark thrill/simulation ride main attraction, an amazing live show, brand new character interactions, reality bending interactive experiences, and of course, plenty of shopping and dining!
What to See and Do
Place Cachée is like the Diagon Alley of Paris, in that it caters only to wizards and witches, but offers a more refined Parisian take. You will want to brush up on your French, as you will be able to hear shop owners conversing (and maybe even hear some local gossip, too!). Not only will witches and wizards be roaming the streets, but you will also see magical creatures that have made their way into shop windows as well as other nooks and crannies throughout the land!
Interactive Elements: Have your wands at the ready, because more spell locations await you here in Paris! I can’t wait to see if there are hidden spells here, too. BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! I think what I am most excited for is the portraits. That’s right, interactive portraits, like the ones in Hogwarts with a huge difference. These portraits will be interactive with YOU and really respond to you.
Le Cirque Arcanus: Ringmaster Skender and his Magical Creature showcase were once the talk of the town, but since falling out of favor, he seeks to bring the show back to glory! He has gotten his hands on Newt Scamander’s suitcase… (uh oh!). A combination of live actors, puppetry, and special effects bring this interactive show to life. I am excited to see that we will encounter a Demiguise, Zouwu, Kelpie, Mooncalves, and more. We can even expect a visit from Newt himself!
Battle at the Ministry: This looks, well, EPIC! We will get to travel by Floo Powder and see many departments of the Ministry of Magic and BEST of ALL see Delores Umbridge stand trial! (We all know she is the most hated character of all time.) The queue is essentially an attraction itself with the exploration of both familiar and new spaces within the Ministry. We will see the Aurors locker room (with some familiar wizards lockers), the Hall of Ministers (Hello, interactive paintings!), Auror’s Headquarters (plenty of Easter Eggs here!), and finally enter the sickly pink and gold office of the baddie herself (complete with cat plates)! I can’t wait to enter that Grand Atrium and board the omnidirectional lifts to witness the trial. Hold up! Umbridge is trying to escape! Chase ensues…we will join Harry, Ron, and Hermione to stop her.
Eating and Drinking in Place Cachée
Café l’Air de la Sirène: French-inspired cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A refined dining experience- think: carved marble and art nouveau mosaics (with a magical flare). Also serving 2 outdoor seating areas for the true Parisian street cafe experience.
Le Gobelet Noir: A mysterious tavern with a shady patronage…Dark Wizards seek to escape prying eyes. This location will serve a variety of starters, entrees and desserts. Many details still under cloaking charms…
Bar Moonshine: A Wizarding watering hole with decor of American quidditch team pennants. Magical beverages to be revealed later…
Bièraubeurre Cart: That’s right, in any language, Butterbeer is a Wizarding World staple.
Magical Shopping Experiences
Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique: Think Ollivander’s but upscale, in true Parisian fashion. This wand shop features signature 3-sided boxes for their specialty wands but you’ll also find imports from Ollivander’s shop.
Tour en Floo: After exploring the Ministry of Magic, be sure to stock up on Auror supplies at the Metro-Floo gift shop.
Les Galeries Mirifiques: A wide range of magical merchandise will be found here!
K. Rammelle: For the witch or wizard with a sweet tooth!
I truly have never been so excited for a theme park opening! If you missed the rundown of what else we expect to see at Epic Universe next year, check out my previous blog articles here:
Epic Universe Part 2: The Lands
As a Smart Moms Travel Agent specializing in Universal, I love helping to curate an amazing vacation. You can follow me on socials for more tips @nerdymomtravels and subscribe to the blog to get all the most up-to-date info about your favorite destinations.
