The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is getting its third (and potentially final) Orlando expansion at Universal Epic Universe in 2025. This new land will once again be specifically based on the film series, just like the existing Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley areas.
However, unlike these previous lands, this new area will also incorporate the more recent Fantastic Beasts series, which recently concluded with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Those who have seen these films will likely know that they explore the Wizarding World beyond Hogwarts, and this type of international feel will be present in this new area, which will take guests to a well-known, real-life location when they enter.
Welcome to Paris…
Though the previous two Harry Potter lands were firmly set in the Wizarding World of the UK, Epic Universe park-goers will be able to see the sights of Paris when they enter this brand new Wizarding World land. As they take their first steps in this new area, they’ll be greeted by a replica of the real Porte Saint-Denis arch, before heading into the fictional Place Cachée, as seen in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Once inside, this area guests will find the Circus Arcanus tent, as seen in the second Fantastic Beasts film, and several shops, restaurants, and other locations inspired by the Parisian location of the Fantastic Beasts films.
…And then back to the UK for a ride inside the Ministry of Magic
Though the outside of the land will be based on the French Wizarding World, the new land’s headlining attraction will transport guests back to the London Ministry of Magic from the original 8 films via Floo Powder. Rumors indicate the attraction will be based on the flagship Harry Potter series (and not the Fantastic Beasts spinoff) and will take guests inside the sentencing of the evil Delores Umbridge at the Ministry of Magic. Reportedly, actor Imelda Staunton has signed on to reprise her role for the ride, giving film fans an important connection to the original series.
This ride concept may sound very familiar to long-time Universal fans, as the Orlando resort has reportedly been attempting to create this Ministry of Magic attraction for several years, originally planning to make it a part of a Diagon Alley expansion. However, as plans for Epic Universe came together the concept was moved to the new park, which could better accommodate the attraction’s huge show building, which will the biggest in the entire theme park when it opens.
As for the ride experience itself, this attraction will be a dark ride that will use a vehicle system similar to that of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure. However, instead of just moving around on a motion base along a trackless route, this vehicle will have an upgrade that will allow it to move up and down as well, allowing for the creation of more dynamic movement through show scenes and environments. This attraction is also rumored to use a mix of 2D screens as well as animatronics in its set pieces, which means guests won’t have to wear 3D glasses during the experience like they do on other attractions that use this ride system.
A new show
Live performances have always been an important part of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, especially at Diagon Alley, which has several shows that guests can check out inside the land that are performed on a raised platform right off the area’s main thoroughfare. However, though these shows are great to catch when you’re just walking by, they aren’t performed in a traditional theater and are only a few minutes long. However, this all changes with this new land, which will have an indoor theater with over 600 seats, similar to the capacity of the theater that currently houses the Bourne Stuntacular at Universal Studios Florida.
This type of theater is suitable for a medium-scale production, and it will be interesting to see if we see near-continuous performances like at “Bourne” or fewer, more scheduled shows at this location. No rumors have surfaced about what kind of show could be performed here, but whatever it ends up being, it will undoubtedly be impressive.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Though much of the land is based around the most recent series of Wizarding World films, direct references to the plot and characters of these movies look to be fairly sparse in the land, with the headlining attraction again taking guests back to the world of the first eight films. However, fans of the “Beasts” world may be happy to hear that current rumors indicate that magical creatures from the film series will be located all around the land, and can interact with guests that have purchased a new generation of interactive wands made especially for this new land. If true, the incorporation of magical creatures would be a fun way to incorporate the most recent film series into this updated land, and will also likely drive sales of interactive wands as well in this new area, which will undoubtedly be of interest to Universal.
Canceled plans
Though plans for this new area sound very impressive, longtime Theme Park Tourist readers may remember that at one point a VR-based ride was also rumored for this land. This attraction would have allowed guests to jump on their own broomsticks and fly alongside Newt Scamander and other characters from the Fantastic Beasts series on a mission related to the “Fantastic Beasts” series. However, this attraction has been canceled for unknown reasons, and will not be built. Interestingly the front of the ride show building is still being constructed, but the space behind the facade will remain empty until further notice.
Though we already know a lot about what to expect from this new land, Universal will likely continue to make changes in the months to come and may even surprise us down the line with something that we were not expecting! Which part of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter are you looking forward to the most? And do you have any predictions about the future of this upcoming theme park?
