Epic Universe
Location Information
- Type: Theme Park Land
- Location: Universal Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA
- Owner/Residents: Universal Destinations & Experiences
- Key Features: A blending of 1920s wizarding Paris from the Fantastic Beasts film series and the 1990s British Ministry of Magic. Includes interactive wand experiences, themed dining, retail, and a major attraction.
Description and History
Epic Universe is the name of the fourth theme park being built at the Universal Orlando Resort, scheduled to open in 2025. Within this park lies The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, the third major expansion of the Wizarding World at the resort, following Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. (Universal Orlando Resort) This land is unique as it merges two different eras and locations from the wizarding world franchise. Guests will enter an area depicting 1920s wizarding Paris, as seen in the film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. This section then serves as a portal to the British Ministry of Magic, which is set in the 1990s era of the original Harry Potter books. The narrative conceit for travel between the two locations is the Floo Network. (Universal Orlando Resort) The creation of this land was officially announced by Universal Destinations & Experiences as part of the larger reveal of the Epic Universe park's five worlds. It represents a significant expansion of the franchise's physical footprint and the first to heavily incorporate elements from the Fantastic Beasts series into a theme park environment.
Role in the Story
As a real-world theme park land, Epic Universe and its associated Wizarding World do not appear in the original seven-book canon by J.K. Rowling and have no role in the narrative of the Harry Potter series. However, its thematic role is to expand the tangible world for fans, allowing them to step into and interact with environments that were previously only accessible through books and films. It provides an immersive experience of two significant magical locations: the international magical community of 1920s Paris and the bureaucratic heart of the British wizarding government, the Ministry of Magic. The main attraction, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, allows guests to experience a key event from the climax of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, specifically the duel between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort, and the trial of Dolores Umbridge which occurred after the Second Wizarding War. (Universal Orlando Resort)
Known Areas Within
- Wizarding Paris (1920s): The entry point for the land, inspired by the French wizarding community as depicted in the Fantastic Beasts films. It is set to feature architecture and magical locations from 1920s Paris. (Universal Orlando Resort)
- Place Cachée: The French equivalent of Diagon Alley, featuring various shops and establishments for witches and wizards.
- Le Cirque Arcanus: The location for a live stage show based on the magical circus from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. (Universal Orlando Resort)
- British Ministry of Magic (1990s): The main section of the land, recreating the headquarters of the British wizarding government. Guests will access it via the Floo Network from Paris, arriving in the Ministry's grand atrium.
- The Atrium: The central hall of the Ministry of Magic, featuring the “Magic is Might” statue. (Universal Orlando Resort)
- Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry: The land's primary attraction, a ride that takes guests through pivotal moments inside the Ministry, including Dolores Umbridge's trial and the climactic battle against Death Eaters. (Universal Orlando Resort)
Behind the Scenes
Epic Universe's Wizarding World is the first to be designed from the ground up with the Fantastic Beasts film series as a core component of its identity, blending it with the timeline and locations of the original Harry Potter saga. This creative decision merges two distinct periods of the franchise's timeline, separated by approximately seventy years. The development marks the third distinct Wizarding World area in Orlando, creating a large, multi-park experience that also includes Hogsmeade at Universal's Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. The transportation method between the Paris and London sections, the Floo Network, is presented as the in-universe explanation for the transition, similar to how the Hogwarts Express connects the other two lands. Information regarding the land's layout, attractions, and theme has been released through official announcements and concept art from Universal Destinations & Experiences. (Universal Orlando Resort)