Inside Universal's New Harry Potter Ride: Battle at the Ministry of Magic Details Revealed

Nov 19, 2024 in "Universal Orlando Resort"

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic Ride Scenes

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Posted: Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Universal Orlando Resort has revealed details about Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, a new attraction set to open May 22, 2025, in Universal Epic Universe.

The ride, located within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, takes guests on an immersive adventure through the British Ministry of Magic, complete with what Universal says is groundbreaking ride technology and richly detailed environments.

The Ride Experience

Setting: The British Ministry of Magic, recreated as a full-scale environment inspired by the Harry Potter films.
Storyline: Guests will witness the trial of Dolores Umbridge, known for her infamously strict and controversial role in the wizarding world. The experience culminates in a thrilling chase as Umbridge tries to evade justice.
Ride Vehicles: The attraction uses magical, omnidirectional lifts that seat up to 14 people. These vehicles move in multiple directions, including up, down, forward, and sideways, offering dynamic movement through the Ministry’s various departments.

Here is a closer look at some of the immersive details and environments guests will find in Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry:

Métro-Floo Corridor

Guests will journey from wizarding Paris – the setting of the other experiences inspired by the Fantastic Beasts films in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic – to the Ministry via the Métro-Floo – a unique mode of transportation inspired by the iconic Floo Network from the films. As they emerge from the fireplace-like structures they’ve seen in the films, guests will immediately find themselves in the lobby of the Ministry of Magic.

The Ministry of Magic Atrium

Atrium

Atrium Offices

Fountain of Magical Brethren

The grand atrium of the Ministry of Magic comes to life in all its grandeur in the queue for the attraction. Here, guests will find a restored Fountain of Magical Brethren statue, the enchanted weather ceiling, an endless array of Ministry offices from floor to ceiling and many more intricate details for guests to discover while inside. Guests will also discover that their visit falls on the same day that Dolores Umbridge will stand trial for her crimes against the wizarding world.

Ministry Reception

Guests will pass by the Ministry Reception, where wizards typically ask for information before going about their wizarding business. However, guests won’t find anyone working the reception booths today as the entire Ministry is busy preparing for the trial.

Ministry Reception

Dolores Umbridge’s Office

A glittering chandelier illuminates Dolores Umbridge’s former office, which is revealed to be just as over-the-top as the woman herself with its pink hues and ornate gold carvings throughout. Here, guests will meet Higgledy, Umbridge’s former house-elf, for the first time as she enthusiastically cleans out the office ahead of the trial.

Dolores Umbridge's Office

Daily Prophet, Memos and Other Wizarding Details

Guests should keep an eye out for a variety of details from the films while they venture through the Ministry, like the latest edition of the Daily Prophet, flocks of interdepartmental memos and even the belongings of some of their favorite characters from the films.

Daily Prophet

Magical Ministry Lift

Guests will board a magical, omnidirectional lift that seats up to 14 guests to travel even deeper through the British Ministry for the long-awaited trial of Dolores Umbridge. Adorned with vibrant red and gold accents, these lifts are unlike any ride vehicle ever created and will propel guests up, down, forward, backward, sideways and more throughout the Ministry – just like guests have seen in the films.

Additional Ministry Areas

Magical Archives

Once aboard the ride, guests will find themselves on a thrilling chase to catch Umbridge as she attempts to escape her trial – all while dodging attacks from the Death Eaters, rampaging creatures and more along the way. Additional areas guests will soar through in the British Ministry include the Magical Archives –a cavernous library filled with towering cabinets that hold centuries of Ministry archives and wizarding documents; the Department of Magical Creatures – where creatures have escaped and are running amuck; and the Time Room – which is overflowing with a variety of Time-Turners and unique timekeeping devices.

Department of Magical Creatures

Discuss on the Forums

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Tom Morrow47 minutes ago

There are plenty of ways to accomplish this though without having tall walls on all sides like Diagon, Ministry, and SNW. You can create a berm with trees on top of it. You can create fake rockwork. You can position the show buildings and other structures so that they block the view of the outside world and theme the parts of them that you do see. Galaxy's Edge employs all of these and it never feels claustrophobic while still feeling completely isolated from the outside world, let alone the rest of the park. But like, going beyond that, each of the existing Orlando parks accomplishes this already. There are no parts of MK, Epcot, DHS, DAK where you can see outside of the park from ground level. The one exception I can think of is seeing the Contemporary from within MK. USF really only during HHN, and IOA basically nothing except for the ability to see into USF. Even SeaWorld, you mostly can't see out of the park from the main walkways. I don't know, planting some additional trees, adding additional themed walls and fences, and adding a little additional theming to the sides of show buildings doesn't seem like a huge tax when they're already in this far.

sedati4 hours ago

Well, I haven't been there and don't want to simply rely on guest images and concept art so I'll ask, does Constellation Carousel at all resemble the glowing colorful jewel depicted in the concept art whose light (accented but not overwhelmed by popcorn lights) shines from within at night?

mkt7 hours ago

Looks like Epic will be getting a halfway decent amount of EV chargers

Disneyhead'717 hours ago

Not really the outside world, but less boxed in. I am hoping for more bamboo to block some of the outside views from ground level. SNW is especially tight and and heavy on the sensory overload.

lazyboy97o8 hours ago

Shaping space to not feel claustrophobic and controlling sightlines aren’t mutually exclusive.

UNCgolf9 hours ago

Claustrophobic? Really? Who thinks a theme park feels claustrophobic if you can't see the outside world?

Disneyhead'719 hours ago

I think maybe, and this is just a theory, but maybe they wanted some lands that aren't quite so claustrophobic.

celluloid11 hours ago

That is why it stands as is. For now anyway.

Tom Morrow11 hours ago

I'm not sure if that would be an improvement. The total darkness effectively "hides" the ride and makes the land feel more ominous (as it should feel) with a dark void in the middle.

celluloid12 hours ago

More Projectional lighting programjng on netting were considered.

Tom Morrow12 hours ago

On a positive note - CotW is significantly improved at night, as it is basically pitch black on the ride track area. It looks and sounds a lot more like some woods that werewolves are tearing through.

celluloid12 hours ago

Yes, a few have said it...again..and again...and again. Not trying to silence anything nor could I. You do not like CoTW in its position or ride type choice. I do not care if it is a critique of positivity or negative. Just something new or different is the preference.