Review: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic Is an Absolute Marvel
Universal Orlando Resort’s third Harry Potter–themed land, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, opened as part of the new Epic Universe park on May 22, and it is unlike anything we’ve seen before.
The name is admittedly misleading – the one ride in the area takes place in the British Ministry of Magic, but the rest of the space is 1920s wizarding Paris, as seen in the Fantastic Beasts series. While visiting Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley feels like going home to the wizarding world we know and love, wizarding Paris is utterly transportive. It may not evoke the same sense of nostalgia, but perhaps that’s part of its charm.
Walking into wizarding Paris feels like entering a whole new world of wonder and magic, filled with references to that familiar world but completely unique. It’s a truly creative endeavor inspired by a small glimpse from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald that has been expanded into so much more – an exercise that fans who have spent decades imagining the wizarding world beyond the series can appreciate.
There’s so much to look at that it’s difficult to decide where to begin. The Cirque Arcanus tent, which hosts a spectacular theatrical show, and the Coupe de Quidditch sign in the center immediately catch the eye, but so does the classic French architecture of the five-story terraced buildings of the Rue Cachée. Each storefront is different, bursting with color and detail from top to bottom, offering a feast for the eyes in the windows, if not a feast of French culinary delights inside. A colorful cast of characters and creatures injects even more life into the vibrant environment.
You could spend hours just admiring the surroundings, which we did, and still spot something new on every lap – a plaque about a building’s history (in French, so you may need to enlist Google Translate), a poster for a wizarding business, a magical creature peeking out of a window. The area is just as, if not more, stunning when lit up at night. The sheer amount of imagination that went into this creation is clearly on display. Every inch of the space feels carefully considered and crafted. The artistry of MinaLima, the team of Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, who did graphic designs for the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, is recognizable in every corner.
The Métro-Floo transition to the British Ministry of Magic of 1998 is enchanting – as long as you don’t think about it too much. Floo Powder shouldn’t transport the user in time as well as space, and there does seem to be a thematic disconnect between these two distinct areas compared to the self-contained and contemporaneous Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Still, walking through a glowing green cloud and emerging into the massive shining black stone atrium of the Ministry is breathtaking. There is some fascinating lore in the queue for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry that gives a glimpse into what the wizarding government might look like several months after the Battle of Hogwarts. The ride itself is a unique thrill, offering quite a different experience from the other Potter rides with its seating in a Ministry lift.
While it would be nice to have a second ride like the other worlds in Epic Universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic offers plenty to keep visitors occupied and dazzled. Stay tuned for an in-depth review of the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride and its immersive queue, as well as more about the amazing new world at Epic Universe.
