Get ready, witches and wizards—Epic Universe opens May 22, 2025, and it’s bringing a magical new chapter to life! Universal Orlando Resort’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe, will feature five incredible worlds, including the most spellbinding of them all: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Fans of Harry Potter and Universal Orlando Resort alike are eagerly chomping at the bit to experience the third installment of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of reference materials so you can brush up on your magical knowledge before your next visit to Universal Orlando Resort.
In keeping with the immersive design of Epic Universe, all realms, including the new Harry Potter area, are separated by berms with “portal” entrances. These portals act as magical gateways, transitioning guests from the central hub of Celestial Park – a world between worlds – to the distinct realms of each area. After crossing into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, guests will be transported to two historical points within the Harry Potter film franchise: The magical side of 1920s Paris from the Fantastic Beasts films and the 1990s British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series.
Enter 1920s France in Place Cachée
We’ll start with Place Cachée since it’s the easiest to cover as much of the newest Wizarding World takes place here. Place Cachée is a pocket realm similar to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley where many wizarding shops and cafes can be found.
Now, this 1920s bustling, French shopping district is specific to the film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Although this movie is the second installment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise, don’t worry — knowing the first or third movies won’t be important to enjoying this portion of Epic’s Wizarding World (although you’re welcome to watch them anyway).
That said, watching Crimes of Grindelwald before your visit can add an extra layer of excitement, as you’ll spot familiar details and locations, like Le Cirque Arcanus and recognizable storefronts, straight from the screen.
Dolores Umbridge on Trial at Epic Universe’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Grab your time turners! Upon entering Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, guests are transported forward in time to the 1990s Ministry of Magic. Here, Ministry of Magic visitors will witness the trial of Dolores Umbridge, the former High Inquisitor of Hogwarts and a secondary antagonist within the series. On that note, to understand why Umbridge is standing trial, there are two key reference points to consider:
Start with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The fifth installation in the Harry Potter film franchise is Umbridge’s first appearance and it wastes no time in showing us her cruel nature. This film is also where we learn that, while she’s no Death Eater, it quickly becomes clear that her ideology isn’t far off from Voldemort’s.
Since the attraction’s story takes place after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2, fans will want to watch those two films next. While Deathly Hallows Part 2 is where we’re told Umbridge will stand trial, it’s specifically Deathly Hallows Part 1 that provides further detail about how wicked Umbridge truly is as she extends her cruelty and prejudice to Muggle-born wizards and witches following Voldemort’s takeover of the Ministry of Magic.
Now that we’re up to date, we can cross the Métro-Floo and enter the British Ministry of Magic for the long-anticipated trial of Dolores Umbridge. Surely nothing could go wrong… right?
Why stop there? Dive deeper into the worlds of Epic Universe—discover the must-watch movies behind Dark Universe, relive the adventures of How to Train Your Dragon, and power up with our top game picks for SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Ready to turn your epic plans into reality? Grab discounted theme park tickets here and start your next great adventure!
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