Exclusive Photos: See Every Detail Inside the New Harry Potter Ride Opening at Universal Orlando

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando

Wands at the ready!Universal Orlando Resortis giving its first in-depth look at the brand-new addition to the Wizarding World.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Universal unveiled a slew of new images of the forthcoming thrill ride “Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry” — including two photos you can only see on PEOPLE.

The ride will be the centerpiece of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, one of five lands opening in May 2025 as part of Universal Orlando’s much-hyped third theme park, Epic Universe.

The Battle of the Ministry attraction incorporates a brand-new storyline taking place inside the government headquarters of the British wizarding world, the Ministry of Magic, whose towering green tiled walls, golden statues, and unwieldy elevators fans will recognize from the books and films.

Accessing the Ministry requires a trip via the Métro-Floo (a system similar to the Floo Network of the films) that will transport guests fromthe new theme park land’s main setting of 1920s Wizarding Parisdirectly into the British Ministry circa the 1990s.

Inside, they’ll be just in time to witness “the long-awaited trial of the infamous Dolores Umbridge,” according to Universal.

When Umbridge (spoiler!) escapes mid-trial, Harry, Ron, Hermione and a house-elf named Higgledy will join riders for “a thrilling chase that will propel them up, down, forward, backward, sideways and more throughout the Ministry” as they attempt to avoid dementors and other magical hazards.

The new images show more details than ever of what riders can expect of their visit to the Ministry.

The Métro-Floo with its barrel-vaulted ceilings and rows of human-size hearths is clearly part of the queue, with roped off areas for lines of riders to weave through. The details of the magical mode of transport is still a mystery. It may involve some special effects (similar to the trick in the line for the park’s Hogwarts Express) or could simply be a familiar passageway (like the brick wall behind its Leaky Cauldron).

The Ministry’s soaring atrium looks just like the movie set, with gleaming green tiled walls and rows of windowed offices cantilevered overhead.

In an exclusive PEOPLE photo (top), the atrium’s massive wizard statue is also visible, its wand raised in one hand. Book readers will remember these figures played an essential role in another battle at the Ministry between Voldemort and Dumbledore.

Elsewhere, a special edition of the Daily Prophet declares “Umbridge Stands Trial Today.” An unopened interdepartmental memo (shaped into a paper airplane to zoom around the Ministry) sits on top of the newspaper.

The new photos also offer a glimpse inside Umbridge’s brilliantly pink office. In an exclusive PEOPLE photo, the gilded relief around the ceiling is revealed to contain wizards and dragons as well as the Ministry “M” in a gold crest.

A close-up photo of the ride’s new character is also from the same space: Higgledy the house elf sits perched atop a stack of files holding a quill and looking at a clipboard not dissimilar to some Umbridge has used. She also wears what may be the witch’s ring and shoe. Another detail shot of her perch indicates the pink folders are “case files.”

Umbridge’s desk and other views of the room are conspicuously absent from the photos, possibly because they contain ride spoilers.

A few other shots tease additional areas of the Ministry the ride will likely take visitors.

Lastly, Universal released a new photo of the actual ride vehicle.

The image shows a setup for about 10 guests to sit in two rows of tufted, red leather seats. It looks similar to the arrangements of Disney’s classic “Tower of Terror” ride.

While Universal hasn’t revealed exactly what type of ride Battle of the Ministry will be, an earlier rendering showed the box of seats suspended in the air and tilted an angle that implied its movement may be more similar to that of Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios' Diagon Alley.

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal previouslyconfirmed plenty of other details about the new Harry Potter land in July, when they first announced Epic Universe’s opening date.

The resort teased at the time that the park will incorporate settings and storylines from the spinoffFantastic Beastsfilms. Part of the land will be set in 1920s wizarding Paris — specifically in Place Cachée, Paris' version of Diagon Alley — as well as 1990s wizarding London, where much of the original series takes place.

In the French portion, visitors will be able to enjoy snacks and buy souvenirs from shops like the Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique, the equivalent of Ollivander’s wand shop; a candy store called K. Rammelle; as well as gift shops like Les Galeries Mirifiques and Tour En Floo.

Illustrations also showed carts selling butterbeer, or as French wizards call it, Bièraubeurre.

Café L’Air De La Sirène — featured in Universal’s images with classic French interior design — will serve as the area’s sit-down restaurant that serves monster-themed eggs and other treats.

Universal also shared views of the Wizarding World’s first live theatrical production, titled “Le Cirque Arcanus.” Originally fromCrimes of Grindelwald,the show is set at a magical circus that includes acrobatics, actors, puppets and special effects.

Renderings show dancers, aerialists and more performing for a packed house, decorated completely as a period circus performance.

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This new Harry Potter land will offer visitors “awe-inspiring collection of experiences that includes fantastical dining, whimsical retail and spellbinding entertainment,” Universal said in a press release in July.

Ministry of Magic will be the third Harry Potter-themed land at Universal Orlando Resort, as the park is already home toThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeadeat Universal Islands of Adventure, which opened in 2010, andThe Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alleyat Universal Studios, which opened in 2014.

Also coming to Epic Universe is SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, Celestial Park and more.

source: people.com