At the Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Ministry of Magic visitors are transported to a world of Harry Potter Paris. From the cobblestone streets to the ambiance of feeling like you are actually in Paris, this land is magical and whimsical. In this post, I am sharing details of what to expect during your visit, my thoughts, and what there is to do at the Ministry of Magic land at Epic Universe.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter- Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe is the third Harry Potter themed land to join the Universal Orlando parks.
I am a casual Harry Potter fan and enjoy the lands at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. A new Harry Potter land wasn’t really something I was hoping for at the new park, but I knew Universal would do it well and I was excited to experience it at Epic Universe.
I have mixed feelings on the land that I get into later in the post. It is immersive and gorgeous but I was somehow left wanting more. The experiences they do have are incredible and I am excited to see what comes next in this land.
Overview of The Ministry of Magic-Step into Harry Potter Paris
Guests will enter the portal to the new land and be transported to the streets of Paris in the world of Fantastic Beasts. The streets of 1920’s Place Cachée are bustling with shops, sidewalk carts, and places to practice your magic with interactive wands.
These streets will be larger than life with their smallest building as big as the tallest building at Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. They also have characters walking around that really blend in with the crowd.
The area is really immersive and after visiting a few days I feel like there is more to explore. We did try to discover the little hidden areas, much like Knockturn Alley at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley, but I am sure there were some we missed.
I loved all the art along the walls and animatronics in the windows that are part of the interactive wands. If it wasn’t 100 degrees out I think we would have spent a bit more time walking the streets.
Rides at the Ministry of Magic
Currently there is one ride at the Ministry of Magic area. Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry is immersive the minute you enter the Metro station to transport you to the British Ministry of Magic.
Guest travel to 1990s London using the Metro-Floo. When you walk through the Metro-Floo it is pretty cool but the “wow” factor is what you see on the other side. Floor to ceiling green tiles and a huge wanted posted for Dolores Umbridge. It is stunning and words don’t exactly do it justice.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (40 inch height requirement) is a dark ride attraction that takes guests on a journey through the ministry on the day of Dolores Umbridges trial.
The best way I can explain it is it is a ride vehicle like Tower of Terror but the ride cart is on a lift system that goes up and down, and can spin. The first time I rode I was nauseous, the second time I was not.
I believe they toned it down a bit so less people were feeling motion sickness. The ride goes through scenes with screens and animatronics. It is really well done from the minute you enter the queue to the full ride experience.
The issue that many guests are experiencing is the wait times are usually over 200 minutes and it often breaks down. This is common for a new high-tech attraction during its first few years of operations.
It happened with Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Experience for years, but eventually it figured itself out. My best advice is to be patient when trying to ride.
Guests wanting to step inside the Ministry of Magic but not ride can do that. Enter the Metro, go through the Metro-Floo, and then exit out the Metro-Floo across the way.
The actual queue for the attraction is a bit of a ways up, unless there is a very long wait and guests are queued up before the Metro-Floo. If that happens ask a team member what the options are to not ride, you may have to wait in the line but you may not.
Dining at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Ministry of Magic
We didn’t have an opportunity to eat at the land during our visit so I can’t speak from personal experience on the dining but below is an overview of what they offer.
- Cafe L’air de la Sirene: Guests can enjoy French cuisine at this quick service dining spot. Menu items will inclue pastries, sandwiches, and Butterbeer.
- Le Gobelet Noir: In Place Cachée is a mysterious meeting place for Dark wizards and witches. Menu will include starters such as soups and salads as well as a variety of entrées and desserts.
- Bar Moonshine: Here guests will find exclusive beers, wines and cocktails served amid U.S. Quidditch team pennants and other items of wizarding Americana.
- Bièraubeurre Cart: You must have a Butterbeer cart in The Wizarding World! Guests can stop by the Bièraubeurre cart for their favorite Harry Potter inspired beverage.
Shows, Shopping, and Characters
- Le Cirque Arcanus: Ring master Skeder has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase which contains fantastic beasts. This will be a stage performance with special effects, puppets and live performances.
- Interactive Wands: Guests can use interactive wands to practice their spells at locations throughout the land. Wands can be purchased at Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique. Be sure to check out the chandelier inside the shop.
- Street Entertainment: On the streets of Place Cachée, guests will also encounter students from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft as well as other visitors and officials.
I absolutely loved the Le Cirque Arcanus show. It had amazing effects and puppetry featuring larger than life “beasts”. The storytelling starts in the circus tent and then guests are seated in a theater for the show.
From the outside you might miss this but it is worth including in your day.
My Thoughts on Ministry of Magic
As I mentioned earlier I have mixed thoughts on this land. First the good.
It is really immersive and you feel as if you are walking down a street in Paris. There are lots of little areas to explore and I think if we visited on a cooler day we might have had more time to explore.
We have visited Florida in summer many times and this trip was by far the hottest and most humid. We made it work but spending afternoon time walking around was not high on our list.
The Ministry of Magic is a great ride but the wait times are so long that it often deters us from even going in the area. I think once it gets into a groove and things start moving more smoothly this area will be a great place to just hang out.
As of now (August 2025) there are no Annual Passholders at Epic Universe but once that changes I could see the Ministry of Magic being a place people grab a Butterbeer and hang out. It is built to feel like a space to explore, not just walk through to the attraction.
Overall you will want to spend time during your day at Epic to check out The Ministry of Magic. Walking through the portal gives guests a wow moment and immerses them in the Paris side of the Harry Potter World.
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Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
