Epic Universe construction update: Phoenix takes flight in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
A phoenix takes flight and a major new structure is in place as construction continues for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe.
From high in the sky, bioreconstruct captured another round of aerial photos of Universal Epic Universe construction in early October 2024. The new theme park will open in 2025 in Orlando, Fla. (New to Epic Universe? Check out our beginner’s guide.)
A refresher on the new Harry Potter world at Epic Universe
Epic Universe will introduce Orlando’s third iteration of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, bringing to life Place Cachée from “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and the British Ministry of Magic just after the events of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”
The area’s two main attractions will be Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry (an indoor attraction starring Imelda Staunton as Delores Umbridge) and “Le Cirque Arcanus” (an indoor stage production showcasing magical creatures). Read more details about the new Wizarding World’s attractions in our overview of the land. In today’s story, we’ll focus on aerial photography.
Phoenix rising
The natural place to begin today’s journey is at the end. As guests depart The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and venture on to explore the rest of Epic Universe, a statue of a golden phoenix will bid them farewell, positioned on the exit/entrance archway into Place Cachée and facing guests as they leave.
Construction workers installed the phoenix in recent weeks. Last month, bioreconstruct spotted the phoenix on the ground nearby, awaiting its flight.
Forced perspective at work
One corner of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will be a series of staircases leading to nowhere, but appearing to add more depth to the Parisian neighborhood through forced perspective (the concept of each successive level of a structure being smaller than the one below it, thus seeming to be taller, and in this case further away, than it really is).
On the other side of this alleyway is an assortment of recently erected structures that will be inaccessible to guests, but help paint the picture of the city’s labyrinth of buildings extending further than they actually do, when viewed from inside the park.
Fresh, new theme park architecture! Check out that detail.
The businesses of Epic Universe’s Harry Potter world
Though we’ve been covering the signage and artwork from throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic for months now, artisans continue to mount more and more of it. The exteriors of these full-scale buildings are popping with color, contributing to the lore of the area and the fictional businesses that call Place Cachée home.
What would a Wizarding World be without Butterbeer? Guests at Epic Universe can purchase the popular beverage at a cart in the middle of the street, newly installed in Place Cachée.
As a sign of just how rapid construction is progressing, some of the storefront windows in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic already display props.
Of course, not everything in this bustling community is a place of business. There are (fictional) residents who live here, too.
Entrances to Wizarding World attractions
The bright (very, very bright) red tent in the center of Place Cachée will serve as the entrance into the live stage show “Le Cirque Arcanus.”
Meanwhile, the threshold for a metro station will be the entrance into the area’s one ride, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
bioreconstruct noticed what appears to be an extended queue area for Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry nearby. Think of how you get in line for Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios Florida, and almost immediately enter a sheltered outdoor area before returning to the bank. This may be a similar setup.
Entrance portal into the new Harry Potter world
Upon stepping through the portal from Celestial Park into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, guests won’t arrive in Place Cachée just yet. First, they’ll need to walk through a small courtyard depicting Muggle Paris.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and the other worlds of Epic Universe — Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk — will be here before you know it!
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