How to join the Virtual Line for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry at Epic Universe (with screenshots)
Struggling to get a Virtual Line for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry at Epic Universe? Here are tips to help score your spot. The real battle is trying to get on this ride, so we’re here to help!
As public previews begin for Universal Epic Universe, a Virtual Line system is in place for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. While the entirety of the park is in “technical rehearsal” prior to its May 22 grand opening, there’s no attraction that needs some extra testing more than Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
Anticipate the drop times
During Battle at the Ministry’s first operating day during team member previews, the Virtual Line dropped on the Universal Orlando app at 12, 3, and 6 p.m. Just a few days later when Epic Universe began previews for the general public, Universal ditched the announced drop times in favor of random drops throughout the day. This makes acquiring a timeslot to ride a lot harder (and requires having your face buried in your phone instead of taking in this breathtaking park). Here are my personal tips as a self-proclaimed “Virtual Queue expert” both at Universal and Disney parks.
While it’s still in the early phases, there’s no telling what the exact drop times are … yet. It’s worth checking whenever the park is scheduled to open for the day. If Epic Universe opens at 11 a.m., you need to be ready with fast fingers at 10:55 a.m. waiting for your moment to strike. The only confirmed drop that I know of is 3 p.m. This is, of course, subject to change while park operations sees what works and what doesn’t, but that is the time I was able to secure my party’s VL. Every hour on the hour is your best bet to check the app.
Have a gameplan for Wi-Fi and cellular data — and find a good reception spot
Assess your Wi-Fi situation. If you happen to be in line for another attraction while trying to acquire a Virtual Line for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, surrounded by hundreds of people trying to do the same thing, you’ve set yourself up for failure.
Find a secluded spot where you notice the most bars on your phone. Whether using Wi-Fi or cellular data is up to personal preference and how fast the service is wherever you may be.
This leads us to the Speedtest app. Speedtest will test your ping, upload, and download speed. You’ll want low ping and high upload/download speed. The results below were from a test I did right next to my router at home, so these are ideal conditions. In a theme park, you’re likely to be around the 200mbps range when it comes to upload speed, with a higher than desired ping. Don’t worry too much about the specifics of the numbers, but if you receive great results, stay in that spot.
At Universal, I’ve had more success with my cellular data (I have AT&T), but at Walt Disney World, the Wi-Fi has always been on my side. I highly recommend retail locations, as they tend to have the best Wi-Fi connection. Once you have your spot and evaluated your Internet connection, you’re ready to secure your Virtual Line for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
Steps for getting a Virtual Line for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
You may see a sign posted throughout Epic Universe with a QR code to scan as a means of securing your spot in the Virtual Line for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Do NOT use the QR code on the sign to get your reservation. You are setting yourself up for failure. Allow me to guide you with what I find to be the smoothest procedure in securing a timeslot.
Open your Universal Studios Orlando app at exactly when the clock turns to the next hour.
Navigate to the “Profile” tab.
Next, in the screenshot below, where the screenshot reads “Blockout Dates,” this space instead read “Virtual Line” when I was inside the park, so I believe the app changes depending on where you are. I am obviously not inside the park right now, because I am writing this article!
Once inside this portion of the app, click on Virtual Line experiences and you’ll see Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Tap on the ride, click the button with the Virtual Line symbol, and navigate the steps ahead.
Select how many guests are in your party, and click on a ride time that pops up. These are 30-minute windows in which you’ll need to report to the attraction’s entrance.
DO NOT click the first timeslot that pops up. You and everybody else are trying to get on as soon as possible. Select one of the later times for a higher chance of success. Once you have successfully acquired a time, the app will show you a QR code with your timeslot that the team members at the ride will scan. SCREENSHOT THIS IMMEDIATELY, just in case anything happens. If the app glitches and you lose your time, you’re back to square one; this gives you a failsafe to fall back on.
Best of luck to you!
Of course, these are just my tips. With thousands of other people attempting to get on one of the biggest rides in the park and the attraction being in technical rehearsal, there are many factors that may lead to you not getting a Virtual Line for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. Remain positive and check your phone frequently, but do not forget to take in the sights and make memories with your party, because that is 1000x more important!
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