Join Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Higgledy the house-elf in a quest to stop Dolores Umbridge as she tries to bring back the reign of the Dark Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry at Epic Universe.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
About Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Read the official description below.
Travel by Métro-Floo from Paris to the British Ministry of Magic where Dolores Umbridge is about to stand trial. Board a lift and join Harry, Ron, and Hermione as you journey deep into the Ministry’s many departments. Thrilling adventure, fantastic beasts, and unexplored mystery await in Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
Ride Information
- Type: Thrill ride, motion simulator
- Duration: ~4 minutes
- Size restrictions: Minimum height of 40″, supervision required under 48″, restraints may restrict certain guests
- Accessibility: Guests must transfer to attraction seat, closed captioning and assistive listening available (see attraction attendant for assistance)
Does Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry accept Universal Express Pass?
No.
Is there a Single Rider queue?
Yes, and parties will be split.
Does Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry have Child Swap available?
Yes, and there is a family room for waiting guests.
Will guests get wet on Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry?
No.
Do guests need to use a locker?
No.
Location
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is located at the end of a street in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. After entering the land, the street goes off to the left, and the entrance is on the right.
Exterior
A stone archway with an awning of translucent panels and green detailing leads to the entrance of the attraction. Guests use the Métro-Floo (Floo Network) to travel from Place Cachée in Paris to the British Ministry of Magic in London.
To the right of the entrance is the attraction sign containing an overview of the ride, details on the attraction, as well as warnings for guests who should not ride. The top of the sign displays the posted wait time. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is currently using a virtual line.
Hanging from the attraction entrance is a “Metrofloo” sign. The line on the left is the main attraction entrance, while the line on the right is designated for single riders. There’s space in the center of the sign, potentially for a future Express Pass queue.
A test seat is located outside the attraction for guests to utilize, so they are aware of the vehicle’s design before entering the attraction queue. The ride uses seatbelts and no other restraints.
Queue
Métro-Floo Pre-Show
Guests walk through the Métro-Floo station, which resembles a Paris Métro station with curved white walls and large murals advertising different Parisian Wizarding services, like owl post.
A row of large green fireplaces is at the end of the station. A team member will ask how many are in your party and send you through one of the fireplaces. Each fireplace has an illuminated number above it.
As guests walk through a stone tunnel, there’s a flash of green light and smoke, recreating the magic of the Floo Network as seen in the “Harry Potter” films.
Guests will then find themselves in the British Ministry, entering through green and gold fireplaces.
Ministry of Magic Atrium
The Ministry’s atrium is one of the most iconic sets from the “Harry Potter” films, finally recreated in detail for guests to see in person. The floo fireplaces are in a tunnel of green tile.
Fireplaces not in use have signs reading “Foo Closed Sweeping in Progress.”
There’s a “Ministry Munchies” cart, evidently the Ministry’s on-location coffee and snack shop. There are more references to this throughout the queue.
Guests step into a larger space, where giant banners advertise the trial of Dolores Umbridge today.
The center banner cycles through moving images of Umbridge in her prisoner’s garb and Kingsley Shacklebolt, the new Minister for Magic.
On the walls to the sides are office windows between red-tiled columns.
Typewriters, ceiling fans, coat racks, and lamps are visible through the windows.
The curved elements holding up the office structures resemble a scaled creature with sharp teeth and a red column emerging from its mouth.
There are newspaper stands featuring The Daily Prophet with the headline “Umbridge Stands Trial Today.”
At the center is the Fountain of Magical Brethren, made up of golden statues of a witch, centaur, house-elf, and goblin. The wizard is a separate statue a different pedestal through an archway in accessible to guests.
After the atrium, guests enter a sort of check-in area. The wait time is displayed again in this area.
In this rotunda, there are three floors of windows, mostly closed for business. In the center is a circular desk where Ministry guests can fill out forms as needed.
Thankfully, we already know our business and can proceed without paperwork.
Through one window, guests can see a cabinet packed full of mail, as well as stamps and forms on a desk.
There are moving wanted posters here and throughout the rest of the queue for Death Eaters Alecto Carrow, Corban Yaxley, and Walden Macnair. We’re sure these are just precautions and we won’t encounter any Death Eaters today…
The queue continues down another green tile hallway lined with informational posters.
A glowing map of the Ministry shows guests all of its tube-shaped sections below the city of London. There are notices on the border of the map.
These inform guests of the weather, postponed meetings, summer internships, and the location of the trial: Courtroom X (10). There’s a welcome note from Minister Shacklebolt. Other notices warn guests that persons, beasts, or beings without proper ID should be reported and to refrain from using the Sonorus Charm in the halls. The spell is used to amplify someone’s voice.
Hall of Ministers
This room showcases the portraits (and one bust) of past and present Ministers for Magic. As is normal with Wizarding World portraits, all the subjects move and speak.
There’s one empty spot, likely where the portrait of Pius Thicknesse should be. Thicknesse was Minister during Voldemort’s reign but was the villain’s puppet, under the control of Death Eater Corban Yaxley.
Kingsley Shacklebolt’s portrait is in one corner of the room.
Cornelius Fudge, who was Minister for most of the “Harry Potter” books, is next to the bust.
The bust is of Ulick Gamp, who was the first Minister for Magic from 1707 to 1718. It speaks, just like the portraits.
Also notable is Rufus Scrimgeour (on the far left), who was Minister for one year before being murdered by Voldemort.
Auror Offices
Guests then weave in and out of a hallway and a couple of rooms.
In the center of this hall is a lounge area with benches — but there won’t be any lounging today as cleaning is in progress.
The sign says, “Cleaning in Progress, your patience is appreciated (and expected), the Ministry of Magic wishes you a safe and pleasant day.”
Sitting on the benches are coffee cups and paper bags.
They feature a logo for “Ministry Munchies.”
A magical machine is between the benches, sweeping up papers.
There are a pair of water coolers with gravity-defying stacks of paper cups attached to them.
The machine actually moves. It has a pair of arms with dustpans attached and attempts to brush up the papers.
The papers include forms from the Muggle-Born Registration Commission and confidential memos.
Guests are funneled into the aurors’ locker room. Aurors are the Ministry’s magical law enforcement, and you might recognize some of the belongings of recent recruits. That’s Neville Longbottom’s sweater in one of the open lockers. The center locker appears to belong to Harry Potter.
The third open locker is full of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes products, indicating this is Ron Weasley’s locker.
The next room includes a chalkboard of the auror training schedule. One side is a list of skill focuses (recognizing Imperius Curses, Hex Evasion, etc.), and the other side has a diagram.
There’s a tribute to fallen aurors with portraits and banners.
Frank and Alice Longbottom were tortured into madness by Voldemort’s followers during the First Wizarding World. Though they were not killed, they no longer recognized their son, Neville, and lived out their lives at St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. This tribute may indicate the Longbottoms have since passed.
Hesphaestus Gore was one of the first ever aurors and later a Minister for Magic. He’s not in the hall of ministers because his portrait is instead kept in the auror offices.
The last portrait and banner are for Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody, a famous auror from Harry Potter’s time. Moody was meant to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher during Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts, but he was secretly replaced by Barty Crouch. Harry later met the real Moody, but the auror died during the Battle of the Seven Potters.
A pair of desks with typewriters are behind railings.
There are stacks of pink folios marked with the Ministry of Magic logo.
A “confidential” wanted list is at the edge of one desk for guests to see as they walk by.
Both desks feature Ministry Munchies goodies.
A bulletin board next to the desks has moving photos of Umbridge, newspaper clippings, Ministry of Magic forms, a map of Great Britain with red pins, and notes like “Check with Arthur about brooch.”
In the corner of the room are filing cabinets and carts with more folios, plus a large empty portrait frame. Look at the plaque at the bottom — it’s Pius Thicknesse’s missing frame.
Umbridge’s Office
Guests are then sent down a pink hallway into Umbridge’s office. Outside of the office proper are two sets. A dresser and table appear to have been raided by Ministry officials. There are several boxes, one marked “Tracked.”
More boxes sit among a pair of pink armchairs. Some of Umbridge’s china plates are in one box.
Now guests find themselves in the round, gilded, pink office of Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge was first introduced in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” She was the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and, in Harry’s fifth year, appointed as Hogwarts’ new and hated Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
In addition to her love of pink, Umbridge was known for her love of cats. There are rows of plates featuring moving cat portraits on the wall of her office.
Sometimes the cats will disappear, just leaving a pink background.
Umbridge’s desk features Ministry forms and cat stationery. There are more boxes throughout this room.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry introduces Umbridge’s never-before-seen house-elf, Higgledy. She’s in charge of packing up Umbridge’s office and sits atop a china cabinet with a clipboard.
Higgledy welcomes guests and wears some of Umbridge’s clothing — a pink shoe and scarf. Clothing is often a mark of a free house-elf.
Loading Area
Guests then proceed up a staircase to the ride’s loading area.
Here, a screen shows guests how to board the Ministry of Magic lifts (elevators), which act as the ride vehicles.
Don’t worry — these lifts aren’t as troublesome as some other theme park elevators. Although they are magical, so move in all directions.
Guests pass under a grate featuring the Ministry’s Art Deco logo.
Team members direct guests to different lifts in this rotunda.
The lifts have two rows of leather plush seats. As we mentioned before, it only uses seatbelts.
When the lifts whisk away, guests waiting can see some Ministry posters.
One poster indicates guests should “double check they have all belongings, and do not attempt to leave behind any beasts, brooms, muggle briefcases, pets or children.” There are also posters advertising the inter-departmental memo service, Floo Network lost and found, and the Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau.
Now it’s time to ride! Be warned, there are spoilers ahead.
Ride Experience
Like other “Harry Potter” rides at Universal Orlando Resort, the Battle at the Ministry incorporates both screens and physical sets. Guests begin by passing by various other lifts with Ministry officials talking about the trial. They come across Harry, Ron, and Hermione in a lift with Higgledy.
There’s a sound, and the lift spins to show Umbridge and a Death Eater killing her guards. Umbridge uses a spell to transform her prisoner’s garb into a pink dress, then tells the Death Eater, Yaxley, to “dispose” of guests.
Yaxley sends the lift spinning out of control as Umbridge disapparates. Harry stops the careening lift, and the trio realizes Umbridge is after a Time-Turner, so they head to the Time Room.
A battle ensues in the Ministry archives. Ghosts of the Headless Hunt gallop through the chaos. Harry, Ron, and Hermione fight the Death Eaters and instruct guests to find Umbridge.
The lift ends up in the Department of Magical Creatures, where Umbridge captures Higgledy. She forces the lift to drop down a story, where an Erumpent has escaped containment.
The elephant-like creature with a glowing horn breaks through a few walls and tosses the lift around a bit.
After encountering the trio again, guests arrive at the Time Vault.
Umbridge says guests are “too late” as she’s going to take herself back to the time of Lord Voldemort. However, all the Time-Turners were broken during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries a few years ago.
Higgledy warns Umbridge that she can’t use a broken Time-Turner. Umbridge tries to repair a Time-Turner, but the spell backfires, causing the Time Room to start breaking apart.
The mists of time breaking apart flow through the room. Harry, Ron, and Hermione warn guests to get out.
Death Eaters descend, but the trio will take care of them.
Umbridge tries to maintain order, but Higgledy takes her wand. Harry and Ron grab a falling Umbridge and apparate into the courtroom.
Kingsley Shacklebolt sentences Umbridge to a life in the Wizarding prison, Azkaban. Hermione compliments Higgledy’s bravery as they travel in a lift with the Death Eaters they’ve captured. Higgledy thanks guests for their help.
Exit
After the exit is the Family Room, where child swap is facilitated. Ask a Team Member at the front about child swap and they will be able to help.
Guests exit back through a green tunnel into the Ministry of Magic atrium.
They take the Floo Network back to 1920s Paris.
On-Ride Photo
The on-ride photo souvenir is $35.99. It comes in a black folder that can be used as a frame.
The photo is displayed in a copy of The Daily Prophet under the headline story: “Umbridge Sent to Azkaban – Trial at the Ministry Goes Awry.”
Video
Watch our full ride POV below.
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