They have done it: Wizards have finally learned how to cast a Masterful Ridus spell
It’s safe to say that Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is one of the most hyped theme park attractions of all time. Since Epic Universe was announced and we knew that Harry and friends would also be visiting this theme park, we’ve been wondering what kind of ride Universal would have for us there.
Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure is okay, while Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a pretty great dark ride/roller coaster in Universal Studios. But c’mon… we’re talking about Harry Potter, Avada Kedavras, Muggles, and Butterbeers, friends - Universal needed a really big, blockbuster Harry Potter ride to shake the world. Did they manage to do that?
I will say that… yes, Universal has done it. Battle at the Ministry is the best Harry Potter ride Universal has ever done, with the best queue (and that’s no small feat), best visuals, and best use of special effects. This is a ride that is prone to breaking down - which is common for these attractions that have a lot of things happening at once - but it’s also one that is magical when everything is going smoothly. It doesn’t matter if you’re a top-tier sorcerer, a Muggle, Dumbledore, Snape, or even a Jedi… you will have the time of your life here.
What we like about Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
Battle at the Ministry is a ride full of surprises and, even after watching a few YouTube videos, you might not know what it’s actually about. Is it a motion simulator like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man? Is it a dark ride more like Forbidden Journey? Does it have elements of Tower of Terror? My advice is… go in blind. Yep, just close this review, buy a ticket with us to Epic Universe, and enjoy it. This is a ride that’s really hard to describe, but you’ll be mind-blown from the moment you enter the queue.
The queue is, by the way, a 10/10 on its own. We know that Universal really opens the wallet when it comes to Harry Potter queues, and Battle at the Ministry has the best of them all. It features amazing visual effects, and what is probably the most impressive room in a ride queue you will ever see. The atrium, featuring images of Dolores Umbridge on trial, is massive in scale and could be considered a theme park attraction on its own. The queue also takes you through talking portraits, massive-looking (magical) office spaces, Dolore’s very own office and much more. Please, don’t forget to bring your camera.
What about the ride itself? You might have seen online that the vehicles resemble a Tower of Terror elevator. They really do, even if they look way more elegant and are also more spacious. The ride is, deep down, a motion simulator, heavily inspired by something like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Transformers 3D… only way more technologically advanced. That’s because you not only have the mobility of a traditional motion simulator, like the rides mentioned above, but your vehicle can go up and down as well — which draws the comparisons to Tower of Terror.
The ride is a mix of screens and a few animatronics, and here’s where it shines: Goodbye old screens from Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts, hello 8K screens! These are, in fact, the same screens used in The Bourne Stuntacular show at Universal Studios, and if you’ve seen that one, you know how mind-blowingly amazing they look. I still don’t know why Universal hasn’t updated the screens on the older rides - it’s probably not as simple as it sounds - but every ride should have screens like this one.
The story is also easy to follow: you’re accompanying Harry, Hermione, and Ron to see Dolores Umbridge’s trial and, of course, nothing goes according to plan. Dolores unleashes some Death Eaters, escapes, and then everything becomes chaotic. Yeah, she escapes in less than 15 seconds of ride time. Good job there with security, guys!
It’s here that the new ride system shines, with your vehicle moving in all directions as it follows the battle between the wizards and the Death Eaters. Screens are heavily used, sure, but there are also some very fun animatronics scattered around, and you can even spot some “real” elevators in the background. It’s also awesome that the scale is always huge, with big screens surrounding you, and since the image looks crystal clear, it never takes you out of the fantasy of fighting alongside our heroes.
So… yes, this is a great ride. It’s comfortable, has a really cool gimmick on your traditional motion simulator, features great screens, amazing visuals, and good animatronics. When it works… it works. It’s a must-see ride, and one of the best ones at Epic Universe.
What we don’t like about Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
As is the case with most technologically advanced rides, Battle at the Ministry is prone to breaking down… a lot. This is a ride that can close unexpectedly, even if you’ve been in the queue for 70 minutes or more. There’s just way too much happening at once, from animatronics to huge screens, and of course, your vehicle, which needs to move in all directions for more than 12 hours a day. So sometimes, even a Pleasus Workus spell won’t, uhh, work.
Also, keep in mind that this is by far the most popular ride at Epic Universe. During the opening week and the following months, I expect that a 70-minute queue will be the standard, and wait times will likely grow from there. At least you’ll have a gorgeous queue to look at while you wait, and I promise you, it’s all worth it in the end.
Conclusion
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry lives up to the hype. This is an attraction with an awesome ride system, top-notch visuals, and great set pieces. When it works, it’s just magical, and it deserves your visit more than once. Dumbledore would have been proud.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry FAQ
Where is Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry located?
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is located inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe. If you want some help casting spells or getting to Epic Universe, make sure to click that Request a Quote button and let's talk!
What is the height requirement to ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry?
You must be at least 40 inches tall to ride Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.
Is Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry scary for children?
It has a few scary elements. It features big, explosive battles between wizards, and your vehicle moves around a lot, which can be frightening for some young children.
What is the wait time for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry?
Although this is hard to predict, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is the most popular ride at Epic Universe. Expect wait times to be around 70 minutes, and even longer during the summer and on peak dates.
