While in both Orlando and Anaheim logs jam waterways on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney’s biggest theme park competitor just dropped the mic with a set of stunning Epic Universe Harry Potter photos that actually deliver on their lofty promises.
The new attraction, Harry Potter and the Battle for the Ministry, will open along with the rest of Epic Universe on May 22. Fans got their first look inside the fabled Ministry of Magic from JK Rowling’s fantasy classic novel series today when People Magazine released a set of stunning images that showed the new area in all its glory.
And, unlike the house of mouse down the street, Universal’s final product actually met the expectations set by the initial concept art.
Quick little note to the other Orlando area theme park resort.
This is called delivering on your concept art.
Please take notes. pic.twitter.com/clu4fI1TNB
— Wallin Ballin (@wallin_ballin) November 19, 2024
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“Quick note to the other Orlando area theme park resort,” X-user Wallin Ballin said while sharing a photo of the concept art for the attraction above a photo of the real thing. “This is called delivering on your concept art. Please take notes.”
Delivering on concept art promises has become something of a sore spot for Disney fans in recent years. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure featured stunning concept art that showed a large tree atop the attraction with a boat resting atop it. The final version delivered a bland hill with plain grass.
The problem is no matter what Disney does here, the people supporting these insane ideas will support it even after it’s done simply so they don’t have to eat their words. Take Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, for example, which looks like a third rate copy cat version of what was… pic.twitter.com/elv9uV3E6p
— Disney Glimpses (@disneyglimpses) August 14, 2024
Then there’s the unfortunate saga of Communicore Hall at Epcot. This new permanent festival center was supposed to have a futuristic look with a rooftop bar.
Official concept art for the World Celebration Festival Center, eventually changed to Communicore Hall – Disney
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However, Disney abandoned this initial stunning design in favor of the bland cafeteria we now have today.
Another thought re: CommuniCore Hall
I was at EPCOT last Friday and it was closed for festival prep. That’s almost a full week closure. What about what’s in there now required a downtime that long?? The current setup looks like something I could’ve done myself in an hour. pic.twitter.com/3XAFLrEnTh
— DreamfinderGuy (@DreamfinderGuy) August 29, 2024
The new Epic Universe Harry Potter area actually improved on its initial concept, delivering the stunning visuals promised and accentuating them with more vibrant colors.
A new look inside the ‘Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry’ ride coming to Epic Universe in Orlando next year.
Guests will board a magical lift that propels them up, down, forward, backward, sideways, and more as chaos ensues during the trial of Dolores Umbridge. pic.twitter.com/x9hM5tYgyh
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 19, 2024
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In the images above you can see the main atrium of the Minstry, the central statue which featured into a duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore in the novel Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix, an animatronic of Dolores Umbridge’s house elf, Higgledy, and even the ride vehicle for the new attraction.
The ride vehicle appears to have plush red seats with seat belts instead of the large restraints typically seen on the other major Harry Potter rides in Universal Parks.
Concept art of Stardust Racers in Celestial Park at Universal’s Epic Universe – Universal
The ride’s story takes place after the Harry Potter books and movies conclude and brings guests to the trial of Dolores Umbridge, perhaps Rowling’s most despicable and hated villain from the series. She attempts to break out, sending the ministry into pandemonium while guests ride along in the all-direction elevators first showcased in the films.
This stunning attraction is the centerpiece of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Ministry of Magic area, which also features a wizarding Paris from the 1920s first glimpsed in Warner Brothers’ Fantastic Beasts film series. Guests will arrive at the London Ministry through the Floo network from the books and films.
Do you think Universal delivered on its promises? Will you be attending the Epic Universe Harry Potter area? How will Disney respond? Sound off and let us know!
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