Warner Bros Studios celebrated “Back to Hogwarts” by sharing new details with Universal Orlando about the upcoming “Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry” attraction, scheduled to open in 2025 at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic in Universal’s Epic Universe.
“Back the Hogwarts” takes place every year on September 1st to celebrate the return of the wizarding world’s students to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Guests will join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they watch the trial of Dolores Umbridge in omnidirectional elevators until Umbridge attempts to escape. Guests will take part in a thrilling chase that takes them up, down, forward, backward, sideways and more throughout the Ministry as they try to catch Umbridge – all while avoiding attacks from Death Eaters, angry creatures and more.
Guests will see the rebuilt Ministry of Magic in all its “full size, glory and glamour” – including the Fountain of the Magical Brothers restored to its rightful state, flying memos swirling through the atrium and the enchanted weather blanket.
Guests explore the Ministry, including the Ministry dressing room, where we learn that Harry, Ron, and Neville are in training to become Aurors. Other areas we will visit include the Hall of Ministers, the Ministry Map Room, and the Auror Headquarters, where they gather information on cases.
Finally, we enter Umbridge’s “ornate pink and gold” Ministry office, where, yes, there are lots of cat plates. Here we meet Higgledy, Umbridge’s former house elf.
Dame Imelda Staunton will reprise her role as Dolores Umbridge for the attraction. Speaking of her performance, Universal says: “Staunton has managed to push Umbridge to the extreme.”
Other characters include ones we haven’t seen in any other Universal Harry Potter attraction, including Yaxley, MacNair, the Carrows, and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
According to Universal, the Battle of the Ministry attraction is the “most ambitious and groundbreaking ride” the company has ever created.
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