Harry Potter has been a phenomenon at Universal Orlando. Since the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade opened in 2010, attendance and revenue have skyrocketed at the Florida resort. The inevitable expansion, Diagon Alley, opened to great success and crowds in July 2014. Since its debut, grand lines have been the norm for the central attraction, Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts. Just a month after it went live, Universal announced that the millionth passenger had boarded the Hogwarts Express.
The testimonial was especially impressive considering that guests need upgraded park-to-park tickets to ride the theme train.
It should come as no surprise, then, that Universal has exported the Wizarding World to its other parks, including Japan and Hollywood. Amid all of Harry’s fuss, what else could Universal have in store for the wizard boy at the Florida resort where it all began? It may have something to do with the Ministry of Magic.
This prophecy has nothing to do with divination, the branch of magic dedicated to predicting the future that is taught at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Rather than staring at a crystal ball, Alan Gilmore, the art director for Universal’s Wizarding World projects and many of the Harry Potter films, gave us some clues as to what might be next for Harry and the gang.
The devil, er Voldermort, is in the details
During a media preview, Gilmore graciously led us on a tour of Diagon Alley and pointed out some of the rich, multi-layered details of the land. While we were in the London embankment area, for example, he took us to the two phone booths located near the entrance to King’s Cross station. The iconic bright red booths are actual phone booths that Universal imported from the UK.
Moving into one of the boxes, Gilmore directed us to dial “6-2-4-4-2,” which spells “MAGIC” on the old-fashioned rotary dial on the phone. Doing so connected us to a recorded message from none other than the Ministry of Magic. The operator kindly informed us that the Ministry was not open that day. It was a great find. (Try it for yourself and surprise your fellow park members.) But Gilmore had more to say.
“It may be a clue to the next Potter thing,” he joked. By giving Muggles access to the Ministry of Magic, we’re fueling the fire a bit. Go ahead!
Mark «M» for «Magic»
Everyone Potterphile must know by now, but Gilmore explained that visitors to the Ministry of Magic arrive at the secret location by entering a phone booth and dialing, of course, “6-2-4-4-2.” (It is a considerably less rude means of access than Voldermort’s method of flushing down the toilet. Yich.) “Wouldn’t it be great if guests could enter a phone booth and visit the Ministry of Magic?” Gilmore asked. Because if. Yes, I would. «It could be in the future. Who knows?” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Does this mean that a Ministry of Magic attraction is definitely on the way? No, but it’s a strong endorsement from someone on Universal’s creative team. It’s a pretty safe bet that something is brewing in Potterville from the folks who invented butterbeer and watched their sales go wild. And a trip to the Ministry certainly sounds plausible.
There’s even a likely place to build the new attraction: the Fear Factor Live stage. The show has been open since 2005, and the television show it is based on has been canceled and revived multiple times. The TV show is no longer as popular as it once was, and one would assume that the Universal theater show is not attracting the audiences that it once did. The lot the stage is on is quite large and conveniently located next to Diagon Alley.
Perhaps those of you trained in the art of divination can take a look into the future and let us know if this prophecy will come true. We would be happy to buy you a round of butter beers for your troubles.
This roller coaster is definitely coming
While a Ministry of Magic attraction may or may not be on the way, a new Harry Potter-themed roller coaster is yet to come. Universal Orlando removed the Dragon Challenge roller coaster (which used to be known as Dueling Dragons before its Harry makeover) in 2017 from Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure in 2017. Instead, it will open an entirely new attraction in 2019.
Details are scant (including the name of the trip), but it is reported that it will take place in the Forbidden Forest. The roller coaster will include some interior scenes in exhibition buildings. By some accounts it will likely be a thrown coaster and will also include a track drop feature where the train will stop and the section of track the train is on will drop a few feet. While those features may sound scary, they have both been used on roller coasters that are considered “family” attractions.
Unlike Dragon Challenge, which was a thrilling roller coaster, the new ride is likely designed to appeal to a wider audience.
