Preview:
- Take a closer look at Isle of Berk and The Wizarding World – Ministry of Magic.
- Isle of Berk houses 30 dragon animatronics, two rides, and a live show.
- Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride has the most elaborate line queue of any theme park ride.
Ever wonder what it’s like to come face-to-face with the famous Nightfury from ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘? Or travel by Floo Metro to the British Ministry of Magic? Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe has found a way to give guests the ultimate immersive experience in its brand new theme park, which opened on May 22, 2025
Moviefone had the pleasure of visiting Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe during the media preview ahead of its grand opening to experience the entire theme park, including Isle of Berk and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.
Related Article: Epic Universe Is Game-Changing And Certainly Lives Up To It’s Name
What Is Epic Universe?
Epic Universe is Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park, not far from Universal Studios Orlando. It houses five brand new lands, including Celestial Park, How To Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.
Epic Universe’s theming is inspired by the heavens, stars, and constellations, and once guests step through the towering Emerald Gate and Chronos device, they will find themselves in Celestial Park. From there, they will be able to access the four other portals leading them into various lands.
The Isle of Berk
Just through the fiery red swirling portal is the Isle of Berk – a land where Vikings and dragons live in harmony. Themed to DreamWorks’ animated feature ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ franchise, this land in Epic Universe will transport you to a world that has only existed in animation – until now. There are plenty to do in Berk, including three rides, one live show, meet and greet with Toothless, plenty of food options, and of course, you’ll spot characters from the film roaming around the village.
Once inside Berk, you’re greeted by towering Viking and Dragon statues emerging out of the water. The larger-than-life decor of this land will make you forget that you’re at a theme park. Aside from its attractions and live entertainment, there are 30 animatronic dragons spread throughout Berk. From napping baby dragons to the massive Snow Wraith ready to blast you with its icy breath.
The Attractions In Isle of Berk
Out of all the lands within Epic Universe, the Isle of Berk houses the most attractions. It has three rides – Hiccup’s Wing Glider, Dragon Racer’s Rally, and Fyre Drill. Each is unique, has colorful outdoor line queues, and fits right into the world of ‘How To Train Your Dragon’.
Hiccup’s Wing Glider rides like a classic rollercoaster, with just enough thrills without taking the riders upside-down. As the coaster moves out of the loading station, you’ll hear Hiccup speaking to Toothless, “Hey Toothless, we’ve got to prepare for launch”. The coaster takes you right past animatronics of Hiccup and Toothless before Toothless launches your Winged Flying Machine to soar through the Isle.
The ride track will take you through the entire land and over water so you can get a fantastic view of Berk. All is well until you come across some Gronckle eggs hatching. The winged machine quickly makes its getaway by launching at full speed. As the coasters soar past the eggs, the score from ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ plays, and you get the sensation of what it’s like to fly on the back of a dragon.
The official synopsis for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders:
“From Hiccup’s workshop comes his latest contraption: a winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the air, swooping and soaring and encountering Hiccup and Toothless along the way. Get ready to board Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a fun coaster that invites Vikings to prove they’re brave enough to speed through the sky with dragons.”
Dragon Racer’s Rally takes riders in a circular motion up to 67 feet in the air before gliding back down in a circular motion. What makes this ride unique is that each rider has control over their own vehicle’s “wings”. Alternating them back and forth will allow your vehicle to spin 360 degrees, which means as the ride is gliding in a circular motion, you are also spinning and going upside down. The wings are heavier than expected and can take some getting used to to get your vehicle to spin. If you prefer a milder experience, hold the wings steady and your vehicle will not spin. This is a short ride and a fun way to experience flying like a Dragon.
The official synopsis for Dragon Racer’s Rally:
“The sport of dragon racing is a celebrated pastime on the Isle of Berk. At Dragon Racer’s Rally, Berk’s new Vikings can practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on a Viking-made dragonriding trainer. You’ll need these high-flying, gravity-defying, swooping and soaring skills if you hope to become a champion dragon racer.”
Fyre Drill is the perfect way to beat the heat. It’s an interactive boat battle, and in Viking fashion, teaching you how to douse flames or foes with water. This is an all-ages ride with no drops, twists, or turns. Each boat is equipped with water cannons. As the boat moves through large wooden targets, your goal is to hit the targets, but there’s no rule about also soaking the other boats and its riders with your water cannon. The ride is slow moving, so there is no way to avoid getting wet on this ride.
The official synopsis for Fyre Drill:
“With fire-breathing dragons everywhere, villagers have to be prepared. Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut have transformed Berk’s Fyre Skööl into a watery, interactive boat battle at sea. Board your ship in Fyre Drill and blast your water cannons at flame-like targets – and the occupants of every other boat – to out-soak other Vikings.”
Eat Like A Viking
There are several dining options in Isle of Berk including the Mead Hall, the Spit Fyre Grill, and Holligan’s Grog & Gruel. Each of the food locations offers quick service and a variety of dishes.
The Mead Hall is the tallest building in the land, and its entrance doors are over 16 feet tall. Here you’ll find larger platters of meats perfect for sharing, seafood, sandwiches, desserts, drinks, and of course, mead. There are also two vegan options available: the Nordic Harvest Salad and Valka’s Vegan Burger with an ancient grain patty. This is where you’ll find the adorable fish-shaped dessert made of chocolate mousse on a bed of cereal crumbles.
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel is where you can find the Instagramable Dragon Fire Chicken Spire mac-and-cheese cone. These huge bread cones are filled to the brim with creamy mac and cheese and toppings such as BBQ pulled pork or pulled chicken with hot honey. Spit Fyre Grill is where you’ll find various bowls featuring steak, chicken, salmon, and shrimp. There’s also a vegan bowl option with kale spring mix, bean salad, vegan feta, with a mango and mint vinaigrette.
Toothless and Hiccup Soar High In “The Untrainable Dragon” Live Show
Amongst the rides, food, and character meet and greets, there is also the live show called “The Untrainable Dragon, ” unlike any theme park stage show. First debuted in Universal Studios Beijing, the Vikings encountered a new troublesome dragon causing mayhem in the village. Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid must find a way to calm the dragon before it causes more destruction.
This show will feature large dragon puppets, singing, dancing, projection, smoke, and lighting effects. Best of all, Hiccup and Toothless will soar over the audience. It’s truly stunning to see Hiccup on the back of the massive Toothless animatronic, with a wingspan of 27 feet, breaking through the fog, high in the theater. The show runs about 20 minutes and is pure entertainment.
You can also meet Hiccup and Toothless, located near the theater for “The Untrainable Dragon”. This is probably the most sought after experience in Isle of Berk so if you want to meet Toothless, make sure to prioritize and plan because the line can get up to over 2 hours long.
The Isle of Berk immerse guests into the world of Dreamwork’s ‘How To Train Your Dragon’. Aside from all the attractions and entertainment, it’s fun to walk around to try to find all 30 animatronic dragons. There are interactive towers placed all around Berk that’ll play a sound or mist effect once you interact with it. You’ll undoubtedly run into Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Gobber, as they usually roam around the land. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for adorable baby dragons who will play a game of “Toothless Says”.
28118The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Explore the world of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Walking through the towering wand-topped portal, you are transported to 1920s Paris. This land has incredible design, from the cobblestone streets to the tall buildings of Place Cachée to the towering Phoenix arch.
This land is filled with interactive activities, hidden in shop windows. To unlock the magic, you will need an interactive wand, which is available at Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique. This is where you can find the new second-generation wands with a more powerful connectivity, and features light and sound haptics to give you a more unique spell casting experience.
Aside from interactive wand spells, there are also character interactions in magical Paris. You can find a live street band playing, alongside the magical creature Plume the Puffskein. The stylish wand designer Cosme Acajor roams near her storefront, and students from various wizarding schools add to the overall atmosphere.
Battle at the British Ministry of Magic
The main attraction in this land is the “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry” ride. For the first time, guests will be able to experience the Métro-Floo as they walk through the green tunnel. Stepping through the mist, you’ll find yourself at the atrium of the British Ministry of Magic.
The official synopsis for “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry” is:
“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™.”
This ride queue is the most impressive one at Epic Universe. As you come out of the Métro-Floo tunnels, it feels like you’re swallowed by the massive atrium of the British Ministry of Magic, with its tall ceiling and the multiple floors of office buildings that overlook the Fountain of Magical Brethren. The sight is truly breathtaking. Proceeding through the line queue, you’ll walk through the Magical Archives library, the Aurors’ locker room, and Dolores Umbridge’s office.
The wait for this attraction is likely to be very long, but it will give you time to take in all the details this line queue has to offer. As you walk through Umbridge’s office, you’ll find her house-elf Higgledy explaining a little about Umbridge’s trial.
Once you’ve reached the end of the line queue, you will board the magical omnidirectional lift as it makes its way to Umbridge’s trial. As she attempts to escape, the lift, along with Harry, Hermione, and Ron, gives chase throughout the Ministry. The ride has a combination of screens and practice sets, similar to “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” but on a grander scale. Even though this ride isn’t as thrilling as Monsters Unchained, what sets this ride apart is immersive storytelling and the detailed animatronics found throughout. For Harry Potter fans, this is a must.
Le Cirque Arcanus
Head straight from the Phoenix Arch, and you’ll find “Le Cirque Arcanus”, A live show featuring cirque acts and fantastic beasts in large puppetry form. The magic begins as soon as you enter the red show tent because the line queue and the theater inside are much bigger than they look outside, similar to the effect of the charmed tent used by Hermione and Ginny after the World Cup Final.
During the pre-show, you are introduced to Ringmaster Skender and his assistant, Gwenlyn. Wanting to save his failing circus, he has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase and wants to use the magical creatures inside to draw a crowd. When Gwenlyn accidentally lets out a Demiguise. This pre-show includes magical surprises like Newtscander’s suitcase traveling through the wall into Skender’s office, and how the Demiguise crawls out of the suitcase, just like we’ve seen Scamander do in the movies.
The main show takes place inside a 550-seat theater, featuring various circus acts. The rest of the show takes place inside Scamander’s suitcase. Yes, the entire stage transforms into the inside of the suitcase, and the transition was magical to watch. As Gwenlyn looks for the Demiguise, she encounters many other magical creatures, including a very large Zouwu and the adorable Mooncalf. With special effects and intricate set designs, guests will feel surrounded by the magic of the Wizarding World.
Magical Fare
There is plenty to taste while you’re in the Wizarding World. Quick service dining options include Cafe L’air De La Sirène, where you can find the delectable Butterbeer crepe, Le Gobelet Noir for drinks and hearty entrees, and Bar Moonshine for a refreshing beverage.
Cafe L’air De La Sirène and Le Gobelet Noir are where you can find the most seating and be tucked away in air conditioning from the heat. Le Gobelet Noir has several dining rooms themed to its moody name, while Cafe L’air De La Sirène has one large dining area.
The Butterbeer crepe served at Cafe L’ar De La Sirène features a warm crepe with a Butterbeer filling, topped with powdered sugar, fresh strawberries, Butterbeer whipped cream, a decorative shortbread cookie, and finished with a Butterbeer drizzle. Despite the description, this was not overly sweet. If you enjoy Butterbeer in its drink form, you’ll want to try this. Aside from the Butterbeer crepe, the cafe serves a variety of sweet and savory crepes, quiches, sandwiches, salads, and more.
Le Gobelet Noir features dishes inspired by French, German, and Hungarian cuisine. Items such as Jägerschnitzel and Coqu Au Vin can be found here. Themed to its dark decor, you’ll also find Le Breuage Sombre du Gobelet Noir, which is a dark brew drink with eyes of Plimpies. Don’t worry, they are actually just yogurt popping pearls.
10130430These worlds within Epic Universe are unbelievable. The attention to detail has elevated the theme park experience. Every inch of each land is immersive, the designs are breathtaking, and parkgoers will have a different experience every time.
Universal Epic Universe officially opened on May 22, 2025.
Movies that inspired Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe:
- ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘ (2010)
- ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2‘ (2014)
- ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them‘ (2016)
- ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald‘ (2018)
- ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World‘ (2019)
- ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore‘ (2022)
- ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘ (2025)
