ByBlake Taylor
Epic Universe construction progresses on a “Harry Potter” restaurant for evil wizards, plus Toad has arrived in Super Nintendo World!
Aerial photographer bioreconstruct took a flight above the Epic Universe construction site on Aug. 23, 2024. From the air, he captured photos of in-progress show elements within each of the park’s five worlds: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk.
(New to Epic Universe? Check out our primer for beginners.)
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
As Epic Universe construction workers remove scaffolding throughout The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, bioreconstruct captured a first look at an area devoted to evil wizards.
Indicated in the photo below by the visible word “Gobelet” and a skeleton hand, Le Gobelet Noir will be a quick-service restaurant where, according to Universal, “international Dark witches and wizards gather to escape the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry and have a hearty meal over hushed conversation.”
Nearby, walls are covered in a ground-to-roof French calendar of some sort, tying in with the underlying narrative of time-travel present throughout this iteration of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (The exterior areas and an indoor live show will take place in the 1920s era of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” while an indoor ride, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, will take place in the 1990s period immediately following “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” complete with Professor Umbridge as the antagonist.)
It seems the evil wizards frequenting this alleyway don’t pay much mind to keeping the place clean; incredibly, though, all the dirt and rot is no afterthought, but rather quite intentional by the Universal artists.
Epic Universe construction teams erected a statue at the dead end of a different alleyway, above which reads: “Peracta Magica MDCCXC”
The Roman numerals indicate the year 1790. Translated from Romanian, the accompanying words mean “Perform magic.”
As another possibility, literally translated from Latin the words mean “Completed the magic,” but we might assume that’s another way of saying “Mischief managed!”
Throughout Place Cachée, teams have removed more scaffolding to reveal the (assumedly) completed theming of the various storefronts —some of which are actual places of businesses that guests can enter, others of which are façades.
Super Nintendo World construction
Over in Super Nintendo World, I spy with my little eye …
… Toad! He’s part of the colorful scenery along the ride path of Yoshi’s Adventure, a slow-moving, elevated journey above Super Mario Land.
Nearby, Bowser’s recognizable figure is taking shape. This will be the entrance to Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, an indoor dark ride.
Next door at Donkey Kong Country, Epic Universe construction workers have begun adding landscaping surrounding Mine-Cart Madness, the “track-jumping” roller coaster. It’s looking more and more like DK’s lush jungle with each construction update!
Dark Universe construction
In Dark Universe, the world inspired by Universal Classic Monsters, Epic Universe construction teams continue furnishing the brand-new theme park area to look like it’s existed for a century. The village in which the Dark Universe story takes place, Darkmoor, is set in present day, but has been around for over 100 years.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Across Epic Universe at the construction site for How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, artisans add thematic touches to transform the construction site into the lively village of Vikings from the DreamWorks films.
Progress continues for the Viking Training Camp play area.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is the area’s outdoor roller coaster. One scene during the ride will take place under a shelter, with appearances by life-size Hiccup and Toothless figures (which bioreconstruct spotted in a previous update). Now, workers have added a wing prop alongside the track. Within the story of Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, riders are trying out Hiccup’s latest flying contraption to learn how to, well, train their dragon.
Celestial Park at Epic Universe construction
In Celestial Park, the central hub of Epic Universe, work continues on the Luna Overlook statue. Workers have recently added something … can you see it?
Bunny!
Also in Celestial Park, patterns are now on the ground at the future splashpad and many thematic elements are in place at The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant.
The angle of the construction photo below shows just how integrated into Epic Unvierse that Universal Helios Grand Hotel will be. The hotel will have its own back entrance into Epic Universe exclusively for overnight guests.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Ministry of Magic details
Epic Universe Preview Center
Construction updates
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