More Details Revealed About the Shops and Streets of Epic Universe

While we’ve had major updates about ticket options and opening dates for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Ministry of Magic, Universal Creative executive producer Scott Verble and associate producer Cara Pfost Brown recently shared plenty of smaller details about the park at Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe on the latest episode of the Discover Universal podcast.

First up is an interesting detail about French wand-maker Cosme Acajor and her shop Baguettes Magique, which will sell replica wands from across the Wizarding World. We all know that at Ollivander’s, the wand chooses the wizard. However, the wand-making shop in Paris instead focuses on the idea that “the wizard influences the wand.” This could affect the interactive experiences available at the shop and around the park as a whole, but there’s no word on exactly why Acajor’s differing stance on wand-making is important enough to share as yet.

 

An artist rendition of the interior of Epic Universe's Baguettes Magique.

The Baguettes Magique shop is one of many in Epic Universe. Source: Universal

 

Sticking with the French theme, there’s also been an announcement about some menu items available throughout Place Cachée. New drinks are expected at the bars and restaurants around the park. While Verble confirmed that old-time favorites like butterbeer will still be served, visitors can also find “cocktails that are more period to that time in France” and a range of non-alcoholic drinks with wizarding twists.

 

An artist rendition of one of the drinks carts that will be around the park.

Drinks carts will serve a range of new drinks around Place Cachée. Source: Universal.

 

Music will set the atmosphere around Place Cachée, and Verble and Pfost Brown shared some ideas about what this music will be. Upon entry, there will be a soundscape, putting fans firmly in the magical world of Paris, from period automobiles to the conversations of French wizards. The main park will feature classic jazz music to match the location alongside pieces from all 11 of the Wizarding World films.

Pfost Brown also gave more information about the construction itself. It was suspected that the buildings of Epic Universe would be among the biggest we’ve seen in a Wizarding World park before, but the official word is that the “shortest façades are 35-40 feet, going up to 65-70 feet.”  While there were no actual construction updates in this podcast episode, we now know that the rumors were true about the park’s sheer size.

Are these details making you want to visit the park more?

Neave Williamson

I've been a proud Slytherin for as long as I can remember, and love taking inspiration from the Wizarding World for short films.