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 wandmaker Cosme Acajor and her shop, Baguettes Magique, which will sell replica wands from across the Wizarding World. We all know that at Ollivanders, the wand chooses the wizard. However, the wandmaking 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 wandmaking is important enough to share as of yet.
Sticking with the French theme, some menu items are also being announced 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.
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 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, and we now know that the rumors are true. The official word is that the shortest façades in the Ministry of Magic land are 35–40 feet, the same height as those already in Diagon Alley, while the tallest new façades go up to 65–70 feet.
Are these details making you want to visit the park more?