5-Hour Waits Ruin Harry Potter Ride Experience at Epic Universe!

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Visitors wanting to experience the latest Harry Potter ride at Epic Universe should be prepared for extended waiting times.

In the run-up to its grand debut, Epic Universe encounters a fresh challenge instead of resolving an old one. Following numerous criticisms over the faulty virtual queue system during technical trials for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, it seems Universal Orlando has temporarily abandoned the system. However, what appears to have replaced it might be even more problematic.

300 Minutes in Line — and That Was the “Advertised” Time

In a latest update on platform X, renowned aerial photographer and theme park explorer @bioreconstruct shared his account of an attempt to ride Battle at the Ministry on May 17.

Based on his post, the estimated wait time for the Epic Universe Harry Potter ride was 300 minutes, which is equivalent to a whopping five hours. However, Bioreconstruct measured his experience from entry to boarding as five hours and ten minutes. This included extended outdoor lines, themed indoor paths, and an unexpected detour that prolonged the wait even further.

What’s more, issues with team member instructions reportedly soured the experience for many.

At Universal ORL, after passing the Battle at Ministry sign, guests are asked to pick either the left lane or the right lane. However, a Team Member informs them that it doesn’t make a difference which one they choose.

The intended route leads to Exit (or ‘Express’). Meanwhile, the left lane is a congested queue extending beyond the sidewalk; expect an extra 40 minutes there.

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) May 17, 2025

After passing the Battle at Ministry sign, visitors are instructed to pick either the left lane or the right lane. However, a Cast Member notes that it doesn’t make a difference. The right lane will eventually become Express and lead directly to Floo. On the other hand, the left lane has a longer queue, including the outdoor section, which could take an extra 40 minutes.

The problem appears to be that the staff may not have been aware of the arrangement of the queues. One side was leading directly into what will soon become the Express queue, whereas the other side wound its way through the entire standby route. This confusion led guests to inadvertently take a much longer path due to ambiguous or misleading guidance.

Later, Bioreconstruct pointed out that the misunderstanding seems to have been clarified, and team members were subsequently educated on how to appropriately guide visitors. However, the harm had already occurred, and this post has further highlighted the operational challenges Epic Universe is experiencing as it grows.

From One Queue Problem to Another

As a movie lover, I’ve noticed that Universal subtly phased out the Virtual Line system for “Battle at the Ministry” following numerous complaints about glitches, exploitable loopholes, and unjust practices. One particularly viral post detailed a user’s experience of reserving a ride time from home, without even having a park ticket!

As a movie buff, I’ve found myself standing in an old-school queue for my favorite ride again instead of using the digital system. However, with Epic Universe yet to go live and the demand for the new Harry Potter attraction at an all-time high, the lines have turned into quite the challenge. Now, guests are waiting in overflow areas outside the themed environments, stretching across paths and even onto extended landscaping that wasn’t designed for multi-hour waits.

This situation now requires Universal to devise a strategy; one that ensures both effective crowd management and a positive guest experience, all while avoiding the pitfalls Disney encountered with their paid Lightning Lane system and exclusive boarding groups.

What Happens After May 22?

As the park’s grand opening nears, there’s uncertainty about whether Universal will reinstate Virtual Line for Battle at the Ministry, offer Express Passes right away, or stick with a conventional queue strategy in the long run. However, based on initial responses, it appears that the current system, regardless of its nature, is struggling to manage the anticipated crowd size for opening day.

Guests are finding difficulty reaching one of Epic Universe’s premier rides, either through the app or regular asphalt paths. If this issue persists, it might detract from what should be a highly acclaimed launch for Universal in recent years.

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2025-05-20 17:59