Theme parks are celebrated for delivering awe-inspiring experiences and heart-pounding thrills, but one of the industry’s long-standing challenges continues to center around inclusivity—specifically, who gets to enjoy the rides, and who doesn’t.
While height and safety restrictions are expected, guests with larger body sizes or certain physical conditions have often found themselves excluded from major attractions. Now, with the upcoming Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride set to debut in Universal’s Epic Universe park, that conversation is shifting in a promising new direction.
Breaking the Mold on Ride Restrictions
As theme parks continue to evolve, so does the push for more inclusive design. Rides need to keep guests safe, but increasingly, they also need to keep them feeling welcomed.
Disney has made changes in recent years, such as eliminating seat dividers on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and installing test seats for TRON Lightcycle / Run. But Universal Orlando Resort—home to some of the most intense thrill rides—has struggled with accessibility, especially for plus-sized guests.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has long been a standout for immersive storytelling—but also a point of contention due to its tight ride vehicles. From Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, riders often have to test their fit outside the attraction, with many being turned away after waiting in line.
Now, Universal is looking to turn the page.
Meet the Most Size-Friendly Harry Potter Ride Yet
With Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Universal is introducing a new flagship attraction with what many are calling the most inclusive ride design in Potter history. The attraction opens May 22, 2025, as part of the all-new Epic Universe theme park in Orlando.
Guests will still encounter a minimum height requirement of 40”, but the biggest development is the ride’s seat design.
The attraction features test seats near the entrance, which a team member described as “some of the most accommodating test seats.” Riders will secure themselves with a flexible lap belt—designed to fit a wide variety of body types.
Theme Park Express, a theme park news source, shared images and had this to say:
“Here is the test seat and actual ride vehicle for Battle at the Ministry! This is the most accommodating Potter ride to date! The seatbelt can stretch across the two seats for context! Fluffy folks rejoice!”
Here is the test seat and actual ride vehicle for Battle at the Ministry! This is the most accommodating Potter ride to date! The seatbelt can stretch across the two seats for context! Fluffy folks rejoice! 🙌🏽@UniversalORL #EpicUniverse #Hosted pic.twitter.com/B6JjJt96Ou
— Theme Park Express (@ThemeParkExpres) April 5, 2025
The attraction will also include a single rider line and a Rider Swap room, allowing families with non-riding members to wait together and rotate turns seamlessly.
Immersive Queue Sets the Stage
As expected from Universal’s Potter attractions, the queue is more than just a line—it’s an experience.
Set within the Ministry of Magic, guests pass through towering offices, moving portraits, talking statues, and Dolores Umbridge’s personal office. Inside, you’ll even meet Higgledy, a house-elf formerly tied to Umbridge, brought to life through a hyper-realistic animatronic that has already stunned early viewers.
Spoiler Alert: What Happens During the Ride?
The adventure begins with guests stepping into a magical elevator, en route to the courtroom where Umbridge is being tried for her crimes. You’re not alone—Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Higgledy are all en route as well.
Then things go off the rails. Umbridge, being transferred in a separate elevator, is broken out by a Death Eater. Suddenly, your elevator drops—and the action kicks off.
What follows is a whirlwind of spell duels, chaotic Ministry hallways, and incredible practical effects. Animatronic Death Eaters and wizarding heroes spring into battle, casting spells in real-time that reviewers say look incredibly lifelike.
One guest shared their surprise, noting:
“Quincy shared that she even thought a few times they were live actors!”
The adventure continues with a close call involving an Erumpent—an enormous rhino-like magical beast from Fantastic Beasts—that chases your elevator before a stunning animatronic appearance. From there, guests enter the Department of Mysteries’ Time Room.
Umbridge tries to manipulate time using broken time turners, creating a surreal sequence that lands riders in a void-like space where she reappears—only to be captured and brought to justice by none other than Kingsley Shacklebolt.
A Win for Ride Equity
As Epic Universe’s May 2025 opening nears, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is already turning heads—not just for its effects and storytelling, but for how it treats guests of all sizes.
While this is just one step, it’s a meaningful one. The ride proves that accessibility and excitement don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And for many guests who’ve felt excluded before, that might be the real magic Universal is delivering.
More updates on Epic Universe’s full line-up are coming soon, but this ride is already setting a powerful new precedent for the future of inclusive theme park design.
