Epic Universe Permits Reveal 95,748-Square-Foot Project Near Ministry of Magic
What Could the New Ride Be Coming?
New construction permits tied to Universal Epic Universe are sharpening the picture of what could be the next major addition to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Universal Orlando Resort. The latest paperwork describes a two-story building of roughly 95,748 square feet, giving the long-rumored Project 987 a much clearer physical footprint.
That is significant for one reason: Universal has not announced what Project 987 actually is. Rumors have long pointed toward a broomstick-themed attraction, but neither the new permit information nor Universal’s public statements confirm a broomstick ride, its ride system, storyline, manufacturer, or opening date.
New Epic Universe Permits Reveal a Major Indoor Project
Permit information shared by PermitWizard and previously tracked by Inside the Magic’s coverage of Epic Universe expansion permits describes the Project 987 structure as new construction with two stories and approximately 95,748 square feet of enclosed space. Earlier paperwork covered a broader 150,000-square-foot area for site utilities and foundation work connected with the Wizarding World expansion.
Orange County’s Fast Track system is the county’s official platform for researching building permits and their status. The important distinction is that square footage and building classification can establish the scale of construction without establishing what guests will eventually experience inside it.
The newer building dimensions nevertheless move the story forward. A nearly 96,000-square-foot, two-level enclosed building is consistent with the physical needs of a substantial indoor themed experience, rather than a small retail or food-and-beverage addition. Inside the Magic has previously reported on Project 987 and Epic Universe’s expansion wave.
Why a Broomstick Ride Keeps Entering the Conversation
The broomstick theory predates these latest permits. During Epic Universe’s development, a second Wizarding World attraction was discussed in industry reporting and fan circles as a possible broomstick experience, with early versions often associated with virtual reality. That concept did not open with the park in 2025.
The new paperwork does not revive that concept by name. It does, however, provide the kind of large enclosed footprint that makes a major ride more plausible. For Universal fans, that distinction matters: the permits strengthen the case for a sizable attraction, not the case for any one specific ride technology.
That leaves several possibilities on the table. A suspended or otherwise elevated ride system could fit the fantasy of broomstick flight; so could a simulator-heavy or hybrid dark ride. Those are interpretations, not permit-confirmed facts. Until plans reveal ride infrastructure or Universal makes an announcement, calling Project 987 a confirmed broomstick ride would go beyond the evidence.
Ministry of Magic Already Has Universal’s Flagship Potter Ride
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic opened with Epic Universe on May 22, 2025. Inside the Magic covered Epic Universe’s opening and its five immersive worlds. Its headline ride, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, sends guests through the Métro-Floo from 1920s wizarding Paris to the British Ministry of Magic in the 1990s.
Universal officially classifies Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry as a thrill and motion-simulation attraction. The company has described it as its most technologically advanced attraction, built around magical lifts, large physical environments and an adventure involving Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dolores Umbridge.
That existing attraction makes Project 987 especially interesting. A second large ride could give the land another major draw and, depending on its eventual design, a fundamentally different style of Potter experience. Inside the Magic has also tracked changes to Battle at the Ministry since Epic Universe opened, including alterations to physical elements.
Project 987 Fits a Broader Epic Universe Expansion Wave
Universal designed Epic Universe with room to evolve, and Project 987 is not the only permit trail attracting attention. Separate government documents tied to Project 680 have pointed toward another future attraction elsewhere at Epic Universe, including plans referencing a ride maintenance bay. Inside the Magic’s examination of those government documents details how that project differs from the Potter paperwork.
The Project 987 documents describe the building and construction scope, but they do not contain similarly decisive language identifying a ride maintenance facility. That is why the most defensible reading remains narrower: Universal is advancing a very large, enclosed Wizarding World project, while the exact guest experience remains unannounced.
Universal Creative project director Anisha Vyas also said around Epic Universe’s first anniversary that there was “more magic” coming, particularly from the Wizarding World. Inside the Magic previously covered those comments and the future of Harry Potter at Epic Universe. That comment supports the expectation of future development, but it still was not a formal attraction reveal.
What Guests Should Watch for Next
The next permits could be far more revealing than the building shell. Ride foundations, electrical requirements, equipment specifications, maintenance areas, manufacturer references or detailed floor plans could narrow the possibilities considerably.
For now, Project 987 gives Universal Orlando fans something concrete: a two-story, roughly 95,748-square-foot building associated with the Ministry of Magic expansion is moving through the permitting process. What guests cannot yet call concrete is the broomstick.
If Universal ultimately uses this space for a modern version of its long-rumored flying concept, it could give Epic Universe a second major Harry Potter E-ticket and a distinctly different sensation from Battle at the Ministry. But until Universal names the attraction or public documents expose its ride system, the broomstick remains an enticing theory—not a confirmed destination.
