New Harry Potter Attraction at Epic Universe Shrinks to 95,748 Square Feet — but Gains a Second Floor

Undetectable Extension Charms are all well and good, but Universal still has to file paperwork like the rest of us. And the latest paperwork on the next Harry Potter attraction at Epic Universe describes a building that has gotten noticeably smaller — and grown a whole extra floor.

Theme Park Wizard first flagged the revision this week, and Aguamenti has independently confirmed the figures in Orange County’s public permit records. Building permit B26901776, filed by Baker Barrios Architects on behalf of Universal Orlando, now lists a 95,748-square-foot, two-story structure at 1001 Epic Blvd. Earlier filings for the same project described roughly 150,000 square feet across a single story.

What the permit actually says

A few smaller tells sit in the file too. The building is described as a pre-engineered metal building — the standard skeleton for a theme park show building — and it requires mechanical, roof and fire sub-permits, but not electrical or plumbing, which get pulled on their own.

The reviews just cleared

The more interesting detail is the timing. Every one of the permit’s fifteen review lines now reads Approved. The last three — fire, architectural and lighting, and the commercial building review — were signed off on July 8, 2026. Zoning, utilities, stormwater, landscaping and transportation planning had all cleared earlier in the spring.

The file also carries a third-submittal fee, which is a quiet confirmation that the plans were redrawn more than once before they got here. That is the likeliest explanation for the shrinking footprint and the added floor: not a scaled-back project, but a redesigned one.

One item still stands between the permit and issuance — an impact fee assessment flagged with deficiencies. Four certificate-of-occupancy holds remain open as well, covering the metal building, truss engineering, the fire marshal, and an overhead door. Plan review fees on the project already total more than $73,000.

What we still don’t know

Take the fun part with the usual caveat: Universal has never said what goes inside this building. The permit classifies it under a generic county occupancy category, not as a ride. Nothing in the record mentions a broomstick, a coaster, or a dark ride.

Persistent rumors have pointed toward a flying or broomstick-themed attraction, and a second story does open the door to a multi-level ride path — but that is fan inference drawn from a floor count, not casting it as fact. The closest thing to an official word came from Epic Universe project director Anisha Vyas earlier this year, who allowed that there is always more magic coming to the Wizarding World before declining to say anything else.

For scale, 95,748 square feet is roughly the size of the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry show building. Whatever Universal is building back there, it is not small.

What do you think is going in that second story? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to follow along for more Harry Potter news.

Sources: Theme Park Wizard and Orange County Fast Track