Two new contenders vying to become the best dark ride in the world sit 1,000 feet apart from each other at Universal Epic Universe with the winner set to be determined by millions of eager fans after the new Florida theme park's official debut this month.

The $7 billion Epic Universe that officially opened to the public on May 22 is home to two of the best dark rides in the world: Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.

It’s the kind of problem any theme park in the world would like to have.

Universal and Disney have been at war over the past few decades with the rivals constantly trying to upstage each other with the best new ride in the world.

Epic Universe gives Universal two chances to reclaim the dark ride crown from Disney — and maybe even push Mickey Mouse into a distant third place behind the two Epic Universe upstarts.

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

Universal Epic Universe

There is really only one word that can describe the new Ministry of Magic dark ride at Universal Epic Universe: wow.

Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry sends you on a ride aboard a magic lift through the subway-like elevator tunnels running throughout the Ministry of Magic.

Universal Creative has done a masterful job of combining a motion-based platform ride vehicle with plenty of practical sets, animatronics and massive video screens.

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment

Universal Epic Universe

The Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment dark ride in the Dark Universe themed land at Epic Universe might be even better than the new Potter attraction.

The Kuka arm ride vehicles aim riders like a sentient movie camera at the most important parts of every scene inside the grim, forbidding and shadowy Frankenstein Manor.

The animatronics in the preshow and dark ride are so life-like that you’ll wonder if they are actors.

Which ride is better: Battle at the Ministry or Monsters Unchained?

Is either the best dark ride in the world?

The answers depend in part on the competition which include an amazing collection of attractions from both Disney and Universal.

Take a look at the rivals and decide for yourself if the new Epic Universe rides are worthy of the crown.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The reigning dark ride crown almost certainly belongs to Rise of the Resistance.

The ambitious, first-of-its-kind attraction clocks in at an astonishing 18 minutes long and combines four separate ride systems with state-of-the-art audio-animatronics and visual effects.

Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

Universal Studios Florida

Any new Harry Potter dark ride will be compared to the two that came before it.

It’s been more than a decade since the Escape from Gringotts opened in the Diagon Alley themed land at Universal Studios Florida.

The dark ride/roller coaster combo takes riders inside the Gringotts Wizarding Bank in search of a horcrux on a mission to defeat Lord Voldemort.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

Universal Studios Hollywood, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Japan

The original Harry Potter dark ride still remains among the top theme park attractions in the world.

The Forbidden Journey motion-based dark ride utilizes Kuka robotic arms to add twists, turns and thrills to the attraction.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure

Shanghai Disneyland

The Shanghai Disneyland version of the classic boat ride is by far the best of the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions.

Battle for the Sunken Treasure uses an innovative ride system that controls the position, speed and direction of the boats.

Mystic Manor

Hong Kong Disneyland

Mystic Manor is easily the most technically advanced version of Disney’s classic Haunted Mansion dark rides.

The Hong Kong Disneyland attraction trades the doombuggies and omnimover track found in other Haunted Mansion attractions for Mystic Magneto free traveling automated ride vehicles.

Radiator Springs Racers

Disney California Adventure

Radiator Springs Racers takes the Test Track ride system and adds a Cars backstory with a compelling reason for a head-to-head race.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom is working on two new Cars attractions that could challenge Radiator Springs Racers for the Piston Cup.

Transformers: The Ride 3D

Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Singapore, Universal Studios Beijing

Universal’s Transformers dark rides upped the ante when the attractions first debuted in 2011.

The combination of motion platform-mounted vehicles and 3D images projected onto 60-foot-tall screens set the standard for dark rides in the 2010s.

Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

Islands of Adventure

The Spider-Man attraction reigned for a decade as the best dark ride in the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards following its debut at Islands of Adventure in 1999.

The Universal Studios Japan version of the ride closed in 2024 after 20 years in service.

Indiana Jones Adventure

Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea

Indiana Jones Adventure still ranks as one of the best dark rides in the world after 30 years at Disneyland.

The Dinosaur attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that uses the same ride system is getting an Indy makeover with a new storyline involving a search for a mythical creature in a Mayan temple.