Interactive Wand Advice Please

m1ckeymouse · Jul 26, 2015

Hi Everyone

We will be visiting Universal/IOA in a few weeks time and it will just be for a day to see the HP bits. Unfortunately as this was a last minute decision, we can't extend the trip, so a day it is.

Our son is 9yo and HP obsessed, he is really looking forward to buying and using the interactive wand, he has already chosen the one he wants and has also been watching YouTube videos. We are planning to get there way before park opening and once open wonder through the Universal side, then get the train to IOA and do as much as possible over there before getting the train back again and spending the rest of the day/eve at Universal. So where will be the best place to pick up the wand and start using the interactive bits? Do we get one as soon as we get to Universal and start there, or wait until we get to IOA?

Sorry this is so wordy, any interactive wand advice greatly appreciated

Many Thanks
Suzanne

damo · Jul 26, 2015

Go to Ollivanders at Univeral as soon as you get there. Do the experience (maybe he'll get chosen) and then purchase your wand. Since your son is HP crazy, you should start the journey where Harry started the journey.....in Diagon Alley.

Robo56 · Jul 26, 2015

You can purchase the interactive wands at the Universal store on city walk if you want. All the wands have a map showing you were all the interactive spots for your magic are in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. There is also a medallion marking the spots in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley in front of the areas where you do the magic tricks. I agree with damo it would be great to do Ollivanders show with the possibility of being chosen. There are more interactive wand selections at Ollivanders, but if time is of the essence and he finds the wand he wants at City Walk he will have it before he hits the parks and can start his magic right away. pixiedust:

heywagners · Jul 26, 2015

Glad you asked this question - my son has been researching this, as well. Can someone explain more about what kind of "magic" these wands do?

disneydaydreamer33 · Jul 26, 2015

Is doing Ollivanders first the best use of low crowds time though? I will be at Universal a couple of days before my family, so I thought about buying their interactive wands before they join me. However, if buying them at Ollivanders makes for a much more magical experience (maybe it gets you more excited about the interactive wands, than perhaps I would want them to buy them there).

Robo56 · Jul 26, 2015

If you want to be authentic then I would let them choose their own wand after the Ollivanders show. Remember in the movie the wand chooses the wizard. Even if they don't get picked as part of the show they will have fun looking for their own wand. Lines can form for the show at times.

You can go to the Universal site and see a demonstration of how the wand magic works in those areas with the actors that played the Weasley twins and their sister Ginny.

Go to Universal Orlando site. Go to bottom of page click on Wizarding World of Harry Potter then GO. Click on Diagon Alley. Go to bottom of page and there is a area for you to click on for a demonstration of the interactive wands. It will take you to the next page to see the actors using the wands.

We were there for the preview of Hogsmeade before it opened to the general public a few years ago. We have gone to Ollivanders for the show every year since then. We were in Olllivanders in Diagon Alley in May and my grandson was picked for the show. He was over the moon. They choose people randomly. When his wand was chosen for him during the show we purchased it after the presentation.

katybugsmom · Jul 26, 2015

My niece was chosen twice for the wand experience! You have a better chance of being chosen if you are wearing something with Harry Potter on it! I would go ahead and go to Ollivander's right after you do Escape from Gringott's in Diagon Alley! It won't be as crowded first thing in the morning if your son wants to start practicing his spells too!

jtowntoflorida · Jul 26, 2015

We liked the spells in Diagon Alley more than the ones in Hogsmeade. We went to Universal Studios the evening of our arrival and were able to walk right in to Ollivanders and were in the room with just about 10 other people. There were only 3 children in the room--and two of them were ours--and our son was chosen for the ceremony. To me, it seems to be more about how excited/into Harry Potter the kids are. Our son was BLOWN AWAY by everything and is very excitable (he's only 5) and literally could not contain his excitement as we walked down the hall to the room where the choosing occurs. So don't have your son fake it, but being very enthusiastic certainly won't hurt anything.

ammag · Jul 26, 2015

Y are doing just what we are, my daughter is 8. We have the same plan too! Let us know how it worked out for you? I haven't been yet but someone here told me the olivanders in Diagon alley is bigger and a better or faster experience.

My plan was to ride gringotts then do the wand.....I wonder which way is more time effective?

Glad to hear that Hp clothes might help kids get chosen, my daughter plans to wear her complete hermione costume!

dixonsontour · Jul 27, 2015

My daughter was almost 9 last trip and loved the interactive wand.

Basically they get a map with the locations on when they buy the wand. There are also metal signs on the floor showing the locations. At each location they do the spell - move the wand in a certain way as shown and something happens - it rains, something in a shop window moves, lights come on etc. There are spells in both diagon alley and hogsmead. Some are a bit temperamental - there were cm's nearby to ask. There are also a few hidden ones not on the map - get him to ask a cm if he can't find them.

Link to my trip report which has lots of pics of my DD doing spells in her robe.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/sh...october-2014-universal-food-complete.3418576/

dixonsontour · Jul 27, 2015

dixonsontour · Jul 27, 2015

dixonsontour · Jul 27, 2015

damo · Jul 27, 2015

Dixontour, your daughter is adorable! We had our 5 year old niece with us and she was totally enthralled by the whole wand experience. We did Ollivanders and she wasn't chosen but her 88 year old Great Grandma in a wheelchair was! Of course, Great Nanny asked if Alexa wanted the wand that chose her and of course she said yes. She had a blast with that wand.

bumbershoot · Jul 27, 2015

disneydaydreamer33 said:
Is doing Ollivanders first the best use of low crowds time though? I will be at Universal a couple of days before my family, so I thought about buying their interactive wands before they join me. However, if buying them at Ollivanders makes for a much more magical experience (maybe it gets you more excited about the interactive wands, than perhaps I would want them to buy them there).

If you're going to experience the Ollivander's attraction, doing it at the very start of the day is going to give you the shortest line. And then you go through to the shop and get a wand and you're good to go.

If chosen by the TM to do the show, k is that you're not given the wand, you don't have to buy that wand (or any), and that the show wands are based on birthday. They aren't the character wands.

So if you know that the child will want Harry's or Ron's or Luna's etc, make sure everyone knows that you won't be buying the one from being chosen (if chosen). Of course if you have excitable people in your party (looking at my son AND husband) you'll end up with the birthdate wand AND Harry's. Then Ron's the next visit and Sirius's for DH. Then DS will finally finish the series and realize why he might want Snape's and that'll be next on the list. Etc.

Be prepared.

For adults, Lucius's wand comes with a cane. (And is over $100) But sure looks cool.

dixonsontour · Jul 27, 2015

Yes we have 2 interactive wands! DD wasn't chosen so got the Hermione wand she wanted then we did ollivanders another day as there was no line. We were chatting to the cm at the door and DD was all dressed up and guess what she was chosen. DH said ok to buying the second wand. I think dressing up does help with being chosen. DD was thrilled to be chosen.

Stacy's a freak · Jul 27, 2015

We were in a very small group in the wand show at Diagon Alley and a 8 or 9 year old girl with a Potter quidditch shirt was picked. So the potter merch on the bod seems to be a good strategy for being picked.

dixonsontour · Jul 27, 2015

damo said:
Dixontour, your daughter is adorable! We had our 5 year old niece with us and she was totally enthralled by the whole wand experience. We did Ollivanders and she wasn't chosen but her 88 year old Great Grandma in a wheelchair was! Of course, Great Nanny asked if Alexa wanted the wand that chose her and of course she said yes. She had a blast with that wand.

great story

m1ckeymouse · Jul 28, 2015

Thank you all for your replies, my son has just been reading them all and has already asked that if he gets picked can he buy the wand that chose him and the one he wants! lol I knew that was coming!

Any more interactive wand stories and pics would be fab, thanks so much :goodvibes

Suzanne

Dee2013 · Jul 28, 2015

Between my son and I (he's 21) we have 6 wands, although none interactive. I can't even blame him!

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