Buying An Interactive Wand Question

[Rigby]

We're planning a visit soon and my friend is obsessed with getting a wand that works in the parks. Are those only bought at Olivanders? If you were planning an all Harry Potter day at Universal and wanted a wand would you start your day at Islands and head straight to Oli's before any rides? Looking for the best game plan and any and all advice is most welcome. Thanks!

 

[Andysol]

Both Diagon and Hogsmeade have an Olivanders- with the new one in Diagon offering much shorter waits. You can also buy them at carts with no wait at all. But do the show.

Some great touring plans are located here:
http://orlandoinformer.com/universal/touring-plans/


My first experience I followed in Harry's footsteps. Yes, you wait a longer in lines. No, you don't get to ride a ride immediately. But it's extremely enjoyable.

-Start at USF and go to London and meet the Conductor/Shrunken head at the Knight Bus
-Eat Breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron (Like Harry and Hagrid did before shopping at Diagon Alley)
-Visit Gringotts Money Exchange and trade in those muggle bucks
-Do your shopping for school supplies (Olivanders for wand- we bought our robes on Etsy and Owl for kiddos on Amazon)
-Visit Knockturn Alley
-Board Hogwarts Express
-Ride Harry Potter & Forbidden Journey (going to school) as well as Flight of Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge
-Have lunch at 3 broomsticks
-see frog choir and triwizard rally
-Grab some sweets
-Head bak on hogwarts express
-Ride Escape from Gringotts and face Voldemort
-Eat some celebratory Ice cream at Florean's while watching Tales of Beedle the Bard or Celestina Warback


Not the "smartest" touring strategy in terms of maximizing rides- but you could easily finish that by 3pm or so. And its unique and fun- and way more about the experience than "ride count".

 

[TheConsciousness]

Everyone of all ages seemed to carry their wands around the park all day, no matter the area, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to get it early if you want.
Though, you do get a beautiful wand box and bag to carry it that can be quite large for the free lockers. You may want to get the all-day-pay lockers at the front of the park to go store your wand box/bag.

The interactive wand areas can be packed full of people, so having your wand ready to be used just in case the area isn't packed is a good idea.

The wands can also be purchased from the CityWalk Universal Store, both stores right inside the main gates of both parks, and random stores throughout the HP world. You'll probably find the wand experiences and/or official wand stores to be more magical though.

 

[RAPstar]

Both Diagon and Hogsmeade have an Olivanders- with the new one in Diagon offering much shorter waits. You can also buy them at carts with no wait at all. But do the show.

Some great touring plans are located here:
http://orlandoinformer.com/universal/touring-plans/


My first experience I followed in Harry's footsteps. Yes, you wait a longer in lines. No, you don't get to ride a ride immediately. But it's extremely enjoyable.

-Start at USF and go to London and meet the Conductor/Shrunken head at the Knight Bus
-Eat Breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron (Like Harry and Hagrid did before shopping at Diagon Alley)
-Visit Gringotts Money Exchange and trade in those muggle bucks
-Do your shopping for school supplies (Olivanders for wand- we bought our robes on Etsy and Owl for kiddos on Amazon)
-Visit Knockturn Alley
-Board Hogwarts Express
-Ride Harry Potter & Forbidden Journey (going to school) as well as Flight of Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge
-Have lunch at 3 broomsticks
-see frog choir and triwizard rally
-Grab some sweets
-Head bak on hogwarts express
-Ride Escape from Gringotts and face Voldemort
-Eat some celebratory Ice cream at Florean's while watching tales of bardlebee or celestina warback


Not the "smartest" touring strategy in terms of maximizing rides- but you could easily finish that by 3pm or so. And its unique and fun- and way more about the experience than "ride count".

Sorry, just me being picky cause I'm weird like that, but it's the Tales of Beedle the Bard.

 

[bumbershoot]

I had read (and said) that the lockers don't fit the wands, but we had no problems fitting the wand (in its box, in a bigger backpack) into the lockers last week.

Lots of people had them out in hand walking around the parks.

If getting a wand AT Ollivander's is important, yes, do it first (at either park).

If having the bag is important (some of us are scrapbookers or packrats or somewhere in between), know that the bags for the wands are beautiful, but there is a difference in the writing on the bags from Ollivander's vs from the carts.

 

[Andysol]

If having the bag is important (some of us are scrapbookers or packrats or somewhere in between), know that the bags for the wands are beautiful, but there is a difference in the writing on the bags from Ollivander's vs from the carts.

You could also just go into Olivanders and ask for a bag. Additionally- if youre a packrat- when you buy your wand- ask for a replacement spell map. You'll get a normal "low grade" map to use and wrinkle up- and can keep the fancy one you get from your box nice and crisp.

Really, though- this is a no-brainer. You've travelled all the way to Diagon alley and hogsmeade- get an Ollivanders wand. I dont know if you know this, but every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance. They use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same.

Nobody wants a Gregorovitch wand... unless you're a Bulgarian, of course.

 

[Rigby]

Haha! You guys all rock. Thanks so much!!!

 

[jenhelgren]

Sorry, just me being picky cause I'm weird like that, but it's the Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Is this the name of the new wand shop in Diagon Alley? Is it the same experience as the Olivander's? Do the wand shop open for EE?
My DD is really interested in "the wand choosing her". Can this only be done in the two full shops and the carts are for purchase only? I have seen comments on a show also-is this separate. Sorry--its our 1st trip and I am full of ????'s!

 

[RAPstar]

Is this the name of the new wand shop in Diagon Alley? Is it the same experience as the Olivander's? Do the wand shop open for EE?
My DD is really interested in "the wand choosing her". Can this only be done in the two full shops and the carts are for purchase only? I have seen comments on a show also-is this separate. Sorry--its our 1st trip and I am full of ????'s!

No the show they have in Diagon Alley is called the Tales of Beedle the Bard, the PP had the name close but not quite right.

But on that note, the Ollivander "show" is exactly the same whether you go to DA or Hogsmeade. The choosing part is only done at either of the Ollivander's, but she has to be picked by the wand store employee during the "show". If you are staying on site and go during EE (if it is at the studios), there is a chance you will be able to have her picked. When I went during EE in 2014, my and my friend both went after Gringotts and we were the only ones in the wand room, so we both got to participate in the show at the same time.

The second wand shop in DA is Gregorovitch's and there is no show there.

 

[pcstang]

It's olivanders at both parks. Not sure if it's open for EE but I think so. Yes, only Olivanders has the wand chose her. I had to do the show 4 times before my son was chosen.

 

[jenhelgren]

No the show they have in Diagon Alley is called the Tales of Beedle the Bard, the PP had the name close but not quite right.

But on that note, the Ollivander "show" is exactly the same whether you go to DA or Hogsmeade. The choosing part is only done at either of the Ollivander's, but she has to be picked by the wand store employee during the "show". If you are staying on site and go during EE (if it is at the studios), there is a chance you will be able to have her picked. When I went during EE in 2014, my and my friend both went after Gringotts and we were the only ones in the wand room, so we both got to participate in the show at the same time.

The second wand shop in DA is Gregorovitch's and there is no show there.

Thank you! Is the show worth watching on its own or is it really just in hopes that you are the lucky one to get picked that show? How long is it?

 

[RAPstar]

Thank you! Is the show worth watching on its own or is it really just in hopes that you are the lucky one to get picked that show? How long is it?

It's ok to watch, but it's better if you're picked to have a wand choose you. I would say not more than like 10-15 minutes? Not very long at all. DA is a little better if you want to do it regardless because they have more than one room for it, and Hogsmeade only has one room.

 

[GaryDis]

For what it's worth, the interactive wands (and the standard ones) appear to be available by mail order from the Universal Store online. Not that I'm suggesting folks should skip the experience at Ollivander's, but it could speed up picking out your purchase by perusing the options online before heading there.

 

[crazy_for_the_dis]

We went to Olivanders in Diagon Alley early in the morning. We went during EE, but really by the time we made it to Olivanders the park may have been open. Regardless, we were in a short line outside, and the person allowing people into the lobby cut it off right when we got to the point you enter. So we waited, maybe three minutes. People in the park were a little confused what the line was for. So only a family of four and an older couple were in line with us when we entered. The family of 4 had two young girls (maybe 8 -12) but they both had wands in their hands already. So my daughter was chosen. She is 21, but looks young (15/16). Anyway, she had a blast, and of course we bought the wand!

 

[bumbershoot]

IF you go to the Ollivanders show, and IF you're chosen, the wand at the end of it (which is offered to you for sale) is not a character wand, but one based on birth month. If that's not something you are interested in (especially if your kid is interested in a character wand NOT that wand), honestly it's best to not hit Ollivanders or you might end up buying two wands (if your'e a sucker like my husband).

We went, DS wanted Potter's wand, he was chosen despite us telling him he wouldn't be for 6 months prior, and then he desperately wanted THAT wand. And 15 minutes later wanted Potter's wand. Which DH bought him. And then said the other wand was his. But it isn't. And now they have, like, 20 wands each. (exaggeration. DS has something like 4 and DH has something like 3) (but that's an obnoxious amount of our money IMO)

So be careful!

If I ever go ahead and buy Narcissa's wand (which I won't because DH immediately will say he must buy Lucius's, which comes in a cane and is over $100) I'll just go to a cart.

 

[RAPstar]

Question: Do the character wands come with the interactive element too? Ya know, in case I feel like buying Bellatrix's wand for someone who definitely isn't me? (Confession, it will be for me)

 

[Andysol]

Question: Do the character wands come with the interactive element too? Ya know, in case I feel like buying Bellatrix's wand for someone who definitely isn't me? (Confession, it will be for me)

Yup- if you buy an interactive wand- they all cast spells. Character wands included

 

[schumigirl]

Question: Do the character wands come with the interactive element too? Ya know, in case I feel like buying Bellatrix's wand for someone who definitely isn't me? (Confession, it will be for me)

Robbie........I thkught you had one already???

I could have sworn you said you bought one last year or year before.............so, who am I thinking of.........

 

[RAPstar]

Robbie........I thkught you had one already???

I could have sworn you said you bought one last year or year before.............so, who am I thinking of.........

Yes, but it's not Bellatrix's wand.

 

[jenhelgren]

IF you go to the Ollivanders show, and IF you're chosen, the wand at the end of it (which is offered to you for sale) is not a character wand, but one based on birth month. If that's not something you are interested in (especially if your kid is interested in a character wand NOT that wand), honestly it's best to not hit Ollivanders or you might end up buying two wands (if your'e a sucker like my husband).

We went, DS wanted Potter's wand, he was chosen despite us telling him he wouldn't be for 6 months prior, and then he desperately wanted THAT wand. And 15 minutes later wanted Potter's wand. Which DH bought him. And then said the other wand was his. But it isn't. And now they have, like, 20 wands each. (exaggeration. DS has something like 4 and DH has something like 3) (but that's an obnoxious amount of our money IMO)

So be careful!

If I ever go ahead and buy Narcissa's wand (which I won't because DH immediately will say he must buy Lucius's, which comes in a cane and is over $100) I'll just go to a cart.

THANK YOU! We would almost certainly be in the same position of purchasing multiple wands to collect dust when we get back home!

Are there photos of the birthday month wands anywhere on the boards? My kids have July and August birthdays-so she is chosen for the show my DD would participate but in the end get a "July" wand?