Diagon Alley interactive wand

[HairyChest]

We went as 2 adults and boughta wand. I LOVEIT!
Notonly was it funto do the little tricks but now that im home i grab it from time to time and it brings me wonderful memories!
Its the best souvenire i brought home alongside the gringotts badge from the ride that comes with a free high quality lanyard.

 

[wendyt_ca]

We missed these on our trip earlier this month but I think we will have to do it in the spring when we go! Someone at work said they were chosen for the wand experience and given the wand free. I'm wondering if they are exaggerating or didn't realize you have to pay for it :S they are also telling the story as they were pulled into a secret room and chosen out of thousands of people to go into the room to do something unique. I didn't have the heart to say anyone can take part lol

 

[puakinikini]

OK, thanks for the responses. I think we're sold.

Yes me too- thanks for asking the question!

 

[MistyD]

I see 2 wands coming home with us next month!! Cannot wait!

 

[bumbershoot]

I then took the opportunity to do some wandless magic by hand (pinching the original sensor between my fingers). The confused/surprised look on people's faces was priceless.

Maybe we should start a black market for just the sensors . Then you could make your own wand or magical device and place the sensor on it.

That's awesome.

Someone at work said they were chosen for the wand experience and given the wand free. I'm wondering if they are exaggerating or didn't realize you have to pay for it :S they are also telling the story as they were pulled into a secret room and chosen out of thousands of people to go into the room to do something unique. I didn't have the heart to say anyone can take part lol

Unless they got some extra special super amazing "mummy dust" (the Universal equivalent of pixie dust), he either left without paying for something he should have paid for, someone ELSE paid for it and he didn't know it, or he just didn't understand.

 

[EvilQueenLiz]

Can you tell us about the unmarked spots for magic?!

The Team Members there will be happy to point you to them. Most are in the store windows. Once you do a few marked ones you'll be able to identify what the sensor looks like and you'll know what to be on the lookout for! DS8 found one while we were standing in front of a window eating ice cream!

 

[Davey Jones II]

For someone on a really tight budget, is it possible to see the effects when someone else activates them? Or do you have to be standing on a specific spot in order to see them?

 

[pcstang]

For someone on a really tight budget, is it possible to see the effects when someone else activates them? Or do you have to be standing on a specific spot in order to see them?

You can see the effects when watching others activate them.

 

[janetkay272]

look for sensors... spoilers...

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i found one in a window right next to the window with the feather in it
and i found one in a window thats marked apothecary it has plants that swells up and even produces a smell its pretty cool!

 

[glocon]

Can anyone post a picture of one of these sensors?
Thanks.

 

[starwars272]

Can anyone post a picture of one of these sensors? Thanks.

They aren't impossible to see but universal attempts to hide them in the windows in the scene so depending on the window they can be a little difficult to see. Once you get there you won't miss them

 

[Melissa8905]

I am so excited about this. We are going in November and my DS11 really wants an interactive wand. Are the locations marked? Do they give you the spells to cast?

Yes! The locations are marked in the ground with a medallion. It has a directional that shows where to point your wand, the way you need wave your want and what spell to say. Also, when you buy your interactive wand, it comes with a map of where to find these medallions and how to do the spells. If you have any problems or questions, any of the people working there (the "wizards") are happy to help with tips. In Knockturn Alley, I was a assisted by a very large, dark wizard It was awesome! I can't tell people enough how worth it is is to buy an interactive wand for WWHP.

 

[Melissa8905]

For those that have purchased and used them, do you think they are worth it for adults? We are travelling without kids in May, and are curious as to whether it would be a silly purchase for a middle-aged couple not travelling with children.

I think if you're at Universal (or WDW), you're there to be a kid again, anyway! If you want to buy a wand, why not? I saw plenty of child-free adults there with their own interactive wands and having a great time casting spells!

 

[princessmurdough]

Does anyone know if ALL the wands being presented in theOllivanders show are interactive? That would really be a stinker if the kiddo got picked by a non-interactive wand, then saw the cooler versions after purchasing

 

[Melissa8905]

Does anyone know if ALL the wands being presented in theOllivanders show are interactive? That would really be a stinker if the kiddo got picked by a non-interactive wand, then saw the cooler versions after purchasing

No, not all of the wands are interactive. The interactive wands have a sensor (a glass, convex shape) at the "business end" of the wand. If you're not sure when you're there, ask a retail person at Olivander's for help.

 

[Disney*All-Stars*]

After spending $40 for the experience, I'm guessing it becomes another take home souvenir with no magic benefits? Has anyone resold it to the next vacationer?

 

[Pirate1+Princess4]

You'll know if it's interactive by the price and feel. Interactive are $45, lighter weight. Regular are $35 and have a "balanced" feel, are a bit heavier. Actually to us, they felt more "real".

My kids had money to spend and didn't want to blow it all on one wand, so those that bought wands went with regular. There were so many people casting spells that it was hard to get up there to do it, unless you are there during Early Entry. They enjoyed watching what others were doing.

All those spell casters made it hard for us wielding the magical box of light dispersion to record good images of the wonderful windows in the shops.

 

[Davey Jones II]

We just came back from Orlando. We spent three days at Universal. My original intention was to buy an interactive wand, but we quickly saw that people struggled, most of the time, to make the effects work. Since we were travelling on a budget, it was an easy decision to just watch other people do the tricks and save $45.

IMHO, Universal should make it much easier to do the tricks. Yes that would be a bit less authentic and less "immersive" I suppose. But standing in the sun trying to make something work for several minutes is not much fun.

Just a minor criticism. Overall, we thought DA was great.

 

[VLB]

My husband and I were there last month (business), and it was very quiet. We enjoyed watching the inter actives so much that we purchased two wands for our two daughters, with whom we will be returning in February. We were told it will be even quieter then. I'm not sure they would be so tempting if it were busy.

But there are only 6 interactive wands styled after character wands - Harry, Hermione, Dumbledore, Luna, and two others I can't remember. Oddly, I remember Ron's isn't available interactive. I think there are many interactive wands based on your birthdate.

BTW, we bought two wands, but never used them ourselves. I wanted to save some magic for when we come on vacation. It was hard to resist!

Vanessa

 

[lazer]

We just came back from Orlando. We spent three days at Universal. My original intention was to buy an interactive wand, but we quickly saw that people struggled, most of the time, to make the effects work. Since we were travelling on a budget, it was an easy decision to just watch other people do the tricks and save $45. IMHO, Universal should make it much easier to do the tricks. Yes that would be a bit less authentic and less "immersive" I suppose. But standing in the sun trying to make something work for several minutes is not much fun. Just a minor criticism. Overall, we thought DA was great.

Agree! There were often lines for "performing the magic" and almost always an employee standing by to help. I saw a lot of kids struggling. My sons, were beyond happy with non interactive ones and I liked the weight of them.

I just returned from the grocery store and realized the wands had been sticking out of my purse the entire time. They had to take them to family dinner tonight to show off and I didn't realize they had put them in their!