Gringotts or Ollivander's first?

[Pesky]

We're not going to October but I'm obsessively planning. DD is a huge HP fan (as are DH and I -- DS is not yet into them). I know she'll want a wand and likely an interactive wand. Along with the rest of the world, we'd love her to be selected for the wand choosing ceremony. It helps that she dressed up like Hermione and was a dead ringer for her. We'll be staying on-site at PBH and our first day will be the Sunday before Columbus Day in October.

Given all those factors, would you just march straight towards Ollivander's or go first to Escape from Gringott's/Forbidden Journey (depending on which park has EE) during EE? Is there a better time for Ollivander's other than first thing? Thanks!

 

[damo]

For the smallest audiences, I'd do it first thing. You can do it a few times, if need be,

 

[macraven]

so you will be there oct 11th?

go early that day and if she doesn't get chosen during the wand show, go again!

parks will be very crowded that weekend due to columbus day/12th and many have the day off work.

i'm there on site also during that time period.
but my reason is for hhn......


dressing her up like hermione is a great idea.
anything to get the attention of the wizard that choses the person, is a right way to make her stand out in that group in the room.

wish you the best time and that she is chosen.

with the park being crowded that day, go for EE.
the lines will be shorter first thing in the morning as many wll be there for the potter rides first.

the hp main rides do not have express lines.

in past few years for that weekend, the studio side has had EE.
don't know this far out which park will be chosed for ee for your date.

use the HE to reach the other park before it opens at 9 to the public.
HE won't start until a minute of 9 but you will end up at the other park and ahead possibly of the crowd just entering the park.

 

[book_junkie]

Aside from that, she can have a blast with her enchanted wand on both sides whether or not she's chosen- she can get one without being specifically picked and while it may be a bit less "special" once she's making it rain or clocks move with magic the fun begins!

 

[ItsNotMuchofaTail]

We went to Ollivander's first thing during EE last week, Gringott's wasn't even open yet actually (I read it sometimes doesn't open early or even on time and this was the case during our 3 days stay last week, we went on it every day, but it opened late at least 2 of the days). We waited a few cycles to get in, but the interaction with the Hogwarts students there was fantastic.

My DD was picked, and it was a super magical experience. She was wearing a birthday pin (on the advice of the check in girl at the Universal Store), so that may have helped. I gave her the trip as a surprise for her 13th birthday and the way I did it was that I gave her a "gift certificate" for a wand from Ollivander's...and she had to figure it out. So we were 2 weeks late for her actual birthday, but it was awesome!

I think it helped that she was smiling so big she said her face hurt, and she kept saying, "I can't believe I am here!" over and over. The interactive wand was SO worth it, she was casting spells the whole time we were there. I also got her robes (which was a crazy purchase, lol) and I don't think she has ever had to much fun in her life as standing in the WW in robes, with a wand that casts spells.

 

[macraven]

What a beautiful story!
Your daughter will always remember that day

 

[bchbetha]

Ollivanders is pretty fast (assuming no line) so I'd probably do it first.

 

[Disxuni]

I would say if it is your priority for her to really be picked than I would head straight to Ollivanders as with a light audience, or perhaps almost no audience at all, she will be more likely to be picked.

Dressing the part does not necessarily earn you the guaranteed you'll be picked. I thought it was strictly children who would be picked, but I finally got to go to a Ollivanders show myself and it was actually teenager who was picked and in our audience we had a little boy who was dressed just like Harry Potter himself. My father actually made a joke about how serious the wand maker appeared as to draw attention to ourselves as he hoped it would get me picked (which wasn't my intention in going to the show but the gesture was nice). As others suggested, if anything do it more than once if you truly wish for her to be picked. However, her having an interactive wand will be just as magical and if anything might be even more magical. There are lot of places to use it!

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Ollivanders is awesome. The one at Diagon Alley has several rooms so that is the one Id go to (over Hogsmead). But the Gringotts line gets so long Id ride that first. Even with early entry the line was long! Actually when we arrived at 8 am it was backed up all the way to the Diagon Alley entrance....which is quite a long line, but dont be discouraged...it moved fast once they opened the line...I think we were just all in line before they actually started moving people through. Based on our experience (3 trips last year...Pres. Day 2015, Jan 8-12 2016 and Pres Day 2016) the Gringotts line was 1 hour long (or more ) from the time the park opened until it closed except for the first 30 minutes or early park admission....plan to arrive early!!! To get the most out of the early entry we were on the bus at 7 30 each day and in the park entry line asap...not at 8:05....We kept a pretty fast pace in the early part of the day to get a head start on things (to avoid long lines) and then took a much more relaxed pace the rest of the day

 

[BensDaddy]

We are going to be there a week later in October, also staying at Royal Pacific. Any good tactics for tackling Harry Potter? I really don't want to feel rushed and pushed through Diagon Alley by crowds and then feel as though we missed out on enjoying the detailed theming.

 

[Disxuni]

We are going to be there a week later in October, also staying at Royal Pacific. Any good tactics for tackling Harry Potter? I really don't want to feel rushed and pushed through Diagon Alley by crowds and then feel as though we missed out on enjoying the detailed theming.

If you're staying on property you'll be able to take advantage of the early entry. That's a big plus. So, if the park opens at 9am for example, you could get into the park by 8am. So, I recommend getting there a little before 8am. Just make sure to ask which park will be allowing early entry. You'll have an extra hour to get ahead of the competition. And even if you didn't, you'd still be able to enjoy the area, as the first hour of the official opening of the park (usually opens 9am) it's usually still relatively light, sometimes even longer depending on what season it is.