HP Wand

[lovebug33]

I bought a Harry and Hermione wand from, I think, costume express online. They were about 5$ a piece. They are safely packed away and they won't see them until we get to Orlando. They too seem to be made of a sort of flexible plastic/resin. They do not come packaged in a box. They come in a typical cardboard sheet with clear plastic cover (the type that could hang on a display rack). They look like a good replica to me. Perfect for an 8 and 11 year old.

I have done this for years. I will purchase some of the kids souvenirs in advance for MUCH lower prices, hide them from the kids, and then pull them out throughout the trip. They still get some spending money to pick out what they want, but this has dramatically cut down on what we spend. I do the same with T-shirts. My son has Spongebob and Harry Potter shirts ready to go.

Okay, I'm all good with that with t-shirts, but I think choosing the wand and then talking to the wizards about the wand was one of the highlights of my trip (I would go to the kiosk outside FJ, because it wasn't busy and they explained to me how to "use" my wand!). You might want to give your kids that experience because just having bought one online really wouldn't have been the same.

 

[Bluer101]

I bought a Harry and Hermione wand from, I think, costume express online. They were about 5$ a piece. They are safely packed away and they won't see them until we get to Orlando. They too seem to be made of a sort of flexible plastic/resin. They do not come packaged in a box. They come in a typical cardboard sheet with clear plastic cover (the type that could hang on a display rack). They look like a good replica to me. Perfect for an 8 and 11 year old.

I have done this for years. I will purchase some of the kids souvenirs in advance for MUCH lower prices, hide them from the kids, and then pull them out throughout the trip. They still get some spending money to pick out what they want, but this has dramatically cut down on what we spend. I do the same with T-shirts. My son has Spongebob and Harry Potter shirts ready to go.

Thank you for the website, looks great.

 

[LSUBabe]

Thank you for the website, looks great.

You are very welcome. I am pretty sure they have the robes on there too!

 

[dtum]

I bought a Harry and Hermione wand from, I think, costume express online. They were about 5$ a piece. They are safely packed away and they won't see them until we get to Orlando. They too seem to be made of a sort of flexible plastic/resin. They do not come packaged in a box. They come in a typical cardboard sheet with clear plastic cover (the type that could hang on a display rack). They look like a good replica to me. Perfect for an 8 and 11 year old.

I have done this for years. I will purchase some of the kids souvenirs in advance for MUCH lower prices, hide them from the kids, and then pull them out throughout the trip. They still get some spending money to pick out what they want, but this has dramatically cut down on what we spend. I do the same with T-shirts. My son has Spongebob and Harry Potter shirts ready to go.

I like that site! Wanted a wand he could really play with and not have the fear of it breaking the first time it hit the floor.

 

[maggiew]

I bought a Harry and Hermione wand from, I think, costume express online. They were about 5$ a piece. They are safely packed away and they won't see them until we get to Orlando. They too seem to be made of a sort of flexible plastic/resin. They do not come packaged in a box. They come in a typical cardboard sheet with clear plastic cover (the type that could hang on a display rack). They look like a good replica to me. Perfect for an 8 and 11 year old.

I have done this for years. I will purchase some of the kids souvenirs in advance for MUCH lower prices, hide them from the kids, and then pull them out throughout the trip. They still get some spending money to pick out what they want, but this has dramatically cut down on what we spend. I do the same with T-shirts. My son has Spongebob and Harry Potter shirts ready to go.

I've seen the robes at the costume sites as well that were about $25. You can maybe get a robe and wand at the costume site for the approximate cost of just a wand at Universal. Some kids would be fine with that, others might want to get the "real" wand at the theme park. OP, you know your son best, but it sounds like he might enjoy the cheaper, complete ensemble rather than just the authentic park wand.

Maggie

 

[dtum]

I've seen the robes at the costume sites as well that were about $25. You can maybe get a robe and wand at the costume site for the approximate cost of just a wand at Universal. Some kids would be fine with that, others might want to get the "real" wand at the theme park. OP, you know your son best, but it sounds like he might enjoy the cheaper, complete ensemble rather than just the authentic park wand.

Maggie

Unfortunatly, DD said my GS will want the "real" one because "the wand chooses the person." Oh well, as long as he doesn't drop it.

 

[maggiew]

Unfortunatly, DD said my SIN will want the "real" one because "the wand chooses the person." Oh well, as long as he doesn't drop it.

It is my understanding that "the wand chooses the person" only if you get chosen to participate in the little show at Ollivanders. Other than that you pick out the one you want.

Although, if you go to the wand cart outside of FJ, maybe that TM spends more time with you and helps "the wand choose you".

I haven't been there yet, so I am not sure.

Maggie

 

[HayGan]

My DS#1's b-day is on Monday and I ordered him a deluxe robe set off of Amazon as well as a pair of Harry's glasses, wand and Gryffindor tie all for what one of those wands would have cost me!

We also got a wand at Kmart of all places. It came with a Harry Potter Lego t-shirt. It is actually pretty cool as it lights up on the end and makes a sound. The shirt and wand together were $9!

 

[maggiew]

I'd really like to order robes for all of us, but we are going for the 4th of July so I think it will be too hot for robes!! I bought house t-shirts for the 4 of us, so that will have to do. The girls want wands, so I will let them get that. I have my eye on Snapes wand. But maybe another will strike my fancy when I see them in person.

maggie

 

[jsilvers]

Birch December 24 to January 20
Rowan January 21 to February 17
Ash February 18 to March 17
Alder March 18 to April 14
Willow April 15 to May 12
Hawthorn May 13 to June 9
Oak June 10 to July 7
Holly July 8 to August 4
Hazel August 5 to September 1
Vine September 2 to September 29
Ivy September 30 to October 27
Reed October 28 to November 24
Elder November 25 to December 22

And if you were born on December 23?...

 

[Sleepyhollowstudios]

And if you were born on December 23?...

-Andy

 

[damo]

And if you were born on December 23?...

I guess you aren't allowed to practice magic. lol

Dec. 23 is elder...I guess whoever printed that out forgot it.

 

[lovebug33]

It is my understanding that "the wand chooses the person" only if you get chosen to participate in the little show at Ollivanders. Other than that you pick out the one you want.

Although, if you go to the wand cart outside of FJ, maybe that TM spends more time with you and helps "the wand choose you".

I haven't been there yet, so I am not sure.

Maggie

The people at the wand cart spent a LONG time with me. I was touching them all and handling them. I even dropped one on the concrete and it didn't break! I got Sirius Black's because I LOVE him. They explained the whole wand and how to hold it and what the markings meant. In the shops, they weren't giving that kind of time. It was an awesome experience and I didn't have to stand outside Ollivander's for an hour!

 

[PiratesGirl]

One of the team members said the wands were steel reinforced inside..... If you want a wand that is not a character wand (Celtic) then you have to get those at Ollivander's. Also, instead of opening all the boxes to see the wands you can look behind the counter on the wall where they are displayed. Ollivander's does get quite crowded since it is so small. Other places to get the wands is the cart stand by Flight of the Hippogriff and the Trading Post on the way out of the park. If you buy one early in the day and don't want to carry it around you can have it sent to the Trading Post and pick it up on the way out. Also, if you are a AAA member you get a 10% discount at all the stores and restaurants.

 

[dtum]

Does the AAA discount extend to 3 Broomsticks or does it only work for table service restaurants?

 

[PiratesGirl]

Yes, we used it everywhere in IOA (even the ice cream stand).

 

[dtum]

Yes, we used it everywhere in IOA (even the ice cream stand).

That's great news. Every little bit counts

 

[horseshowmom]

The wands are $29.95. If you mean financially only -- no, it's not worth it. It's only a bit of plastic. However to a real Harry Potter fan, I would say yes it is! DH and I each bought one last year (and we were 24.) I don't regret it. It's such a cool thing to have.

My daughter got one when we were there Christmas, and she's 23. She also got one of the Gryffindor striped scarves, but she got one without the logo on it so she would feel comfortable wearing it at home with other things (sort of Harry Potter in disguise, I guess ).

It is my understanding that "the wand chooses the person" only if you get chosen to participate in the little show at Ollivanders. Other than that you pick out the one you want.

Although, if you go to the wand cart outside of FJ, maybe that TM spends more time with you and helps "the wand choose you".

I haven't been there yet, so I am not sure.

Maggie

Absolutely correct. DD wasn't the person selected. She just chose the one she wanted in the shop.