magical time at Ollivanders - but how???

[ellenmiele]

During our trip to WWoHP is April, my daughter was chosen at Ollivander's and it was one of the most magical vacation moments our family has ever had. But I just can't help but wonder how it happened that she was chosen. Now in our family of 6 (me, DH and the 4 kids) she is by far the BIGGEST HP fan. She is 14 and positively lives and breathers Potter-everything. So on our first morning in US, we let her plan the strategy of the day and she chose Olivanders to be our first stop. We waited in line about 20 minutes. (During which time she was beaming with quiet excitement - do they look for those fans who look like they might run to the mailbox everyday hoping their own Hogwart's acceptance letter will be there?) She was carrying her Hermoine bag and wearing her time-turner necklace. (Subtle signs of her HP devotion?) The CM at the door stopped us at the very front of the line to wait until the next group entered. (Do the CMs eavesdrop on the conversations of the Harry-Potter-obsessed?). When we entered, we were actually towards the back of the room because we entered first and there were quite a few younger/smaller kids who stood in front so they could see. But without hesitation, Ollivander walked into the group and right up to my daughter. I get choked up every time I think about it. Hands down the best moment of our trip and probably the best moment so far in her life (at least in the mind of a 14-year-old).
As we walked out of the wand room DH leaned over and whispered to me "did you do that?" (My long history of being our magical family vacation planner has resulted in him sometimes giving me a little too much credit for such things). But whenever I think of that day I do wonder....was it just luck? Or well-orchestrated magic?

 

[nytimez]

She was carrying her Hermoine bag and wearing her time-turner necklace.

this + luck is my guess... but the WWoHP experts here will tell you if there's more to it than that.

 

[damo]

I think the wandkeeper just scans the room and looks for someone he thinks will enjoy the experience. Pure luck.

 

[IdesOmarch]

Definitely magical I love that story. Universal knows how to do the theme park thing right!

 

[jpeppers]

My daughter was picked and in my opinion it was pure luck. It was the highlight of our week, I just loved seeing her eyes light up when the show started......well worth the price of admission. She will never forget it!

 

[JulieWent]

My DS (15) and his best friend (also 15) went on a trip with us during Spring Break. They are both tall kids, and were very patient, waiting their turn in line at Ollivander's and following instructions for the tallest to go to the back of the room. There were several moms of smaller kids pushing their children to the front and hinting loudly that these children would love to be chosen.

When it was time for the wandmaker to chose, he looked straight toward the back of the room and walked to my DS. It was such a kick and really made all of our days special. DS's friend went to the side up front and filmed the whole thing, and they talked and talked about it afterwards.

I think that the wandmaker DOES make a special effort to "make a little magic" for the older kids too. It was a nice thing.

Julie

 

[tarrbear]

My DS (15) and his best friend (also 15) went on a trip with us during Spring Break. They are both tall kids, and were very patient, waiting their turn in line at Ollivander's and following instructions for the tallest to go to the back of the room. There were several moms of smaller kids pushing their children to the front and hinting loudly that these children would love to be chosen.

When it was time for the wandmaker to chose, he looked straight toward the back of the room and walked to my DS. It was such a kick and really made all of our days special. DS's friend went to the side up front and filmed the whole thing, and they talked and talked about it afterwards.

I think that the wandmaker DOES make a special effort to "make a little magic" for the older kids too. It was a nice thing.

Julie

Mhmm, that is one thing I've noticed is that children aren't always chosen, which I think is really awesome that some of us "bigger kids" have a chance of getting a wand choose them.

 

[PoohJen]

What a great story and a great memory for your family, Ellen! Congrats!

 

[quadaunt]

How great for your DD, Ellen! My 13yo nephew was also chosen when we were there June 17 - 18. He was wearing a Griffyndor baseball cap and a "HP: Deathly Hallows, Part II" t-shirt but not sure that had anything to do with it. He did let out a "Wow" when he walked in after looking up and seeing the wand boxes stacked to the ceiling, and he does look a little like Daniel Radcliffe's HP (when he was eight he won a HP look-alike contest). Still not sure that had anything to do with it. I think sometimes Ollivander can sense who the big HP fans are, but not sure about that either. Must be a tough job for him knowing that while he is making one person happy , there are probably five times as many in each group that leave very disappointed.

 

[mysteriouspnai]

When we went a few days before the grand opening, my brother was picked (the day after his birthday!). Judging from your anecdote, I think it was based on who was the first person to walk through the door. The 4 times we went, the first person through the door was picked. My brother let people cut in front of us until we were in the prime spot to where we would be first in the room. So that's how he got picked. I hear this isn't always the case, but I hope it helps!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

It's pure luck. I was not the first person to enter, nor was I near the "encouraged picking spot" nor was I wearing anything HP related. The wandkeeper picked me and I had fun with the show.

I'm 30.

 

[bumbershoot]

(My long history of being our magical family vacation planner has resulted in him sometimes giving me a little too much credit for such things).

My son was picked, after months of my preparing him that he almost certainly would NOT get picked, and there went all of my credibility.

Mhmm, that is one thing I've noticed is that children aren't always chosen, which I think is really awesome that some of us "bigger kids" have a chance of getting a wand choose them.

I think it's great too. Even though I have a younger kid, LOL.



We weren't first in the room, DS was wearing nothing from Universal, he doesn't look like Harry. He *was* wearing an Old Navy Griffindor shirt, which is orangey yellow, layered over a red long-sleeved shirt (it was December and freezing most days), so he had the colors of the house. He has bright red hair, though not as bright as most of the Weasleys, so it's possible his Ron-ness could have gotten him picked to choose the wand. The people in front of us said, as soon as they saw him, that even though their teen daughter wanted to be chosen, that they KNEW he would be chosen (and she was happy for the though of that). Oh those Canadians, so kind!

He loved it, but was pretty quiet and nervous...he was so happy to have gotten the chance. But like the OP I still have no idea HOW he got chosen.

 

[cvjw]

The 4 kids with us (boys ages 15 - 8) were not chosen. They are all huge HP fans, and were the first people in the door. An adult was chosen, and they were all crushed.

 

[coastermom]

When we went last summer my son was choosen ... They all had thing 1,2 and 3 shirts on NO HP stuff at all ... we were not huge HP fans but he did LOVE the show and I did buy the wand for him ... A memory he will never forget though we had to explain more then once that the wand would not really do magic LOL .... We were not first in line either ! Just lucky I guess !!

 

[ifyourhappy]

My sister and I are both huge HP fans. But I'm hoping that she gets picked this next time around. She's had a tough year (fighting but beating cancer) so I know it would be a huge highlight for her. I'm going to tell her to get decked out in her HP gear Maybe that will help!

 

[luv2sew]

My DD and I are on our way next week...I have read Olivander's described as a store..I am confused as there is no description of a show for this, or am I missing something.

 

[Snow8882]

It's part show-part store. When you first go in there is a bit of a show in the "wand selecting the wizard" like in the first book/movie when Harry goes in to buy his wand and then after the show, you can go into the shop. You can go into the shop without seeing the show but the show is a little magical!

 

[Snow8882]

It's pure luck. I was not the first person to enter, nor was I near the "encouraged picking spot" nor was I wearing anything HP related. The wandkeeper picked me and I had fun with the show.

I'm 30.

Ahh this gives me hope! I'll be 30 when I visit, I intend going on my birthday and wearing a very large birthday badge! I won't need to put on a 'dazzled' expression, I'll be walking around the park dumbfounded, emotional but hyper! If anyone spots me, say hi lol! 8th August 2012

Snow xxx

 

[bumbershoot]

You can go into the shop without seeing the show but the show is a little magical!

If it's a busier time you will get to stand in line for THAT, too! Nowhere near as interesting as waiting in line for the show and going in that way. Trust me. (wasn't even a truly busy time, mid-December, but on our last day that line came out, ugh!)

 

[Hunter182]

That sounds absolutely magical.

Heck, I'm an 18 year old guy and didn't even need to be picked to go buy a wand. However I'm a die hard fan so it makes sense.

It is now proudly displayed on my shelf next to the books.