Someone else asked about the wands and this is what I told them.
The wands are a lot of fun to play no matter girl or boy, young or old. I've seen every type of person there is playing with them. Basically, you buy an interactive wand in the parks ($50). Then you go around the two HP lands and perform spells in specific spots that make different things actually happen. It is not a virtual game; real 3D objects move. Think the Kim Possible or Pirate scavenger hunts at Disney. Each location is marked with a different wand motion that must be performed correctly for the spell to work. There are also a few hidden unmarked places you can perform magic as well. Honestly, there are so many people wanting to play that spell locations can get really backed up with lines forming. I recommend if you want to play, do it during early entry one morning. You can usually go all around during this time without other people giving the spells outcome away to you and have each spot to yourself. Some spots change every time you perform the spell, so being able to perform the spell over and over can be a great benefit if you want to see all the different versions. If there is line, you will have to take your turn and then move on. One benefit however to everyone playing is that there is always someone with a wand performing a spell, so you can save your money and just watch others if you want to. The spell locations are marked on both the ground and a map you get with your wand. There are around 20 marked locations between both lands.
Spell example: (This is not a real spell spot, just an example, so I don't give any real ones away)
First, a player needs to find a location. They look for a spell marker on the ground near where the map lists a spot. This will be a small bronze colored seal that kind of looks like a cross between a sewer cover a fancy compass. For this example, the player finds one on the ground in front of the window outside the 3Broomsticks. (This is the window where you can see dishes being washed.) The marker has what looks like a triangle shape engraved on it. An arrow forms the triangle with a dot on one end and an arrowhead on the other. The player stands on the spot or right behind the spot facing the window (basically facing the RFID camera, wherever that is hidden, usually a window). They then use the wand to draw out the triangle shape in the air, starting with the dot and ending with the arrow which denotes which direction to move the wand. If the wand movement is completed correctly, then something will happen. In this case, let's say all the dirty dishes start flying around the room and washing themselves, or maybe real soap bubbles start flying around or real bubbles come out of the window and down toward where you are standing. That's really all there is to it. I can see small children getting really caught up in thinking they are doing real magic, but for older kids and adults, I think part of the fun is not knowing what's going to happen. That's why I recommend not watching others if you plan on doing it yourself later.
