Olivander's

[EmJ]

Well, let's be honest HP most devote fans are the young adult and teen group as far as I'm concerned. They were the ones growing up with the HP books and movies. Standing in line at borders at midnight to get each new book and dressing up for movie premier night! Most of the kids that are coming in to HP now were not part of the growing phenomeon that is HP. Hate to say it but WWOHP is more of a dream come true for adults than it is for kids at this point. At least I know it is for my wife and I. Both 28 by the way.

I couldn't agree more. Not that I wish to take the experience away from a child, but I bet most children younger than 10 would find the experience neat, but would not really grasp the "significance" of it. Personally, I am (not so secretly, now) hoping that my husband, 33, is chosen, even though I know the likelihood is slim to none. He was a Harry Potter fanatic before there was such a thing, and it would absolutely make his year.

 

[LUVIOA]

When we went (opening week) he choose a girl that was up front with her mom. She had a hogwarts robe on in 90 degree heat. As soon as my boys saw her they looked at me and i had to whisper to them that they will not be picked Sure enough she was chosen, barely cracked a smile and it was a realllly boring show. She had the energy of a sloth. I hope that they are changing the way they choose kids. I'll bet someone told her to wear the robe and she'll get chosen. It worked for her but shouldn't be the guarantee. i would have loved to see an energetic 20 year old that felt the magic in the wand!

 

[mom2aandj]

we made it into the first show this past Sunday, and he chose a boy of about 9 or 10 who was standing in the middle of the front row. So that method is still having at least some success!

 

[4-me]

I have to say - that show was boring. I liked the little room and got some cool pictures - and I love the village and the feel of the entire HP area - and the ride is awesome - we ride over and over. But the wand picking ceremony is not worth an hour wait. They also picked a boy about 10 in our show - it wasn't very interesting or funny - just ho hum. Then to find out the kid has to buy the wand - lol. Anyway - as we were leaving my son (14) says "that was a once in a life time experience - because I will only be doing it once." I guess I was expecting more of a show and to be wowed a bit. But I guess you have to do it once so ya know what it is....

 

[Lucky4me]

Well, let's be honest HP most devote fans are the young adult and teen group as far as I'm concerned. They were the ones growing up with the HP books and movies. Standing in line at borders at midnight to get each new book and dressing up for movie premier night! Most of the kids that are coming in to HP now were not part of the growing phenomeon that is HP. Hate to say it but WWOHP is more of a dream come true for adults than it is for kids at this point. At least I know it is for my wife and I. Both 28 by the way.

You have that SO right!
My 24 year old daughter is a HP fanatic to a point where I have raised my eyebrow a time or two. There is a life size movie cutout of Harry in her old room. She won't let me sell it, but she doesn't want it in her apartment either. Not to mention her other 500 HP items stored here.
My 15 year old probably couldn't even tell you who Snape is.
We will be there a week from today and I bet older dd spends a good portion of our four days in the parks standing in line at Olivanders, hoping to get picked.
We spent many nights standing out in the cold at midnight waiting for the newest HP book, what's another few hours for the chance of a wand picking her? Just talking about it makes her tear up, so I imagine she'd be like that fool jumping up and down and crying.
This is a completely normal functioning 24 year old college graduate, working and living on her own.

 

[jpeppers]

I have to say I'm shocked by people who want there "almost or adult children" or themselves picked for something ahead of an actual child at an amusement park for something like this. I am shocked by how many times a Disney that rude adults have stepped in front of my 9 year old (younger then) to get there picture taken with a character. Is it really that important to you? I'm hoping at an older age you realize it isn't real but that child probably hasn't reached that point yet! I'm not the nicest person in the world by my own admission but when I'm in Orlando I will step a side for any child because it is about the kids. I'm also going to say that when I am in Las Vegas I am very irritated when anyone tries to push there kid to the front of anything because that is the adult world. Give me Vegas and give the kids Orlando.......I think that is a fair trade!

 

[mikkiwikki]

I have to say - that show was boring. I liked the little room and got some cool pictures - and I love the village and the feel of the entire HP area - and the ride is awesome - we ride over and over. But the wand picking ceremony is not worth an hour wait. They also picked a boy about 10 in our show - it wasn't very interesting or funny - just ho hum. Then to find out the kid has to buy the wand - lol. Anyway - as we were leaving my son (14) says "that was a once in a life time experience - because I will only be doing it once." I guess I was expecting more of a show and to be wowed a bit. But I guess you have to do it once so ya know what it is....

I begrudingly have to agree with you.

My daughter is a HUGE fan, and we were there August 2010...so were able to enter the park at 8AM...made a beeline for olivanders, and there was STILL a ton of people in front of us by the time we got there...THEN we wait in line 40 minutes....AND then...SAW THe boring show, and get corralled into the gift shop and could hear NOTHING the guides were saying about which wand to pick.
IN our case a teenager that was sitting silently to the side was picked...she was all dolled up in Harry potter gear....my daughter was sitting in front and was disappointed she didnt get a 'turn' and started crying as we were corralled into the gift shop. For the priviledge of getting fleeced at 30$ per wand....which btw one broke as soon as we got home.

We wont be going again.

 

[damo]

I have to say - that show was boring. I liked the little room and got some cool pictures - and I love the village and the feel of the entire HP area - and the ride is awesome - we ride over and over. But the wand picking ceremony is not worth an hour wait. They also picked a boy about 10 in our show - it wasn't very interesting or funny - just ho hum. Then to find out the kid has to buy the wand - lol. Anyway - as we were leaving my son (14) says "that was a once in a life time experience - because I will only be doing it once." I guess I was expecting more of a show and to be wowed a bit. But I guess you have to do it once so ya know what it is....

Wands are $30...there's no way that the park is going to give away a $30 wand every 20 minutes.

I think of the wait and the little show the same way I would think of any little short ride, such as Snow White. Cute, but not worth a wait.

 

[teacher100]

My 10 year old got picked and he was about three rows back because he is tall. He didn't do anything special because he wasn't going in with the expectation of being picked. It was a nice surprise though.

 

[Wadekind]

I have to say I'm shocked by people who want there "almost or adult children" or themselves picked for something ahead of an actual child at an amusement park for something like this. I am shocked by how many times a Disney that rude adults have stepped in front of my 9 year old (younger then) to get there picture taken with a character. Is it really that important to you? I'm hoping at an older age you realize it isn't real but that child probably hasn't reached that point yet! I'm not the nicest person in the world by my own admission but when I'm in Orlando I will step a side for any child because it is about the kids. I'm also going to say that when I am in Las Vegas I am very irritated when anyone tries to push there kid to the front of anything because that is the adult world. Give me Vegas and give the kids Orlando.......I think that is a fair trade!

I agree with you that some people are rude in these parks and no adult should ever push in front of a child but I have seen more rude parents pushing their children in front of other children and adults than adults pushing in front of children. Vegas is not everyone's style and adults have just as much right as children to participate and buy into the fantasy that these parks sell. Successful amusement parks entertain both adults and children. Many of these adults were the children that made HP successful. If an adult gets picked they should not feel ashamed or be expected to say no. They payed to enter and have the experience just like everyone else. Children need to be taught that just because they didn't get what they wanted they should appreciate where they are at and not let things like this ruin a whole vacation. I think 99.99% of the stress we see in these parks is driven by the parents not the kids. Most kids will roll with it and move on to the next thing as long as the parents haven't built up expectations beforehand or make a big deal out it afterwards.

 

[fairyprincess88]

I have to say I'm shocked by people who want there "almost or adult children" or themselves picked for something ahead of an actual child at an amusement park for something like this. I am shocked by how many times a Disney that rude adults have stepped in front of my 9 year old (younger then) to get there picture taken with a character. Is it really that important to you? I'm hoping at an older age you realize it isn't real but that child probably hasn't reached that point yet! I'm not the nicest person in the world by my own admission but when I'm in Orlando I will step a side for any child because it is about the kids. I'm also going to say that when I am in Las Vegas I am very irritated when anyone tries to push there kid to the front of anything because that is the adult world. Give me Vegas and give the kids Orlando.......I think that is a fair trade!

Sorry but I disagree. Most of the adults or teens who are excited about getting picked at Ollivander's are the very people who made Potter the success it is. We were the fans who lined up for hours for midnight book releases, we are the fans that read each one from front to back cover multiple times, we were the people to create the fan world that exists today, that is bringing in a many of thousands of dollars to Universal with the Infinitus and LeakyCon conventions. These late teen/adult fans grew up with Harry in his world and have dreamed of a place like the WWoHP for many years. To ask these fans to take a backseat to children too young to have read the books or to even understand them is just wrong.

Ollivander's is nothing like a character line at Disney, which Im sure most adults would give a child first rights to. For many of these adult fans you are putting down, they were the ones at age 11 who entered Diagon Alley with Harry that very first time, they were the ones who experienced their first kiss at the same time as him, who felt their first heartbreak the same time as him, who wished they could leave their world behind and see this magical place alongside of him. To put these fans down and rate them second place to some children whom have not even cracked the pages of the books is not in anyway a fair trade. Of course the adult fans realize it's not real, we knew it was not real when we read the books as children. But the magic of Potter is that JKR created this world we could visit and play in and escape to and Universal has taken that world out of our imaginations for the first time.

So sorry I disagree, and if it was me who was picked over your daughter, well Im sad for her that she was upset, but I'm not going to feel ashamed about it. Yes, I knew it wasn't real, yes I know there is no such thing as magic wands. However, I got to go into Ollivander's and move a ladder with the wand that picked me, something that age 12 I told my mom would one day happen. I'm not going to feel bad about that.

 

[damo]

I have to agree that the Wizarding World is not a kiddie area and that Ollivander's experience shouldn't be directed to children only. I think it would be a much more interesting show for everyone if older people were picked. Imagine the response if someone threw a killing curse when they were trying out their wand.

 

[EmJ]

I have to agree that the Wizarding World is not a kiddie area and that Ollivander's experience shouldn't be directed to children only. I think it would be a much more interesting show for everyone if older people were picked. Imagine the response if someone threw a killing curse when they were trying out their wand.

Do you get to choose the spell you cast? That would be cool. I pictured something like in HP1... You know, "Go on, give it a wave" and then the shelves explode.

 

[dzd]

I have to agree that the Wizarding World is not a kiddie area and that Ollivander's experience shouldn't be directed to children only. I think it would be a much more interesting show for everyone if older people were picked. Imagine the response if someone threw a killing curse when they were trying out their wand.

I hope I'm not in the show with you! DEATHEATER!!!

 

[damo]

Do you get to choose the spell you cast? That would be cool. I pictured something like in HP1... You know, "Go on, give it a wave" and then the shelves explode.

They tell you what spell to say.

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

I hope I'm not in the show with you! DEATHEATER!!!

 

[aubriee]

They tell you what spell to say.

The show I was in this past Sept Ollivander did not tell the girl what to say. He simply said "bring the ladder to you", 'ring the bell, but just that one bell', etc. The very excited, crying 20 something y/o knew the spells and was very, very good. There is no way a child would have known what she did. She made that show. Except for the mother who was upset her little snowflake didn't get picked, everyone in there was laughing and excited for the young lady who was picked. Not only was she thrilled for the experience, but she knew her stuff. The second time I saw the show, a young girl about 10 y/o was picked and was so shy she didn't say a work, just pointed the wands at the ladder and bell when told to do so. That show was soooo boring! Her parents were excited and snapping pictures, but she looked like she could care less. If I had seen her the first show I would not have went back that second day. I wanted to see someone like the excited 20 something y/o I had seen two days previously (someone you could tell really appreciated the experience and knew what she was doing, someone who made the show fun for everyone in there).

 

[trstno1]

I'm not going to enter the debate about the appropriate age to be chosen by the wand. Most wizards get their first wand at age 11, but some undoubtedly come upon magic at a later age, and the wand does choose the wizard, afterall.

However, there seems to be an underlying theme to many of these posts that kids don't understand Harry Potter as much as the adults who grew up with the series. That's a load of crap.

I'm 40 years old and certainly did not grow up with Harry Potter, but I am as geeked out as anybody about this series.

My daughters are 10, 8, 8, and they have each read each of the books dozens of times, probably more. They've listened to the audiobooks over and over, and they've seen all the movies. They've each been Hermione (at different times) for Halloween. They each own a time turner. On the Fourth of July, they (and their friends) chase each other with sparklers, shouting out spells. They can't wait for opening day for the 7th movie. They are as obsessed with Harry Potter as any fan out there.

And let's not forget that WWOHP is set at the time of the 4th book. Almost any child above age 5 has read or heard the first books. I'd wager that they are more in tune with the magic in those first books than those of us who've finished the series.

 

[Magpie]

I'm not going to enter the debate about the appropriate age to be chosen by the wand. Most wizards get their first wand at age 11, but some undoubtedly come upon magic at a later age, and the wand does choose the wizard, afterall.

However, there seems to be an underlying theme to many of these posts that kids don't understand Harry Potter as much as the adults who grew up with the series. That's a load of crap.

I'm 40 years old and certainly did not grow up with Harry Potter, but I am as geeked out as anybody about this series.

My daughters are 10, 8, 8, and they have each read each of the books dozens of times, probably more. They've listened to the audiobooks over and over, and they've seen all the movies. They've each been Hermione (at different times) for Halloween. They each own a time turner. On the Fourth of July, they (and their friends) chase each other with sparklers, shouting out spells. They can't wait for opening day for the 7th movie. They are as obsessed with Harry Potter as any fan out there.

And let's not forget that WWOHP is set at the time of the 4th book. Almost any child above age 5 has read or heard the first books. I'd wager that they are more in tune with the magic in those first books than those of us who've finished the series.

I don't see why there has to be any debate. I like the fact that everyone has an equal chance, young OR not-so-young. I don't want to make assumptions about anyone's geeky fannish credentials based on their age.

My daughter read the first Harry Potter book when she was four. And for anyone who says she couldn't understand it at that age, one of my fondest memories is of her curled up on the couch with the book. She looked up at me and exclaimed happily, "It makes the Harry Potter movie in my head!"

This was in 2000, before we even knew there would be a movie!

And she was there at the movie premiere, 5 years old, with the book tucked under her arm.

She's 14 now and she almost cried yesterday when I gave her the Ravenclaw scarf and hat set I've been secretly knitting all summer. I would have been thrilled to see her picked at Ollivanders when she was four, and I will be thrilled if she gets picked at fourteen. She's already practicing her spells, even though I've warned her that the odds are slim.

Meanwhile, my 12yo son just wants to get up there and say Avada... whatever that killing curse thing is. I made him a Slytherin scarf.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have to say I'm shocked by people who want there "almost or adult children" or themselves picked for something ahead of an actual child at an amusement park for something like this. I am shocked by how many times a Disney that rude adults have stepped in front of my 9 year old (younger then) to get there picture taken with a character. Is it really that important to you? I'm hoping at an older age you realize it isn't real but that child probably hasn't reached that point yet! I'm not the nicest person in the world by my own admission but when I'm in Orlando I will step a side for any child because it is about the kids. I'm also going to say that when I am in Las Vegas I am very irritated when anyone tries to push there kid to the front of anything because that is the adult world. Give me Vegas and give the kids Orlando.......I think that is a fair trade!

If an adult pushes into line in front of your child, that is wrong.

If an adult is in line to meet the character there is nothing wrong with that. Even if the adult is standing in front of your child. Even if, after the adult has their turn, the line is cut off so the character can take a break.

At Ollivander's, the WANDMAKER does the choosing. He is the one you have an issue with if he chooses an adult, not the adult. Obviously it is not a requirement of the wandmaker's job to always choose a child. Unless you are advocating that an adult who is chosen should stand aside and ask that a child be chosen.

Sorry, but Orlando theme parks are not the exclusive property of children.