Olivander's

[mdb78]

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.

I'd wear that on a shirt.

 

[EmJ]

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.

What spell would ring a bell???

 

[the Dark Marauder]

And let's not forget that WWOHP is set at the time of the 4th book.

Not quite. The WWOHP is a non-canon experience. There are major references to the 4th book, but also to events that happened in earlier and later books. The Forbidden Journey is it's own story that would essentially take place in the 7th book.

 

[dzd]

Not quite. The WWOHP is a non-canon experience. There are major references to the 4th book, but also to events that happened in earlier and later books. The Forbidden Journey is it's own story that would essentially take place in the 7th book.

Seriously, olivanders isn't even in hogsmede.

I have been seeing a theme to these posts, and that is that the "older kids" make for a better show. Now surely someone will come alolng and challenge that, such is the nature of online fourms.

 

[damo]

Seriously, olivanders isn't even in hogsmede.

Rowling created a branch in Hogsmeade. Since she is the town planner, I guess she can do that.

 

[cgattis]

Magpie, sounds like your boy got sorted correctly...hahaha. I had the exact same idea about scarves, but I haven't been yarn shopping in a while Did you use icky old acrylic like the store-bought ones, just for ease of color selection? Or did you manage to find some nice ones in those colors? I'd better get started soon if they're gonna make it under the tree! Thanks!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Seriously, olivanders isn't even in hogsmede.

I have been seeing a theme to these posts, and that is that the "older kids" make for a better show. Now surely someone will come alolng and challenge that, such is the nature of online fourms.

It's a satellite shop, owned by Mr. Ollivander. The wandkeeper is NOT Mr. Ollivander, but one of his (fictitious) associates.

 

[Magpie]

Magpie, sounds like your boy got sorted correctly...hahaha. I had the exact same idea about scarves, but I haven't been yarn shopping in a while Did you use icky old acrylic like the store-bought ones, just for ease of color selection? Or did you manage to find some nice ones in those colors? I'd better get started soon if they're gonna make it under the tree! Thanks!!

I had a heck of a time finding colours! My store doesn't carry a wide variety. I wanted to use Acrylic so I could toss them in the washing machine, but I wanted nice Acrylic. I ended up using Bernat Satin for most of the colours - it's soft and a wee bit on the fuzzy side, but not too bad and it has a sheen to it that I rather like.

For Slytherin I used the Evergreen and Sterling colours of Bernat Satin.

For Ravenclaw I used the Admiral and Amber colours of Bernat Satin. Yes, my daughter is THAT much of a geek, she wanted the book canon colours of blue and bronze.

For me and my husband's scarves, however, I couldn't find ANY decent yellows or golds. So I ended up digging through remainder bins and scouring second hand shops for yarn ends. Here's what I ended up with...

For Hufflepuff I used Ebony in Bernat Satin and one ball Sirdar Family Worsted with Wool Shade 8433 plus one ball Patons Decor in Pale Bronze (both a similar shade of buttery yellow). The Sirdar yellow didn't have the same sheen as either Bernat or Patons, but it's not obvious in the finished product.

For Griffindor I used Bordeaux in Bernat Satin and several balls of Pingouin Tempo in a really vibrant shade of yellow. It's just like the yellow in Harry's scarf on the cover of the first book. Pingouin is no longer making yarn, but for some reason balls of it turn up all the time in second hand shops. I had to increase the number of rounds in the yellow rows by one, because Pingouin Tempo is a DK, not a Worsted. (Although Bernat makes a rather lightweight "worsted".) Also Pinqouin is 15 percent wool and a bit scratchy, like most vintage yarns, but my husband is a tough guy and not too fussy about his scarves.

I hope this helps! Good luck with your scarves!

 

[nhrenee]

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

My 16dd would accept "deatheater" as a complement.

Oh and the girl who was chosen when we saw the show was about 13 and she was great! Very into it.

 

[cgattis]

Thanks, Magpie!! Looks like I've got some shopping and then some striping to do!

 

[coastgirl]

Just posting so my ticker can add to the position that younger kids can appreciate the experience quite fully! Kids who got the whole set complete are just as fanatic as the previous "decade" of kids (not quite a generation) who waited for each volume. I was one who waited for each book, in my 30's and now my ds has a lovely set of hardcover first editions which he treasures. (Although I might argue that the kids who have only seen the movies are missing a lot of depth.) Ds has his own little encyclopedia of spells he compiled, and yes, he and his sister have wizard battles often. (Dh made them some "training wands".) FWIW, though, I think it is absolutely valid for adults to get picked too...I'd love it myself!

Can't wait to tell them we're going, haven't yet. I'm not going to raise expectations for the show, but they will certainly look forward to buying their own wands. And personally I think his hair is a little fair, but he's a pretty good ringer for "the boy who lived".

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

We went to WWoHP in October, our first trip to IOA after many trip to WDW. At WDW, my son had tried to be picked in all of the "shows" - Jedi Training, the Pirate Tutorial with Jack Sparrow, etc... He is not a loud, obnoxious, or flashy kid. He won't push in front of others to make himself more noticeable. I am very pleased that he is this way; my husband & I have tried to raise our children to be thoughtful, respectful kids. My son had a friend who was chosen at Ollivander's on his trip that was just a few weeks before ours. I told my son that his friend's experience was awesome, but that we couldn't forget that only one person would be chosen when we went. If it wasn't him, he must have a good attitude and enjoy watching the show.

When we were there, we waited in line through 2 shows. We were the first in for the next show. My son, who is 9, and my 12 year old daughter just stood there in total amazement when we walked in. They just turned around in a circle, saying, "This is amazing!" over & over. Ollivander (or his assistant) was already down in the shop, not upstairs as I'd read he is. As the room was almost full, he walked over to my son and asked which was his wand hand. My daughter and I were looking at each other and smiling that my son was FINALLY getting picked for something, when Ollivander came over to her too!! They both were picked!!! Both of my kids are huge fans. My daughter has read all of the books and my son is on the 3rd one, but has seen all of the movies. It was an unbelievable experience for them and definitely the highlight of our trip!

 

[nhrenee]

Great story bamagirl! That is so awesome.

 

[WeasleyisOurKing]

I completely agree with it being of most importance to young adults and teens. I am 16and i began reading the books in first grade, and i am still a die-hard fan today. It would just make my life if i got picked for the wand ceremony. Im just worried that im gonna lose it to either a little kid who really knows nothing about Harry Potter and thought it would be "kinda cool" or a college age person. I think it be really cool if it was chosen by like Harry Potter Trivia(just kidding that would probably take way too long) cause i would win that for sure.

 

[WeasleyisOurKing]

I am going to WWOHP this summer and i am BEYOND excited. And i really want to get picked in Ollivander's. Are there any tips on how? Im 16 and im afraid, from all the posts here, that ill get overlooked for either a little kid or a college age person. I have read all of the books and seen all of the movies and know everything there is to know about Harry Potter. Would it help if i dressed up? I do have a Tonks costume i made this year, the only problem would be if i wore the pink hair spray it may melt in the heat...
What do you think? I need suggestions! i will do whatever it takes.

 

[WeasleyisOurKing]

My 16dd would accept "deatheater" as a complement.

Oh and the girl who was chosen when we saw the show was about 13 and she was great! Very into it.

Thats Great! Theres hope for us teenagers! i would be extremely into it! and im 16! i really hope they pick me!!

 

[princessmom29]

I think we may be understimating what children are capable of getting here. I don't think it necessairly has to be a child picked, but I do think that a kid can do a good job with it and really get the signifigance of what is going on. My 7 year old DD LOVES all things HP, and has said several times how cool is it going to be to actually get to see and experience some of the things Harry did. She gets that it is nto real, but loves the idea of being that immersed in the movie. Getitng picked at Ollivander;s would be as big a deal for her as a teen or young adult fan, and she would definitely appreciate it just as much.

 

[fairyprincess88]

I am going to WWOHP this summer and i am BEYOND excited. And i really want to get picked in Ollivander's. Are there any tips on how? Im 16 and im afraid, from all the posts here, that ill get overlooked for either a little kid or a college age person. I have read all of the books and seen all of the movies and know everything there is to know about Harry Potter. Would it help if i dressed up? I do have a Tonks costume i made this year, the only problem would be if i wore the pink hair spray it may melt in the heat...
What do you think? I need suggestions! i will do whatever it takes.

There is not really anything you can do. The wandkeeper chooses with no real rhyme or reason. I've been chosen twice on two different trips. The first time was not so magical as this lady was very upset I (a young adult) got picked over her 4 year old and complained loudly through the whole thing. It was horrid. However this past Feb I got picked again and it was amazing and I really got the full experience.

I am like you, a true blue Potter nerd but I didn't do anything special to stand out in the crowd. I wasn't dressed up or anything except for wearing a Potter tshirt. I do think the wandkeeper keeps his eyes out for those who just have the excitement and awe about them though. I know he commented on how "I was filled with childlike wonder". But I can't help it, I always get a little wide-eyed when walk into Ollivanders.

 

[sbevione]

I have to say that 20 somethings don't have the "exclusive" on having "grown up with Harry Potter". Younger tweens and teens have *also* grown up with HP, and may very well be as big a fan as any older young adult. My 12 yr old went to the book release parties with me as a small child, has been to the midnight showings of most of the movies (dressed up), has read all the books multiple times, has his own personal hand-written spell encyclopedia culled from many hours of searching through the books to find the spells and write them down, and has hand-carved his own wands from sticks he spends hours looking for in the woods. I am absolutely certain that if he is chosen when we go to WWoHP this July it *will* be a dream come true for him (and for me to see him enjoy it), and he would appreciate it every bit as much as anyone else who is a big fan. He was nearly in tears with excitement just watching the videos of the wand-choosings on Youtube.

All that said, I would not push him to the front or complain loudly if he was not chosen, and I have prepared him for the very real possibility that he will not be chosen. Just wanted to point out that children can be just as "into" HP as adults.

 

[sbevione]

Just posting so my ticker can add to the position that younger kids can appreciate the experience quite fully! Kids who got the whole set complete are just as fanatic as the previous "decade" of kids (not quite a generation) who waited for each volume. I was one who waited for each book, in my 30's and now my ds has a lovely set of hardcover first editions which he treasures. (Although I might argue that the kids who have only seen the movies are missing a lot of depth.) Ds has his own little encyclopedia of spells he compiled, and yes, he and his sister have wizard battles often. (Dh made them some "training wands".) FWIW, though, I think it is absolutely valid for adults to get picked too...I'd love it myself!

Can't wait to tell them we're going, haven't yet. I'm not going to raise expectations for the show, but they will certainly look forward to buying their own wands. And personally I think his hair is a little fair, but he's a pretty good ringer for "the boy who lived".

I read your post after I posted mine and had to laugh at the similarities! My DH also has his own encyclopedia of spells and loves to have spell battles with his younger sister. I, like you, was the 30 something adult waiting for the midnight release of the books and looking forward to sharing them with my kids! Here's hoping *both* of our boys get chosen!