Ollivander’s Wand Experience

[Hezzy04]

I am surprising my 10 year old with a Universal trip on June 12. Last I read, to get to do the wand show/experience at Ollivander’s you need to
Go there to sign up for a return time. Just wanted to verify that this was still the case? Also, is there usually a line to sign up? Does it get crazy?

 

[bdyy]

Following this. Also like to know if we have to RD EA to secure a spot - going next week on a day with 8am EA what would be the latest time that we should plan on getting there to get a return time?

 

[jsmla]

Yesterday I walked by late morning and was told it was by wait list/appointment only and that they were full for the day.

 

[Mikeb1892]

I am surprising my 10 year old with a Universal trip on June 12.

I can't help with your question, but reading this gave me goosebumps. I hope they are so excited when they find out! I know I my wife and I love surprising our kids with things. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I would also like to know if they are still limiting the shows to single parties. We’ll be a family of 4, and signing up will be the first thing we try to do at RD.

 

[TikiRob]

We were hoping to do this first on our arrival day around noon. Sounds like we might have to go earlier the next day. Following for other people's experiences...

 

[MomOTwins]

We were there at spring break and I wished they were doing some kind of appointment system--instead it was a 90 minute wait all day, in 90 degree weather, so we passed. Checked multiple times each day. On our last day we thought we'd walk up right at the end of day and get in line before park close like you can at disney, but they closed the queue an hour before closing.

We did not rope drop that trip though because the parks were open super early (7am) and that's just a bit too early a start for my kiddos, so we showed up around 8am. Next trip, hopefully the park will have a little bit of a later start and we'll be able to rope drop.

 

[Daisy7425]

Our experience from three days ago:

We got into Diagon Alley at about 7:10am on an early admission day (we left Royal Pacific at 6:45 and got to the gates at 7:00). We did not have much of an idea what was going on with Ollivanders, so we walked around and enjoyed the window displays, dragon, etc. for about 10-15 minutes. A long line formed at Ollivanders (maybe 20 parties), we jumped in line and got to the front in about 10 minutes (7:30ish). We got a 9:15 return time. The wild thing to me was that they only allowed one experience per appointment. I have two sons that wanted to do it. They would not allow me to book an additional time for my second son, so I had to leave the line, find my husband to stand in line. He got to the front of the line about 15 minutes later and got a 9:45 return time. Once we returned at our time, we had to wait for just a handful of minutes. We asked at 9:45 when the next opening was and they said 6pm.

Despite the confusing situation above, Ollivanders was just magical. It was one of the highlights of the trip for us. Highly recommend!

Lessons I learned:
Sign up ASAP. Go straight there and then circle back and enjoy the windows, etc.
Each person that wants a wand chosen for them needs a separate appointment and they wouldn't let me sign two children up - my husband had to go back and sign up my other son.
The experience inside was excellent!

If anyone else has any questions, I'm happy to help. I found these boards to be very helpful in my planning but sometimes I had questions that I felt were silly or too detailed oriented to ask the whole board. Just send me a message that applies to you and I can answer. We've only been to Universal once, but we just got back yesterday so it's all fresh in my mind.

 

[jbrinkm]

Thanks, @Daisy7425! This is really helpful info. Just curious - if you had all been together in the line originally, could you have booked two appointments, one after the other?

 

[Daisy7425]

Thanks, @Daisy7425! This is really helpful info. Just curious - if you had all been together in the line originally, could you have booked two appointments, one after the other?

We did not try that as my husband was enamored with the dragon, but yes I think that would have worked out perfectly! It seemed to me to be one appointment per person/adult. Although I'm not sure if they would let the two kids in the room together or if they would make a family split up with one kid and one adult per room.

 

[DisneyElite4]

We did not try that as my husband was enamored with the dragon, but yes I think that would have worked out perfectly! It seemed to me to be one appointment per person/adult. Although I'm not sure if they would let the two kids in the room together or if they would make a family split up with one kid and one adult per room.

Could one adult do the initial wait for the whole family if only one child wants to be chosen, while the other parent does other things with the kids, or does your whole party need to be present when getting a time? Thank you! We are doing this in a few days!

 

[Daisy7425]

Could one adult do the initial wait for the whole family if only one child wants to be chosen, while the other parent does other things with the kids, or does your whole party need to be present when getting a time? Thank you! We are doing this in a few days!

Whole party did NOT need to be present three days ago when we were there. I was the only one in line while my husband and boys walked around.

 

[Travelgrrl]

If your entire family is willing to enter at once, and you understand that only one child will be featured, you likely wouldn't have to split up.

We did this pre-Covid, and it was the absolute highlight of our Universal trip. (I have a trip report discussing it in detail, if you search Trip Reports for "Travelgrrl".) I sobbed through the entire thing. It was so REAL. The wandmaster had a very quiet style about him, and picked my niece so it was extra special. I wrote to Universal after, listing the time we were there and sending a photo of the CM, to let them know how amazing he was.

Recently, I noticed that on the Universal website for Ollivanders, the lead photo is HIM! Presumably others have also been complimentary of him, although I know there are others that also do the shows.

We're going in December. Perhaps it will be easier because they might be combining groups again, but if not, this is a priority for us, so we'll make sure to make a return time asap.

 

[HashberryOTG]

This is such a popular attraction. I hope it goes back to how it was before covid soon, so more can experience it.

 

[kinkin201]

We went to UOF last Wednesday (13MAY) during early park hours since we stayed on property. We didn't understand why people were lined up outside olivander's and got right on Gringotts. My friend wanted an interactive wand so we got in line at olivander's after we got off the ride at about 0840. The CMs cut the line off 2 people in front of us and told us to return at 0930. The people who were already in line were being given reservations to return around 1100. We decided not to do the experience and just get an interactive wand which we were able to do right then after waiting in a short line. My point being, is if you specifically want the experience, you should rope drop it and get in line in the hopes of having a decent return time.