Ollivanders

[Miss Marie]

I have been reading that Ollivanders has had some long wait times. I'm a big potter fan and would love to do Ollivanders (I'm planning on buying a wand anyway) but is the wait REALLY that bad? I have heard that it can be an hour or longer wait.

Is the wait only for the show, or is it for buying a wand too? Is there a way to get in to buy a wand without having to go through the show?

And what are the odds of someone getting chosen for the show? Do they just pick a random person, or is it usually someone in a specific area? What's the key to being chosen?

Thanks!

 

[damo]

You don't need to see the show to buy a wand.
The wands are available in the shop adjoining Ollivander's as well as the store at the front of IOA and a cart outside of Hogwarts and other places depending on crowd levels.

If you are a big fan, you should watch the show. Just ask the attendant how long the line is in their estimation.

Being chosen for the ceremony is totally random. Try to make eye contact as he is looking to choose. We recently took a young lady, 23, for her first visits to WDW and Universal for a week long holiday. Her favourite experience was getting chosen at Ollivander's.

 

[Cinderpamela]

We just got back from a Christmas trip that included Universal IoA. My DH was picked by the Wandmaker ... so they do pick more that just kids.

You for sure want to get to Ollivanders with the onsite hotel early entry in the morning, or come back to it in the evening when most folks are leaving.

They can only fit about 20 people in the Wandmakers "shop" at a time, and each show lasts around 10-12 minutes. So the line can be very slow going.

 

[Akwafunk]

Do it - it's wonderful.

 

[RMulieri]

It is ok,honestly nothing I would ever wait for again and I am a HUGE Harry Potter nut..Your best bet is first thing in the morning.The store is teeny/tiny and they only let in about 15-20 people at a time.The show is about 5-7mins long.Truthfully we were 2nd in line at opening behind a family with 4 kids that was chatting with the attendant.The attendant asked my 8 yr old a few questions and then went back to talking to the other family..We knew right away one of those kids were getting picked and lo and behold , one of them did.The wait after we were done was already 30 mins long.We didn't buy her wand there since it was too jam packed.We got one at the cart outside Forbidden journey at the end of the day so we didn't have to carry it around all day

 

[anorman]

We stayed onsite at the RPR resort last year and therefore had early park entry. We arrived at the park about 15 min before it opened and went immediately to Ollivanders after rope drop. We managed to make it in with the first group and it is a wonderful show especially for a Harry Potter fan. When we got out after buying our wands the line up was already substantial and when the park opened to other visitors.......OMG!!!......I wouldn't even consider thinking about joining that line!

My advice is to really try to see the show, be there for rope drop, and go immediately to Ollivanders. The line-up for FJ didn't get overly long until about 11 a.m. so you do have time to spend with this wonderful experience.

 

[Miss Marie]

We will probably end up doing it at the end of the day, as we aren't staying onsite (I am going there with my Choral group) but I really want to try and see the show.

If you don't get chosen, are you still able to buy a birth month wand in the store?

 

[mesaboy2]

We will probably end up doing it at the end of the day, as we aren't staying onsite (I am going there with my Choral group) but I really want to try and see the show.

If you don't get chosen, are you still able to buy a birth month wand in the store?

Going at the end of the day, you may have to wait or you may not. I've had some success with this, but I don't count on it. Just be warned that the TMs there will close the line before park close so that the last show is timed about the same time as park close. I'd start checking it as much as an hour before close.

And yes, anybody can buy any wand they want. Universal is not picky about taking money. I share this trait.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you think of the building as having two sides, the Ollivanders show is held on one, small side of the building, and once the show is done, you are sent through a door into the bigger, actual, shop.

If you don't want to go through the show, you enter on the other side. I've both walked right into the shop, and also I've had to wait about half an hour in line to get into the shop. (not on the Ollivanders side, but on the other side, because the shop was SO crowded)

 

[Seeker615]

If you are a fan do the show. It is really cute and recreates Harry's first visit when he gets his wand.

The show we saw two little girls were picked and they were so cute. When one waved her wand and it knocked over the boxes she exclaimed "wow this is magic"! So cute!

 

[nemofans]

My boys will love this! It will be a must do for sure for us.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, it can at times be an hour wait or longer. The show is 10 minutes long if that, it's really cute but unless you (or your kid) is the one selected for the wand demo it's not worth waiting an hour in line for. I'd go early or late.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I feel at least once it is worh the wait. I think what made the wait really bad was the sun. Someone said they moved the line to behind the building where there is much more shade. Should make a big diference.

 

[Sandy321]

we were planning on skipping this based on posts here - and the fact DD bff bought her a wand when WWoHP first opened..

then I watched the youtube videos... dd and I decided since we have early entry and since we are going for HP - what the heck, we need to see it too!!

so my advice - if you dont want to do it - do NOT watch the youtube videos


if you DO want to see it AND you love HP - do watch part of the youtube videos - every one is a bit different due to the fact of lighting, person filming.. but... you can see its so cool inside that building!!

 

[mummygina]

I think we will queue what ever the wait, as we were there 2 yrs ago before it opened (and didn't expect to be going back so soon) so we were gutted it wasn't yet ready to open!

As a rough guide, how much are the wands? (or anything else at WWoHP such as butter beer, chocolate frogs, cauldron cakes?) just wondering how much to budget! Thanks

 

[damo]

I think we will queue what ever the wait, as we were there 2 yrs ago before it opened (and didn't expect to be going back so soon) so we were gutted it wasn't yet ready to open!

As a rough guide, how much are the wands? (or anything else at WWoHP such as butter beer, chocolate frogs, cauldron cakes?) just wondering how much to budget! Thanks

Wands are $30.

You can go online here.... http://www.universalorlando.com/Merchandise/merchandisehome.aspx to check many prices.

 

[mummygina]

Thanks for the merchandise link damo! I've not seen that in the uni website before! Have started to make a list of things to look at/buy! Maybe there are more things than "a wand and a chocolate frog" that I NEED to purchase! Thanks again

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

They didn't have all the wands when we were there. I think they are releasing them in waves. Daughter wanted Belatrix's but I dont think it was releasesd yet.

 

[slbgnb]

My dd has read all 7 books & has seen all 8 movies...she will really want to do this. However, we wont be onsite to get that early entrance.....is she not going to be able to do this? We are going 2nd week in Sept.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Just have her bring one of the books to read while she on line. Maybe twoof them. Its open all day its just a wait.