Please explain Olivander's!

[Marthasor]

We are headed to US for the first time in February and I keep reading about Olivander's and having a wand pick you. I've also read there is some type of show there and that it tends to have long wait times? Is this a store? A show? A little of both?! Please explain the Olivander's experience and any strategies you have for going. I think my DS would LOVE to get a wand and I want to make sure I know what the experience is like so we don't miss out on anything. Thank you so much!

 

[hopemax]

It is a small entertainment experience prior to a normal retail shop. Ollivander will assist one (or two, in case of siblings) wizards select their wand. Not every child in the room, will receive special assistance, and the child (or sometimes adult) is picked randomly by Ollivander, so there is no way to ensure your child gets picked. The wand is NOT free, sometimes that causes issues from parents/kids who think because they were chosen, that they can keep the wand.

It recreates the wand choosing, from the book, where the wrong wand causes trouble and the right wand reveals itself. It's about 5-10 minutes, and it's a cute experience but not necessarily worth the wait time, when it was only available in Hogsmeade.

However, the Diagon Alley version has many, many rooms, so it's a very short wait, and everyone must view the show before entering the wand store. It still seems to me, that there are longer waits in the Hogsmeade store, so if you have a choice, I would just go to the one in DA. I

In the store, there are assistants to help you pick your wand, but there is no special show. But they can tell you whose wand is whose if you see one in the case you like. Or identify the wand that corresponds to your birthday month. All wands are about $45. There are many places in both lands where they trigger things to happen, and playing with them is a lot of fun, even for adults.

 

[Marthasor]

It is a small entertainment experience prior to a normal retail shop. Ollivander will assist one (or two, in case of siblings) wizards select their wand. Not every child in the room, will receive special assistance, and the child (or sometimes adult) is picked randomly by Ollivander, so there is no way to ensure your child gets picked. The wand is NOT free, sometimes that causes issues from parents/kids who think because they were chosen, that they can keep the wand.

It recreates the wand choosing, from the book, where the wrong wand causes trouble and the right wand reveals itself. It's about 5-10 minutes, and it's a cute experience but not necessarily worth the wait time, when it was only available in Hogsmeade.

However, the Diagon Alley version has many, many rooms, so it's a very short wait, and everyone must view the show before entering the wand store. It still seems to me, that there are longer waits in the Hogsmeade store, so if you have a choice, I would just go to the one in DA. I

In the store, there are assistants to help you pick your wand, but there is no special show. But they can tell you whose wand is whose if you see one in the case you like. Or identify the wand that corresponds to your birthday month. All wands are about $45. There are many places in both lands where they trigger things to happen, and playing with them is a lot of fun, even for adults.

Oh, that's awesome!! Even if he isn't picked, my DS will love this! I didn't realize the wands were also interactive throughout the parks - that's so cool! I think I see some wands in our near future Thank you so much!

 

[swooshbear]

Oh, that's awesome!! Even if he isn't picked, my DS will love this! I didn't realize the wands were also interactive throughout the parks - that's so cool! I think I see some wands in our near future Thank you so much!

You can choose from interactive or non-interactive wands, and also replicas of existing wands (Harry's, Hermoine's, etc) or a wand that correspond to your birth month. Interactive wands are fun but can be bit tricky to use, TMs are usually hanging around the spell areas to help you out.

 

[coastgirl]

Just a little shameless mom-crowing...here's a link to my son's wand-getting in 2011, when he was 10. It was totally magical for him, and is still one of his favourite memories. His sister got picked in 2013 when she was ten also. It's a good example of the wand ceremony I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwBNDkZYuXw

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Just a little shameless mom-crowing...here's a link to my son's wand-getting in 2011, when he was 10. It was totally magical for him, and is still one of his favourite memories. His sister got picked in 2013 when she was ten also. It's a good example of the wand ceremony I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwBNDkZYuXw

What a great video!

 

[3PrincessesAndaFrog]

We went when it HP first opened...and the lines where long. We went first think in the morning.

Olivander asked for a volunteer, I can't remember the exact words, everyone in the room, kids and adults started waving their hands and jumping to get his attention. My older daughter shrunk behind her Dad so she wouldn't be picked and guess what he picked her, she is shy. She said no, but would you take my sister, he said no, he needed both of them. So both of my kids approached the front of the room. It was so much fun! Of course we bought the wands.

I don't remember if they even had interactive wands when we there.

 

[Marthasor]

Just a little shameless mom-crowing...here's a link to my son's wand-getting in 2011, when he was 10. It was totally magical for him, and is still one of his favourite memories. His sister got picked in 2013 when she was ten also. It's a good example of the wand ceremony I think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwBNDkZYuXw

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

 

[nighttowll]

The only thing to be aware of is that sometimes kids can get upset if they have their hearts set on being picked and aren't. I don't mean tantrum upset, just really dissapointed upset. If you have a child who is really sensitive or too young to understand, you might want to skip the show alltogether rather than get their hopes crushed. You can still buy a wand even if you don't watch the show.

It sounds like your child would be fine. Just wanted to throw that out for other people. I know we saw a few devastated kids on our trip who just knew they would be picked and weren't, and to make it worse, they had a long wait before that to not get picked.

 

[Marthasor]

The only thing to be aware of is that sometimes kids can get upset if they have their hearts set on being picked and aren't. I don't mean tantrum upset, just really dissapointed upset. If you have a child who is really sensitive or too young to understand, you might want to skip the show alltogether rather than get their hopes crushed. You can still buy a wand even if you don't watch the show.

It sounds like your child would be fine. Just wanted to throw that out for other people. I know we saw a few devastated kids on our trip who just knew they would be picked and weren't, and to make it worse, they had a long wait before that to not get picked.

Thanks so much! My DS actually watched the video with me last night and I think he will be fine if he doesn't get picked. When we get there I'll ask him if he wants to watch the show or simply pick a wand. He runs hot and cold with volunteering for shows like this so, as long as he gets a wand, I think he'll be ok! Thanks!

 

[DisneyBabies]

Do they only do this little show once a day? A friend of ours was under the impression that the show happened every 20 minutes or so.

Thanks for your help.

 

[scrabblegirl]

I think the big show is at Olivander's on the Islands of Adventure side. We went to the Diagon Alley side in Universal, and they led us to a small room with another family. I think they have a few rooms like this. We each had a preteen with us, and those two were chosen. It was really great.

 

[coastgirl]

Scrabblegirl, interesting that they chose two. Was it just two families in the room? I'm wondering if they've changed the show so it accommodates more. At Hogsmeade there is just one room, and it does take about twenty minutes. They filled the room with I'd guess 20 people or so--certainly a number of groups. I understand there are two or three rooms in Diagon Alley. But I kind of hope they haven't changed it much, as it was amazing...

 

[Oodalally13]

I'd like to add that it might be fun for you to both get interactive wands and learn to do spells together. It's a fun thing to do later in the evening to wind down.

 

[scrabblegirl]

Scrabblegirl, interesting that they chose two. Was it just two families in the room? I'm wondering if they've changed the show so it accommodates more. At Hogsmeade there is just one room, and it does take about twenty minutes. They filled the room with I'd guess 20 people or so--certainly a number of groups. I understand there are two or three rooms in Diagon Alley. But I kind of hope they haven't changed it much, as it was amazing...

It was our first time, so I can't compare. There was a TM standing outside of Olivander's, and we asked her where to go to buy a wand. She pointed through the door where two older gentlemen in black robes were waiting. There was no line. One man went around the corner, as if to check on things while the other one told us to wait a moment. I think they both had British accents (can't remember) but they played their parts well, meaning it was more fancy and official-sounding than my description of it!

It wasn't even 30 seconds before he told us we could go through. Then the first man was there and led us into a room. I think he told us we could take pictures but no video and no flash photography. Once we were in the room, there was a woman who "performed" the wand-choosing. She walked by and sensed magic in the two preteens, then led them up to the counter. She got a wand off the shelf and let the girl try it. The spells weren't working quite right. Then she got another wand for my nephew, but it didn't work either. Then she swapped the wands and they were a perfect match. Then the man led us out another door into the gift shop where we could pay.

There were four of us in our group and probably 4 or 5 in the other family. We were not crowded in at all. I don't know if they squeeze more people in if there is a line. I don't think it took even 10 minutes. There was more of a wait once we left to find the interactive spots.

ETA: It was very intimate and amazing. I don't think the kids missed the big group being there at all.

 

[Cedarmom]

Our experience was in Diagon Alley. We were clueless and wandered into the store. An employee chatted with us for a while and asked if we had seen the wand keeper yet. We said no so she showed us the other door and asked if we'd like to. We did. We went right in with probably 25 other people. A little girl was chosen, they did the thing, and off we went. We circled around with our kids and went in to see the keeper again. We walked right back in to the holding area, almost straight back to the room and our three were the only children in the room. We were excited, thinking one child was sure to be chosen! He actually chose both boys for the experience (we didn't know they would do that! Yay!). Each got their wands and off they went. As everyone exited the wand keeper stopped my daughter and the door guy shut the door. What followed was a mini, private wand selection for her with just the three of us. It was magical. She was so happy, and all three children were able to have the experience. I totally teared up at the thoughtfulness of those gentlemen.

 

[Chickp]

We went a couple weeks ago, and I had prepared my kids (12 and 9 years old) that they might not get picked. They weren't, but it was still really magical. and then the assistants at the wand store were great...they both took FOREVER picking wands and it was pretty cool for both of them. Oh and a tip...if you use an AMEX card you get a substantial discount buying wands! I think we saved $15 or something, they are pricey. That's park wide but we especially noticed it on the wands. They will also send the boxes back to your hotel if you are staying in the park, so you only have to carry the wands around.

Forgot to say that we got there very early and did not have to wait for the show, but it was January.

 

[damo]

When we were there they chose myself and my 88 year old mother who was sitting in a wheelchair. The wandmaster was the lady and she did an amazing job. We were all very surprised!

 

[WendyLou]

can't wait for this, My DS3 and DS10 are excited about visiting Olivanders.

 

[teukie w.]

SQUEEEEEE! my boo and i can't wait to go to the Wizarding World, and we are dragging my two oldest nephews (6 and 11) along with. This sounds like magical fun for all of us! They aren't much for thrill rides (although I am) so I suspect we will spend a lot of time exploring. We only have one day, but I got us 2-park tickets and express passes