Skip Ollivander's?

[ClaireinTN]

We have just one day at WWoHP (we are staying on-site so will have early entry, but during Christmas week, so super-crowded) and I am trying to decide what to do about Ollivander's. My understanding thus far is that if we want to see the show, we need to do that first thing. But is the show worth it? My kids are all teens (youngest is 15) and I am not sure that this show is worth the time we could be spending somewhere else. Will we regret skipping it? I suspect that we will be going back in a year or two (usually our time-table for Disney trips) and I am tempted to head straight for Forbidden Journey on this trip. Also, because so much of the "coolness" is in the details, I want to not be rushing people.

Advice?

 

[kacaju]

we just came back from there and my dd17 got picked to have the wand choose her!
It is not a long *show* and not all that great if you are not the one picked (IMO) We had early entry for 2 days and the 1st day we rode FJ twice and then did the other 2 coasters all by 9am The second day we waited online for Ollivanders and that took the whole hour.

The show itself...you walk into the small store, he picks someone and then has them try to cast a few spells until the *right* wand is found. then that is it and they herd you into the gift store which is super crowded.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Whether or not it's worth it I think really depends on the level of Potter nerd you are. For myself and my friends, we are at the top of the nerd pile so to speak, so there is no way in heck we are not visiting Ollivanders every time we go. For us, it's not about getting picked(although I have been picked and so did one of my friends), but rather it's about going into the shop. That probably doesn't make much sense, but it really is the atmospehere and just the whole "wow it's Ollivanders" vibe we go for.

I'd say if you are not really that into Potter or just slighty into it, then if the line is short go, if not you might think it a waste of time.

 

[mesaboy2]

we just came back from there and my dd17 got picked to have the wand choose her!
It is not a long *show* and not all that great if you are not the one picked (IMO) We had early entry for 2 days and the 1st day we rode FJ twice and then did the other 2 coasters all by 9am The second day we waited online for Ollivanders and that took the whole hour.

The show itself...you walk into the small store, he picks someone and then has them try to cast a few spells until the *right* wand is found. then that is it and they herd you into the gift store which is super crowded.

It's basically a live reenactment of the Ollivander's scene from the first book and movie. Cute, but not awesome.

 

[patrickpiteo]

As stated above.. Cute but not awesome.. If you didn't use early entry forget it. Unless you want to wait hours..

 

[Xscream]

The wait was about 45 minutes towards the end of the day when we were there. DW wanted a break so she stood in line while we did some other things. DS10 was picked to have a wand chosen for him. Cute show, but we didn't think it was worth a long wait.

 

[MikeOhio]

The problem with HP World is that there isn't that much to do so I would not skip anything. Just get there at opening, see Olivander's first and you will still have less than a 15minute wait for FJ

 

[nhrenee]

Just get there at opening, see Olivander's first and you will still have less than a 15minute wait for FJ

I agree with this. Your other option is to try and catch one of the last shows of the day. As others have mentioned, the show is only about 10 minutes long. But the details in the shop are amazing!

 

[neoavatara]

I liked it...but I would certainly not wait more than 20 minutes for it, unless you kid is a HUGE fan that MUST see the show. It is exactly like the scene in the first movie, and is probably really memorable if you are lucky to be picked by Ollivander. But otherwise, meh.

I will say...may five year old was NOT picked, and still loved it.

 

[Zim]

I was meh about the show too. Fortunately we had early access and didn't have a 45 minute line to wait in. If I were a teen, given the choice between a 45 wait for a 5 minute wand show or a second wait in the FJ ride, I'd pick the ride every time.

The wand show might have been more impressive if they'd done a little more with the special effects. As it was it was little more than a goofy haunted house special effect when the chosen person waves the first wand. Our general feeling walking into the wand shop after the demo was simply relief we hadn't waited in a line for that.

And remember... you can go around the other side of the building to access the wand / gift shop without the show...there are some pretty cool displays in there along with the merchandise.

 

[ejhernandez]

The room u go into is pretty cool...thats it. Unless ur picked, its not worth more than a 5-10 minute wait.

We had early entrance, as we walked by my husband asked how long was wait, it was about 10 minutes...so, we did it. When we got out (and looked at eachother as if we just got robbed) we dashed threw the first exit we saw.

Don't go into the "wand store", u'll get caught up...and lose track of time. From there we dashed to FJ, and pretty muched walked straight into the ride.

So, I say do it...u paid to see everything, so see everything...no regrets!

 

[beachgirl1011]

Hi We are suprising my dd (10) next week with a suprise trip (Fri-Mon) to Universal....specifically Harry Potter (she is a SUPER FAN)...since we are staying on site (HRH) and she will definately want to do the whole experience of Ollivanders...would we head straight there one morning and do that and then do the Forbidden Journey ride? Or should we do Ollivanders one morning then Forbidden Journey the next morning? (Hoping she is tall enough for it!!)
Thanks

 

[AnjieNet]

Hi We are suprising my dd (10) next week with a suprise trip (Fri-Mon) to Universal....specifically Harry Potter (she is a SUPER FAN)...since we are staying on site (HRH) and she will definately want to do the whole experience of Ollivanders...would we head straight there one morning and do that and then do the Forbidden Journey ride? Or should we do Ollivanders one morning then Forbidden Journey the next morning? (Hoping she is tall enough for it!!)
Thanks

From what I've read, if doing both the same day, go to Ollivander's first then head to Forbidden Journey.

You might want to measure your DD before you go just to make sure she's tall enough and isn't disappointed if she can't ride. You don't have to tell her the reason for the measuring.

 

[darthmoon]

Don't listen to everyone that says to do Olivanders first. I listened to this advice and it was the worst decision I made our entire time in Orlando. Following this advice caused us to spend and additona 1 1/4 hour in line for these 2 attractions.

We didn't have early entrance but were allowed in at 8:30 instead of 9:00. We went straight to WWOHP and got in line for Olivanders. Mind you that there are not any signs to say how long the wait is at Olivanders but the line was very long. I noticed the ride time for FJ was about 25 minutes. As we waited the 1 hour in line for Olivanders I watched FJ wait time increase to 95 minutes. By the time we got out of FJ the line for Olivanders was shorter than when we entered first thing in the morning and the line stayed steady at what appeared to be 45 minutes the rest of the day.

We did Olivanders because my daughter loves HP but she was underwhelmed to say the least at the show.

My suggestion is that unless you're there first thing and the Olivanders wait is under 15 minutes (meaning the line is still in between the 2 buildings and has not gone out into the main part of Hogsmeade then go directly to FJ because any increase in the wait time for Olivanders will be much less than the increase in the wait time for FJ.

 

[mesaboy2]

Don't listen to everyone that says to do Olivanders first. I listened to this advice and it was the worst decision I made our entire time in Orlando. Following this advice caused us to spend and additona 1 1/4 hour in line for these 2 attractions.

We didn't have early entrance but were allowed in at 8:30 instead of 9:00. We went straight to WWOHP and got in line for Olivanders. Mind you that there are not any signs to say how long the wait is at Olivanders but the line was very long. I noticed the ride time for FJ was about 25 minutes. As we waited the 1 hour in line for Olivanders I watched FJ wait time increase to 95 minutes. By the time we got out of FJ the line for Olivanders was shorter than when we entered first thing in the morning and the line stayed steady at what appeared to be 45 minutes the rest of the day.

We did Olivanders because my daughter loves HP but she was underwhelmed to say the least at the show.

My suggestion is that unless you're there first thing and the Olivanders wait is under 15 minutes (meaning the line is still in between the 2 buildings and has not gone out into the main part of Hogsmeade then go directly to FJ because any increase in the wait time for Olivanders will be much less than the increase in the wait time for FJ.

I'll take some umbridge to that. Not Delores, though.

Ollivander's before FJ is usually a better choice. It is certainly the case that if you have EE you should do O's first. It is often the case you should do it first even if you don't have EE. My rule of thumb is that if Ollivander's is 45 minutes or less (for a first-timer) or 30 minutes or less (for a repeat visitor), do it. If you're not sure how long the wait is, ask a TM. The FJ queue is interesting, mostly air-conditioned, and has other options to reduce the wait time (single-rider, castle tour). Ollivander's has none of that. And a wait in the FJ main queue will feel much quicker than the same wait for O's.

Sorry this was not the case for you. It is usually sound advice. The next best option for O's is late in the day about 30-60 minutes before park close.

 

[darthmoon]

I'll take some umbridge to that. Not Delores, though.

Ollivander's before FJ is usually a better choice. It is certainly the case that if you have EE you should do O's first. It is often the case you should do it first even if you don't have EE. My rule of thumb is that if Ollivander's is 45 minutes or less (for a first-timer) or 30 minutes or less (for a repeat visitor), do it. If you're not sure how long the wait is, ask a TM. The FJ queue is interesting, mostly air-conditioned, and has other options to reduce the wait time (single-rider, castle tour). Ollivander's has none of that. And a wait in the FJ main queue will feel much quicker than the same wait for O's.

Sorry this was not the case for you. It is usually sound advice. The next best option for O's is late in the day about 30-60 minutes before park close.

No umbrage intended!

It's a wonderful place and just trying to give more food for thought based on my experiences.

 

[Seeker615]

We did Ollivanders in the middle of the afternoon with about a 20 minutes wait. The queue is terribly hot. I wish they would at least install a misting fan or some kind of cover.

The room the show is in is small and it is hard to see if you are stuck in the back. The show we saw two little sisters were picked and they were so cute. The first girl waved her wand and when the stuff on the shelf moved she proclaimed very loudly. (This is really a magic wand!) It was too cute.

Overall the show is very short but cute. If you a a big Potter fan I would do it once.

 

[wendyt_ca]

Is the show done several times throughout the day?

 

[mesaboy2]

No umbrage intended!

It's a wonderful place and just trying to give more food for thought based on my experiences.

It's all good.

Is the show done several times throughout the day?

Continuously every 10 minutes or so beginning one hour before park open (for those with early entry) all the way to park close. The queue to enter will close before the park though.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I watched the Ollivander's show on You Tube and decided right away that I am definitely not standing in line 20 or 30 minutes to see that show. I didn't think it was that great and I am going with 3 kids. If one got picked the other 2 would be jealous about it. Not worth it to me.