Tell me about Ollivanders

[SusanT]

OK...I'm sure I sound crazy, but I don't understand what Ollivanders really is and the hype! Someone please explain.....I just don't think my kids want a wand...they know they are not magic!

 

[MrShiny]

Basically, it recreated the scene in the first film where Harry's wand "picks" him. About 20 or so are let into the shop at a time. A single child is selected and the clerk offers them a few different wands. The first couple cause odd things to happen in the shop and the final one causes a spotlight on the selected child (much like the film lighting).

I think it begs repeating for kids unless (or until) you are lucky enough to be chosen.

It is a neat little show, as the room is also very detailed, again much like the film. Shame they couldn't create multiple shops (like when you go to Mickey's house for a picture) to get more people through. The line is always long, but that's mainly because the capacity is probably something like 60 people per hour.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Unless your kids or someone else in your party is really into Potter than Ollivander's might not be anything special to you. Sure, the wands are not magic, but the fun of Ollivander's is that it allows fans to step into Harry's world(that of course is the magic of all of the WWoHP). Ollivander's is recreated from the pages of the books, down to littlest of detail and that's what makes it special. Sure it is a short show, with often long lines and only one person is chosen to participate, but for the Potter fans, it's just a dreamed of place to be able to walk into.

All of the WWoHP is created with less focus on "attractions" and more on immerersion. The walkways, the stores, the window displays, pretty much every little thing in that area of the park is created to allow Potter fans the chance to step into the Wizarding World. That immersion into the Wizarding World is the actual attraction. Ollivander's is just a part of that immersion.

 

[hibricc]

MrShiny gave a great explanation, and I agree wholeheartedly with FairyPrincess about its appeal. WWHOP is all about "oh my God I can't believe we're really here and it's just like the books and movies!" Ollivander's is the only 'attraction' where a fan gets to participate and BE a wizard (even if it's only pretend - SHHH!).

If your kids have read the books or seen the movies, I think it's a 'must'. Do it first, then get in line for FJ.

 

[IdesOmarch]

This is so cool, Universal is so great. I can't wait to go to HP (haven't gotten to go since HP was opened.)

 

[cigar95]

. . . Ollivander's is the only 'attraction' where a fan gets to participate and BE a wizard . . . .

. . . . and I believe Ollivander is the only named character (as opposed to the unnamed Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students) to appear in the flesh in WWoHP, is he not? (This is something that I hope changes, eventually.)

Running some numbers in my head during our visit last week, it looks like the hourly capacity of the show is about 160-180 - even lower than the Pteranadon Flyers.

By being there at opening and late in the afternoon, we were able to see the show three times. One of the three times a late teen or early 20-something was chosen.

I should also add that after the show, there are usually a couple minutes where folks remain behind to take photos. There doesn't appear to be any fixed schedule that they stick to, as I saw groups allowed in as close as six minutes apart, and as long as 15.

 

[Momw/aplan]

Basically, it recreated the scene in the first film where Harry's wand "picks" him. About 20 or so are let into the shop at a time. A single child is selected and the clerk offers them a few different wands. The first couple cause odd things to happen in the shop and the final one causes a spotlight on the selected child (much like the film lighting).

I think it begs repeating for kids unless (or until) you are lucky enough to be chosen.

It is a neat little show, as the room is also very detailed, again much like the film. Shame they couldn't create multiple shops (like when you go to Mickey's house for a picture) to get more people through. The line is always long, but that's mainly because the capacity is probably something like 60 people per hour.

That's a pretty good description, MrShiny. Although I might add it is a bit more than just a spotlight on the child when they find "THE" wand. The light glows, music from the scene in the movie plays, and a gust of wind blows the kid (or adult's) hair back making the whole thing look/feel close to what happens to Harry in the movie. We were lucky enough for both of our kids to be chosen over the course of two days and it gave me chills each time to watch them experience it. They really had a blast with it!

Plus the things that go wrong when it isn't the right wand are pretty cool, too.

And there isn't any pressure on you to buy the wand if you or your child are chosen. Although I don't know how anyone could resist getting it for their kid. (Just, as I am sure, Universal intended. )

It was a lot of fun and definitely worth seeing even if you don't get selected. But like the others said, try to go there first if you're going to because it can get to be too long of a wait really fast.

 

[hbisch]

and I believe Ollivander is the only named character

Unfortunately, it is not Ollivander in the shop, it is Ollivander's assistant, he refers to himself as the wandkeeper.

And adults DO get chosen - I did, and I'm at the tail end of my 30's.

Even if your kids aren't interested in a wand, it is another piece of the immersive experience and is worth seeing at least once!

 

[Ohiodislover]

So, if you don't get "picked" you just buy any old wand? My kids are teens, and probably don't care if they get to be part of the show.

 

[cigar95]

Unfortunately, it is not Ollivander in the shop, it is Ollivander's assistant, he refers to himself as the wandkeeper.

Our wandkeeper was willing to pose for photos as "Mr Ollivander", and didn't seem to object when I addressed him as such.

So even if he's not really Ollivander, I suppose we can legitimately pretend he is.

Now if we can just get Hagrid and Dumbledore out somewhere to pose for photos . . . . . .

 

[damo]

Our wandkeeper was willing to pose for photos as "Mr Ollivander", and didn't seem to object when I addressed him as such.

So even if he's not really Ollivander, I suppose we can legitimately pretend he is.

Now if we can just get Hagrid and Dumbledore out somewhere to pose for photos . . . . . .

It'll never happen. Rowling said that there will be no specific characters in the parks being portrayed by actors.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Our wandkeeper was willing to pose for photos as "Mr Ollivander", and didn't seem to object when I addressed him as such.

So even if he's not really Ollivander, I suppose we can legitimately pretend he is.

Now if we can just get Hagrid and Dumbledore out somewhere to pose for photos . . . . . .

I don't think there is any real issue if people want to pretend the Wandkeeper is Ollivander as long as he is not officially promoted as such or introduces himself as such. The reason he can not "officially" be Mr. Ollivander is because when they were designing the WWoHP and the announcement came that there would be an Ollivander's in Hogsmeade a lot of fans questioned the extreme break in cannon as Ollivander's is located in Diagon Alley in London, not in Hogsmeade in Scotland. JKR said that she allowed there to be a Hogsmead branch office created for the park but of course it would not be run by Mr. Ollivader, as he is located only in London.

As for other official characters such as Hagrid, Dumbledore ect, as damo said, that won't happen as JKR denied it. At one point she posed the question to fans about it on her website ect and it was overwhelmingly a vote of "No characters" so that is why you only see random students, witches, wizards ect in that park.

 

[Bradsdadg]

You can see the show on YouTube. There are a few different tricks they do. You can also skip the show and just go into the gift store if you want a wand. The lines are usually crazy for the show part. Personally, i'd skip the show.

 

[cigar95]

It'll never happen. Rowling said that there will be no specific characters in the parks being portrayed by actors.

Then again, time changes things - particularly as the novelty of the WW wears off in a few years and IoA needs more to market the park. I'm sure that there are provisions in the contract for renegotiations.

As for the vote on the JKR web site, I have no doubt that the convention-going, mugglenet crowd are likely to be more purist in their approach, but the reality for IoA is that that larger public who make up a far greater portion of the park's patrons are going to be far less concerned with that sort of canonical purity.

Eventually, the park's management may reach the point that "we're the ones paying for this park, and we need something more to draw the crowds." It doesn't take an Owl in divination to realize who will be doing most of the complaining in two years when WWoHP begins to show signs of wear if the budget for maintenance isn't what they'd hope.

At such a point, the closed-door discussions could be quite interesting, though we'll never know what goes on. Declining crowds could give IoA some bargaining leverage, particularly depending on what options the contract gives them to simply remove the Potter theme entirely and repurpose the area.

In general, it's rare for "never" to truly mean "never" - more like "not unless and until changes are negotiated". And virtually anything is open for negotiation.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Then again, time changes things - particularly as the novelty of the WW wears off in a few years and IoA needs more to market the park. I'm sure that there are provisions in the contract for renegotiations.

As for the vote on the JKR web site, I have no doubt that the convention-going, mugglenet crowd are likely to be more purist in their approach, but the reality for IoA is that that larger public who make up a far greater portion of the park's patrons are going to be far less concerned with that sort of canonical purity.

Eventually, the park's management may reach the point that "we're the ones paying for this park, and we need something more to draw the crowds." It doesn't take an Owl in divination to realize who will be doing most of the complaining in two years when WWoHP begins to show signs of wear if the budget for maintenance isn't what they'd hope.

At such a point, the closed-door discussions could be quite interesting, though we'll never know what goes on. Declining crowds could give IoA some bargaining leverage, particularly depending on what options the contract gives them to simply remove the Potter theme entirely and repurpose the area.

In general, it's rare for "never" to truly mean "never" - more like "not unless and until changes are negotiated". And virtually anything is open for negotiation.

As someone who is of the "convention-going, mugglenet puriest" crowd, I'd be willing to bet you some cash, that you're probably going to be wrong. JKR is known for being set in her ways when it comes to her choices for her franchise. She was completely against any official characters being in the park from day one, regardless of fan opinion and it's extremely doubtful anything will change it. Every little thing in that park had to be personally approved by her, down to taste tasting every recipe created for the butterbeer. If she didn't like it, think it was ok cannon wise, or represented her characters to the upmost of satisfaction, it didn't happen. That is not going to change. Even in regards to fan conventions, certain aspects need to be cleared through her before they are allowed to take place using her characters. Not saying it will never happen, but having been in this fandom for well over a decade now, I'd bet against it in very good faith.

Also, the "purists" are the ones that the park is going to need to survive in the long run. The conventions alone that are being held at Universal are bringing in big bucks. Infinitus last year sold out with over 10k Potter fans in attendance, Leaky Con this July is also bringing in over 10k for an entire week. The Night of A Thousand Wizards event is also going to be a huge draw this year. These conventions drew sell out crowds every year before the WWoHP exsisted and before they were held in Orlando, they are even bigger draws now that they can be held at the park. You also add in the "purist" fans who make multiple trips per year now to a park many had never visited before, and spend thousands of dollars on merch, and they are not the crowd you want to push aside for the "public at large". And the minute some man in a fat suit shows up with a fake sounding Hagrid voice, the purists will leave.

Sorry, we'll to agree to disagree. Guess I just got slightly bothered by the "convention-going, mugglenet" crowd remark. Because yes, I am one, and yes, I agree with JKR that I don't want this beautiful park to turn into some Potterfied Disney World character breakfast. I've flown down to the park 4 times since it opened, and I'm flying back tomorrow, because I love it. Yes, changes will come, but hopefully, they will stay within the same context of theme immersion Universal has already created without making it some "theme park".

 

[Tink2Day]

fairyprincess I think I'll side with you on this one.

JK seems to set certain parameters and stick with them. Like her book series and the control she maintained to a certain extent over the movies.

I think the next step is expansion.

Also, I believe it's foolish for some who try to discount the WWOHP and the impact it has had.

It isn't going away any time soon, IMO, because the 'kids' who made HP so unbelievably popular will be having their own Potter fans over the next number of years. To me the constant attempts to make light, comment negatively and make it seem less than it is seems a little desperate.

 

[Wycombedisney]

I'm from the UK, my eldest was an extra on the Harry Potter films so we were very excited about Ollivanders. It got even better as her brother got picked out to take part and very sweetly they decided to share ownership of the wand which chose him! It was loads of fun and so different I really hope it doesn't change.

 

[damo]

Rowling holds all the cards on this park and Universal is going to follow her orders or risk having their license revoked. There are clear reasons why Universal got the rights over Disney and one of them was maintaining the integrity of her characters. She has no control over what face characters would say and do in the park and so they simply won't be given that opportunity. All we need is one Dumbledore accidentally fondling some muggle during a photo op....

 

[Love Tink]

Regarding the shop - they don't always pick kids. We went in December and I was excited when I saw that my three sons - 10, 7 and 4 - were the only kids in the room for our show (second show of the day). I was sure one or more of them would be picked.

But the wandmaker chose a 20-something woman instead. Bummer for the kids, but the woman seemed really tickled.