Ollivanders is a small dusty shop (not real dust) that is filled with wand boxes. You will experience a short unique interactive show, in which a wand chooses a wizard. It's very similar to the scene in which we see a wand choose Harry Potter. The wait to enter Ollivanders can be up to 50 mins. This is not where you actually purcahse a wand. A group of people are brought inside and the show begins. Once it's over, everyone is directed towards Dervish and Banges. This is where you can purcahse a wand. When you enter the shop, stand towards the front. You may be the lucky one to get chosen. read more

Ollivanders can be misleading because it really isn't where you would actually purchase the wand, you can access the wand shop through Dervish and Banges and avoid the incredibly long wait. Ollivanders shop is a mini show if you may. They let approximately 20 people at a time in, and the shop owner (Ollivander) choses one person to fit with a wand. The girl he chose on the ocassion we were there definitely deserved it, about 15 she was squealing from the moment she stepped in and when she was chosen she looked like Courtney Cox in that Springsteen video. He fitted her with a few wands until they found the one that fit 'her' and his helper escorted her into the other side so she could purchase it. Yep, they do make you pay for it, chosen one or not. Cute show, do it once. read more

You know the part in the Harry Potter movie where Harry tries out different wands? And when the wand doesn't fit drawers open, and things shake? But when it's the right wand there's a gust of air and magical lights and sounds? They have that here. Best of all they choose on magical person to try the wand until they find the "right" one. Unfortunately, it's ALWAYS a kid. I have a seasons pass so I've been here a dozen times and as an adult I'm jumping up and down like the nerd I am saying "pick me, pick me!" But, even in the off season when it's not crowded they never pick an adult. Sad, but true. What I wouldn't give to be 10 years old again and experience this magical place!! read more

If you think you're going to waltz into Ollivanders and get a personal wand recommendation, you are most likely going to be disappointed. Only 1 out of the 30-ish people each round will get to participate in the show. Even though I wasn't picked both times I went to Ollivanders (I was even the only one dressed up during the second time I went), I still enjoyed the show. It was also different both times I went. The routine and even the actor playing Ollivander were unique each time. If you get picked to be the audience participant, please do everyone a favor and get into it. If you are unenthusiastic, you will degrade the experience for the others who weren't lucky enough to get picked. read more

What a great show! You could see the anticipation on kids faces hoping that they would be selected for the wand fitting. We sat in line twice hoping to be selected but to no avail. Tis okay because the show ended in the store to buy the wand anyway. Very well done and pretty authentic! read more

I liked Ollivander's! It was a bit of a wait- they let in ~20 people at a time and runs every 10-15 minutes. I think we waited a little bit under an hour. They only select one person to pair with a wand. The effects were clearly mechanized (I mean, duh) but I think I was so high on happiness that I was still marveling over it. Once the show is over, they let you exit through Dervish and Banges, where the lucky boy or girl can purchase the wand that selected them, and everyone else can contemplate HP characters' wands. Note to those who have been to the HP exhibit in New York- there's a larger selection here than what is available in the NY HP shop! I'd say this is a one-time visit though. I will probably never do it again unless my potential future kids/nieces/nephews/etc. are coming for the very first time. read more

This is a must do in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Now I will say I highly recommend doing this on the Diagon Ally side and NOT the Hogwarts Side. The Hogwarts side Ollivanders is much smaller and will take you a lot longer to get through. The Diagon Ally side has multiple rooms and you can spend more time waiting in the air conditioning. Getting picked is completely random. I will say tips for getting picked would include the following 1. Don't have anything in your hands 2. Do not have a wand already anywhere someone can see You can get chosen as an adult (as I have been). I have been to this experience multiple times and I have seen small children all the way to older adults getting chose. So everyone has the chance! The last time I was there they were doing it where they picked two people from the group to go up and be chosen. Also in case it wasn't known, you do have to buy the wand if it chooses you and these are around 55.00. Well worth it though, since the wand is choosing you. read more

Don't wait here for more than 20 minutes, unless the line to Dervish and Banges is longer. You go in, rather claustrophobic like, and if you have a kid, PUSH THEM TO THE FRONT. It ups your kid's chances of being picked. However, after the demo is done you'll definitely feel obligated to buy the wand... Afterwards you go into the actual shop (connected to Dervish and Banges), where you can buy wands from: Hermione Harry Voldemort Ron Lupin Sirius Black Snape Dumbledore Ginny Neville Draco Mcgonagall Elder Wand -all of these are $30 each Dumbledore's Army -$150 for the entire set Triwizard Participant's wands -$120 for the set (Fleur's and Cedric's are beautiful. I wish they would let you buy them alone...) I remember you can get all 7 books, the magical glass ball Trelawny has, as well as the Time Turner (beautiful, but $50).... The performance from Mr. Ollivander embarrassingly brought a little tear to my eyes....it was Christmas Day, the shop was toasty, the little kid at the front was bursting with joy. Yes, Universal built the wizarding world, but props to them for putting in the magic, too. read more

While waiting in the ridiculously long line for Ollivander's Wand Shop, a witch described it as being "an interactive experience." It definitely is interactive and it definitely is an experience but is it worth waiting in line for over and hour? That depends on how much of a fan you are of either the book or waiting in lines. If you're a fan of both, huzzah! As a hardcore fan, waiting was worth it. For one, the room is air-conditioned. But also, the actor playing I guess the role of Ollivander (a much younger version) was completely in character, which to kids must be a real treat. He usually selects a child to partake in the wand selecting ceremony and that kid is subjected to an experience that is very much like the one in the first Harry Potter film. It's a small wand shop but they manage to pack in some cool magic effects. Although they don't force you, if you're the selected kid's parents...you'll likely feel obligated to buy that $30 wand. After the show, you get moved into another room that features all the wands where you can test them out and also pick up some Hedwig stuffed owl dolls. From here, you get shuffled into Dervish and Banges which features more merchandise. For what its worth, I feel like if you're waiting to shop in Dervish and Banges, you might as well wait a little longer to check out the wand ceremony. read more

I must admit, I have never waited in line to enter a Theme Park gift shop. But this certainly is worth it! When we entered for the demonstration, I was sure that the man would pick a kid to do the wand ceremony. Unfortunately, I am prone to being picked for audience participation, so of course it's me who will be the guinea pig. As I crushed all the children's dreams of picking a wand, I got to have my own wand consultation, which I must say was fun! At the end, I did end up buying the "magic" wand and it now sits on my mantle and is the most expensive piece of plastic I own. Highly recommended! read more

One of the longest lines at Harry Potter World is the one for Ollivanders. It's not a ride, but the store where magic wands are paired with their rightful owners. They select a child and run through the process of selecting the perfect wand for that individual. Is it worth waiting 45+ minutes in line to experience this 10 minute "show"? Those involved do stay in character, which adds to the experience. if you're a hard core HP fan, you'll probably love this. It not, skip the lines and walk directly into the store connected to this shop. They have wands for all of the major characters and additional ones specific to your birth date. Yes, I got caught up in the excitement and am now a proud owner of the Harry Potter wand. read more

Ollivander's should not be missed by any Harry Potter fan. We all know that Harry's adventures are inextricably tied to his wand, so we all know the importance of being paired with the perfect wand. Ollivander's is very helpful in this. And if you did not make it a point to visit here, I would wonder if you are under the Imperio curse cast by some dark wizard in cahoots with He Who Shall Not Be Named, who would go to all lengths to seize any opportunity to keep Muggles and "Mudbloods" out of the wizarding world. There is a show here, which really gets a visitor into the proper state of mind to wander Hogsmeade. You can pick up wizarding gear as well, and the wand is the most perfect souvenir. Do not let the long wait to get in deter you. Just get an excellent mug of butterbeer to help you stay cool during summer. The wait is worth it. We came in with high hopes and left very satisfied. read more

Ollivanders, makers of fine wands since 382 BC, is located inside IOA's Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and it is more of an experience than a shop. I won't go into detail about the wand selection process; others have covered it in depth. All I want to say is that the shop itself looks amazing, and I enjoyed watching the wandkeeper work his magic. I will agree that you'll probably be let down if you wait more than 20 minutes for this. As a side attraction to the regular gift shops at WWoHP, I think it is mighty impressive. As a stand-alone attraction that you've stood an hour in line for, it is going to be more frustrating than fun. Insider tip: Universal now sells wands pretty much everywhere, including online (http://www.universalorlando.com/Merchandise/Shop/Ollivanders_Wand_Shop/Collectibles.html), so you don't have to wait for Ollivanders if your just looking for your own magic stick. read more

Ollivanders was not what I thought it was going to be. I originally thought every person was fitted with a wand. Not so. They choose some cute kid(s) to be up front to get their wands. We waited an hour - I don't think it was ever lower than that. But while waiting however there is a bonus to it. If you're not by yourself, go grab that pumpkin juice or butter-beer you've been meaning to try but are too busy rushing around. Also, you go past some Quidditch supplies and the book store (with Gilderoy Lockhart's books and moving portrait). Considering the line of people are always in the way, you would have missed these. And now you have PLENTY of time to take a photo! So the show let's in about 20 at a time, then rushes you out into the CRAMPED area to pick out a wand of your own. Too cramped to look, skip it. They're all over in the other shops and outdoor carts, not to mention the big Universal store in the City Walk outside. Fun, do it once definitely - just don't expect to be blown away. And it's almost word for word from the movie complete with lame lighting and sound effects. *insert groans here* All in good fun! read more

At Ollivander's, a show is performed about every 10 minutes or so where a kid from the group gets picked by Ollivander himself to get a wand. After some magical special effects, the correct wand finally selects it's owner. The kid selected is someone of appropriate wizarding age. The only thing that would have made this better would have been if Ollivander picked an adult instead. Yeah, I was jealous. LOL. We waited about 15 minutes to get in, but it was a fun recreation of what is described in the Harry Potter books. After the show, like most theme park attractions, you exit into a store where you can buy your own wand and other merchandise. I'll give this park credit, they know how to make money. read more

Go to the show. It's kind of hidden because there is no sign, but if you see a line outside a store, that's the one. In terms of the actual store...would recommend Filch's for your souvenir shopping. read more

We came to Universal solely to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was my daughter's 14th birthday so we had a birthday button and headed off. While she didn't get chosen for the wand ceremony she had a great time picking out her wand and the staff were really awesome to her and her brother. They helped them have the whole Harry Potter experience in finding "their" wands. I have to say though that hands down the best experience we had was with Hugo. He went out of his way to be friendly and really made our day!! So, thank you Hugo!! read more

Ollivanders - Gift Shops Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I was disappointed in the "wand experience" the first time I attended at Ollivander's; not knowing what to expect, and having waited in line for 45 minutes, I was shocked to discover that only one person from the crowd is chosen to go through the "experience." If you ARE aware of that ahead of time, though, it's pretty cool, especially for fans...you get to watch someone randomly selected go through the experience of having a wand "choose" them,. and it is practically identical to what Harry experiences in the movie. The acting was very well done, and the shop and attention to detail (right down to the dust on the wand boxes) is incredible. After the show, you are shuffled into a ridiculously over-crowded gift shop to purchase your own wand, if you choose. Do it once, to say you did it, and then hit the Forbidden Journey ride :) read more

Stayed true to character. Even convinced a girl that she can take magic classes but not there because there were too many nonMagic people around. There was a big line and they sell wands in a push cart near the main Harry Potter ride, so if you go to Ollivanders for just a wand, you can avoid the line and bustle. Anyway, the entire section is amazing and really emulates everything there was in the books/movies. The displays are also great and are really entertaining. The bathrooms even had Moaning Myrtle! read more

While I did not purchase anything here, I loved walking around to see everything from the novels/films come to life in this store. read more

Ollivanders - Gift Shops Near Me - Orlando, Florida

My Ratings: Quality: 3 - Ok presentation Price: 2 - Pricey for a wand Location: 4 - Cool place but small! Parking: 4 - Parking lot (you pay!) Service: 3 - Good Speed: 3 - Good Overall: Its nice to check out but too crowded. Not really worth the wait! My Opinion/Story: We went in to check it out and see the show. It's not really a big show but comes with some little magic tricks. They could do better! read more

This is a line worth waiting in. It moves pretty quickly, and it's just something a true HP fan should experience. It really makes you FEEL the magic... it isn't a ride, it's more of an experience. You go right from the 'show' to the store, so you can purchase a wand if you like. So worth seeing, it was awesome IMO. read more

Before coming to IOA, I cheated and "Youtubed" what Ollivanders was like. Regardless, when we went to IOA, I waited in line for over an hour for this. I was so amped to get a wand. *adult nerd alert.* I was literally three people from the door and I decided to "Check-in" to Ollivanders - why? Because that's just awesome. But then, my bubble was immediately burst. Ollivander only picks ONE person. Why on earth, am I standing in line now for the show that I already saw on youtube? Why on earth does it take so long when they only pick one person? Needless to say, I'm not a kid, and I'm not in the front row because that's mean to the little ones AND, I didn't get picked. The only way I'd go into Ollivanders again is if it's raining and I'm the only one in line. I gave it three stars because the show was cute but is it worth the wait on a hot day at IOA? - No. A future idea for IOA would be to make the attraction larger so that they could have 'multiple' Ollivanders and more people can get chosen. I bet it'd increase their "wand sales" too. :) I did not buy one afterwards because I was being a brat. If I had chosen, I guarantee I would have bought one. read more

This is a short show where they select someone from the audience to pair with a wand. They let in 27 people and only 1 is selected. We were thrilled as my youngest daughter was selected. They go through the antics and eventually select the wand for the young wizard. In the end they send her off and she can purchase the wand in the gift shop. If you are into the HP series, this is a must see. The line is very long, nearly as long as waiting for one of the roller coasters. I think we waited about 45 minutes. read more

Oh man what a Fantastic experience!!!!! Worth waiting in line for! I loved the presentation in Hogsmeade it was like we were in the movie!! The child in me was bursting with excitement !!! read more

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If you are a Harry Potter fan then you will love this. You will feel like you are in the book when someone is picking out there first wand. A must for Potter Fans. I am really glad they took the time to add this attraction read more

-The only downside I felt was the wait for Olllivanders. The entire presentation took maybe 5 minutes but the wait was 25 mins. -The Owl Post/Wand shop was PACKED. The placement of the wands is not the best because of people walking through and being unable to check out all the wands. I did however get a wand that I liked. Sirius Black :D -If you have the premium annual pass, you will get 20% merchandise and that includes wands! :D -Heads up, Ollivanders does NOT carry every wand read more

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I visited mid-July on a Saturday around 1pm in 2013. First thing in the morning the line isn't long but it gets progressively longer as the day wears on. Even though I had seen YouTube videos of it, I still wanted to go just to say I had been there. If you're on a time schedule, you might want to skip the queue, but we only waited about 25 minutes. SPOILERS: The Ollivander impersonator "chooses" a child of approximate Hogwarts age (only, he chose twins for my showing) and after asking which is your "wand-arm" and when your birthday is, re-enacts the wand choosing scene from the first book/film with 1 or 2 failed attempts at wands until the 3rd one illuminates the lucky individual with a spotlight and the music when Harry's wand chooses him in the film. Afterwards you are ushered into the adjoining Dervish and Banges which you can enter without going through the show. The wands are specialized by birth month or character, but all are around $30 or more. Even if your wand "chooses" you, you still have to pay for it. The experience was well worth it because I admittedly got tingles, and though I was disappointed to not be chosen, I have not given up hope. read more

It's hard for me to understand why this is such a popular exhibit. You wait a long time for watch a 3-5 minute presentation. What you watch is exactly the same thing that Harry goes through to pick his wand in the first movie. While this was nice to experience, I never want to see this again. I wanted to buy a wand, but the stor was extremely busy, so I just bought a wand from one of the carts in the park. read more

Just loved experiencing this attraction Just walking through the shop itself is amazing but to watch the wand fitting was the icing on the cake. You can not miss the experience of Ollivanders! Must see for the kids as well as adults. read more

It's worth the row that is to be done if you have children between 4-15 years, or if they are HP fans. The atmosphere of the place transports you and you go out to the store then with hunger of buy it all, so beware of emotions. If your child is between 10-13 years is that it is in the first row and maybe to be selected for testing of selection of his wand. read more

You can't buy a wand here. It's a show. No one shows you how to buy a wand. Waited an hour. If you want to buy a wand, go visit the wand cart located near the castle. They have all the character wands out on display. By talking to the salesclerk, I learned that Neville Longbottom's wand outsells Draco. Totally awesome. read more

Fun show! Videotaping it will not work though - it's very low light. Be prepared to get there early because this is a main attraction in the WW of HP. read more

I did not have a pleasant experience. I have been waiting to go to Ollivander's and get fitted for a wand siince they started talking about building the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The second we went in, I was talking excitedly about how I absolutely could not wait. Well, I was severely disappointed. We waited in line for over an hour and a half. I did not know that about 25 of us would be let in and only one would be chosen to be fitted for a wand or I wouldn't even have bothered. After the girl was fitted for her wand, they ushered us all out into the actual wand shop that was so crowded you could barely move. In my opinion, patrons should save themselves the ridiculous line and just watch or read about Harry being fitted for his wand; it's basically the same experience. read more

You will find Ollivanders in Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. Queue up and the staff will take groups of folks in a time. You are guided into a back room and then "Ollivander" selects someone from the crowd to have a wand assessment. Basically a show where the wand chooses the wizard. As you can expect, they choose a kid. And, hey, why not. What a special thing for a kid. He also gives a bit of a story/explanation along the way, as well. Then you are ushered out where you can see and purchase different wands. I thought this was also Ollivanders. But it appears I was mistaken and it is actually Dervish and Banges. Well, then! Thanks, Yelp, for the information. While the tour is cute, it is something you don't need to see. read more

They've got the Harry Potter acting shtick down pat; exactly like the movie. Neat experience if your child wants a wand. They take 27 people max but only select one for the pairing- everybody else watches. read more

Great cast of people. Everyone there is helpful and very patient. Buying a $50 wand is pretty expensive. The stations don't do alot

Good if you need to kill time, but not exactly a must see in my opinion. If you're a Harry Potter fan extradorinare add on 1 to 2 stars. hahah The line moves kind of slow, but probably nice to witness once so you know what all the fuss is about. read more

Like someone else said, it's a short show but so worth it if you're a big Harry Potter fan. It's not even on the universal map. It's not took long of a wait too. read more

We knew what this was going in, and waited for the line to lighten up. It helped that we went in October, and we waited towards the end of the day. We only had to wait through one presentation, and then it was our turn. We were first in line, and this was the ONE thing that my 12 year old daughter wanted. I don't know if it was because we were in front, or because they could see the look on her face, but she was chosen. If your a big Potter fan, and you get chosen, it could be the best part of the trip. My daughter is still talking about it, and she was grinning ear to ear. Also, we could not find the wand that "chose" her for sale in the shop, it appears to be a different one. read more