A Guide to Wands at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Studios)

Easily one of the most magical experiences we've ever encountered at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure is the wand sorting ceremony done in the Harry Potter areas of the theme park. We had each bought interactive wands before; I have Hermione's from our very first visit, and Cash received Harry's for Christmas. When my mom came to visit, she wanted to do something special for Cash and buy him his own personalized wand.

Wands on display in Ollivander's

The Wand Ceremony

In the books and movies, it is not the wizard that chooses the wand, but rather, the wand chooses the wizard. The wand ceremony at Universal Studios is designed to recreate the experience that a wizard experiences when they buy their first wand. 

There are places to attend the ceremony in both parks. In Diagon Alley (Universal Studios), it is at Ollivander’s Wand Shop. If you would like to purchase a particular wand, I would recommend going to Ollivander’s because their selection is much more extensive. For the ceremony, we went to the wand shop in Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure) because we were hoping for a shorter line, and also that's where we happened to be when Cash decided he couldn't stand the anticipation any longer. We didn't have to wait very long at all.

If you hope to be chosen, be sure you are not already holding a wand when you go to the ceremony. Each ceremony holds about 25 people, and they only choose one person from the crowd to participate. The first time we went through, Cash didn't get picked. He begged to try again, and the second time through, we were in luck. They definitely do not only pick children, so if you're a grown-up fan, do not hesitate to give it a try!

Description of the wand type that chose Cash

Pro tip: If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, first visit to the park, or any other special occasion, you can get a button from guest services or at the desk of your hotel that says that. If you really want someone in your party, in particular, to be picked, I would recommend that they display one of these buttons clearly on their clothing. It’s not a guarantee, but it certainly can’t hurt!

We were ushered into a small, dark room with shelves filled with wands from floor to ceiling. A wizard was standing on the steps, waiting to greet us and perform the ceremony. I won’t give too many details because I want to leave some magic for you to experience yourself. I will say that each ceremony we saw (even though they were back-to-back) was a little different, which greatly added to the authenticity of the experience.

It's really difficult to get pictures because there are strict rules about no flash photography, and it's pretty dim inside. I was able to video the actual part where Cash received his wand with no lights. I absolutely teared up a little. It was such a special moment. 

After the ceremony, they ushered us off to the side and let us choose whether or not to purchase the wand that chose Cash in the ceremony. Of course, we said yes. Interactive wands are sold for just under $50, and that's what this is. Non-interactive is only about $5 cheaper, so I would always recommend going with the interactive anyway, even if you're only using it in the park for the day. 

A Few More Details About The Wands:

The wands are really beautifully made and come in keepsake quality boxes. The interactive wands have a sensor in them that allows you to do "magic" throughout both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Each interactive wand comes with its own map, with Hogsmeade on one side and Diagon Alley on the other, showing you where all the stops are that allow you to perform magic. You can follow your map or simply look for little brass signs on the ground with the name of the spell and the wand movement needed to perform the spell. You can turn on and off lights, set off fireworks, make it rain, and do all sorts of other delightful tasks. The wands also have an unofficial lifetime warranty. The sensor on our first wand (which I purchased three years ago) became too scratched up to perform well. I simply took it to one of the wand shops, and they repaired it for me, free of charge, no questions asked.

My mom with her Luna Lovegood wand

You can choose to go to a wand ceremony, and if you're chosen, receive a personalized wand of your own, or you can choose to buy the same wand as one of the Harry Potter characters. There are many more options than just Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They offer the wands of everyone from Luna Lovegood to Mad-Eye Moody to Seamus Finnegan. They also have Voldemort, and generic death eater wands that are very impressive. Each of the wands is designed to match the one that each character used in the movie. If you have a more obscure character in mind, you'll want to go to Ollivander's in Diagon Alley, as they have the biggest selection.

If you cannot afford an interactive wand, or you already have an interactive wand and maybe need something for a smaller sibling, I highly recommend what they call the practice wand. They don't have these on the shelves, but you can ask for them at the counter. It is a slightly thicker wand that lights up at the end when you move it. The cost is closer to $25-30, and it came in a felt bag that we now use to transport all of our wands. We love playing with this one after dark and pretending to perform the "Lumos" spell.

Speaking of wand holders, you can find some ahead of time on Etsy. You can make your own, or you can buy a robe in the parks (costing around $100) that has a wand pocket built in. There is also a neat little artisan shop in The Lost Continent, the island next to Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure, that sells handmade leather pouches that would work great for a wand holder. They are not marketed as that, but a lot of people use them for that purpose. 

Bottom line: If you buy one Harry Potter souvenir at all, this is the way to go.