If you are anything like me, you have dreamed of receiving your Hogwarts letter and living in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for as long as you can remember. The Universal Parks and Resorts truly outdid themselves when they brought the story of Harry Potter to life. The immersiveness of the Wizarding World is a whimsical and magical experience unlike any other. From the attractions, the shows, the dining, and the architecture it allows guests the ability to live out their childhood dream of becoming a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
If you are unfamiliar with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Parks and Resorts is intentional when it comes to detail. One detail they have included within the parks is the Interactive Wand which allows guests to cast spells in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade Village. With a wave of your wand and reciting of the proper spell, you will be on your way to becoming a witch or wizard!
While it is not necessary to have an Interactive Wand to enjoy the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, they add an additional magical layer to the immersive experience that Universal offers its guests, especially if you are a huge fan of the franchise. What fan wouldn’t want to recite and perform the same spells as their favorite characters?
To a muggle, an Interactive Wand works through the use of a sensor. The wand is a passive device that reflects infrared light back to a camera that tracks the wand’s movement. The spell is recorded and compared to the proper spell movement!
Remember to recite your spells properly, keep your movements small, and do not swish your wand too quickly. If you are a first-year or struggling to cast a spell, most spell locations have an expert witch or wizard nearby to assist you by correcting your form and technique. All spell casting locations can be located on the map that comes in your wand box. One side shows all the locations in Hogsmeade Village while the other side has all the locations of Diagon Alley. At each location, you will find the spell on the ground to know you are at the right location. A few of my favorite locations and spells within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter are the Flimflams Lanterns (Incendio), Scribbulus (Wingardium Leviosa), and the Mermaid Fountain (Aguamenti) in Diagon Alley as well as Honeydukes (Revelio) in Hogsmeade Village. And remember, it’s leviOsa, not levioSA!
The Ollivanders Experience is one of the most magical moments within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! You can find this experience in both Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade Village at Islands of Adventure. During the show, one lucky individual is selected to participate in the wand choosing ceremony just as Harry Potter did at the start of it all. I was fortunate enough to be chosen as the crowd participant, and it is forever a core memory. The stories and lessons told within Harry Potter have meant a lot to my family, so this moment was a special one for us to have together. To this day, I still have my wand box that even still has the dust on it. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will not want to skip out on this interactive show.
AGENT TIP: If you want to enhance your Wizarding World experience, a Hogwarts robe completes the look and the feel. It even has a slot inside your robe for your wand to be stored!
If you are on the fence about purchasing a wand or not, there are a few things to consider. Do you love Harry Potter? I can confidently say even if you are not obsessed with the franchise, there still might be a part of you that receives this spark of joy inside of you when you accomplish a spell. Next thing to consider is if you ever plan on returning to Universal Parks & Resorts. While you do not have to return to enjoy your time with it on your trip, you would get more out of your investment if you plan to return! Are you planning on purchasing a wand anyways? As of now, non-interactive wands are currently about $55 and interactive wands are about $65. If you are on the fence of which type to go towards, for $10 more you get more use out of an interactive wand since it can be used practically. Interactive wands can also be a great choice for families with younger children or guests who will not be participating in riding many of the rides but still want to experience the immersiveness of the Wizarding World!
On my most recent trip to Universal Orlando Resorts, I went with my husband and my parents. My parents have been to the parks five times, and this was my husband’s first trip. This trip we had some down time and all decided to try our hand at some spells. I can report back that all four of us got to experience an extra dose of laughter and joy that night. Whether it is your first time to the parks or you are a regular, the Interactive Wands are a different kind of mystical experience. Here you are the main character and the inner child inside each of us gets to have genuine fun! You may not get it on the first try or you may be years ahead of your peers, but it is fun to create new memories with a little bit of fun and escapism. If you are lucky enough, you will even have some delightful conversations with special friends within the Wizarding World!
I have been collecting wands from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter since my first visit. My husband created a wand display for me to have in my office and it serves as a reminder to the memories I have created over the years visiting the parks. An amazing thing about a wand as a souvenir is that you can use it again and again! It can serve as a collection and decor piece back at home. Once you take another trip to return to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can bring your wand back to the parks with you to use!
AGENT TIP: As of now, when traveling on an airplane with your wand, TSA allows you to have it in both your checked luggage and your carry on luggage.
While having an Interactive Wand is not a requirement to enjoy many other offerings in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I can confidently say it adds to an immersive experience you cannot get anywhere else.
