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Ollivanders Experience in Diagon Alley

Ollivanders Experience in Diagon Alley

An Attraction in Universal Studios Florida

Last updated: December 23, 2024

At a Glance

Ollivanders, located in Diagon Alley in the books and films, somehow sprouted a branch location in Hogsmeade at IOA. Potter purists pointed out this misplacement, but the wand shop stayed put with J.K. Rowling's blessing and became one of the more popular features of The Wizarding World. It also became a horrendous bottleneck, with long lines where guests roasted in an unshaded queue. In the Diagon Alley version, Ollivanders assumes its rightful place, and with much larger digs.

The actual show inside is identical to the original outpost in script and special effects. Every few minutes, following a script from the Potter books, a wand selection show takes place where a random customer (often a child dressed in Potter regalia) is selected to take part in a "wand choosing" ceremony. Usually just one person in each group gets to be chosen by a wand, though occasionally siblings are selected together. This is one of the most truly imaginative elements of The Wizarding World: A Wandkeeper sizes you up and presents a wand, inviting you to try it out; your attempted spells produce unintended, unwanted, and highly amusing consequences. Ultimately, a wand chooses you, with all the attendant special effects. The wands presented in the ceremony will interact with shop windows throughout the Wizarding World.

After the presentation, guests exit into a greatly enlarged gift shop, where interactive wands are available for purchase (about $70), along with non-interactive replica wands (about $50) for a vast variety of characters, and toy "learner" wands (about $25) for little wizards.

Interactive Wands and Spell Casting Locations

Interactive wands are available in 13 “Ollivanders Original” styles inspired by the Celtic calendar; interactive wands wielded by a variety of characters (including Harry, Hermione, Dumbledore, Sirius Black, and Luna Lovegood) are also available. The full selection of wands is only found in the two Ollivanders shops; stores outside of the Wizarding World only sell non-interactive wands.

Medallions embedded in the ground designate a couple dozen locations split between the two Wizarding Worlds, where hidden cameras in storefront windows can detect the waving of these special wands and respond to the correct motions with special effects both projected and practical. You might use the swish-and-flick of “Wingardium Leviosa” to levitate one object or the figure-four “Locomotor” spell to animate another.

Wizards wander around the area to assist novices and demonstrate spells (though they may not loan their wands), but queues to trigger certain effects can grow to a dozen deep at peak times. A map provided with each wand purchase details the location and movement for most effects, but there are some secret ones to uncover on your own. (Hint: one is in Scribbulus' window, and another in the Slug & Jiggers storefront.) Look at your map under the UV lights in Knockturn Alley for another surprise.

Note that the price of the interactive wands includes unlimited activations of the hidden effects; you don't have to pay to "recharge" your wand on subsequent visits, or even replace a battery. If you encounter a spell-casting location with a sign saying it “currently has an anti-jinx in place,” just move along to the next one; that's Potter-speak for “it's broken.”

Current Standby Wait Time
Park Closed
Guest Overall Rating
Our Overall Rating
Grade School
Teens
Young Adults
Over 30
Seniors
Location
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida
Duration
7 min
Child Swap?
No
Minimum Height
None
Queues
  • Standby
Accessibility
  • May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV

Touring Tips

When To Go
After riding Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
Loading Speed
Slow-Moderate
Early Park Admission?
Yes
Wait per 100 People Ahead
12 min

Check out the self-sweeping broom (shades of Fantasia?) while waiting for the show. To increase your odds of being picked, be a cute kid, stand up front, and make eye contact. If your young ’un is selected to test-drive a wand, be forewarned that you’ll have to buy it if you want to take it home.

Other attractions you might like

Users who like Ollivanders Experience in Diagon Alley, generally also like:

Islands of Adventure

The Cat in the Hat

Islands of Adventure

The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!

Universal Studios Florida

Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast

Universal Studios Florida

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Wait Times

Here's roughly how many minutes you'll wait for Ollivanders Experience in Diagon Alley at each Universal Studios Florida Crowd Level.

1
20 to 20
2
20 to 20
3
20 to 20
4
20 to 20
5
20 to 20
6
20 to 20
7
20 to 20
8
20 to 20
9
20 to 20
10
20 to 20
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