Just about every Harry Potter™ fan has imagined what it would be like to be able to cast some of the spells that are taught at Hogwarts. If only you’d received that acceptance letter! Well, now you can learn spell casting when you visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ –no letter necessary!
| WHERE CAN I |
| PURCHASE A WAND? |
Like all first years on their way to Hogwarts™, you’re going to need a wand!
There are several locations in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ – Diagon Alley™ and Hogsmeade™ where visitors can purchase these special interactive wands. Interactive wands can be purchased at Olivanders in both the Hogsmeade™ and Diagon Alley™ locations, or at Wands by Gregorovitch™ at its singular location in Diagon Alley™.
Wands are also available for purchase at the Universal Stores at the entrance to each park and CityWalk.
Olivanders, Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C., has a wand for every aspiring witch or wizard. Both the Hogsmeade™ and Diagon Alley™ locations offer the same Wand-choosing ceremony, but the Diagon Alley location is larger, and much of the wait is inside. Enter the store on Diagon Alley™ and wander through the corridors, stacked floor to ceiling with boxes of wands. A small group of visitors will enter the Wandkeeper’s chamber where one witch or wizard (usually a child) will be chosen to be part of the show. The Wandkeeper will ask some questions about the young wand shopper and then allow the child to try a few wands out by casting various spells. The Wandkeeper is always able to match a wizard to a wand. The wand that is used in the show will be available for purchase, but there are many other wands available.
| HOW DO I |
| CAST SPELLS? |
First, be sure you purchase a wand with a gold sticker on the box. This is an indication that it is, in fact, an interactive wand. All interactive wands purchased at Olivanders or Wands by Gregorovitch will include a two-sided map of spell locations. Diagon Alley™ and its various corners is found on one side, and Hogsmeade™ is on the other side.
Each spell location on the map has a corresponding brass marker on the ground near where the spell is to be cast. Both the map and the marker will have the name of the spell on it and the movements for casting the spell. Position yourself behind the marker with the arrow pointing away from you. Make sure your wand is facing your target, and give it a wave using the directed movements.
Of course, the wizards of old aren’t going to make this quest easy for you. There are a few spell-casting spots that aren’t on the map! There are three, to be exact. These three locations can be found in the same part of Diagon Alley™. Two of these secret spell casting locations are in the windows of Slug and Jiggers Apothecary, which is actually on Diagon Alley™. The other is the farthest right window of Scribbulus Writing Implements which can be found on Horizont Alley. Keep your eyes open for the four red dots in the windows of those stores to cast those secret spells. They usually work if you move your wand in a triangle fashion.
And, because wizards can be very secretive, some of the spells are written in invisible ink! Those markings on the map can only be seen in Knockturn Alley. If you must ask one of the wizards or witches on Diagon Alley for help with these hidden markings, be prepared for a lesson on dark wizards and magical history!
While you are on Knockturn Alley stop into Borgin and Burkes. Put your ear against the Vanishing Cabinet and see if you can tell what Draco Malfoy is trying to send from Hogwarts!
If you need any assistance, there are plenty of witches and wizards close by. All you have to do is ask. But, if you see a sign that says there is currently an “anti-jinx in place,” you’ll need to check back to see when the Ministry of Magic has removed it before you can try again.
HAVE FUN!
