Complete Guide to Universal Harry Potter Wands

Many people visit Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s a highlight for many, even if they aren’t the biggest Potterheads. And one of the best things to do at Universal is to get a Harry Potter wand.

There’s a lot to these wands at Universal, including interactive wands with which you can have a lot of fun. And this guide discusses everything you need to know about Harry Potter Wands at Universal!

This article lists the types of Harry Potter wands, their prices, where you can find them, and what you can do with them! I will focus only on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks in the US.

Types of Harry Potter Wands at Universal

Three types of Harry Potter wands are available at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando. The build quality and prices vary by style.

1. Replica/Toy Wands

Replica or toy wands are the most basic and cheapest of all three. While they look like the wands used in the franchise and are packed nicely, they are made of cheaper material.

2. Interactive Wands

Interactive wands are slightly pricier than toy wands as they have infrared tips that can interact with different displays in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. These are the most popular with visitors for obvious reasons! I’ll discuss later what you can do with them.

3. Collectible Wand

Collectible wands are made from higher-quality wood and come in a beautiful box. As the name suggests, this is supposed to be a collectible, and it’s not interactive. These come in a variety of core and wood combinations, as well as different characters from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises.

How Much Are Harry Potter Wands at Universal?

The prices of Harry Potter wands at Universal Studios vary by wand type mainly. Toy wands are the cheapest, whereas collectible wands are the most expensive. Here are the base prices for the wands as of January 2023:

• Replica Wands: $55
• Interactive Wands: Start at $59
• Collectible Wands: $75 or more

The above prices are pre-tax, and the total cost varies depending on where you buy. For example, universal Orlando wands are cheaper than those purchased at Universal Studios Hollywood because of lower sales tax.

As you can see, the interactive wand isn’t too expensive compared to the replica wands, which makes them worth buying for those extra four bucks.

Where Can You Buy Harry Potter Wands at Universal?

Harry Potter wands are available in multiple places at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort. You can also buy them outside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at both resorts.

At Universal Hollywood, you can buy wands at:

• Ollivanders and the Wand Carts at Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Universal Studios Store at the CityWalk
• Universal Studios Store at the entrance of the park

At Universal Orlando, you can find wands at both the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade) and stores in resorts and parks.

• Ollivanders and the Wand Carts at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley (Universal Studios Florida)
• Wands by Gregorovitch at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley (Universal Studios Florida)
• Ollivanders and the Wand Carts at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade (Islands of Adventure)
• Universal Studios Stores at resorts
• Universal Studios Stores at parks
• Universal Studios Stores at the CityWalk

Ollivanders Wand Ceremony

Should you decide to buy your Harry Potter wand at Ollivanders, Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC, you can try taking part in the wand selection experience called the Wand Ceremony. It’s a five-minute ceremony inside the store with up to 20 people where the wand chooses its owner. Sounds fun, right?

The ceremony replicates the scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, where Harry gets his wand. Only one person gets chosen by the wand, and it’s typically a kid. If you get selected, you don’t get the wand; you still have to pay for it. However, you’re not obligated to buy the same or any for that matter.

The ceremony takes place at all three Ollivanders shops. There can be queues to get into the store and for the ceremony, with wait times ranging from 10 minutes to half an hour.

By the way, you can visit the shop and buy a wand without experiencing the ceremony.

What Can You Do With Interactive Harry Potter Wands?

The interactive Harry Potter wands at Universal are hands-down the best. You can use them in the parks to recreate some magic moments from the famous movie franchise and take home the wand after as a souvenir.

The interactive displays are spread throughout the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and can be controlled with the interactive wands. In addition, you can cast spells with the wands as part of the immersive experience.

The interactive wands come with a map inside their box where the locations of the displays within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter are marked. The map is based on where you purchased the wand. So, for instance, if you bought it in Universal Hollywood, the map is of the Wizarding World in that park.

At each location, you’ll see two brass medallions on the floor next to the display that matches the symbols on the map. Also, you’ll notice the arrow showing how you should move the wand, point at the display, and say the spell at the number on the map corresponding with the location.

At some locations, the staff is present to guide visitors on how to cast the spell. So if your wand isn’t working, don’t worry. Just ask any staff member to help you.

The Secret Spell locations are not that difficult to find. At Universal Hollywood, there are over 10 locations. At Diagon Alley in Universal Studios, Florida, there are 16 locations. And at Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, there are nine locations.

Which Harry Potter Wand Is Best for You?

There are plenty of choices when buying a Harry Potter wand at Universal Studios theme parks. Aside from the type of wand, you can also choose the kind of core/wood or the character from the movie who you fancy the most. There are over 26 character wands you can choose from.

For some Potterheads, it can get confusing which wand to go with.

First of all, decide which type of wand you want. As the interactive wand is just a tad bit higher in price than the toy one, I recommend going with the interactive one. You don’t have to use it at every spell location, which may take considerable time. However, you can still have fun with it, make some videos for memories or social media, and keep it as a souvenir.

If you don’t care for the interactive experience, don’t have budget constraints, and truly consider yourself a big Harry Potter fan, you can go for the fancier collectible wand.

Choosing a wand should be easy if you have a beloved character from the Harry Potter franchise.

Another option is to choose the wand based on the Celtic Tree calendar, which corresponds with the period you were born in. For instance, the Ivy wood wand is for those born between September 29 and October 28.

The staff at the shop can tell you more about the Celtic Tree calendar and the wood or its attributes. That way, you can choose one that echos your personality. Of course, you can always ask the staff to show you different wands, so you can pick one you like the best.

Conclusion

A Harry Potter wand from Universal Studios is a great souvenir to celebrate your visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There are toy, interactive, and collectible wands available in different wood/character types. The interactive one works with displays, making it more experience-oriented.

You can buy them at many places, including at Ollivanders shop at all three locations of Wizarding World of Harry Potter. At Ollivanders, you can even take part in the wand ceremony. If you get an interactive one, you can even use it on your next trip.