Interactive Wands Coming to Wizarding World Hollywood

January 28, 2016, 1:33 PM · We can confirm that Universal Studios Hollywood's Wizarding World of Harry Potter will include the interactive wand features that Universal debuted in 2014 in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade at the Universal Orlando Resort.

The interactive wands allow visitors to "cast spells" at designated spots in front of selected windows in the Wizarding World. By waving your wand in the correct pattern from the designated spot, you can trigger an animated response in the window. If you're feeling especially in the spirit, you can say the proper incantation, too, but if you're an especially talented witch or wizard, you can cast the spell silently, if you wish. ;^)

Universal Orlando's original Wizarding World opened at Islands of Adventure in June 2010 without the interactive wands, which were added to the Hogsmeade land when Diagon Alley opened next door at Universal Studios Florida four years later. The interactive wands currently sell for $48 each on the Universal Orlando website — $8 more than the "traditional" version of the wands. When you buy a wand in the parks, you can get a map that shows all of the interactive wand "hot spots" in the two Wizarding World lands.

Here's a demonstration of the interactive wands, from Harry Potter actors James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley):

And here's my clumsy, first-year-at-Hogwarts attempt, in my video review of Diagon Alley:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens officially at Universal Studios Hollywood of April 7, though we expect soft-opens of the land at least a month before that.

Replies (5)

January 28, 2016 at 3:02 PM · Also, wands from Orlando will work at Hollywood.
January 29, 2016 at 6:00 AM · If your little one absolutely must do the magic get them a non-interactive and have them stand off to the side of someone using the interactive, it'll make it look like they are doing the magic without you having to worry about them inevitably breaking the expensive wand, getting bored with it, or not being able to do the small movements to make it work. (The magic works best with small movements that little ones tend to not be able to do.)
January 29, 2016 at 7:20 AM ·
If they didn't, I'd wind up in Azkaban.
January 29, 2016 at 5:10 PM · If only they could let you use Accio....now that would be useful!

Accio car keys!
Accio TV remote!
Accio concert tickets!
Accio Waldo!....Damn it, still can't find him....

January 30, 2016 at 3:44 AM · Looks like Toverland (Netherlands) wands at the Toverhuis attraction, but with a giant Harry makeover. You need to push a small button to let objecs move. Toverhuis (Magichouse) opened in 2008. Are there more attraction function this way in the world?

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

Vacation deals

Park tickets

Subscribe by email

Subscribe by RSS

New attraction reviews

News archive