Hello there happy little people,
Today I bring you the story of how my wand chose me :3
So last October I had the luck to visit Orlando, Florida and visit The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I had never been before so it was a fantastic new experience for me. I remember walking straight past the entrance to Diagon Alley in Universal first of all. The front is made up to look like London with Kings Cross Station to take you over to Islands of Adventure. We walked straight past the hidden(ish) way in but we eventually found it. And when we did, I fell in love.
It was just as I ever imagined.
There were all sorts of shops all up and down two sides of Diagon Alley with almost every single one being a shop or an interactive area you could walk in/past. Things in the "shop windows" like the monster book of monsters move or pictures on posters wave as you pass. And in every shop, the people working there are in full character and sometimes cloaks and they are honestly the most friendliest people. But enough about Diagon Alley, I'm here to talk about my wand.
The group I was with weren't really that interested in shopping or looking around the Harry Potter World that intently so I was allowed to wander around by myself. But basically it was a rainy day and it began to rain so everyone began to scatter into little shops to seek cover. I had my little pac-a-mac with me and I'm used to the rain in Scotland so I was fine. I just began to wander in and out of all the little places to see what I could find. I ended up stumbling into this what seemed to be empty shop. I peeked around the corner and a man was standing at the end of this corridor. He noticed me and called me over saying "quick, quick, quick!". Then a small buzzer went off and he smiled at me.
"I am afraid you just missed it, you'll have to wait for the next one now"
Wondering what he was on about I looked around the little corridor and realised on the walls were wands. Everywhere. I was in Ollivanders. I turned back to the man and said I didn't mind waiting. Now when he heard my accent his eyes widened. "You have an amazing accent! Where are you from? Scotland right? Do you live near Edinburrr? I went to Scotland last year and it's such a beautiful country. Really wanna visit the high lands to see the mountains there". He was so unbelievably excited by my vague Scottish accent (I don't think it's that Scottish). So he just began to have a happy conversation all about Scotland and was so interested by my accent. Eventually an assistant came up beside him and the man began to introduce me and tell him how amazing my accent was. Now while all this is happening a large queue of people had begun to form behind me waiting to go into Ollivanders. And finally he must of had some sign that Ollivander was ready for us as he bid us all farewell and good luck in the wands choosing us. But, before he could let us go in he had to assure the whole group that I had a fantastic Scottish accent. :P
We walked through the corridor and into a little room floor to ceiling stacked with wands of all descriptions. And at the top of the stairs was Ollivander. Although he looked far more like Yen Sid from the Disney Fantasia version of The Sorcerers Apprentice. And when we were all finally in he began to walk down and peered around the group. He then got to me and locked eyes with me. "What is your name young witch". I told him my name and then followed him so I was standing across from him at his desk. Now I had begun to realise that people were filming me and that I would have to participate well and be responsive and enthusiastic about it and not shy. The first thing he did was tell me about my personality. Tell me. Not ask. I have to admit it was quite weird how he was able to know so much about me. He could tell I loved animals. That I was a fond traveller and that I want to travel to lots of places. That I was a very patient, caring type of person. And I wasn't wearing any Hufflepuff to give him any clues either. But after confirming what I was like he began to hand me an array of different wands.
When he hands you wands he gets you to do a little magic spell to see how it works and if it has chosen me. One was to water his plant to make it grow but when I tried it the plant died. Oops. But when a wand finally chooses you it is magical. A very bright light illuminates you and when he asks you to test it all the spells work. My wand ended up being a Birch wand which was absolutely gorgeous. He handed me my wand in its box and let me leave the room before the rest of the group.
And as soon as I stepped out the room I was greeted my another member of staff who congratulated me on having my wand choose me and began to tell me all about the core, how springy it was, how large the wand was and all of its magical properties.
(Photo from http://wizardingworldpark.com/wizarding-world-wands/2010/07/13/)
(Photo from http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Birch)
But when it came down to it, it was around $40. Which I wasn't that willing to spend on a wand. I felt a little let down that after all of that the full price would still of had to be paid. I would have assumed at least a discount should be added. Even if it was an un-interactive version. Even just $10 or $15 off I would have thought about buying it. Now I slightly regret it as it would have been a great souvenir of having the wand that hand chosen me but still. If anyone wants to buy me one feel free :)
So instead of buying I just took a photo of it and with it. Thank you to the kind man who took photos of me being silly with my wand.
But bad bit aside, when I walked out from the experience section and into the main shop, all the people who were in my group smiled and started congratulating me on having my wand chosen too. And I felt very happy and special as I was the girl the wand had chosen and it was such a nice feeling.
I would highly suggests you make time in your visit to see Ollivander or even just to see Diagon Alley itself. Even if you don't like Harry Potter (you're weird, just kidding) it is just such a magical place it truly is another world.
I hope you are having a magical day ;)
Hev xx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl8le1S-SBE
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