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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade (Orlando): Part 2

  • Thread starter Thread starter Drew
  • Start date Start date Mar 25, 2010
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atigeg

atigeg

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,121
I made sure to see Ollivanders as much as possible during the hotel-only previews and soft openings because I figured that's what would happen. I wanted to get to see all the different spell "effects." I doubted either DH or I would ever get chosen since we're adults, but we somehow managed to be the only two in there one day right before closing (this was back when it closed at noon) so he got selected. That's an especially neat memory now, and he loves his wand. Kinda funny since he's not particular a Potter geek, but I'll admit it's cool and I love the dust on the Ollivanders box.
 
avadakedavra

avadakedavra

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  • Jul 6, 2010
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I actually disagree, my first time in Ollivander's, where I watched, I enjoyed every moment.

As for people saying that it is 10 or younger, uh... signature, kids. I know I may not look 23, but I am. I certainly don't look ten though. I've been selected TWO of three times and that's saying something, or so I think! I don't think they would change it. The two kids I saw selected were so not into it and both complained loudly once in the Owl Post. I'm certain not EVERY kid is like that, but it seemed that many lacked that enthusiasm that I usually see from that age range at, say, Disney? Perhaps it was just my two experiences, but that was the long and short of it.

PS. Thanks to those who gave me kudos for my photos I posted a few pages back. I'm glad you enjoyed them!

EDIT: Removed my signature because staff had issues with it and I can't be bother to find out what was so wrong. Regardless, there was an image of myself getting my wand which sits a few feet away from me. I also have a video of my second time getting to do it if someone really needs to have evidence that someone who is twenty three can be selected.
 
Last edited: Jul 6, 2010
C

crazyidea

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,123
I asked in spoilers but figure it doesn't hurt to put here.... Does FJ feel like the Harry Potter movies feel? Or is it more like a Harry Potter haunted house?
 
duelingdragons12

duelingdragons12

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,124
crazyidea said:
I asked in spoilers but figure it doesn't hurt to put here.... Does FJ feel like the Harry Potter movies feel? Or is it more like a Harry Potter haunted house?
Click to expand...

FJ is an amazing experience... it feels like you were draged into the movies in a way. Every aspect is on par (if not better) than the movies themselves making it a truly emersive experience
 
C

crazyidea

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Okay cool...I was excited it highlighted some more frightening aspects of it, but was afraid that would turn it into a advanced haunted castle ride. Nice to hear it is able to capture the same feeling.
 
mantaguy

mantaguy

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,126
retroeric said:
I'm sorry, but I cannot think of a single theme park attraction anywhere in the world that offers less reward for waiting than Olivander's. Not only are the waits up to 90 minutes, there's no official queue, and the wait is all outdoors in the hot sun. All this for a predictable 5 minute presentation (that you can watch in sparkling HD on Youtube) and the chance to get selected (about a 5% chance at that).
Click to expand...

I agree that it is definetely not worth anything past 30 minutes, however I disagree that it is predictable. I'd watched every video on youtube of it prior to going, and I still saw a new effect. from what I can tell there are at least 7 effects, not including the lights and wind finale, that are chosen apparently randomly in pairs. That certainly adds some re-watch value. This is the place where the magic comes to life in the WW, and I'd gladly wait 30 minutes for it, even if I don't get picked.
 
H

hummingbird

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,127
mantaguy said:
I guess everyone decided to go to the WWoHP on July 4th eve. DX
Click to expand...

4th of july night the wait for FJ was only 30 mins at around 8:30
 
atigeg

atigeg

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,128
avadakedavra said:
EDIT: Removed my signature because staff had issues with it and I can't be bother to find out what was so wrong. Regardless, there was an image of myself getting my wand which sits a few feet away from me. I also have a video of my second time getting to do it if someone really needs to have evidence that someone who is twenty three can be selected.
Click to expand...
I have photographic proof of someone a LOT older than their 20s being chosen right here: http://bit.ly/dBFRo7
It also has photos of all the Ollivanders "exclusive" wands. Granted, hubby and I were the only ones in the store at the time but we saw other adults picked in our many visits (although it was mostly kids).

SPOILER ALERT: DESCRIPTION OF EFFECTS BELOW



We saw five different effects, not counting the last one where the wand picks you, in our many Ollivanders visits during the hotel previews and softs. Here are the four I remember: All the bells ringing when you're only supposed to ring one, wand boxes falling from the shelves (very realistic...hubby ducked!), killing flowers when you are supposed to water them, and a lightning effect. I'll post the last one when my mushy pre-coffee brain remembers it later.
 
C

Colleendoll

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  • Jul 6, 2010
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atigeg said:
FJ's line was much longer than usual for an evening tonight, but it was easy to see why. It was raining steadily, so everyone who was there was either in the castle, 3 Broomsticks (which was virtually empty at the same time last night), or getting soaked in the Ollivanders line. Made it look crowded when it was really a limited number of people but all crammed into three spaces. We had a good meal but didnt bother with FJ...got out just before the HUGE downpour.

On a side note, I heard the weirdest TM conversation ever while in 3 Broomsticks. One had come to our table to take my tray when he was interrupted by another who asked, "Where's the closest place someone can use their band?" (meaning the food band.) First TM says, "You can't use it anywhere in this area," and second one says, "I know that, but what's the closest place?" First one says, "Mel's Drive in." I thought I must have heard him wrong! Second one says, "Where's that?" and first one said, "Over by Beetlejuice." At that point it ended or my brain might have exploded.
"
Click to expand...

I had a similar experience in JP. We were near the entrance from JP to WWOHP the day before the Grand Opening. There were about 5 TMs guarding that entrance all standing together. I asked one TM who was above 40 yrs old where the nearest bathroom was? He said Port of Entry at the front of the park. I was really surprised and didn't fully believe him. I then asked where the nearest gift shop was so we could buy sunglasses since my youngest couldn't find hers? He again said Go back to the front gates in Port of Entry. The other TMs heard the conversation but didn't offer any other alternative.

I thought it was odd that a park this size would only have bathrooms and gift shops at the front of the park. We went just around the corner, maybe about 10 feet and saw the JP gift shop, Burger Digs and bathrooms. Thank Goodness we didn't have to walk all the way back to the front of the park to go to the bathroom!

After going to the bathroom and purchasing pink sunglasses we went back to where the group of TMs. I very politely told the one TM there were bathrooms and a gift shop just around that corner just incase someone else asked him later. He just shrugged his shoulders and said "Glad you found it."

This happened a few times during our 4 day stay. Is there a high turn around for employment? Maybe it was just a case of so many TMs being dropped in area's they were not trained in so they could cover the crowds in the WWOHP.

--- Update ---

Oops forgot to mention that we only encountered this once in the WWOHP. It was a little funny actually. We wanted to exit 3 broomsticks via the back door so we could see the outdoor seating on after having our meal inside. The girl "guarding" the door politely said "You cannot go out there." We explained that we were just leaving and thought we could just exit around the corner near the ATM. She explained to us that she thought there was no such opening but let us go through. I told her we would be back if we couldn't get out that way. She wasn't being mean or anything, she was trying to help us. Later we laughed about it saying "That poor girl, they must never let her outside of the 3 Broomsticks." ha, ha!
 
atigeg

atigeg

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  • Jul 6, 2010
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Yeah, we were kind of wondering if the TM was a Uni transplant, although I wouldn't really say Mel's is near Beetlejuice. At least he didn't say "The closest is Electric Umbrella, over by Soarin'."
 
JungleSkip

JungleSkip

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Colleendoll said:
This happened a few times during our 4 day stay. Is there a high turn around for employment? Maybe it was just a case of so many TMs being dropped in area's they were not trained in so they could cover the crowds in the WWOHP
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised how little most Uni TMs and Disney CMs know about the parks they work in. Other than their immediate area, very few of them know squat about the rest of the park, let alone the other parks.
 
Latveria

Latveria

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,132
JungleSkip said:
You'd be surprised how little most Uni TMs and Disney CMs know about the parks they work in. Other than their immediate area, very few of them know squat about the rest of the park, let alone the other parks.
Click to expand...

Truth.
 
jalapeno

jalapeno

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,133
JungleSkip said:
You'd be surprised how little most Uni TMs and Disney CMs know about the parks they work in. Other than their immediate area, very few of them know squat about the rest of the park, let alone the other parks.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%! I have been at the Watering Hole several times in the past month or so and it seems like many times the TM working there is overwhelmed because they are working outside of their regular area. This was not just an observation on my part but twice the TM working there told me that they didn't usually work there.
As for Disney, I have a great friend who is a CM at Epcot and has worked there for 15 years and I was giving her information about the Mexico and Italy renovations just the other day, she really had no clue of what they were doing. This is not the first time I have told her things about the Disney parks that she didn't know and she does go to the parks quite a bit with her family. Maybe when you work at the parks you just don't see them the same way.
 
Vyrus

Vyrus

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  • Jul 6, 2010
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IMHO, the more knowledge you have of your company and employer, the more valuable an asset you are.
 
JungleSkip

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jalapeno said:
Maybe when you work at the parks you just don't see them the same way.
Click to expand...

I'd say it's 50/50. Some people see it as only a job, and go and do what they're supposed to.

Then there's people like me who are crazy about the parks and love every little detail.
 
Latveria

Latveria

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,136
JungleSkip said:
I'd say it's 50/50. Some people see it as only a job, and go and do what they're supposed to.

Then there's people like me who are crazy about the parks and love every little detail.
Click to expand...

I'm with you sir.
 
jalapeno

jalapeno

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Vyrus said:
IMHO, the more knowledge you have of your company and employer, the more valuable an asset you are.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree with you more. As a former manager (not at the parks mind you) what I have observed over the years is that the ones who are looking at a career and not just a job are the ones who do take the time to learn about the company where they work.

--- Update ---

JungleSkip said:
I'd say it's 50/50. Some people see it as only a job, and go and do what they're supposed to.

Then there's people like me who are crazy about the parks and love every little detail.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to say I don't think it is the majority of the TM or CM at the parks. There are many TM that I see enjoying theirselves while at work, don't want you to think that is the way I feel about the majority of TM. I do seek out the TM's that I know will add to my experience while I am there. Maybe you are one of them...
 
mantaguy

mantaguy

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,138
Quoted from Orlando Attractions Magazine:

Paul [Daurio, apparently a Uni rep] chipped in, "It [the Three Broomsticks] is a cathedral to butterbeer! And there is more to come. The Three Broomsticks was really first conceptualized for the theme park and then brought to life in " The Half-Blood Prince". Other aspects will appear in the next films while, in the Hog's Head Pub, a secret door - a Port Key - wil be featured after the next film comes out."
Click to expand...

I won't quote any more from the magazine, as I'm sure they might not even be happy about me posting this. But the article is really great, a very complete desription and has some useful information like prices, don't misses, and tips, and I suggest buying even just this one issue (Summer 2010). I'm not exactly sure what this "door" or "port key" could be, but it should be interesting!
 
Latveria

Latveria

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  • Jul 6, 2010
  • #13,139
Thanks for posting that, as least we have something in text mentioning additions.
 
rinacee

rinacee

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  • Jul 6, 2010
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Yesterday my mom told me that she had read the Butterbeer recipe in the Tampa Tribune. I told her, "Mom, Universal is not stupid enough to publish that recipe. It's their own personal gold mine." And she just said "No, no, no! Just find it online. I read the recipe."
So I found the article and showed her. It said specifically in the article that Universal would not give away the recipe...there was, however, a recipe at the bottom of the article.
For anyone who is interested: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jun/30/bring-magic-home-and-make-your-own-butterbeer/
I haven't tried it yet, but I might eventually.
It had me laughing that she thought Universal would actually tell a newspaper how to make their exclusive Butterbeer!
 
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