Alongside the debut of the second generation interactive wands at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Orlando Resort, the parks have debuted five new interactive spell locations and upgraded the effects at several existing locations.
Interactive Wands & Spells at Universal Orlando
About Interactive Spells
The interactive spell locations in Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure allow guests who have purchased one of the interactive wands to personally cast spells that effect their surroundings. Guests wave their interactive wands in a specific shape and say the correct words to cast a spell. The spell being cast and effect it has will vary by each location.
Each spell casting location is marked by a gold medallion set into the concrete, which can be found on the map included with a purchase of an interactive wand or using the new digital map in the Universal Orlando Resort App. The medallion shows guests which direction to face for the spell, the proper wand movement, and the incantation. The effects work using a camera aimed at each location, so saying the incantation aloud is not actually required. (However, if there’s a witch or wizard Team Member nearby, they may insist it is, since canonically non-verbal magic is a difficult skill to master).
2nd Generation Interactive Wands
In preparation for new interactive spell locations being added to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic in Epic Universe, Universal has debuted the second generation of interactive wands. The second gen interactive wands have several new features, including additional vibration and lighting effects that are unique to each spell being cast. We have a first look article showing off the second gen wand designs with additional details. Several first generation interactive wands are still being sold in stores and will still function in the parks, although they may not get the full range of new effects.
The second generation wands have also been integrated into the Universal Play section of the Universal Orlando Resort App. For the first time, guests can create a Wizard Profile to log their spell collection, earn House Points, and track their progress on new challenges. One of the most important new abilities allows guests to customize their profile to include their Hogwarts House, name, and Patronus. As we will see, these customizations actually have a direct effect on some of the new interactive spell locations.
Spell Locations in Diagon Alley
Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida has a total of 18 spell locations, which includes 3 new locations and a few updated locations. One of the locations has two new spells, added together for a total of 19. We used the digital map to make a numbered version, to make finding a specific spell location easier.
Please note the following guide will include spoilers for the spell locations, including images of each spot, the incantations used, and their effects.
1. Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes
The first spell location is the large red window located to the right of the Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes store.
A large sign advertising U-NO-POO will swirl down into the nearby toilet with flushing sounds when guests cast Descendo.
2. Carkitt Market Mermaid Fountain
The next spell location is down by end of Carkitt Market. While the main map screen lists only Aguamenti, guests can actually cast two spells at this location.
A large stone mermaid fountain stands in the middle of the street, to the left of some tables. Casting Aguamenti will cause water to flow gently from the fountain,
Guests can also stand on a different medallion to cast Aqua Eructo, which will make the water violently splash out from the same fountain. Be careful of getting wet!
3. Bowman E. Wright Blacksmith
While listed together as one location on the map, guests can cast three different spells to interact with the items in the Bowman E. Wright Blacksmith shop.
Three gold medallions are posted in the ground here, including Reparo, Reducto, and Locomotor Bellows.
The location looks like an open doorway to the blacksmith’s workshop, although a metal gate prevents guests from walking inside. Locomotor Bellows will cause the bellows to pump by the fire. Reducto will cause the suit of armor to fall apart, while Reparo will put the armor back together.
4. Scribbulus Parchment Display
This location is not new, but the effect was considered more hidden and not included on the old maps.
Using the newly-added Aparecium incantation, guests can make words appear on the scroll displayed near the bottom of the right window. Casting this spell multiple times can reveal different responses, so this is a location that is great for repeat trips.
5. Scribbulus Quill Display
Both of the Scribbulus display locations are very close to each other. The parchment display is located on the right side of the building, while the quill is further to the left.
Casting the iconic Wingardium Leviosa spell will cause the white feather quill to rise in the air for several seconds. You may not get extra points for saying it like Hermione, but it does make the location more fun.
6. Wiseacre’s Star Display
Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment is another location with two locations close to each other. The first location is left of the door, pointed toward one of the blue display windows.
The spell Specialis Revelio is used to reveal hidden details. Casting it on the star map being displayed in this window will cause it to glow and move. The archer constellation will fire an arrow for a nearby constellation dog to retrieve.
7. Wiseacre’s Dark Detectors
Like the Scribbulus locations, the second Wiseacre’s window is located to the right of the shop’s entrance.
While this effect is not new, the Dark Detectors were previously a more hidden location with no specific incantation associated with the spot. This location is now marked as number 7 on the map and invites guests to cast Rennervate.
Once guests successfully cast the spell, the eye-shaped dark detectors will follow your movements for a few seconds.
8. Pilliwinkle’s Playthings
The location and effect at Pilliwinkle’s Playthings are the same, but the incantation is now updated.
Casting Aberto causes the curtains to open on this diorama stage. Music will play and a marionette puppet shaped like a troll will dance across the space.
9. Magical Menagerie
While not a new location, the spell located by the Magical Menagerie has also been updated.
While guests previously cast Silencio to make the birds in the window stop singing, guests now cast the singing charm, Cantis, to make the birds start singing. Guests can also move their wands over to the frogs, who will begin singing along with the birds.
10. Horizont Alley Umbrella Sign
This magical umbrella is located by the restroom entrance in Horizont Alley. It is held above the edge of the roof by a statue of a human arm.
Casting Metelojinx causes the umbrella to light up and emit rain. Water will splash onto the street with accompanying thunder noises. This is another location where you may want to be careful of getting wet.
11. Flimflam’s Lanterns
To find Flimflam’s Lanterns, guests will need to look upward toward the second story rooms in Diagon Alley.
Casting Incendio towards the lamp-filled display window will cause several of the lanterns to light up with tiny flames.
12. NEW – Knockturn Alley Sky
The sky in Knockturn Alley is the first of three completely new spell locations in Diagon Alley.
Standing in the center of the street will allow guests to change the weather of the ominous Knockturn Alley sky.
Guests can cast Meteolojinx to modify the weather and Meteolojinx Recanto to reverse the spell. Upon casting the spell, guests will see the sky cloud with lightning strikes and thunder sounds along with ominous music. When reversing the spell, the sky calms and “Hedwig’s Theme” begins playing.
13. Trackleshanks Locksmith
Unlike many of the other Diagon Alley locations, the spell spot for Trackleshanks Locksmith is to the right of the display window. Guests need to face the large metal door to the left of the window filled with keys.
Casting the spell Alohamora will allow guests to try opening this shop’s door. When the handle is grabbed, however, guests will be shocked by a blast of air. It appears wizards won’t be getting into the shop that easily.
14. Tallow and Hemp Toxic Tapers
Tallow and Hemp Toxic Tapers is known for selling magical candles with some unusual results.
Casting Incendio will cause one of the candles displayed in the window to light. As the smoke rises, it will have a magical effect on the nearby caged bird.
15. NEW – Ariadne Spinner’s
The second of three completely new spell locations is also in Knockturn Alley. As one would expect from a shop named Ariadne Spinner’s, this spot is not for guests who, like Ron, are afraid of spiders.
For this location, shadows of bugs and spiders will appear as though they are crawling on the other side of this newspaper-covered window. Casting Arania Exumai will allow guests to swish and flick their wand to remove the bugs one by one in a pattern shown on the bottom left window pane.
16. NEW – Knockturn Alley Staircase
As we suspected when Universal installed a new camera by this blocked-off staircase, the location has now become one of the new interactive spell spots. While the app lists this location as an Incendio incantation, this is actually the final location for one of the new Universal Play App adventures.
As guests stand on the medallion, the ghostly shape of a dementor will appear in the distance. Guests fight the dementor by casting Expecto Patronum. Guests who have customized their profile in the app will see their chosen Patronus appear. Guests will move their wand back and forth, moving their Patronus around the space, to defeat the dementor.
17. Dystyl Phaelanges
The window at Dystyl Phaelanges is not new, but it is now listed on the map with a Locomotor Projector incantation.
Appropriate for a store specializing in bones, the projector will begin moving and show a skeleton on the screen. The skeleton will follow guests wands and interact with other nearby projected objects.
19. Chimney Sweep Elf Sign
The final location in Knockturn Alley is a mounted sign showing a House Elf cleaning a chimney.
Guests casting Locomotor Chimney Sweep will help the elf on a mounted sign climb a ladder, barely missing a small burst of flame.
Spell Locations in Hogsmeade
Like the map for Diagon Alley, all of the Hogsmeade spell locations are marked on the map with a black wand symbol that can be transformed into numbers. Hogsmeade has a total of eleven spell locations, which includes two that are new for the second generation wands.
1. Zonko’s Joke Shop
Moving now to Hogsmeade in Universal Islands of Adventure, our first location is Zonko’s Joke Shop.
Similar in nature to the spell at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, casting Incendio at this window will set some of the rockets and spinners alight.
2. McHavelock’s
A large black cauldron hangs on the stone wall above the fake entrance to McHavelocks Wizarding Headgear.
Using the spell Arresto Momentum, guests can cause metal cauldron to tilt sideways. As the cauldron turns, a little pixie prankster is seen inside.
3. Honeydukes
The three locations for Zonko’s, McHavelocks, and Honeydukes are all right next to each other, so this area can be a little busy.
Using Revelio toward the green window of the Honeydukes candy shop will open the lid of the largest Chocolate Frog box, revealing the hopping frog sitting inside.
4. Dogweed and Deathcap
Lumos Solem is known as one of the slightly trickier spells to cast in Hogsmeade, and it may take a few tries to get right.
Casting the spell at this plant-filled window will cause sunlight to appear, dispersing the vines of Devil’s Snare and causing a pretty flower to become visible.
5. Gladrags Wizardwear
Gladrags Wizardwear is another location where guests can actually cast two spells instead of one. Both medallions are placed directly next to each other, so only one guest can use either spell at a time.
Casting Descendo will make the tape measure on the side of the displayed robes to move downward. Casting Ascendio will move the tape measure back up.
6. Madam Puddifoot’s
Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop is difficult to miss, since the whole side of the window is bright pink.
Casting Locomotor Snowman will make the small snowman-shaped cake topper run around its dessert in circles.
7. NEW – Owl Post
The first of two new locations added to Hogsmeade is the Owl Post window. Located to the left of the main Owl Post store entrance, this window is stacked with letters waiting to be mailed.
In this window, more pixie tricksters are flying around and creating a mess. Wizards can try to help by casting Immobulus, causing the pixies to freeze in place.
8. Dervish and Banges
Dervish and Banges is another Hogsmeade location where guests can cast two spells from the same spot.
Casting the Locomotor spell will cause the Hogwarts Castle wooden music box displayed in this window to begin playing. Arresto Momentum will make the music box stop playing.
9. Tomes and Scrolls
Tomes and Scrolls is further down the street from the Owl Post, closer to Hogwarts Castle.
A large volume of Tales of Beedle the Bard is on display in this window, with a yellow wizard pictured on the cover. Casting Alohomora will open the book so you can read one of the pages.
10. Spintwitches Sporting Needs
This Quiddich-themed store has a Quaffle and Bludgers on display in a window to the right of its fake entrance.
Casting Wingardium Leviosa will cause all three balls to float above their storage box for a few seconds.
11. NEW – Dueling Club Tent
The second of the new spell locations in Hogsmeade is the Dueling Club Tent. The tent is located on the path to the left of Hogwarts Castle, near the queue for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It can be difficult to spot due to the crowds filling this walkway.
For this location, guests cast spells at a dueling dummy similar to the one seen in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” Unlike many of the other locations, the tent has a total of three different spells guests can cast. The Universal Play App and the golden medallion on the ground only list the Rennervate spell.
Once the guest is in place, the dummy will move forward like it is going to cast a spell. If the guest successfully strikes the dummy, the target at the center of the dummy’s chest lights up. The flags inside the tent will also blow with a magical breeze. This is one of the locations where it is actually possible to fail the challenge, in which case guests will need to get in line and try again if they want 100% success at every location.
Video: Trying All Interactive Wand Spell Locations
Universal has also previewed additional second generation interactive wands coming to the new Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique store in Epic Universe. While these new designs will not be available until Epic Universe opens on May 22, all of the second generation wands are designed to work interchangeably at all three parks. The app updates and new spell maps provide a glimpse of the spells that will be available in Epic Universe, although we will have to wait and see what their effects will be.
Which of the new or refurbished spell locations is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
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