3. Be visible

Anyone who's stepped foot into Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley (and soon, Epic Universe's Ministry of Magic) can tell you that these lands are a kind of Mecca for Potter fans and themed design enthusiasts. For better or worse, one of the aspects of them that makes them so memorable and beloved is that they're built to the "real" proportions of the "real" places we saw on screen, not upsized for theme park efficiency. Despite promotional photos showing a family spending one-on-one time with a wand expert, when you're invited into the inner sanctum of Ollivander's, you're in... well... a very small, dark room filled with wand boxes and people, lit only by a few lamps.

Though it's fair to imagine a dreamy scenario where the wandkeeper senses your magical potential, parts the crowd, and pulls you out of a dark corner, that situation is... well... unlikely. Though you wouldn't want to be seen displacing children or pushing your way through the crowd, just physically being visible in the "front row" of the experience makes you more selectable than someone in the second row of the assembled group. Obviously if you look too eager, a wandkeeper may pass over you – they want to be the star of the show, after all, not upstaged by a hyperactive superfan. But being literally visible is an important foundational step.

4. Be ready to pay.

There's a whole lot of wide-eyed wonder that comes with a wand choosing you. But even in the Wizarding World, simply bonding with a product isn't enough to take it home. (Certainly, Ollivander's hasn't been in business since 382 B.C. by giving away fine-crafted wands to everyone who makes a bell ring or a flower bloom.) So once the magical wand selection has taken place, assembled guests are invited to step out into the store proper to find their own wands while the family of the person who's been selected is invited to stay behind for a little additional detailing.

That detailing, of course, is the wandkeeper's bad news: if you want to keep the wand, you'll need to fork over some Galleons – or the Muggle U.S. dollar equivalent. Wandkeepers are careful to explain to families that they are under no obligation to purchase the wand. And indeed, they may want a wand of a different design than the one that "picked" their child, or a "non-interactive" wand, or a legacy character wand, etc. etc. 

Though some report that they've been offered a small discount – $2 or so on the $63-ish dollar product – far more people have reported that there is no discount offered, suggesting that if there ever were a discount, it's been discontinued. So though it may be an awkward moment or exchange, know that if you're lucky enough to be picked, it doesn't mean your wand is free. 

5. Know how to use it

Dozens of hidden spellcasting sites are set throughout Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and soon, Epic Universe's Ministry of Magic. Denoted by bronze medallions embedded in the pavement, the spaces allow you to enchant the objects in shop windows, illuminate and extinguish lights, send fire roaring or water soaring, and more. Be sure to check out the list of our 8 favorite spells – including some hidden, unmarked ones – to put your wand to use.

And given rumors corroborated by Orlando Park Stop that Epic Universe's Ministry of Magic land will introduce a whole new generation of wands – perhaps with light, sound, or haptic feedback – be ready to upgrade.