Anyone else read HP because visiting WWOHP?

[wdwfanatic316]

Just curious, did anyone else read the Harry potter books because you knew you'd be visiting the wwohp? I did last year before our nov trip, and now I'm a huge fan! It made visiting it so much fun! I highly recommend it to anyone visiting who haven't read the books or seen the movies!

[Thumper_Man]

I was actually an HP fan long before WWoHP came along. I wanted to see WWoHP because I had already read all the books and seen all the movies that were already out.

[damo]

We read the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in 1998 when DS was 10 and the remaining books as soon as they came out. We were instant fans.

[Hunter182]

I'm one of those cool kids who read the books when they were being released, really growing and maturing with these characters. I've followed the series for 12 years now, (19 now, started reading when Chamber of Secrets was released, which was then promptly followed by reading Sorcerer's Stone, and then another go 'round with Chamber ) and I'm just as into it as I was all those years ago.

That said, if you are reading the books, you will get extra enjoyment out of the Wizarding World. There are lots of small details that people who only saw the movies will miss.

[GreyStr0ke]

When I first heard about the WWoHP being built I had 0 interest in it. As it got closer to opening, I decided I would give Harry Potter a chance so that I would be familiar with characters, events, etc... in the island.

I watched the movies and then became obsessed and started reading the books. And then I re-watched the movies again and again and again.

I was definitely glad that I took the time to do this as it made visiting the WWoHP much more enjoyable. Now I go every month to get my HP fix.

[wdwfanatic316]

Originally Posted by GreyStr0ke

When I first heard about the WWoHP being built I had 0 interest in it. As it got closer to opening, I decided I would give Harry Potter a chance so that I would be familiar with characters, events, etc... in the island.

I watched the movies and then became obsessed and started reading the books. And then I re-watched the movies again and again and again.

I was definitely glad that I took the time to do this as it made visiting the WWoHP much more enjoyable. Now I go every month to get my HP fix.

I'm glad I'm not the only one!

[LauraLap]

I am going to Disney next week and we decided to do IOA for a day. As I'm not a Harry Potter fan at all, I thought I would would watch the movies. I watched the first two and then decided to read the books instead since I'm more of a reader than a watcher.

I'm just finishing up book 4 now and I'm completely HOOKED!! I won't have time to finish any others so I hope book 4 is enough.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to change my daughter's name to Hermione

[amystevekai&bump]

This is exactly what I did!!

I tried to watch the first movie when it was released in the UK on DVD, and gave up half way through - I just didn't 'get' the appeal.

Then last summer I knew we were visiting WWOHP at Christmas, so I gave the first book a try - I was hooked!!! I read all the books in about 4 months - I even cried when I finished the last one, as I didn't want it to be over!!!

I have now seen all of the movies and absolutely LOVED the last one - I am now a complete potterhead at the ripe old age of 37!!! (Plus I have my DS7 hooked too!!)

[fairyprincess88]

I've been a Potter nerd since Philosopher's Stone was first released. I just wanted to see what the hype was about and bought it and the rest as they say is history. Sometimes I wish I would've gotten into it late as others have so I could've gone without those years of waiting and waiting for the next book to come out. Those long waits were pure torture. However, at the same time, leaving the bookshop at midnight then rushing home to crack it open and settle in for how ever many hours it took to read it are now cherished memories.

[DiNap44]

We have been huge fans since the first book. For our road trip down to Universal last August (one year ago on the 15th) we listened to the last book on cd to get us in the mood.

[SHISHI]

My DS14 has been a huge Harry Potter fan since the beginning, I was not. It's really not my type of book or movie. We go to WDW every August and he wanted to go to Universal this year. I said OK, even though I really did not want to. I decided that I better get on the Harry Potter train and read the books and then watch the movies. I'm on book seven now and I am HOOKED!!!! I love it!!

We are leaving for WDW 8/24 and plan on Universal on 8/30 & 8/31. I can't wait, even though I probably won't ride Forbidden Journey because I'm afraid I'll get sick.

[DisneyNDecember]

Originally Posted by wdwfanatic316

Just curious, did anyone else read the Harry potter books because you knew you'd be visiting the wwohp? I did last year before our nov trip, and now I'm a huge fan! It made visiting it so much fun! I highly recommend it to anyone visiting who haven't read the books or seen the movies!

I cheated, I JUST watched all the movies (actually bought all 7 of them as a collector's edition) & then went to see the FinaL One - #8 at the movie theater with my son (he is 15 & now has only seen the 8th one), he loved it !!

I am glad we did, we will much more appreciate our upcoming trip & now I am hooked as well, GREAT story lines, the 4th one is a bit rough, but it prepares you for the remaining 4 stories. I loved the cinematography, the way it took you to a different place, & you couldn't wait to watch the next one !!!!

[bumbershoot]

Originally Posted by LauraLap

I'm just finishing up book 4 now and I'm completely HOOKED!! I won't have time to finish any others so I hope book 4 is enough.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to change my daughter's name to Hermione

Love that.

Originally Posted by fairyprincess88

However, at the same time, leaving the bookshop at midnight then rushing home to crack it open and settle in for how ever many hours it took to read it are now cherished memories.

Definitely cherish that. To have been around, and old enough to really understand them, but young enough to want to go to midnight releases, to have been a part of all of it, is something special. I resisted Potter for a bit b/c I was doing customer service for people absolutely flipping out (and not in a good way) about the first few books, and I just didn't want to be a part of it, but once I finally put that aside and read/watched them, I liked them. But not enough to go to midnight releases of books OR movies.

Now my son is 7, and he's never seen any of the movies in the theater. And that's sad to me. We aren't even finished with book 3 (though he's seen the 3rd movie), and I don't anticipate moving on for a good while. I just hope that small theaters keep bringing it back, so someday he can see them on a big screen.

So...know that you were part of something cool and unique!

[wdwfanatic316]

I had read a little of the first book or two outloud to DS when he was younger, but didn't really get into it at all (in part due to not having any idea how to say Hermione's name) Then when we saw the commercials for WWOHP, and also after watching part of the half blood prince on tv, I decided to read the books, and convinced my mom (who went on the same trip with me) to do the same. I am SO glad I did! I love to read, and think that the movies are so much more fun to watch having read them! I couldn't wait to watch the last one, but am really sad now that they're over! It's really making me want to go back to WWOHP again!

[aubriee]

Originally Posted by GreyStr0ke

When I first heard about the WWoHP being built I had 0 interest in it. As it got closer to opening, I decided I would give Harry Potter a chance so that I would be familiar with characters, events, etc... in the island.

I watched the movies and then became obsessed and started reading the books. And then I re-watched the movies again and again and again.

I was definitely glad that I took the time to do this as it made visiting the WWoHP much more enjoyable. Now I go every month to get my HP fix.

This is what I did also. I knew I'd be visiting the WWoHP, so decided I wanted to know the details of what I'd be seeing. I bought the set of books winter 2010, as well as all the movies that were out at that time.