Harry Potter world as through Harry's eyes?

[GaryDis]

Let me add... If your son gets sidetracked or wants to do something out of order -- let him. My son -- same age -- was at age 7 a little afraid to go into Knockturn Alley. When he finally did, he spent 3 hours there playing with his wand. Most fun he had. Let the magic happen how it happens.

Knockturn Alley is the best place for the wands. The sun doesn't interfere, they're easier to trigger than anywhere else, and the one big glass case, where the skeleton mimics your moves, is the most impressive spell. No wonder so many witches and wizards are attracted to dark magic.

 

[turtlechick6]

wow I am excited about doing the spells with the wand

 

[nighttowll]

I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who liked the plan. I didn't think it would get such a response. Hopefully, it works. I'd love to hear what your son thinks of the trip. It's a really great accomplishment he got through all the books. I'm a big advocate for reading, as I've seen first hand, working as a tutor, how much it makes a difference for the kids who read verses those who don't.

Harry first winds up in Knockturn Alley in book 2, having botched his first attempt at using floo powder. He appears in Borgin and Burkes, but runs into Hagrid upon leaving the store and is quickly escorted back to Diagon Alley.

Yes, but he spends all of a few seconds lost here in book 2. In the interest of minimizing the walking and backtracking, I thought it was better to reference the time he follows Draco here in the later book. Doing it this way prevents an unnecessary trip back to the other park. I also think the book 6 reference fits better in keeping with the story because of the vanishing cabinet. Definitely check out the vanishing cabinet.

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, if you arrange your schedule in book order, you risk losing any advantage of being there early. We walked onto Gringotts around 8 this morning, and rode Forbidden Journey twice between 9 and 10. Not that the lines were ever particularly long today, nor would I expect them to be in February. But it's up to you and your 9yo to decide how important it is to stick to the story's chronology.

I have to disagree with this. It has never made sense to me to use early entry time to ride FJ or Gringotts. Both have single rider lines. You can ride them anytime you want without waiting. Yes I know you miss the queue, but FJ has the tour option, and you can interact with the goblins at the money exchange. On the other hand, the shops and streets can get ridiculously crowded to the point you can't see the merchandise or store fronts through the crowds. I've always preferred to do the spells and shop during early entry when I can do so without dealing with huge crowds of people. I don't like the spells ruined for me by a long line of people in front of me, and I don't like fighting the crowds in the tiny shops that were never meant for more than 4 or 5 people total to be inside at once and still be able to move around. I've been squished, stepped on, trapped in corners, had my view blocked, been unable to get to the item I wanted to look at, stuck in long check out lines, and in general annoyed by the crowding more times than I can count. I'd rather shop free of all that in the mornings.

Don't be too sure about the never going to be into Harry Potter as he is now. My adult children are just as Harry Potter crazy as they were as kids.

Yes. I've been with kids and adults, and the adults have been way more into it than the kids have.