What would be best? Kids ages for trip

[Scarlet_J]

I'm thinking ahead for a trip to do Disney World and Universal Studios. I'm a big Harry Potter fan and my older daughter has started reading the books with me. (Started in 2nd grade). I have a younger daughter too. Since it might be the only time we do this, I'm trying to pick the right time to go.

If we go in 2 years, my youngest will be just starting 2nd grade. I'm not sure she's be ready for the books before then, and if we start just before going into 2nd grade, we probably wouldn't have much time to get through all the books. ( I don't want to rush through them). Would she be spoiled by anything there? We could start reading them in 1st grade, but I'd hate to start too early when she's not ready to really appreciate them.

Waiting one more year would probably be best for the younger one. But my older one will be in 7th grade and since we'd probably take them out of school for a couple of days (not a full week), I'm concerned that might be tough at that age. Plus, I don't know if she'd still be that into Harry Potter by then. Although, I read them as an adult and still love them.

Any advise, suggestions, or personal experience would be appreciated.

 

[bchbetha]

We went when my youngest was in 2nd grade. He'd read books 1 and 2 and seen movies 1-4. He loved it! There were a few "spoilers" like the Weasley's joke shop, the Gringotts ride and some stuff on Knockturn Alley but I don't think they actually spoiled anything for him. He's probably more interested now to see how they fit in with what he hasn't read or seen yet. I'd try to get through 1-3 either book or movie before you go but I think 8yo is a great age to go!

 

[P-Family]

They going to love it!!

 

[cmarsh31]

We're at that same spot. DS will be in 6th grade (Middle school) and DD in 3rd. She's read the first book - so I booked our Oct trip Hoping she'll finish books 2 & 3 before we go, but the trip is a surprise! 2nd & 7th sound good to me.

 

[bumbershoot]

We had only read maybe to #3 when we went. Ds was 6.5 years old. He appreciated the place for what it was, not for what he knew from the books. He understood that some of it was stuff he didn't know and he still loved it

Go when it's right for the family. I personally love the Rick Steves (PBS Europe travel guy) phrase "expect you'll be back". If you try to come up with some perfect time you'll drive yourself batty.

 

[keishashadow]

No time like the present. Now that that movies are all released, many younger fans watch them first, then read the books.

Haven't let GD watch the last two films yet, think she needs a few more years to process them. However, she really enjoyed and understood the HP area when she was 4. Has been back twice since and is finding new things to enjoy each time.

Eventually, she'll progress out of chapter books and be ready to tackle the novels. At that time expect she'll get a brand-new perspective on the saga.

 

[RMulieri]

We took our DD in 2nd grade .She hadn't read the books, but she did see the movies .She had a blast

 

[Scarlet_J]

Thanks for all the advice. I think we could tackle books 1-3 before she goes. I was more worried about major spoilers, like the fate of certain characters, or details about the prophecies that are important in the final books.

 

[bchbetha]

None of those big spoilers are revealed or implied. You'll be fine.
What you have to watch out for, evidently, are little punks in swim class that tell your kid all the spoilers in the series.

 

[mkwj]

We went this past Feb with our 2nd and 5th grader. Neither had read the books but my 5th grader had seen the movies. My 8 year old dd had not shown any interest previously. After the trip she has shown lots of interest and loves the first few movies.