Which Harry Potter Books/ Movies before visiting

[ShyMiss]

Hi everyone! How many/ which Harry Potter books/movies are prerequisites to enjoying the lands? Less than two weeks before our first visit & I'm running out of time. I had intended to read several of the books & then watch the movies before our trip. Yet, I only finished the first book & at best may be able to get through the second before our vacation. Is this enough for me to enjoy the HP themed areas & without too may spoilers? I eventually plan to read the rest of the books.

My teens are huge Harry Potter fans. They've read all the books & seen the movies, but insisted that I should read the books first. LOL Oops. What do fans recommend? Should I stop at book two? Or skip ahead & watch a few of the other movies? (breaking our book first self-imposed rule?) LOL
I want to get the most out of the vacation. (Staying a week & as I said it's our first time.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[bumbershoot]

There are people here who had never seen the movies or read the books that enjoy WW just fine.

If you can be trusted to go back and read the books, maybe watch the movies up through #4?

But do read the books.

 

[Jennasis]

All of them!

 

[biochemgirl]

If you can't read all the books on time, I'd advise watching all the movies. You'll notice more Easter eggs in both parks if you are familiar with the movies. I particularly love Gringotts partly because it brings the story you've already read or seen to life.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I think you’re fine having read and seen the first. You run across some spoilers but I don’t think you’d necessarily know it. I think to get the magic the first book is really the most bang for the buck.

 

[ForMyBoys]

I think you’re fine having read and seen the first. You run across some spoilers but I don’t think you’d necessarily know it. I think to get the magic the first book is really the most helpful.

I wholeheartedly agree w/ this! And I for one would not watch the movies before reading the books, talk about spoilers!!! There are some things you may not be familiar with, like maybe the Knight bus as I think that came in the later books, but still you'll understand the whole world and should have a great time. Don't stress over it. In fact if you keep reading it in your downtime while visiting you may notice more as you'll connect things w/ the book you are reading. I wish I could go back in time w/o knowing the whole story and read it again.

 

[shanew21]

The Forbidden Journey ride covers movies 1-4ish (definitely 1-3)
The Gringotts ride covers 7 part 1

Diagon Alley itself covers 1 and 2, since those are the movies that feature it the most. Hogsmeade is mostly 3 with a little bit of 6.

 

[imprint]

Check out YouTube for clips from the movies: Gringotts Bank, Olivanders Wand Shop, Hogwarts, Hogsmead, Three Broomsticks, Leaky Cauldron, Quidditch, Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, whomping willows, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, Hogwarts Express, Knights Bus. Those clips from the movies should give you quite a bit of context for when you see the recreations at the parks. Of course there tons more, but that should be plenty to recognize and enjoy. Have fun!

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

The Hogsmeade/Hogwarts areas in IOA are set during the fourth book/movie. The period where the triwizard tournament occurs.

Diagon Alley is kind of set during the final book/movie, as the ride concerns events in the final movie. I say kind of set in that time because Diagon Alley was kind of shut down during that book/movie and it is very much thriving in the theme park area.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you can't read all the books on time, I'd advise watching all the movies.

Oh gosh I could never recommend that. The movies are fine but if you’re going to experience them, you have to have the deeper richer understanding from the books vs the movies IMO.

I would literally rather have someone experience none of the last stories and go to the parks rather than watch without reading those last ones...

And diagon has one ride, which I don’t like much (can’t get over them not making a real coaster), and can’t understand the words. So it’s a pretty bank and then an incomprehensible ride with the bad guy from the latest Star Wars in it lol. Enjoyable either way if you can enjoy it. And Diagon is just cool to walk around in even without a base of story knowledge. IMO.

 

[bobbie68]

Hi I had read all the books and watched all the movies before going and I am glad that I did. My daughter's BF that we took had only seen the first two two movies and read the first three books. We had him watch all the movies before we went without the books and he was so glad he did. He enjoyed appreciated it more. I think you get the wow! From watching the movies then walking into the lands. Honestly, the books go into so many more details that made the story. I was a little disappointed with some of the script with the movies because I read the books first. I actually wish I had watched the movies first. Good luck with what you chose there is no right or wrong only what is good for you

 

[Alicefan]

Neither me nor my best friend had any interest in Harry Potter, but we were going to the parks and wanted to at least know what we were looking at, so we decided to read all of the books and after each book, watch the movie. BEST THING WE'VE EVER DONE! Now we're both complete Harry Potter dorks! I would advise cramming in as much of the books as you can. My cousin is going with us this weekend and she has dilly dallied around all year and only got through one book. She's going to be slightly unimpressed and that to me is sad.

 

[bobafemme]

I think the first 3 movies would give you a good idea of the majority of the attractions. Read the books when you get back. They are still amazing even if you have seen the movies.

 

[nkereina]

We are casual HP fans and have only seen the movies and we understand everything fine in the context. We took my parents who are in their 60s back in March for the first time, and they were able to watch all the movies beforehand. They would have enjoyed it regardless but having the context helped them to appreciate it all. I'd try to get in as many of the movies as you can before you go. The first few movies are crucial, but the later ones are important too, especially for the Escape from Gringotts ride.