We Have a Harry Potter Convert

[przed]

Up until this week, Ros has shown absolutely no interest in Harry Potter. Her daycare teacher has been reading them the first book, and she's made a point of telling me she goes off and does something else in the room so she doesn't have to pay attention to it.

That changed this week, when we had this conversation.

Ros: Mommy, do you like Harry Potter?
Me: Not really. Do you?
Ros: No.

She then launched into a detailed description of the first book. A really, really detailed description. Which was occasionally interrupted by me.

Me: Are you sure you don't like Harry Potter?
Ros: No, I don't. And do you know how Harry got on the Quidditch team?

By the next day she was quizzing the Sweetie on Harry Potter trivia and admitting that maybe she liked Harry Potter. The day after that she was sure she likes Mr. Potter and wants to read the first book at home because they're reading it too slowly at daycare. And a day after that she agreed to give the first movie a try once she'd read the book.

So it looks like we'll be visiting the Harry Potter set in London. And when we mentioned the Harry Potter theme park in Florida Ros was miffed.

Ros: Why didn't you tell me about the park when we were in Florida?
Me: Because you told us you didn't like Harry Potter when we were in Florida.

I'm not fond of the Hogswarts crew myself (except Hermione!) but I have to admit I'm a little bit pleased that Ros is showing a budding fannish interest in a fannish text.

So, does anyone know how much time one should allow for a visit to the Harry Potter sets?

Comments

[asilia.livejournal.com]

I very much approve of any kid liking Harry Potter ;)

And the Harry Potter studios in London are awesome :D We went a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it! You can book it online and choose a specific time to enter the exhibit (they only let a certain amount of people in at the same time so it never gets too crowded) and you can also pre-book the bus (which is easy to reach by train from central London). I think we spent maybe 3-4 hours there, you can get through quicker but there is really a lot to see. And be careful, because you exit through the shop and you can very easily spend a lot of money there :P

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm not keen on Potter (there are other writers in the same vein I think are much better, like Diane Duane and Susan Cooper and Diane Wynne Jones) but I approve of anything that gets Ros interested in reading. And hopefully I can then steer her to Duane and Cooper and Wynne Jones. *g*

But I have to admit, I'm looking forward to seeing the sets. I gave up on the books after the first one, but I've watched all the movies. They're full of actors I adore. We'll plan for 3-ish hours. Ros can get impatient in exhibit-type things. I suspect there will be money spent in the gift shop, though at least the Sweetie and I won't be too tempted, not being Potterites.

I'm definitely getting excited about this London trip. Ending with the TT extravaganza!

[asilia.livejournal.com]

Oh I love Harry Potter - the books much more than the movies, they improve a lot throughout the series.

The studio tour is really fun because you go from actual sets to more exhibit-like rooms and then to outdoor sets etc so it's very diverse.

My year is full with TT trips now, and one 'normal' summer holiday -I've spent an insane amount of money on tickets by now O_O

[przed.livejournal.com]

I bailed after the first book, but a number of people have told me they get better. I guess I'm about to find out!

I had hoped TT's European dates would coincide with my trip back to London to see Cumberbatch in Hamlet, but the first one is just a few days too late, so I'll have to content myself with one TT show. But as that's one more than I've ever seen, it's awesome! (You wouldn't be doing any of the London dates, would you? It would be fun to meet up for coffee or a meal.)

[asilia.livejournal.com]

I'm going to London on June 5th - you're going to a later date, aren't you?

I'm also going to opening night in Glasgow (crazy spontaneous decision, we only bought tickets for that last week lol) and in October, I'll be in Cologne and Vienna :) Cologne is convenient as I can stay with a friend so saving money on accommodation and Vienna is my bonus gig, I didn't expect them to come to Austria at all! They came for the BW tour but it wasn't even sold out then so I was really surprised! It's great for me though as Vienna is only 2 hours by train and I can stay at my dad's girlfriend's place so it's a cheap trip.

[przed.livejournal.com]

We're seeing the June 12th show, but we arrive in London on the 6th. If you're still around, meeting up would be grand.

That is a lovely tour of TT you have planned! I'm a bit sad that Cologne wasn't possible for me. (I was there my first trip to Europe many moons ago and loved the city.)

[asilia.livejournal.com]

We're going back home on the 7th - not sure what our plans are for the 6th yet but we'll see :) Are you just gonna stay in London for the entire time or do you have something else planned as well?

I've never been to Cologne, not sure how much I'll see of it as my friend lives in Düsseldorf so we'll probably just go to Cologne for the gig. Weather in October can be unreliable but if it's nice we might manage to see some of the city before.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a bit of overlap, though we'll be jetlagged that first day. But perhaps I could meet you for late afternoon coffee or a drink after dinner. Let me know as your plans evolve.

We're staying in London, but will likely do a few day trips. Brighton and Warwick castle are high possibilities, and I've found a place with kids' ziplining that Ros is eager to try. She's a climby kid and has been dying to zipline for a couple of years, but she's still way below the weight requirements for even some of the kid ziplines we've seen over here.