A week or two ago I was wasting time at work online and discovered that a Harry Potter exhibit was coming to the Museum of Science and Industry. I had just watched the 1st HP movie the night before for a dinner and movie night (dinner by the fabulous Chef Jimzey) so I thought that this would be a nice addition to our movie watching experience (we plan to watch all of them over the next several weeks). Thankfully, at least one friend didn't think I was a total nerd and was as excited as I was to go. We purchased our tickets and Monday night after work, M and I headed to the south side to see what it was all about.
It was kind of strange to go into the huge museum when it was closed except for the exhibit. Everything was very dark and very quiet with only a few museum workers hanging around. I really wanted to bolt into one of the wings and wander around but I was pretty sure that would be a bad idea. The exhibit was well done. Even the people out front selling you audio tours and telling you to wait a bit before going in spoke in English accents and said they were from London. (I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of them were actors and NOT from London...) The first stop once you enter is with the Sorting Hat where a few people from your group will get sorted into houses. Then there is a short video thing that really makes you feel like you are in the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. Then, it's a free for all through the rest of it. There are costumes and props from all of the films (even the one that hasn't come out yet). The people walking around to help out know amazing details about all the films. I was really glad that we went on a Monday night after hours because it was not crowded at all and we could walk around and see everything without being crowded (and without little kids running everywhere). I was glad that M had read the books and seen most of the movies so that she could explain a few things to me. The end dumps you out into the gift shop as any good exhibit should.
Overall, it was enjoyable. Not as fantastic as I had hoped for. But, it's also the first leg of the national tour that it is doing and it's early on in this stop. So, it might even get better with time. If you are or know a HP fan, it's totally worth the money.
It was kind of strange to go into the huge museum when it was closed except for the exhibit. Everything was very dark and very quiet with only a few museum workers hanging around. I really wanted to bolt into one of the wings and wander around but I was pretty sure that would be a bad idea. The exhibit was well done. Even the people out front selling you audio tours and telling you to wait a bit before going in spoke in English accents and said they were from London. (I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of them were actors and NOT from London...) The first stop once you enter is with the Sorting Hat where a few people from your group will get sorted into houses. Then there is a short video thing that really makes you feel like you are in the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. Then, it's a free for all through the rest of it. There are costumes and props from all of the films (even the one that hasn't come out yet). The people walking around to help out know amazing details about all the films. I was really glad that we went on a Monday night after hours because it was not crowded at all and we could walk around and see everything without being crowded (and without little kids running everywhere). I was glad that M had read the books and seen most of the movies so that she could explain a few things to me. The end dumps you out into the gift shop as any good exhibit should.
Overall, it was enjoyable. Not as fantastic as I had hoped for. But, it's also the first leg of the national tour that it is doing and it's early on in this stop. So, it might even get better with time. If you are or know a HP fan, it's totally worth the money.
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