Harry Potter Fans Unite! (and help me)

[Greenday]

My girlfriend wants to go see Harry Potter on 11/21 when it comes out. She wants to go to the midnight show, at an Imax theater, at King of Prussia. She says we'd go around 10:30pm. I've never gone to a midnight showing of HP, but something tells me that just isn't early enough. Anyone know what time would be good to actually go there?

[Broomjockey]

Three hours early, minimum if you want good seats. And that's if you've gotten the tickets well in advance. Midnight screenings are insane. Anyone suggesting 4 hours early or more will not be accused of crazy talk. Bascially, my advice is "As early as you can stand/justify."

[gbm85]

And an added bit of advice... if you buy your tickets online through Fandango, make sure you select 11/20 at midnight. Yes, I know that it technically comes out at midnight on 11/21, but apparently Fandango panders to the less intelligent and doesn't bother to include any type of warning if you buy tickets for the second day thinking they're for the first.

[Seshat]

Go to the cinema you'd be seeing it at, buy your tickets in advance in person, and ask when they're suggesting people show up to get good seats.

Then arrive at least half an hour before that time.

[Reyneth]

Go to the cinema you'd be seeing it at, buy your tickets in advance in person, and ask when they're suggesting people show up to get good seats.

Then arrive at least half an hour before that time.

ITA with all of this. And be glad that you are going with someone so seats can be saved/watched while you take the bathroom break before the movie.

The theater where I saw OOtP sold tickets for 3 theaters but I think the ended up opening up 5 so people weren't packed in like sardines. It was awesome. :)

[sportsmom]

I think it also depends on where you are. For POA I took my oldest to a midnight showing. (I got major cool mom points for that one) We got there about 45 minutes early and got awesome seats, there were only about 10 people in front of us.

Our theater here does the showings at 12:01, 12:03, 12:05 etc., I would get tickets to the later ones if possible because you know most people will go to the earliest they can get, so the later ones might not be so full.

[Giggle Goose]

I'm with Broom. Three hours might not be so early. You have to make a whole night out of it. Bring books, magazines, etc. Thanks to cleverness on my sister's part, my friends and I brought Uno cards. We had about half the theater playinig while waiting for the movie to start. ;)

[Emrld]

I suggest bringing a deck of cards, a book, something non electronic to help keep you entertained while waiting.
The non electronics is to reduce the possability of being given grief by staff preventing pirating activities.

[Broomjockey]

I remember for the second Lord of the Rings movie, some guys brought a laptop and spare batteries, and rewatched the extended edition of the first one. Maybe something similar could be in order, if you've access to the equipment?

[Caveat Emptor]

In May 2005, I was very bored so I decided to see the midnite premiere of SW Ep III. I went to Fandango and almost got tripped up by the date issue mentioned earlier. I have rarely seen such a circus in my life.

[crazylegs]

ask when they're suggesting people show up to get good seats.

Then arrive at least half an hour before that time.

I'd personally say a whole hour just to be safe, and remember if your queueing outside wear appropriate clothing and take appropriate food/drink.