HP7 Midnight Mania About This Page:

[RobDVC]

Thought I'd start a thread so everybody could discuss their experiences at the midnight sales for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The Barnes&Noble where I purchased my copy had about 800 people. They had lots of festivities, including a scavenger hunt, a costume contest and a trivia contest. It was a well organized experience and they had ten cashier stations to process the orders. They finished processing the advanced-order customers at 1:15 and called the last group of walk-ins into the queue at 1:30. I didnt stick around until the end, but I'd bet they finsihed checking everybody out by 2:00AM.

[Jennifer2003]

I got there at 11:45, grabbed a number and was in Gold 36. Gold wristbands were pre orders, blue wristbands were walk ups. I had the book in my hands at 1:15.

They were so organized and so accomodating. They kept the cafe open and brought someone outside to sell milk and cookies!

[wheatenwalker]

I went to Wegmans and had the book in my hand by 12:04- had a few doughnut holes and bought some eggs . My younger son and his friends came in right as I was leaving because B&N was too crowded.. off to the pool now

[BelmontBelle]

I bought mine at 5:30am this morning. If you purchased it with and additional $30 worth of merchandise (stuff I needed anyway) at Meijer before 6am you could get the book for $12.99. I was practically the only one in the store and the only one grabbing a book from the pile at that time. I've only put it down to eat, shower and check in here... now I'm off to read some more!

[Jennifer Marx]

We went to the Grand Hallows Ball at the original Borders store here in Ann Arbor. It's downtown, and our big annual art fair is going on right now, so they were able to use some space on the street. We first had dinner at a little Japanese restaurant (Alexander ordered and ate almost all of his tuna rolls!) and arrived at the party little after 9:00 pm and it was MOBBED. They had about 20 activities going on -- I got a scar painted on my forehead (I was trying to convince Alexander to try it) and we watched the "Great Snape Debate" (is he friend or foe?). I also saw fortune-telling, chess, wand-making, a candy walk, raffles, and so on. Borders also gave out glow "wand" necklaces, had a DJ for dancing outside, and goodies inside like candy and bookmarks. I'd say at least half of the attendees were in costumes -- I couldn't believe it! There was even a very convincing Voldemort, Bellatrix LeStrange, and two deatheaters present. The costumes on these three were excellent, and when Allie told us later that one of them left before midnight, we surmised they were local UofM drama students hired to come. The Bellatrix woman stayed in character so well -- she was in the restroom and as she was trying to open her stall door, I heard her say, "Darn muggle locks! Alohamora!" LOL!

The biggest downfall was just how many people were there! It was hard to move at times. We ended up leaving at 11:00 to get ice cream, then came back at 11:30. Alexander still hadn't fallen asleep, so I took him to the kids department for some books while Dave scoped things out. At midnight, they started sorting the wristbands into groups within the store. We ended up having to take Alexander (and his stroller) up to the second floor where we waited for close to an hour. We were called around 1:15 and got our books (we pre-ordered three) soon thereafter. They also gave us a poster on our way out.

I thought it was great fun, despite the crowds, and am bummed that this was the last Harry Potter book release party I'll go to. I hope she continues so we can have more parties.

By the way, Alexander stayed awake the entire time -- he didn't fall asleep until his head touched the pillow at close to 1:45 am.

Oh, and we all stayed up to read. I made it to 4:00 am and page 120. Dave, on the other hand, was still up at NINE AM. Alexander and I slept 'til noon. Dave and Allie are still in bed, and I don't plan on seeing either of them much today -- I know they'll both be reading. (I'd like to read, but as that doesn't involve Alexander, it'll have to wait 'til I have alone time.

[DebiDebiDebi]

OK, I caved...even tho' I have a book to be delivered today via UPS, I went to Walmart last night at midnight. Very organized, everyone recieved a rubber bracelet (four different colors, each representing a House of Hogwarts). I waited just 35 minutes. Luckily my Mom wants to buy my HP7 that will arrive today...I am on chapter 6!

[sarahbelle]

Jennifer-thanks for the detailed report-it sounds like so much fun. I work at Borders out here in California, and this was my first HP release experience-it's been fun!

[KrisLuvsDisney]

I went to Wal-Mart and got my copy. It was lots of fun being in line with some of my students for the final book I looked at my receipt and was checked out at 12:06 am. I then came home and began reading. I didn't get too much read last night, so I am off to do some reading now

[applejenn]

My DS and I went to the midnight party at Barnes and Noble last night, we got there about 730pm and there was already a line...they did it differently this time, we got wrist bands with a letter and a number on it, we got a wrist band with E2 on it. but we were out of there and home by 1230 and I was on chapter 10 by 315am.

[wvugrrrl]

We went to our local Kroger to buy the book...partly because our Barnes and Noble was an absolute madhouse and partly because the radio station I work there was doing a live remote in anticipation of the book's release. Apparently, no one figured a grocery store would be selling HP, so I would say that it probably took us less than 5 minutes to buy our book. There were about 25 people waiting, and once they opened up the U-Scan aisles, we breezed right through.

[Belle*]

I didn't make it to the party sadly. In between going to get my wristband at 6:00 (Gold Letter C) and making it to the party I got a migraine. But the line just to get bracelets took over 45 minutes so I can only imagine what the party was like! So Shawn went and got my copy this morning and I started reading at 2:00. I took a break for dinner and to snuggle with Ryan a couple times and finished at 8:45.

[Chrissi]

I desperately wanted to take DJ to the final book release party at B&N last night, but Walt still hasn't recv'd the registration for his truck, so he took the MomUV and left me home with DJ to lament the fact that I would have to wait until I woke up this afternoon to read the book. (In his defense, he did pick up a copy for me from the grocery store on his way home - along with some ant-killer, paper plates, and a newspaper. Thoughtful. )

[clio]

My DD passed out the bracelets at our Wal-Mart. She has one for each of the houses. I wasn't there for the midnight release since I had to work today. At lunch my friend and I went up front and bought our copies and then spent our lunch hour reading the book.
Liz

[dejavu]

We were at Barnes and Noble at 10:30 and just milled around like everone else. I had the preorder wrist band, group 1 and was probably the 10th person to check out. The store was packed and it was funny when people with lettered wristbands would come right to the front of the line and ask if this was the line and where should they go. Hello?? You didn't pre-order!! The numbered groups went first, then the lettered ones. The line was all the way around the interior of the store and every aisle had people standing and sitting. We were home at 12:14, but it probably took until 2:00 to get the rest of those people checked out. It was fun to be around all the excitement!!

[Pris]

I took the old fogey route and headed to Target Sat. morning at 8 when they opened. In and out in less than 5 minutes and almost every other customer I saw then was doing the same thing as me. Started reading soon after getting home, and with a few breaks along the way, finished the book at 2:30 this morning. I really couldn't put it down.