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axilarycobra · 9 months

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Also: religion. How do you think these dragons pray? How do you feel about the fact that the word "gosh" is used multiple times? Does it mean they're Christian?

I don't think any of the dragon tribes are Christian. I think that the use of "gosh" wasn't meant to be a reference to Christianity and was just used as a general expression (since it's usually used in place of "god" and if they were all Christian, they would probably use that).

There is some established religion in the series. SkyWing believe in reincarnation and the IceWings have mythological creatures like the Great Ice Dragon. In an interview, Tui said that the RainWings were the least religious and said that they were similar to Buddhists.

This is something that I think will be covered in the guide, but at the moment, it's very much just a free for all for headcanons about religion.

I haven't thought about all the tribes yet when it comes to religion, but here are my headcanons, even though some have and will be disproven with the guide coming out:

_________________________________

Nothing for the MudWings. Not in an "I don't think they practice religion way", but I just never came up with anything. I do think that they believe in swamp monsters.

SandWings are very superstitious and have a history rooted in dark magic and they think that this is connected to animus magic. They have legends about ancient witches. I think that (similar to Christianity), there are two main figures, one good and one evil, that influence things in the Sand Kingdom, but not exactly two figures that exist for us. I believe that no religion from our world exactly exists in the dragon world, but there are just similarities.

SkyWings believe in multiple gods and were known for being the most religious tribe (before conflict and war got in the way of practicing). They believed that after death, the god of rebirth would send the spirit of the passed SkyWing back down to the planet to be reborn as a new dragon, and where the body of the deceased dragon was placed would influence what tribe they would be reborn as. They also believed that if you honored the gods, you deserved to come back as a SkyWing, but if you disrespected the gods, they would go out of their way to signal to the god (by placing the body in a different location), that they didn't deserve to come back as a SkyWing. The SkyWings would praise their gods through art mainly, including building huge castles, temples, statues, and lots of paintings.

I don't have much for SeaWings but they have a mythology surrounding ocean creatures that were big enough and strong enough to be a threat to the SeaWing tribe which is why they all stay so close to land.

RainWings believe in rainforest monsters who used to infest the rainforest, but were combated and run out by divine RainWing figures who are worshipped by the RainWings. They believe that if they don't honor these ancient RainWing warriors, their spirits will stop protecting them and the rainforest monsters will come back and wipe out of the tribe. This sometimes gets extreme and can lead to some violent practices like sacrifices.

IceWings believe in a Great Ice Queen. She was the first queen of the tribe and conquered the Ice Kingdom from the dangerous monsters that used to live there, trapping them beneath the ice. She is honored through ice statues and is worshipped a lot. This might be the only religion that I would headcanon there to be praying in. The Ice Queen's spirit lives as the northern lights and it protects all IceWing who follow the Principles of Eminence, a list of rules that are carved into her legendary statue, but these rules appear to have been carved much more recently than possible if it was the Ice Queen who carved them.

The NightWings have 3 main gods; Oracle, Perception, and Imperial. These gods were all divine dragons of no particular tribe that used to live on Pyrrhia, but eventually, they encased themselves in the moons. Each god had a special group of disciples, dragons of no particular tribe who followed a specific god and were entrusted with special powers and magic. Ever since the gods got encased in the moons, their power became limited, making it only possible for them to reach out whenever the moons were full to grant powers to the lucky eggs underneath them. It is unknown why or how the gods got encased in the moons, but the same did not happen to their disciples. These special dragons continue to live on Pyrrhia, completely hidden from mortal dragon eyes. Some have given themselves disguises and live among the dragons, while some chose to stay completely invisible to the mortal eye. These disciples still have their powers and some continue to use them, but not all of them use their powers for good. Most disciples are unknown, their names lost to time.

_________________________________

I don't have any headcanons yet for the Pantalan tribes, but with the guide coming out soon, there will likely be some kind of canon religion or at least traditions introduced.

Anyway, a long answer for a semi-short question, but I had to headcanon dump because I'm very invested in some of these religions I had been crafting around the tribes.

#wings of fire #wof

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nivrad00 · 6 years

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School’s Out

3. The Great Drop-Off

Peril glided over the sea, watching the dark water roll beneath her. There was not a cloud in the sky, and nothing but open ocean for miles in every direction. It was unsettling, to say the least. Since when had the world ever been this flat?

Turtle’s green head popped out from the surface below. He shook the water from his scales. “Yep, this is the place,” he announced.

“Can I come see it?” Peril responded antsily, swooping down to the SeaWing.

“Um, depends on how long you can hold your breath.” Turtle shrugged. “It’s about two hundred meters deep at this point.”

“SkyWings have big lungs,” said Peril, trying to sound nonchalant. “Let’s do it.”

“Alright. Just signal if you need to come back up, okay?”

Turtle disappeared under the surface. Peril took a deep breath, then a few more, eyeing the foamy water below. She had to admit, her heart was pounding. The ocean was scary. And not a lot of things could scare Peril. Hunting a wild boar? Easy. Fighting a dragon twice as big as her? Dragonet’s play. Diving into the open ocean? Definitely outside of her comfort zone.

Turtle resurfaced. “Did you change your mind?”

“Nope!” shouted Peril. “Here I come!” She breathed in until she thought her lungs would burst, then dove into the water with a huge splash.

The water was shockingly cold to the touch, though her firescales immediately started to boil it. Turtle lit up all his glowing scales, so Peril could see, and dove graceful downward. Peril pumped her limbs to follow, sending up a giant plume of bubbles.

As time passed, the water got darker and darker, and Peril’s breath got tighter and tighter. Just as she thought she would have to turn around, the ocean floor came into view. It was a murky rock shelf covered in tough patches of seaweed, stretching left and right until it went out of sight. Directly ahead, the shelf sharply declined, revealing nothing but black, black waters below.

Peril scanned the scene with a confused expression, waiting for Turtle to show her something more. But the SeaWing just looked at her expectantly, flashing his scales idly. She’d had enough of this. Peril turned and shot up through the water.

She surfaced with a huge gasp of air. Oh, precious, precious sky!

“Well?” said Turtle, popping up nearby. “What did you think?”

Peril took a deep breath before answering. “That?” she said. “That was the Great Drop-Off? More like the Very Depressing Endless Sea of No Return!”

“Oh, come on. It’s not that bad.”

“Do you really toss your deceased down there?!” said Peril. “How is the dragon spirit supposed to find its way back? It looks like a giant death trap!”

“It’s just custom,” Turtle said. “We decorate the body in honor and return it to the depths of the ocean where it came from, or something. Mother read an entire dirge to that effect at father’s funeral.” He thought for a moment. “We didn’t actually have his body, so I’m not sure what they did for the ceremony. Maybe they just threw his jewelry down there.”

Peril sighed and leaned back, using her wide wings to help her float. The water bubbled and boiled wherever her wings touched it. “So that’s where Kestrel is? Sitting at the bottom of the ocean with a bunch of dead SeaWings?”

Turtle frowned. “I’m not exactly a SeaWing mortician, but yeah, I think she was included in the mass funeral after the Summer Palace attack. Same with all the dead SkyWing soldiers.”

Peril thought for a moment, trying to figure out how to feel about Kestrel meeting her end in such a gloomy, alien way. “Well… I guess that’s what happens during war. I mean, to be fair, we ended up with your father’s body. We as in the Sky Kingdom. Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” said Turtle, with a shrug. “I’m past it now. Still got a mom. And she even knows my name now! Imagine that.”

Peril stole a glance at her friend, who was floating leisurely on his back. She didn’t think he looked all that torn up about Gill’s death, but she was still pretty bad at reading dragons’ emotions, so maybe he was just good at hiding it or something.

“How do you do it in the Sky Kingdom, then?” said Turtle, meeting her gaze. “Do all dead SkyWings get put on mountaintops like Carnelian?”

“Eh, pretty much,” said Peril. “Sometimes, when an important dragon dies, there’s a big orchestra and parade and whatever.” She swished her tail through the water, causing violent sprays of bubbles. “Osprey told me that SkyWing bodies need to put on high mountaintops so their spirits can go into the sky and be reborn… or something.”

Peril trailed off as memories of the old, croaky dragon leaked into her head. Osprey had often kept her company at night, telling her stories when she couldn’t sleep. Nowadays, she tried not to think of him, but it was impossible to forget her only childhood friend. Even if his breath smelled like goat kidneys.

She forced the images out of her head, focusing instead on a flock of seagulls flying high above. “He’s dead now, anyway. Osprey is. I think Queen Scarlet just threw his body onto a fire, so I guess his spirit isn’t coming back. And neither is Kestrel’s.”

“I guess,” said Turtle.

Peril paused and blinked. “You know, there’s something I said to Kestrel in the Sky Kingdom. Something like, ‘I may have saved your life, but I never want to know you.’ So… I guess I got my wish.”

It seemed like an awfully selfish thing to have said, in retrospect. Kestrel had chosen to save Peril over her twin brother, after all. And whose fault was it that Kestrel had been unable to carry her to safety? Peril’s firescales, of course. Messing everything up since the day she was born.

Peril couldn’t help but imagine a universe where she had gone with her mother. Maybe Kestrel would have guided her, so Peril wouldn’t have been so angry and confused all the time. Maybe Peril could have used her firescales to save Kestrel from Blister’s evil grasp. Maybe they could be living happily together, today. Just maybe.

“I’m sorry, Peril,” said Turtle, at length.

Peril snapped out of her reverie. “I mean, good riddance, right?” she said, laughing. “According to Tsunami, she was a terrible guardian anyway, so it’s better to just forget it and focus on not messing up the future. Three moons, I got sappy for a moment.”

“Peril.” Turtle righted himself in the water to meet her eyes. “It’s okay to mourn Kestrel. It can take a long time to get over the death of a loved one, you know.”

“Nuh-uh,” said Peril. “Not for me. I was raised to be a killing machine, remember? Death is like an everyday thing for me. Oh, look, it’s Thursday! Time to kill someone!”

“It’s different when it’s someone close to you,” insisted Turtle. “Come on, Peril. You’re only a dragon, after all.”

Peril flapped her waterlogged wings to rise into the sky, suddenly needing to put some distance between her and Turtle’s insistent gaze. “You know what you guys always tell me?” she said. “Peril, you can’t rely on others telling you what to do. Peril, you’ve got to decide things for yourself. Well, today I’m deciding that I’m not going to worry about Kestrel or any other dead dragon, and that’s that!”

“Really,” said Turtle, skeptically.

“Why did we even come here in the first place?” Peril continued, blithely, ignoring the stormy feeling gathering in her gut. “We should have gone to the Diamond Reef with Tsunami and Anemone. I bet they’re having loads of fun.”

“You? Hanging out with Tsunami?” Turtle snorted and flapped into the air as well. “Now that’s a recipe for disaster.”

Peril started flying back toward the Bay of a Thousand Scales, wanting to feel solid ground under her talons again. “Hey, I am a MILLION times more mature than I was a year ago. I can handle Tsunami just fine.”

“So when you two started yelling at each other about the seating arrangement at the art festival,” said Turtle. “That was just a fluke, right?”

“Oh, come on,” said Peril. “She seated me right behind a column just to spite me. I could barely see Siamang and Boto’s dance!”

“You know, I’ve noticed you’ve been hanging out with Siamang a lot lately.”

“Yes! Point in case!” Peril said, triumphantly. “I made a new friend, all by myself. And she’s totally awesome. How about that?”

The two dragons chatted as they flew over the ocean, leaving the Great Drop-Off behind. And Peril could almost forget that far, far below the surface, her mother lay in eternal rest.

She knew thoughts of burned talons and blackened eggs would return sooner or later. Maybe in her dreams, as she tossed and turned in the guest quarters of the SeaWing court. But for now, she was on summer break, she was hanging out with her awesome friend Turtle, and she was not going to waste her time thinking about stupid dead dragons.

Not right now.

#wings of fire #writing #fanfiction #school's out #peril #turtle #tw: death #shoutouts to peril and siamang reinventing applesauce in darkness of dragons

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vacationsoup · 6 years

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New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/orlando-theme-parks-beginners-guide/

Orlando Theme Parks - A Beginners Guide

Beginners Guide to Orlando Theme Parks

It really is the most magical place on earth. Dreams really do come true. Little girls really can be a Princess for a day. Little boys can live a pirate's life.

Heck, any Muggle can transform into a wizard. Or train how to use a wand.

The Orlando theme parks offer so many experiences and attractions, but where do you even start to plan?

A first visit can be overwhelming, but don't worry, it's not as daunting as you may think, once you know the basics.

This Orlando Theme Parks Beginners Guide will give you the rundown on all you need to know.

And don't forget we're always on hand to answer any questions too. Even if you're not staying with us, we're happy to help.

So let's dive in...

1) Accept You Can't Do All the Orlando Theme Parks in One Visit

Really, it's just not humanly possible to cover all the Orlando theme parks in one hit. Unless you happen to be Harry Potter or Superman. In which case you wouldn't be reading this blog.

There's just so many incredible things to do in Orlando, don't even consider trying to cram it all in. As well as 10 major theme parks, there are hundreds of smaller attractions throughout Central Florida too. And you NEED downtime too.

It's a great excuse to plan a return trip!

SheiKra at Busch Gardens is awesome

AN OVERVIEW OF THE 10 MAIN ORLANDO THEME PARKS:

Walt Disney World: 4 Theme Parks - Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios

Universal Orlando: 2 Theme Parks - Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure

SeaWorld

Discovery Cove

LEGOLand

Busch Gardens (Tampa)

You also need to include rest days. The parks are exhilarating, but can be exhausting, especially in the heat. Give yourself time to relax, catch your breath and just enjoy being with your friends and family.

Stay home and relax for a day, take a trip to the beaches near Orlando, explore one of the beautiful state parks. There are lots of relaxing things to do to give you a break from the bustling theme parks.

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Princess Cora makes some time to relax and unwind

2) Understand How VAST the Orlando Theme Parks Actually Are

One of the most frequent questions we get asked is "How far are you from Disney?" But did you know that Disney World is almost the size of San Francisco? Twice the size of Manhattan?

At 43 square miles, Disney is seriously HUGE.

Universal Orlando may not be anywhere near the size of Disney in terms of space, but the Universal parks still pack a mighty punch.

SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens are other big contenders for your precious time.

SO, JUST HOW BIG ARE THE ORLANDO THEME PARKS?

3) Learn The Locations of Orlando Theme Parks

Despite popular belief, most of the Orlando theme parks are not even in Orlando. Disney's Animal Kingdom is over 20 miles from Orlando.

Take a look at this Orlando Theme Park Map to see where the parks are:

Orlando Theme Parks Map

So Let's Break Down the Orlando Theme Parks into Bite Size Pieces:

WALT DISNEY WORLD

Dreams really can come true at Disney World!

Walt Disney World is home to:

4 Individual Theme Parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot

2 Water Parks: Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon

2 Entertainment, Dining and Retail Complexes: Disney Springs, Boardwalk

3 Championship Golf Courses: Magnolia, Palm, Lake Buena Vista

1 Walking Golf Course: Oak Trail

All 4 Disney theme parks have totally separate themes and are in different locations.

Epcot and Hollywood Studios are in the same vicinity. There is a walkway between the two. It's a pleasant stroll along the waterways and through Disney's Boardwalk, but it's over a mile long.

A pleasant riverside stroll between Epcot and Hollywood Studios

You can get a ferryboat (free) between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Don't forget you have to go all the way back to collect your car though.

Take a ferryboat between Epcot and Hollywood Studios

Epcot and Magic Kingdom are both accessible from the Disney Ticket & Transportation Center - from here you can get a monorail or ferryboat to Magic Kingdom or a monorail to Epcot. Epcot also has its own parking lot.

Monorail to Epcot or Magic Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is in the south-west of Disney and is just 4-5 miles from our Orlando vacation homes.

Once you have paid for parking, you can come and go as you please. One parking fee covers you for all Disney parks, for the whole day and evening.

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Disney's Theme Parks Overview

Magic Kingdom

Bronze statues of Chip n Dale in front of the iconic Cinderella's Castle

The most famous of all Orlando theme parks. Home to the iconic Cinderella Castle, awe-inspiring parades and a dazzling firework extravaganzas.

The Magic Kingdom is geared up towards smaller children, but there's no shortage of things for older kids and adults to do either. It's not so big on the scary ride factor, but Magic Kingdom really isn't geared up to thrill rides. It's all about the atmosphere and experience. And, of course, it's sprinkled with Pixie Dust. It's where the magic happens!

Epcot

Spaceship Earth and Showcase Lagoon at Epcot

Split into two distinct areas, Epcot is perfect for all ages and offers a whole lot more for adults too. Epcot is a huge park (twice the size of Magic Kingdom) so be prepared for some serious walking.

Future World focuses on technology, mankind and imagination, making education fascinating for youngsters. World Showcase is set around Showcase Lagoon and is home to 11 different countries, each celebrating their culture, food and traditions. There are hugely popular annual festivals at Epcot too that are heavily themed with food and music. Festival of the Arts in winter, Flower & Garden Festival in Spring, Food & Wine Festival in Fall and Festival of the Holidays at Christmas. There's plenty at Epcot for Kids too.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Tower - an epic ride!

This is where the movies come alive. Star Wars has exploded onto the Hollywood Studios scene too. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is due to open in 2019. Hollywood Studios is perfect for all ages - plenty for the youngsters to see and some awesome rides - Hollywood Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith for adults and older kids. Toy Story Land is a brand new area that will open June 30th 2018.

Animal Kingdom

The biggest Disney park in the world, Animal Kingdom is so much more than just animals. It's theme is very much towards making education and conservation fun for all ages. Thrill rides, safaris, animal encounters and live shows, there's something for everyone here. Animal Kingdom night time events were introduced in 2017, extending the opening hours and making this a viable full day park. The Rivers of Light night-time spectacular was launched in February 2017 and the hugely popular Pandora: World of Avatar opened in May 2017.

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UNIVERSAL ORLANDO

The entrance to Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando Resort is spread over almost 700 acres:

Universal Studios - also home to Harry Potters Diagon Alley

Islands of Adventure - also home to Harry Potters Hogsmeade

City Walk - dining, retail and entertainment complex between the 2 parks

Volcano Bay - Themed waterpark

Check out our Universal Ride Guide

Universal Theme Parks Overview

Universal Studios

It's all about the movies at Universal Studios with some pretty awesome rides and roller-coasters thrown in for good measure. This living and working studio takes you behind the scenes and into the action for fun, thrills and comedy.

Universal Studios Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley

Diagon Alley is located inside Universal Studios. It's the newest section of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter that opened in 2014. The amazingly atmospheric mini-village is home to unique stores, great dining options, an awesome ride and even a fire-breathing dragon.

The Ukrainian Ironbelly Dragon towers over Diagon Alley

Do you Have to Buy a Separate Ticket for Harry Potter World?

The answer is No. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included in your park admission. Diagon Alley is located inside Universal Studios, Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure. You DO need a 2 park ticket to visit both Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. You also need a 2 park ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express between the two parks.

Islands of Adventure

The bright and colorful Seuss Landing

Islands of Adventure is all about non-stop-fun, coaster twists and turns and epic attractions. There are over 20 rides here and also several rides suitable for kids under 10. Thrill seekers will be spoiled for choice and comic book fans will be enthralled. Edgy thrill rides, amazing 3D adventures, get-drenched attractions and incredible themed islands.

Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure

Hogsmeade is the original Harry Potter section and is located inside Islands of Adventure. Cobbled streets, enchanting crooked buildings and of course Hogwarts Castle.

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SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

SeaWorld Entertainment includes:

SeaWorld Orlando

Discovery Cove

Aquatica Waterpark

Busch Gardens Tampa

All 4 parks are entirely separate and equally amazing

SeaWorld Orlando

One of the most controversial Orlando theme parks, SeaWorld has come under attack in recent years and has consequently shifted focus. World famous for killer whales, dolphins and live shows, SeaWorld is home to some pretty amazing roller-coasters too. Mako and Kraken Unleashed to highlight just two.

Festivals have played a much bigger part in recent years. Seven Seas Food Festival is a taste around the world with music at weekends. The event is on from February through April. Praise Waive celebrates Christian Fellowship in January/February. SeaWorld's Christmas Celebrations last from November to December 31st, followed by Three Kings Festival until January 6th.

SeaWorld is huge on conservation, animal research and saving wildlife. The care of the environment is evident throughout the park and they make it fun, fun, fun for kids to learn how they can help.

Discovery Cove

Swim with Dolphins at Discovery Cove

If swimming with dolphins is on your bucket list, then Discovery Cove is one of the Orlando theme parks that has to make your must do list. It might be higher priced than all the other parks, but the experience is a one-off. Even without a dolphin swim, it's a wonderful experience with plenty of wildlife and water interaction. Perfect for all ages. All your food and drink is included in the ticket, plus entry for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, it's a great day out.

Busch Gardens Tampa

Not quite one of the Orlando theme parks, but at just over an hour from our rental homes, Busch Gardens in Tampa is perfect for a full day away. Animal encounters and thrills all day long.

The conservation theme carries over to Busch Gardens with plenty of wildlife exhibits and experiences. Rides are in abundance too and will keep all the thrill seekers in the family more than happy.

Animal Encounters and Thrill Rides at Busch Gardens

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LEGOLand Florida

LEGOLand is around 30 miles from our rental homes and is aimed at 2 to 12 year olds.

It has over 50 rides, attractions and shows, plus a water park and 4D movie

Orlando Insider Top Tips

Plan, Plan, Plan. Then Plan Again!

Planning for the Orlando theme parks is a big part of your vacation. Enjoy the excitement of discovering all the great things to do in Orlando.

Get the kids involved, they'll think of things you won't.

Ask the opinions of everyone who will be going with you, there's no 'one size fits all' plan.

Get everyone involved and make it fun, fun, fun.

Be fllexible - accept plans change and allow some wiggle room for the unexpected

It can be an art working out where to go, when to go, what day and in what direction.

So where do you start planning for the Orlando theme parks?

Touring Plans

A Touring Plan might be a great help for you. Check out these resources for Orlando Touring Plans:

TouringPlans.com

OrlandoInformer.com

UndercoverTourist.com

Kenny The Pirate

DisneyTouristBlog - Although not a "Touring Plan" as such, Tom Brickers "1 Day Itineraries" are super comprehensive and a must read. His photography tips are a huge help too.

Study Ticket Options

All the parks offer 1 day base tickets, but buying multiple days works out much more cost-effective.

Disney Tickets A 1 day base ticket gives you 1 day access to 1 park. Disney offer 'Magic Your Way' packages which work out cheaper the more days you add. You can add on water parks, golf and Disney Quest.

A Park Hopper ticket means you can 'hop' to any park on the same day. You could go to Animal Kingdom in the morning, Epcot in the afternoon, then head to Magic Kingdom in the evening. Without a Park Hopper, you are restricted to 1 park per day. When you are ready to purchase tickets, check GetAway for prices. These guys usually offer great deals. Full disclosure: We receive $5 per order when using this link, which we donate to Give Kids The World charity. TouringPlans.com have a great Disney ticket price checker

Universal Tickets With Universal, there are 2 parks so you need to pay entry for each park. You need a 2 Park Pass to be able to ride the Hogwarts Express. This fascinating train ride connects the two worlds of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade Village is in Islands of Adventure, Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios. There are multiple ticket options, so take your time to plan. If you are not sure how many days you will need, get a basic ticket and then upgrade in the park if you decide you need more time. As long as you upgrade before the ticket expires, you will just pay the difference. Always book Universal tickets in advance, never buy them at the gate.

Make Use of MYDisneyExperience & FastPass+

First things first. Get your Disney tickets well in advance, go to MyDisneyExperience.com and create an account. From here you can book FastPasses, make dining reservations and a whole range of other things.

FastPass+: You can pre-book time slots on all the popular attractions throughout all 4 Disney Parks. It's a free service and advance reservations for 3 attractions a day can be made as far ahead as 30 days. (Longer if you're staying in a Disney resort). You can amend, cancel or add attractions at any time.

More Details: 9 Easy Steps to FastPass+ Updates: FastPass+ Changes

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Consider Universal Express Pass

Sometimes this is needed, sometimes it's not, so it really depends on the time of year and the attractions you are most interested in. Check out our quick guide to Universal Express. More Details: Universal Express Pass

Celebrate with Buttons

If any of you have a birthday, anniversary, engagement or any kind of celebration, call at guest services at any of the parks for a Celebration Button. Kids will LOVE getting wished a happy birthday by Cast Members all day long. They'll go out of their way to high-five and Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary or whatever the occasion. You may even get a complimentary snack or drink, it sometimes happens, but not always, so don't expect it. It can really make for a special trip.

Get an Autograph Book for the Kids

The characters will sign their names and the kids will love collecting the autographs. Big pens or thick sharpies are easier for the characters to hold when in costume. Many wear gloves so make it super easy for the characters to hold the pen and sign. You can buy autograph books in the parks or the Disney stores. You could also buy plain writing pads before you go and have the kids decorate them. A photo album can also be used: Get index cards for the characters to sign and store an image with the character next to it. Buy a bigger sized autograph book - the extra space makes it easier for the characters to sign and they often leave an extra message if they have more space. The characters love stickers of themselves on the page too!

Book Dining in Advance

If there's a certain dining option you want to take or a character meal your kids are desperate to do, make sure you book well in advance. Dining reservations open up 180 days in advance. If your little princess wants to dine at Cinderella's Royal Table or your little mouse wants to have breakfast with Chef Mickey, then get your finger on the dial on the 180 day mark. Full Details: Disney Character Dining

We hope this beginners guide to the theme parks helped, but we're always here if you have any other questions at all. Just hit the form on the right and ask away!

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#disney #Orlando Beginners Guide #Orlando Theme Parks #Universal

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