How To Train Your Dragon The Hidden World

This post is in partnership with Universal Pictures #AD

Recently I was invited to a VIP advanced screening of How To Train Your Dragon The Hidden World and the press junket, which was held at DreamWorks Animation Studios. It was an amazing day. To be invited to DreamWorks and learn how they made How To Train Your Dragon The Hidden World, interview Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera (the voices of Hiccup and Astrid) and everything else I got to experience that day was truly amazing. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

How To Train Your Dragon The Hidden World is about growing up, finding the courage to face the unknown and how nothing can ever train you to let go. What began as an unlikely friendship between a Viking and a Night Fury dragon has become an epic adventure spanning their lives. Welcome to the most astonishing chapter of one of the most beloved animated franchises in film history: How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World.

I highly recommend seeing the first two movies before seeing How To Train Your Dragon The Hidden World. That way you build a relationship with the characters, the dragons, and you become attached to their world. The first two movies are on DVD, or you can probably find them to rent on your TV. All three movies are spectacular and the visuals are just wonderful.

Now chief and ruler of Berk, Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destinies are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together to the very ends of the Earth to protect everything they’ve grown to treasure.

If your kids are huge fans of HTTYD you can get them costumes from Disguise. They make Toothless, Light Fury, Hiccup, and Astrid. Carter has Toothless and Kennedy has Light Fury. The Toothless costume is a jumpsuit. It has attached wings and a detachable tail and mask. Carter loves it. Light Fury is a hooded dress with detachable wings. Disguise has anything and everything you could possibly be looking for. Check out my past blog posts with Disguise here and here. I love that they always have the latest costumes and the quality is so good.

The entire day at Dreamworks was so awesome. We got to tour the studio, see the motion capture stage room, take flight with Toothless, go on a scavenger hunt, meet and interview Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera and so much more!

Just hanging out with Toothless!

All of the displays and merchandise were just so cool. These are cakes and cupcakes.

The first film came out 8 years ago and has sparked a beloved franchise that has captivated audiences around the world, inspiring additional films, television shows and now games! The game introduces a brand new story to the dragon world, seeing players join the new heroic duo of Scribbler and Patch in a battle to save dragons and defeat a new villain, Eir. They'll clash against fierce enemies, explore new and familiar locations, and interact with some fan-favourite characters throughout the adventure. The game comes out today (February 15th) and Carter is so excited.

You can also join Hiccup and Toothless in a match 3 puzzle adventure available now in the Apple Store or Google Play.

I was so blessed to be able to bring home some amazing goodies for Carter and Kennedy. The entire bag was full of things for the kids! It was such a treat. These plush dolls are exclusive to Build A Bear and you can find them here.

Hiccup and Astrid were around all day to take photos and visit with us. They were amazing. In the movie Hiccup only has 1 leg and this gentleman who was in costume as Hiccup only had one leg as well. It was incredible to see Dreamworks really go the distance to find someone just like Hiccup.

We got to fly with Toothless in a green screen room and it was so cool. This attraction is supposed to be coming to Universal Studios Hollywood sometime in the near future. I can't wait to take the kids to do it!

Meeting Jay and America was so cool. My family are such big fans of the movies, so meeting two characters that we have watched over the years was so surreal. We asked Jay and America what would they like kids to take away from seeing this movie. Jay said "the biggest one is that change is inherently difficult, but just because it is difficult it's not to be avoided, that it's an inherent park of growing up, that everything is kind of bittersweet if it's important that nothing worth experiencing comes easy you know." America added "in these films for Hiccup we see the world through his eyes in every single one of these films the world changes in a drastic way for him and the journey is always will he find the courage to be who he needs to be to meet that moment and I think whether you are a kid or an adult that is the ongoing journey the world continues to change and we have to keep finding the courage to say okay can I pass this threshold, can I become who I need to be to meet this next challenge to step into this brave new opportunity or difficulty?" We also asked if they had a hidden world like the dragons what would your hidden world look like? Jay said "suspiciously like my basement in its current form." America said "it would have a lot of soft beanbags so I could nap since I am new mom. A big screen to watch Netflix, popcorn, and Sour Patch Kids."

The kids were so excited with all of their goodies!

If you can't get enough of the movies, make sure you check out Dragons Riders Of The Berk, which is a television show based on the films and you can find it on Netflix or Cartoon Network.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD is in theaters February 22nd. Get your tickets here!

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