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Ultimate Rollercoaster > Discussion Forums > Roller Coasters, Parks & Attractions > Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th

Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th

Posted: 7/24/17 at 9:00:43 PM
Views: 2923

This has been rumored for quite some time, but today it becomes official. I hope it ends up elsewhere as a dueling ride, but I'm not sure what park has room for such an attraction. Perhaps they each find a new home. I just hope they don't end up in the scrapyard.

Does anyone know if the two tracks share supports or if they are two completely separate rides?

NEW GENERATION OF THRILL RIDE COMING TO THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER – HOGSMEADE

Kristen Clark July 24, 2017

I’m super excited to tell you that a new generation of thrill ride is coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 2019! I can’t tell you everything about the new ride just yet, but here’s what I can share:

This all-new thrill ride will take you deeper into J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, where you will encounter some of your favorite characters and creatures. It’ll be unlike anything we’ve ever done before and it will be fun for the entire family.

The new attraction will be one of the most highly-themed coaster experiences we’ve created. It will combine a new level of storytelling with an action-packed adventure…and a few surprises along the way.

Our award-winning Universal Creative team is once again collaborating with Warner Bros. and the production design team from the Harry Potter films to bring this new coaster experience to life.

This ride is going to redefine the category and transport you to thrilling places, drawing you into even more exciting adventures within the wizarding world. It’s going to be the perfect addition to Hogsmeade.

We’re permanently closing Dragon Challenge on September 5 to make way for this all-new ride. The last day of operation will be Monday, September 4.

Stay tuned to the blog or sign up for email updates – more details will be released in the future.

In the meantime, make sure you come out and take your last ride on Dragon Challenge before it closes.

https://blog.universalorlando.com/whats-new/new-ride-wwohp-hogsmeade/?__source=sm.awr.ao.FBPAGE&linkId=40128016

drachen
Coaster to Park Ratio: 4.94 / Steel to Wooden Ratio: 2.56 / Wooden Coaster Percentage: 28%
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Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by RobLec RobLec Profile at 7/24/17 11:32:49 PM
We just saw this story on the local news here in Tampa bay. Laurie asked if they are actually tearing it down or just renaming it again. It sure sounds like they are actually removing it. What a shame. This was the amazing Dueling Dragons that opened with the park in 1999, and the Fire Dragon was probably one of the best inverts ever, second only to Montu and slightly ahead of Top Gun (Afterburn) at Carowinds.

I remember marathoning on the dragons many times, though in recent years it has become more difficult for us to enjoy such intense thrill rides. The original queue for DD was a wonder to behold before it was shortened to make room for the more recent Harry Potterization of that section of IOA.

RIP Dueling Dragons. You will be dearly missed.

Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by frontrow frontrow Profile at 7/25/17 12:50:24 AM
This is a shame. Thankfully we are headed to Florida and Islands of Adventure the last week of August. Not only will I get to ride it one last time, but my kids will get to ride it for the first time. IMO this is the best ride at Universal Parks in Orlando and one of the best in Florida. It also has my favorite que lines of any coaster. So, we are losing 2 B&M inverts. I'm curious to see if a park purchases both coasters or if 2 parks purchase one side each. I hope it ends up somewhere, other than the scrap yard.
Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by skc2000 at 7/25/17 5:26:46 AM
The park will not be the same without dueling dragons.I don,t care what it is there is no coaster that can replace something like dueling dragons.
this is going to be a real loss.Ok time for me to now start wiping the tears coming down from my eyes.

skc2000

Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by SirWillow SirWillow Profile at 7/25/17 2:55:41 PM
yeah, we're not happy about this. Love those coasters, and loved being able to ride them down there. Even without the theming/ dueling they were incredible rides. Add that in and they were top notch.

Understand them wanting to expand on Potter, but do NOT like how they are doing it in this case, regardless of what they put there.

Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by Eric_Gieszl Eric_Gieszl Profile at 7/26/17 6:32:31 PM
Dueling Dragons died when the dueling ended.
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Eric
Ultimate Rollercoaster Moderator
Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by goingtouniversal at 7/28/17 6:19:08 AM
Oh no! I'm planning a trip there and actually was planning on first riding Dragon Challenge to work my way up to the Hulk coaster. As I mentioned in a previous thread, I used to love coasters but developed a massive fear of getting hurt on them and haven't ridden one in years (at least not anything that flips you upside down...my sister did trick me into going on the Mummy ride at Universal a few years ago, not informing me it's a roller coaster ride and a pretty intense one at that). I don't have a date set, but it probably will be after September 5. Bummer. Guess I'll have to plan another future trip, though, as this new ride sounds like it has the potential to be really awesome.

I will say I never felt the coaster quite fit into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Its presence kind of detracted from the immersive experience of being in the wizarding world, as the wizarding world doesn't feature a random roller coaster track.

* This post was modified at 7/28/17 6:25:38 AM *

Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by JacobTheCoasterhead JacobTheCoasterhead Profile at 7/29/17 11:22:03 AM
Now I will never get to ride these fantastic looking coasters...
Should've got to Florida sooner.
Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by rossrich66 rossrich66 Profile at 8/4/17 7:13:42 PM
Sad to hear. I did ride Dueling Dragons back in 2007 before it became "Potterized. But why was it no longer Dueling once it got incorporated into the Harry Potter experience?
Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by RobLec RobLec Profile at 8/5/17 7:16:20 PM
rossrich66 said:

Sad to hear. But why was it no longer Dueling once it got incorporated into the Harry Potter experience?

I'm not sure if it had anything to do with it, but a man was injured on the ride when he was hit in the face by flying debris around that time. More than likely it was just too much trouble to keep them synchronized and for the sake of moving the line thru faster just let them operate independently.

Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by frontrow frontrow Profile at 9/4/17 9:22:04 AM
Well today is the day that Dragon Challenge will run its last ever cycles. We were lucky enough to get our final rides on them a week and a half ago. We ride the front seat and back seat of each side for 4 total rides. At least my kids got to ride them, before they are gone forever.
Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by RobLec RobLec Profile at 9/5/17 8:00:49 PM
frontrow said:
We were lucky enough to get our final rides on them a week and a half ago. We ride the front seat and back seat of each side for 4 total rides. At least my kids got to ride them, before they are gone forever.

That's awesome Frontrow. I remember marathoning on them around fifteen years ago. Fire dragon will always have a special place in our hearts.

I am also reading your TR's and enjoying them. We were unable to get any last rides in on the dragons but will be spending most of the month of November at Universal.

Re: Universal Orlando to Close Dragon Challenge September 5th by RobLec RobLec Profile at 11/28/17 10:45:35 AM
We were back in the park(s) this month and saw that the former site of DD is now a vast expanse of dirt inhabited by dozers and backhoes. It really is a very large piece of real estate.

Our younger son and his family are with us this week, and their favorite rides are the HP "broomsticks" ride and the Hulk.

Hulk was a decent ride when we were younger, but it never even placed in our top ten, especially in comparison to such wondrous coasters as Fire Dragon. Unfortunately my last ride on the newly rebuilt Hulk last spring had to be my final ride. Yes, I got old.

Sandwiched between our rides on HP and Hulk were what I feel to be far superior attractions, Spidey and Skull Island, both of which are operating in good form and were near walk-ons.

Awesome weather this week as well... upper 70's and totally cloudless every day. It's nice to be back in action again.