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Universal Orlando Permanently Changes Dragon Challenge Roller Coaster After Injuries.
- Thread starter WDWmazprty
- Start date
c-one
Well-Known Member
Last night I had a memory that I hadn't thought of in years. I was riding Dueling Dragons a number of years ago (2003 or 2004 maybe) and I had a baseball cap around my wrist. Somewhere along the way, the force ripped the cap off my wrist during the ride. I didn't even notice until we were back in the station. It's still the only time I've ever lost an object off a roller coaster.
pumpkin7
Well-Known Member
it's been reported on the daily mail over here in the uk that a guy lost his eye while riding? is that even possible?
it's a shame but at least they aren't fully closing the ride. although, wait times will probably increase but i'm sure it's a small price to pay.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...llercoasters-Dragon-Challenge-race-again.html
it's a shame but at least they aren't fully closing the ride. although, wait times will probably increase but i'm sure it's a small price to pay.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...llercoasters-Dragon-Challenge-race-again.html
Crockett
Banned
For WDW down the street, this is pretty sweet news.
I know that sounds harsh, and I certainly don't mean that as far as those injured are concerned. It is sad that anyone got hurt period.
But for Uni to completely revamp one of their more popular attractions to where it no longer has the staple trademark which it became popular with...oh yes, happy days over here in the Magic Kingdom fo sho.
It is a shame though that this change came at the expense of people getting hurt while visiting a theme park with their families. That should not happen to anyone, despite any circumstances.
For WDW down the street, this is pretty sweet news.
I know that sounds harsh, and I certainly don't mean that as far as those injured are concerned. It is sad that anyone got hurt period.
But for Uni to completely revamp one of their more popular attractions to where it no longer has the staple trademark which it became popular with...oh yes, happy days over here in the Magic Kingdom fo sho.
It is a shame though that this change came at the expense of people getting hurt while visiting a theme park with their families. That should not happen to anyone, despite any circumstances.
Oh please, this isn't even on anyone's radar except for coaster enthusiasts. Dueling actually lowers the ride's throughput anyway. It ultimately isn't that important to the attraction, especiallyb since it's not called Duelling Dragons anymore.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
I agree. I rode each dragon at least twice last August just before the incidents and seeing the other train doesn't really enhance the ride all that much. It's much more impressive to look at off-ride, but now that Hogwarts is built this coaster is not much of a focal point, and it's really only visible from the queue now.
It's probably not the investigation Universal cares about. As has been pointed out, the injuries were probably caused by a malicious rider in the opposing train throwing a handful of batteries or coins at the right moment, and Universal's investigation probably revealed that there is no practical way of keeping this from happening again or even identifying future assailants. Unless I'm wrong about this, the investigation would be unlikely to show any real negligence on Universal's part.
Settlement agreements like this are usually conditioned upon the victim not going to the press with pictures and video of his injuries, which would discourage potential guests.
That's an interesting idea. Paintball fields and driving ranges use similar nets, but perhaps Universal is worried that either such a thing could not be implemented safely or quickly amid the existing coaster superstructure, that a net wouldn't necessarily defeat all thrown objects, or that having a net there would defeat the whole point of the near-miss section anyway.
SleepingMonk
Well-Known Member
...oh yes, happy days over here in the Magic Kingdom fo sho.
Wow.
Stay classy Mr.Troll.
SleepingMonk
Well-Known Member
Exactly right.
It isn't even named Dueling Dragons, it's Dragon Challenge.
If anything the ride now more closely resembles the dragon chase sequences in the Potter films.
EvanAnderson
Active Member
You could say the same thing about the original Journey into Imagination, or Horizons. I highly doubt the management at WDW are jumping for joy over this, as their attractions are highly inferior to Universal's. Then again, they might be, seeing as the Disney company is so money hungry.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
...but one the other hand, seeing that the other train is loaded and ready to go probably spurs the cast members loading the slower train to get it ready faster. Not to say that they don't already have reasons to work as safely and efficiently as possible, or that they will always have control over pokey guests, but I could imagine that the setup could make both teams work a little bit faster.
Crockett
Banned
We have a winner of the False Statement of the Year award.
Crockett
Banned
You definitely were a Uni employee.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
While it might be a callous statement, Disney fans/employees are not above making such comments either!
Remember the old saying about glass houses. :wave:
metscool
Active Member
Now you are being mean. There are people on here that have worked for both companies or worked with just one. Who says that the first guy already came on the ride blinded. He was already blind in one eye.
Think about this people the ride has been opened for over 10 years. Why is this the first time that this has happen in 10 years? They are faking it so they can get money from Universal and now that these two people did this they now ruinned a great ride
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
GLaDOS
Well-Known Member
The dude lost his freaking eye.:brick:
SleepingMonk
Well-Known Member
:hammer:
....this is pretty sweet news...
...oh yes, happy days over here in the Magic Kingdom fo sho.
They should've stopped years ago. Once you are on the ride, you don't even notice the duelling action, particularly on the "Fire" side (red track). Inverted coasters inherently have inefficient load times due to the attendants' inability to see the entire loading at once, so delays in dispatch no doubt created even longer wait times. Racing, duelling, etc. are gimmicks that ultimately don't do much to enhance the ride experience.