Universal Orlando Permanently Changes Dragon Challenge Roller Coaster After Injuries.

[Bairstow]

"Lost" change is probably not the proper term.

This was almost certainly a series of intentional malicious attacks by one park guest who knew to throw a handful of coins, batteries, or rocks at just the right moment so it would likely strike riders on the opposing train. It was either the same malicious guest on two different days or a copycat, but either way I can't think of any effective way for Universal to stop the same person, whoever it is, from doing this again.

 

[c-one]

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.

Yeah, I've never been a fan of inverted coasters precisely because you can't see a damn thing unless you're in the front row. Always thought dueling inverted coasters were a silly idea...but it did look cool from afar!

 

[GLaDOS]

Leaving injuries aside, it is still good news for Disney if it's top competitor is forced to alter a key feature to one of it's more popular attractions. That is pretty black & white. It is not good news that someone got hurt at a competing park, but good news that the awrd-winning coaster is no longer the unique thing that it was.

Business.

I know you're just a troll and I shouldn't be doing this. But your lack of facts and leaps in logic are astounding.

1) This hasn't changed the number of riders on DC one bit. Same crowds are coming through the ride.

2) Dragon Challenge has never one a legitimate award from the industry.

3) This won't stop anyone from going to IoA.

 

[Bairstow]

Yeah, I've never been a fan of inverted coasters precisely because you can't see a damn thing unless you're in the front row.

I see your point, but they still have their charms.
I think the single best ride at IOA is the very back row of Ice/Blue/Horntail. Zero-G city.

 

[glendroid]

Comment deleted?!?!?!


OHH YEAAAAHHH!

 

[Crockett]

Comment deleted?!?!?!


OHH YEAAAAHHH!

I'd better rephrase (with smaller, more simple words) so that
A). I don't get accused of being a troll yet again
B). I don't hurt feelings, resulting in another comment being removed.

So here goes, walking on eggshells re-do:

It is not Universal's fault that people were injured on Dragon Challenge
(Universal = not at fault for what happened).

I am not blaming Universal for any of the injuries.
(Me no blame Universal)

It is never ever a good thing for anyone to be harmed at any park for any reason.
(Nobody wants to hear of injuries to anyone, despite what property they occur).

However, looking at the fact that a major coaster lost a key factor & draw-in, this is not a bad thing for Disney, considering they are close competitors.
(Not that someone was hurt. That is still very bad. But that the coaster is no longer "dueling".)

That was all I said in my last post, yet it got turned into something controversial. I was never suggesting that competitors want to see guests injured at other properties. That was never implied. Yet a troll quoted me and removed several sentences, making it appear as if I was saying Disney should be happy that people were hurt at IOA. And whoever deleted my post must not have read the entire thing, only what the troll quoted.

So hopefully this elementary, spelled-out version cleared up any confusion.
Universal=not at fault
Injuries=bad
Removing the dueling factor from the ride=not bad news for Disney

 

[SleepingMonk]

Yet a troll quoted me....

Enough with the Troll name calling. You seem to think anyone is a "troll" who does not agree with you. If you have a problem with me, then simply ignore & move on. But childish name calling is pointless.

So grow the hell up!

Maybe you should take your own advice.

If everyone here thinks you're a troll, it might be time for some serious introspection.

 

[fosse76]

However, looking at the fact that a major coaster lost a key factor & draw-in, this is not a bad thing for Disney, considering they are close competitors.
(Not that someone was hurt. That is still very bad. But that the coaster is no longer "dueling".)

That's ridiculous. It was a gimmick, for sure, but no one actually cared whether or not it was dueling. It did nothing to enhance the ride experience, and was not a factor whether or not people went on the ride. I doubt anyone at Disney even cares.

I can say the same thing about the Yeti, most people aren't going to skip Expedition: Everest because of a broken effect, when to the vast majority of guests, the coaster itself is the draw. It's one of the reasons Six Flags doesn't theme their coasters...and yes themeing CAN greatly enhance a ride (Space Mountain and RNR would be rather medicore coasters on their own without the themeing and darkness). The coasters at Universal and many of the ones at Six Flags are able to stand on their own without the extra themeing. The Dueling was a gimmick and nothing more. The ride would have had the same draw without it. It just would have needed a different name.

Removing the dueling factor from the ride=not bad news for Disney

Well it's not any type of news for Disney. It's a non-factor. People aren't going to start cancelling their trips because Dragon Challenge is no longer Dueling.

 

[JimJam]

Booo!

 

[a2grafix]

Yes, it was a strange feeling riding "fire" and "ice" separately, with no interaction, during my early October trip to Central Florida.

Without both trains running nearly side-by-side, the feeling of "dueling dragons" challenge is lost.

Sure, both trains have their pros and cons, but without running them together, the roller coaster doesn't feel right.

Safe to say that I have experienced the rides pre- and post-Harry Potter development, and post this injury incident. Used to ride and re-ride and re-ride either the Chinese Fireball or Hungarian horntail several times in the past, but now, I rode both coasters twice, to get the feel of the absence of the other coaster.

I asked why and for how long Universal would be experimenting with this change, and they said a short time. Guess, it's not permanent, for now.

As well, it appears that Universal also closed the quick return re-entry inside the keep because I couldn't find it. The Harry Potter additions are nice and plus out the experience of walking through the castle to the dragons, but I do miss walking on the bones and skulls. Before the makeover the keep was dark and creepy.

It's still dark and creepy, but it's also cool to see some Harry Potter stuff scattered throughout.

 

[EvanAnderson]

As well, it appears that Universal also closed the quick return re-entry inside the keep because I couldn't find it.

Yeah, I've noticed that too. I used to work there, so I know which door it is, but it's never opened, so I guess it's shut now for good. My guess is that with the fear of loose articles getting onto that ride, keeping that door open would add another entry onto the attraction without a stationed TM monitoring for loose articles. (I've seen one at the top of the staircase right outside the castle).

 

[ScoutN]

This is the best excuse to remove the dueling aspect. The dueling aspect of the ride is a capacity killer. The wait times will now fall due to the new operational procedure and guest satisfaction will rise. Simple as that.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Yes, it was a strange feeling riding "fire" and "ice" separately, with no interaction, during my early October trip to Central Florida.

Without both trains running nearly side-by-side, the feeling of "dueling dragons" challenge is lost.

Sure, both trains have their pros and cons, but without running them together, the roller coaster doesn't feel right.

Safe to say that I have experienced the rides pre- and post-Harry Potter development, and post this injury incident. Used to ride and re-ride and re-ride either the Chinese Fireball or Hungarian horntail several times in the past, but now, I rode both coasters twice, to get the feel of the absence of the other coaster.

I asked why and for how long Universal would be experimenting with this change, and they said a short time. Guess, it's not permanent, for now.

As well, it appears that Universal also closed the quick return re-entry inside the keep because I couldn't find it. The Harry Potter additions are nice and plus out the experience of walking through the castle to the dragons, but I do miss walking on the bones and skulls. Before the makeover the keep was dark and creepy.

It's still dark and creepy, but it's also cool to see some Harry Potter stuff scattered throughout.

It's official that the coasters will never duel again.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trav...sal-dragon-challenge-20111018,0,1447376.story

This is the best excuse to remove the dueling aspect. The dueling aspect of the ride is a capacity killer. The wait times will now fall due to the new operational procedure and guest satisfaction will rise. Simple as that.

The ride really hasn't been having capacity issues of late. Even during the middle of July this year on a weekend I didn't see waits above 15 minutes.

 

[ScoutN]

The ride really hasn't been having capacity issues of late. Even during the middle of July this year on a weekend I didn't see waits above 15 minutes.

When it comes to a coaster though it does not necessarily mean that the line has to be long to have a capacity issue. The fact that it was not churning the numbers per hour that a comparable length invert with the same number of blocks as others, shows a capacity issue.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

When it comes to a coaster though it does not necessarily mean that the line has to be long to have a capacity issue. The fact that it was not churning the numbers per hour that a comparable length invert with the same number of blocks as others, shows a capacity issue.

I feel that capacity is only an issue if long waits are preventing guests from doing something else. So even if the ride loads slower than something of a comparable nature, it wouldn't really matter if guests are still only waiting 5 minutes to get on the ride. They're still not wasting time in line when they could be spending money in restaurants or shops.

 

[ScoutN]

The biggest reason I am throwing that angle out is because of Lochness. It used to have two trains hit the interlocking at one. They deemed even though the lines were not unbearably long that it could dispatch trains quicker by not timing to loop simultaneously. There is another dueler somewhere that fell victim to the same concept. I am digging when I have a chance to find it. My overall point being if it does not change the ride experience itself (outside of those waiting for front row) then pumping the other 7 rows of people through quicker would certainly help with satisfaction; 10 minute stand by or 60 minute.

If debris was truly the problem the the 5-7 foot clearance between guest's lower extremities of each train then a catch net could be installed. A net that is taught similar to what Alpengeist uses in New France by the Immelman would be sufficient. There is ~2.5-3 foot of clearance between the guests lower extremities and the net itself.

 

[JT3000]

If debris was truly the problem the the 5-7 foot clearance between guest's lower extremities of each train then a catch net could be installed. A net that is taught...

...would bounce the thrown objects back at the train.

 

[unkadug]

The biggest reason I am throwing that angle out is because of Lochness. It used to have two trains hit the interlocking at one. They deemed even though the lines were not unbearably long that it could dispatch trains quicker by not timing to loop simultaneously. There is another dueler somewhere that fell victim to the same concept. I am digging when I have a chance to find it. My overall point being if it does not change the ride experience itself (outside of those waiting for front row) then pumping the other 7 rows of people through quicker would certainly help with satisfaction; 10 minute stand by or 60 minute.

If debris was truly the problem the the 5-7 foot clearance between guest's lower extremities of each train then a catch net could be installed. A net that is taught similar to what Alpengeist uses in New France by the Immelman would be sufficient. There is ~2.5-3 foot of clearance between the guests lower extremities and the net itself.

taut?

I don't believe one can "teach" a net anything. :lol:

 

[Bairstow]

I don't think we're talking about debris. I think we're dealing with intentionally-thrown projectiles, and keep in mind that nets that would cover lower extremities wouldn't do much good to protect people from being struck in the eye, as happened here.

Unless I'm misunderstanding your idea of net placement.

 

[ScoutN]

...would bounce the thrown objects back at the train.

I guess that is the exact reason so many use them, right? Wrong.