Why do people hate Dueling Dragons?

ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
Scuttle said:
I couldn't have said it better. The only rides in central fl that are even in the same league as Spiderman are Tower and Forbidden Journey.
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I agree. Spiderman, ToT, and FJ are among Orlando's best attractions. I also think Mummy is an impressive combination of show and roller coaster but other people tend to be less enthused about this one. I've always enjoyed Pirates & HM but recognize they are based on 1950s ride systems pioneered by Walt at DL and don't have the same "wow" factor as the other attractions. They are great shows (i.e. what you see is really cool) but not so great rides.

I've always enjoyed Dragon's Challenge (a.k.a. Dueling Dragoons) but the theming on the ride itself is weak, effectively turning it into "just another roller coaster". Perfectly fine for Sandusky, Magic Mountain, Six Flags, etc. but not as entertaining as the other attractions mentioned above. As a full-fledged roller coaster, it has less cross-generational appeal.
 
disney fan 13

disney fan 13

Well-Known Member
Like this...

Wizarding+World+Enhance+3.PNG
 
HTF

HTF

Well-Known Member
Bairstow said:
To those who say the Dragons themselves are improperly themed, how exactly is one supposed to theme a full-scale B&M or Intamin coaster?
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Not sure, seems their are people who think it would be easy to close both attractions and build a 100 million dollar mountain around them. Not only can you NOT close two headline attractions for 12-16 months but you would never see a return on that investment. The best we will see is new paint and some theming to hide the coaster from the new train station.
 
flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
Bairstow said:
To those who say the Dragons themselves are improperly themed, how exactly is one supposed to theme a full-scale B&M or Intamin coaster?
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It's done all over the world. have the coasters run past things.. by things.. under things. Effects, lighting, sound. The ride vehicles.. the narrations.. etc.
 
ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
It's done all over the world. have the coasters run past things.. by things.. under things. Effects, lighting, sound. The ride vehicles.. the narrations.. etc.
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Yup. It doesn't cost that much to add some appropriate theming to a roller coaster. Heck, my local Six Flags did it (plus some special effects such as fire & mist) a few years ago on a shoe-string budget. As it stands today, I'm mostly staring at parking lots or weeds when I ride Dragon's Challenge. Perfectly fine for Six Flags but not really up to the standards I expect for Universal.

When I was at UO a few weeks back, Dragon's Challenge was effectively a walk-on the entire day. Rather sad for a major attraction located in the middle of Orlando's hottest property (WWOHP).

As far as closing it down, theme parks close rides down all the time for refurbishment. Frankly, if people are waiting less than 5 minutes to ride Dragon's Challenge, I'm not sure how many people would miss it being closed for several months for a really good refurbishment. A really well themed Dragon's Challenge would draw people in. Let's face it, rides such as FB, Spiderman, HM, or ToT are not great rides because of the mechanisms used to transport people, they are great rides because of what people see while they are being transported. Dragon's Challenge needs to be more visually appealing in order to be considered in the same class as the top-tier attractions.

Maybe it's something to consider a few years down the road after WWOHP2 is complete and attendance starts to sag a bit at WWOHP1.
 
D

djlaosc

Well-Known Member
marni1971 said:
Indeed.

Don't know anyone who doesn't like Dragons either. Lack of (long lines) do not equate popularity on any given day. We ride each visit. Whilst we still can.
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I'm hoping that this would not be due to a future removal, but rather a "eventually becoming too old for a bumpy coaster" thing...
 
M

maxairmike

Well-Known Member
ParentsOf4 said:
When I was at UO a few weeks back, Dragon's Challenge was effectively a walk-on the entire day. Rather sad for a major attraction located in the middle of Orlando's hottest property (WWOHP).
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If it didn't have a line that takes 10 minutes to walk through, it would likely have at least a short line. That combined with a capacity that has to be somewhere north of 2400 (basing that off of double the average capacity of other 2 or 3 train B&M inverts I've had experience with) makes for quite a black hole in terms of not creating a line. I have waited in a line once earlier this summer that was about 15 minutes, but most times I walk into the station. Of course that walk takes me 5-10 minutes!
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
flynnibus said:
It's done all over the world. have the coasters run past things.. by things.. under things. Effects, lighting, sound. The ride vehicles.. the narrations.. etc.
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Themes are always great. But with coasters, if the coaster is good enough, you don't need much theming. And DD/DC is that good.

I really miss sitting in the front row and racing at the other people, though. Miss it a lot.
 
flynnibus

flynnibus

Premium Member
luv said:
Themes are always great. But with coasters, if the coaster is good enough, you don't need much theming. And DD/DC is that good.
.
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Needed or not.. I was only answering that it is possible :)

Disney is proof that there is more than one way to find joy in coasters. Integrating the coaster with off track elements can completely change everything... I mean just look at space mountain :)
 
BryceM

BryceM

Well-Known Member
The theming throughout the ride doesn't bother me. I don't see why it matters when you're going 60 MPH through multiple inversions. Atleast it's over a nice lake, trees, bushes and grass instead of concrete.

However, that big, ugly sounder-barrier really bothers me...
 
Bairstow

Bairstow

Well-Known Member
BryceM said:
However, that big, ugly sounder-barrier really bothers me...
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...probably not as much as screaming riders were bothering the students at Dr. Phillips High.
I do wonder why the barrier is just a plain green/gray though. The tops of it are obviously cut to resemble treetops, so it would have been sensible to paint the barrier to resemble a treeline.
...on both sides, really.
 
BryceM

BryceM

Well-Known Member
Bairstow said:
...probably not as much as screaming riders were bothering the students at Dr. Phillips High.
I do wonder why the barrier is just a plain green/gray though. The tops of it are obviously cut to resemble treetops, so it would have been sensible to paint the barrier to resemble a treeline.
...on both sides, really.
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Yeah, it's not it's presence, but it's color. They should plant lots trees in front of it (on the Dragon's side).
 
Turtle

Turtle

Well-Known Member
jl3283 said:
There is never a line and people always bad mouth the ride. I think it's brilliant and two great rides. (It sucks that the guest ruined it for us all last summer by not taking off his flip flops.)

IMO Spiderman is the most overrated ride ever. It's a dusty screen that has the worst HD I've ever seen and still looks standard definition, and sprays water on you while you spin in a circle. The Mummy sh*ts on Spiderman! lol

But I don't know, why do people hate Deuling Dragons? It is a great ride!
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Have you been on the new spiderman that was refurbished?
 
jl3283

jl3283

Active Member
Original Poster

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