Dragon Challenge On-Ride (Both Dragons) - Islands of Adventure (HD)

An on-ride video of Dragon Challenge at Islands of Adventure.
Video was filmed and edited by myself, Norman Snook.
All video and photos are copyright 2017 Norman Snook.

[@arjunski]

RIP, you will be missed as one of the best rides in the park. :(

[@ArrowThrills]

AJB I never been to universal Orlando, but I'm pissed off at universal Orlando for removing dragon challenge, I wanted to ride dragon challenge, I think universal Orlando made the worst decision in their theme park history

[@isaa7161]

Trust me the new hagrids ride is better 😌🖐️

[@diamondcat9904]

JustaGriffindor i havent been on it so i have no say but like it has no inversions or really good drops. But i wont relly have an opinion till i go on it

[@AndrewStrawser]

Diamond Cat if you really wanted to ride a ride like dragon challenge go to Busch gardens universal and IOA are mainly theming also Monty in my opinion is better than both of these rides. But also hagrids is apart of theming just like the whole park

[@diamondcat9904]

Strawcity thanks Sm! I will have to check these rides out

[@snowywinterwishes5663]

I went to Universal about 4 years ago, before it got removed. I’m so glad I got to experience these coasters, they were both amazing. I remember me and my brother rode it several times in a row alternating between the two. Each time there was hardly any line, so we constantly got to re-ride.

[@Ella-zn2un]

This was my all-time favorite coaster when i was a kid im so sad its gone 😭

[@abigailbarber9806]

I'm so upset I never got to ride this. My favorite roller coaster is Banshee at Kings Island so I probably would've loved this. RIP

[@adamhandley9482]

I remember going on Dragon challenge, although I always only rode the Fireball/Fire side, to be honest, the ride seemed to lose some of its oomph when they stopped the dueling aspect, it just didn't feel as scary. But I will still miss being able to challenge the dragons!

[@bread2217]

I think between the incidents and the “Family-Friendly” factor is the reason they took this ride away Also the gp and thusies loved this ride before the dueling aspect was taken out and even after it was still liked (not as much) and in my opinion the before-dueling-taken-out-time it definitely stood a good fight against Hagrids...and I would love it back :)

[@ElToroRyan]

Hi there! I'm working on an in-depth video of Dueling Dragons and I'd love to use your fantastic footage if that's ok! I'll give you full credit of course.

[@NormSnook1011]

That's fine by me!

[@allthedumbusernamesaretaken]

Such an amazing coaster but glad it was replaced by maybe an even better one.

[@ericapacheco918]

I’m going to universal this year. It’s really disappointing to hear that it’s shut down. I went on it once when I was 8. It’s one of the 3 rides that I remember going on.

[@ibralolhehe]

I miss this ride, too bad some idiots didn't take the "No loose objects." sign seriously.....

[@XscreamThrills]

Hi, I was wondering if I could use some of this footage in an upcoming project I'm working on? I would provide full credit as always! Excellent video btw!

[@NormSnook1011]

Sure! Please link the video here once you post it!

[@XscreamThrills]

@@NormSnook1011 Will do thank you!

[@goldstarchoice]

I remember Fire being really intense and Ice just being pretty good.

[@goonies80s98]

RIP

[@ArrowThrills]

Hayden R. I never been to universal Orlando I'm pissed off at universal Orlando for removing dragon challenge, I think universal Orlando made the worst decision in their theme park history

[@alextheasian8881]

@@ArrowThrills they removed it because someone lost their eye on the ride

[@ArrowThrills]

@@alextheasian8881 yeah but that was a long time ago, that's when the ride quit dueling after that incident

[@lxols_]

Hagrids is much better tho

[@CoasterStop]

Any chance that I could use parts of this clip on a video that I am making about my top 10 roller coasters? Of course with full credit to you

[@NormSnook1011]

Sure! Thank you for asking! 🙂

[@CoasterStop]

@@NormSnook1011 Fantastic. I will credit you on screen when the clip is used and also direct link in the description. I will also let you know when the video is posted 😊

[@NormSnook1011]

@@CoasterStop Cool! Looking forward to seeing your video! Thank you!

[@CoasterStop]

@@NormSnook1011 the video is now posted. Thank you so much for your contribution 🙏🏼😃

[@CoasterStop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4rSind7pLKnnbc

[@IceeAirsoft]

But if you close your eyes...

[@Outpost5Explorations]

Hi I'm working on a video on the history of dueling dragons and cant find any povs for the video and want to ask if you could use your amazing videos with credit. Thanks

[@NormSnook1011]

Sure, I'm fine with that. Post the link once you post your video, please!

[@Outpost5Explorations]

@@NormSnook1011 okay thank you

[@connorron3110]

Wish Universal Studios would rebuild and reopen Dragon Challenge it was their best ride over there.

[@Jushwa]

Coming to epic universe!

[@michaelcomiskey5698]

never rode this. but it looks cool!

[@Shyamanic]

so sad i missed ridin this i did ride the 2 new coastees at universal sadly not these ones

[@zero-gravitythrills7163]

Why did they remove it. I know they wanted Haggrids but this coaster is so good. it’s a shame. I went in 2019 before hagrids and after dragon so I missed them both

[@faviolasanchez6595]

Someone had to get surgery and get their eye out because they got their eye hit on this one. Happened to several people. Then the took the dueling aspect of it and it loose a lot of popularity so they went with Hagrid idea

[@Jushwa]

They will return to epic universe! They had reached EOL for the track supposedly

[@huntzzio]

@@JushwaDefinitely not happenint

[@Awesome0815]

I never had the chance to ride it when I went in 2014 I was to small and now I could of rode it but now hagrids is there but hagrids is the boom

[@natalierose7084]

Why did they get rid of this ride?

[@cwoolvett1004]

Natalie Rose someone lost their eye

[@bread2217]

Yeh people got hurt from loose articles flying out of pockets so they stopped the dueling aspect. After a few more years with its popularity decreasing it ended up getting taken out for hagrids magical creature motorbike adventure (which in my opinion I like hagrids more) but dueling dragons always had a special place for my love of coasters being one of the 1st coasters I’ve gone on

[@alefloreshn]

Why did they take it away tho

[@NormSnook1011]

I don't recall them ever giving an official reason as to why the removed the ride. But they put Hagrid's in it's place

[@JohnFleming-sw7hn]

But nothing like dueling dragons before!

[@isaa7161]

I know people will hate me for this but I hated this ride :( very glad it was removed

[@bread2217]

Why? (I’m not mad or anything I respect ur opinion I’m just curious of what you don’t like...😊)

[@PruWillDo]

No on ride theming. This could be any coaster in any 6 Flags. Nothing special. Not Potter worthy, or family friendly.

[@NormSnook1011]

Thank you for your comment! Allow me to respond to each of your points individually: - No on ride theming. Most roller coasters do not have any kind of on ride theming. Theming for these kinds of rides it usually in the queue, surrounding areas, and the trains. Not so much by what you see during the ride. There are of course a few exceptions, such as the newer Harry Potter coasters, The Mummy, and the Legoland Dragon coasters. But look at Hulk just across the water. The only on ride theming it has is in the launch and it’s a great ride as well. Granted it also has music now, but that is still different from on ride theming like on The Mummy. Even before it’s refurbishment, it was a great ride with no theming other than the launch, queue, and surrounding areas. - This could be any coaster in any 6 Flags. The coaster could be in any Six Flags park, or Cedar Fair park, or SeaWorld/Busch Gardens park. The point is any coaster can fit in any park and it fit well in Islands of Adventure. Parks usually design their rides for the areas they are going in and theme it appropriately. Six Flags is probably the only exception with all the clones they build. It’s doubtful that they would build something as unique as Dragon Challenge. - Nothing special. Actually, it was very special. It was the first and only dueling inverted roller coaster in the world. It was a great ride and was even better when the coasters actually dueled. It was a favorite at the park for many people. - Not Potter worthy… The ride wasn’t built for Potter. The ride was built for The Lost Continent then got rolled into Potter when they build Hogsmeade. In fact, I would say they got lucky that they could keep the dragon theme the ride already had and just change up the theme in the queue for the Triwizard Tournament. The dragon theme on the trains actually carried over well. Honestly, they kind of lucked out that there was the Dragon Challenge in the book that fit the ride well. If there wasn’t, it probably would have been much harder to retheme the ride. - ...or family friendly. This ride wasn’t built to be family friendly. Just because it’s a “Potter” ride, doesn't mean that it needs to be. Not all rides need to be family friendly. It’s ok to have fun rides for the adults too. Again, the ride wasn’t designed for Potter, thus it wasn’t meant to be enjoyed by the entire family, just those in the family that met the 54 inch height requirement. Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge was a really good ride that was enjoyed by many people and a favorite of many as well. It had significant historical value for a coaster and really did not deserve the end that it got. It was one of the few original “non-screen” rides offered by both parks. And while the new Hagrid coaster doesn't have screens, I feel that it’s not really a worthy replacement for Dragons. But that’s my preliminary feelings, they may change after I actually get a chance to ride it. But no matter what, I’ll always miss the Dragons.

[@shaggyrelatable8796]

Shut the hell up prudence. If you don't wanna watch the video quit searching it up, you fucking critic.

[@bread2217]

It’s a roller coaster so why are you expecting on ride theming especially you’ll flying high by it anyway and ofc it could be at a six flags park, they have a diverse variety of coasters so really any coasters could end up there. And this probably isn’t special to u because it used to be special but after the incidents they’d had to take out the dueling aspect and yes I can agree that it isn’t as special as before but this is still one heck of a ride. Also “No Potter worthy”?!?! BRUH it wasn’t originally intended to be a Harry Potter ride and by family friendly I would assume you mean for kids around the age of 8 and yes. A lot of kids especially around that young age are scared to go on roller coasters, much less the dueling dragons because of all the intense elements..so please....shutup

[@goldstarchoice]

I remember Fire being really intense and Ice just being pretty good.