The Closed History of Dueling Dragons and Merlinwood | Expedition Islands of Adventure

[@MasterOfNinjas16]

This video made me sad. I nearly teared up. Dueling Dragons was the first "grown up" coaster I ever rode. It's what made me LOVE the roller coaster.

[@coasterobsessed3430]

Same! I was so sad when it closed

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

At least what replaced it is good

[@coasterobsessed3430]

I am excited to ride the new coaster, just don’t know when I’ll get the chance. Seems like it will pack a lot of nice elements even if it’s not exactly a thrill ride.

[@tylerrusnak7736]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Not by a long shot!

[@aaron___6014]

Same

[@matth3w2002]

Honestly the lost continent just seems like walking space at this point.

[@bryankriser8656]

give it time eventually it will all be harry potter i mean there is so much material to take from they can easily add a show and 2 more rides in that space.

[@CoasterUniverse]

matthew whitcher Yeah

[@DreamsOfLennox]

They need a big coaster there or a dark ride or something, but with the Jurassic Park coaster that’s probably not going to happen any time soon

[@BeMoreBroadway]

It's just a dead land now. Shame, too, since it seems to still have at least some potential.

[@charlotteoreilly1617]

It literally is, I believe the Sinbad show has closed too now? So all that is there is the Poseidon fury walk through, which is really dated at this point. They need to either extend out the Seuss area or extend Hogsmede.

[@UFspeed]

Everyone knows Dueling Dragons was the best ride by far!

[@MugglePrince]

Andrew Garfield hagrids is such a way better ride

[@Smilephile]

Agreed

[@ArrowThrills]

@@MugglePrince Hagrids looks forceless compared to dragon challenge

[@beefoprime8254]

When's the next Sam raimi Spiderman coming out?

[@southseapirate1]

@@MugglePrince Except it isnt. I swear you Hairy Pothead fanatics would pay to sit in a trash bin if it was simply labeled HP.

[@emmad8533]

I saw dueling dragons in a bring it on movie and knew I had to ride it, it was my first real rollercoaster and still one of my favorites.

[@CgBrian]

@@businessrecreationjack8184 was this around 2007?

[@Takador]

I always wonder why none of these videos mention that Dueling Dragons was featured in said movie

[@butterpecanbrielle]

Same! But I never got to ride it. Still haven’t been to Universal Studios to this day 😫

[@lunamax1214]

Due to spine problems, I can't do rollercoasters, myself, but boy, howdy, do I enjoy the themed queue lines and watching the trains run. Dragons was especially fun to watch, given the tech allowed for timing changes in the runtime of both trains. (Plus, you know, the screams and whistles and then the pumped up riders exiting the station afterward.) Man, I miss the Merlinwood. I hope I can get back to Islands of Adventure before they get rid of Poseidon's Fury. I know walkthroughs are sort of frowned upon, but it is so nice to have at least one attraction disabled folks like me can enjoy. I can pretend (if only for a few minutes) they actually designed it with people like me in mind.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I love a good walk through!

[@lunamax1214]

@@ExpeditionThemePark One of my pie-in-the-sky dreams is to design and build a theme park with something EVERYONE can enjoy, and that includes at least one walkthrough attraction per themed area/land. 😊

[@visionist7]

@@lunamax1214 coaster queue lines could be walkthroughs the way Dragons was with an exit before the coaster for those who don't ride

[@ScientificallyStupid]

Poseidon's Fury is one of my favorite parts of the old Lost Continent and it still holds up when you get a really good "guide". It's really unique and showcases a lot of incredible technology that tells a story and entertains. I appreciate the incredible work that went into developing it. It's everything I want in a theme park attraction. I can't see them replacing it any time soon, but you never know.

[@Viliatheshark]

I didn't think this video would hit me in the way that it did. Dueling Dragons was my first experience with a looping or floorless coaster, my young mind was completely absorbed in the theming of the place, and the Enchanted Oak became a staple on each of our visits. Don't get me wrong, I like Harry Potter, but I do miss the more original experiences you couldn't find anywhere else. Now I'm sad.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Agreed

[@butterpecanbrielle]

I’m salty bc I always wanted to ride dueling dragons, and now I never will 😩

[@Vekoma1261]

What made DD feel really out of place in Harry Potter was the colour. All the dragons in HP were very dark/grey in colour so a red and blue track didn't feel right. Had universal repainted the tracks and re-themed the trains to better fit the colours of the HP dragons they represented then I honestly think it could have worked

[@matthewclark4510]

Vekoma1261 nah

[@oneandonlysound99]

that's what they should've did. Easily could've made one the color of the basilisk and the other...ok don't remember the exact name but the dragon is mostly white and is actually part of the gringrotts ride. There, done. More riders "cause harry potter" and no need to tear down two epic B&M inverts for a family coaster that could've gone somewhere else.

[@justacat472]

@@oneandonlysound99 there was that accident that marred the ride forever.

[@oneandonlysound99]

@@justacat472 literally probably 10% or less of people riding it probably were ever aware that happened, and most of them probably rode it anyway.

[@adamgarnes4269]

Damn I was kinda thinking the same thing. Once they rethemed the ride something didn’t seem right. If they had added more a different color and repaint the tracks it could have been better.

[@gpcoasters7824]

I know times change, but an Intamin family coaster pales in comparison to a dueling B&M invert.

[@matthewclark4510]

GPCoasters right

[@SirBlackReeds]

Is it even a family coaster?

[@BarryGGould]

jacoblgames technically yeah its a family coaster lol

[@SirBlackReeds]

@@BarryGGould Still been getting rave reviews though.

[@BarryGGould]

jacoblgames yup but for me theres 2 very serious problems with the motorbike thing. 1) i am in no way size shape or form into harry potter at all 2) an inverted looper is way more my thing than a family coaster. dont get me wrong i like a good family coaster but NOT!! at the expense of an inverted dueling looper. 😢😢😢

[@gemstone39]

I remember being very impressed on Duelling Dragons that after riding one colour, you could go on the other one without having to the join the whole queue again. My brother and I looped that ride quite a few times.

[@shadowotter3116]

wait seriously? i never knew that, i kept going through the long winding queue to keep riding

[@visionist7]

Shiiiiit if I had known that I would have ridden Pyrock straight after Blizzrock the one and only time I was there.

[@Blaziken36]

@@shadowotter3116 They had removed that option a couple of years ago though, since so many people could abuse it.

[@narlth]

I went in the off peak season once, my brother and I re-rode the ride 24 times back to back using the re-ride queue. Undoubtedly my fav ride, makes me sad that I can never ride it again

[@thatkidonyoutube5223]

i am STILL salty about this decision. the least they could have done is try to sell it to another park...

[@ATalkingBadger]

Ya I'm furious. I went to Orlando in 2004, I was 9 and too short to ride Dueling Dragons. I had to sit there badly wanting to ride while my family went on it. I never got to ride that ride. I would've been somewhat okay with the decision to remove it if they sold it for another park to have, but they didn't. Fuck Universal Studios. Six Flags, Cedar Fair, Busch Gardens/Sea World, Kings parks, and Disney parks are WAY better.

[@SirBlackReeds]

Wouldn't that cost the other park more money than it's worth? It would be damn expensive to transfer that ride.

[@SirBlackReeds]

@@ATalkingBadger They really aren't. You are not looking at the issue reasonably.

[@thatkidonyoutube5223]

but STILL. the price would have been lowered because it's a used ride. but again, look at what happened to batman and robin: the chiller, they put it in storage even if it was too costly to maintain...

[@adamgarnes4269]

Yeah i honestly was hoping that six flags or cedar fair when buy and relocate them. Like they could have even separated them up and have one go too Six flags discovery kingdom and the other in SF America. They could have taken there time and disassembled the ride but they didn’t. Maintenance or getting parts afterwards for the rebuild could have been pulled off...smh was a travesty

[@2DamnSeddy]

I'm so glad I got to ride Dueling Dragons when they were actually dueling. I think the Dragons are the first and only coasters by B&M that were completely demolished and scrapped. And I dont think that Hagrid's coaster is a good replacement for the Dragons. I haven't ridden it yet but two coasters are always better than one.

[@ravenxj220]

Antwan Dionte' yeah even the Led Zeppelin B and M was relocated to a park in Southeast Asia, Vietnam I think.

[@Gabes1321]

Hagrids ride fits way better plus it is really fun! It has 7 I think launches which is totally insane and a backwards section which is so cool

[@ScientificallyStupid]

I feel really lucky that I got to ride it in 2001 when they still dueled, we rode one side, got off, turned around and got back on to try the other. No lines to speak of as it was very soon after 9/11 (we had had our tickets and hotel reservations for months and weren't about to cancel) and the park was as empty as I can remember ever seeing it. I got to ride again in 2010 when it had been re-themed and it really lost some of the magic, but it was still as thrilling as any B&M. We haven't ridden Hagrid's coaster yet because the wait time is always insane and it never strikes us as worth the wait.

[@bethkrager6529]

Having ridden both.... They're impossible to compare. I remember dueling dragon's making me nauseous due to skull bashing in the back row. Never had that problem on hagrid's.

[@ntmn8444]

It’s a good ride but it’s not great. Dueling dragons was a great ride!

[@rushtest4echo737]

For anyone complaining that the Dragons should have been sold to another park or that they should still be there today- not possible. They were at the end of their service life. 1 minute dispatches for 11 hours a day (on average) is 660 dispatches per day X 365 days X 19 years = 4.5 million cycles. It's why Hulk was totally replaced a few years back as well. And for people saying "but other B&M's have been around for longer" - yes, true, but they don't have nearly the amount of cycles. Kumba (the oldest B&M that operates daily) averages 90 second dispatches for 9 hours a day (on average) X 365 days X 27 years = 3.5 million cycles. To reach Dragons wear + tear Kumba needs to run for another 7 or 8 years. Whether or not Universal should have just rebuilt them is another argument, but when they're going to drop $100 million on a replacement, they're not going to keep such an out of place attraction. Having said all of that, Dragons was spectacular and is sorely missed. It's a shame it never really fit in Potterland.

[@SirBlackReeds]

Not to mention it would be expensive for the other park to pay for all the dismantling, shipping, and reconstruction.

[@thatscottishkaren1]

RushTest 4Echo A

[@RecklessFables]

I'm so glad I got to ride them before the Potter 2.0 expansion. They were truly special. So was The Hulk for that matter, but the dragons were wonderful

[@YurBoiCarson]

If dispatches really matter that much then why does Six Flags America still exist?

[@blitzn00dle50]

A b&m doesn't have an end to its service life

[@NathanHayes97]

Went on dueling dragons the day before it closed and didn’t even realized back then that it was the last day

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Never realized The Lost Continent had sub-worlds, was always confused by the mishmash of themes. Rode both dragons in Sept 2000. Queue was empty so we just walked thru missing all the scenery detail. Rode the left dragon and then went thru the queue again, entering via a staircase shortcut from the exit for the other. My wife agreed at the time, but was queasy after the 2nd ride.The near misses were amazing. I was afraid my shoes were going to fly off on the loop!!

[@Frau.Kanzlerin]

I didn't expect to cry watching this video. 😭 Around this time 21 years ago, I rode my very first roller coaster, which was Dueling Dragons. I rode the Pyrock track first, learned that I now loved roller coasters, and then rode Blizzrock immediately after! I was an inch or two shy of the height restriction and my mother gave me thick sandals to wear and teased my hair a bit to make me tall enough. When we got to the loading area, my mom sees the coaster and immediately regrets her decision to cheat the height restriction, so she asked the ride operator "are you SURE she's tall enough? She's wearing very tall shoes." The ride operator was very casual about it and was like "it's fine". It was so much fun! I was devastated to hear that they demolished it. Last time I went to Universal, I rode it LITERALLY seven times in a row. I'm glad I did because I had no idea they'd be destroying it a couple of years later. The Flying Unicorn cracks me up to this day due to the aggressive braking at the end of the ride. We would sit on a bench near the brake section of the track just to watch people go "huugghh!" and be jerked forward dramatically as the ride came to a stop. It happened every single time. 🤣 We spent several minutes there just watching. Anyway, I'm crying now. Shame on them for not relocating that coaster! I am very depressed about their decision to singlehandedly demolish my first and one of my favorite roller coasters. 😭

[@hammyhammy22]

This was my first “big roller coaster” experience as a child, I absolutely adored this ride and it’s theming. Such a shame it’s gone. But I am looking forward to Hagrid!

[@CloakedHDTV]

I’m so glad that I got to ride those coasters. They were truly thrilling!

[@purpabear8195]

Rode this back in ‘08 definitely up there on my coaster list just cause of the experience of two dueling inverts.... I remember riding the red dragon and coming down that straightaway before the vertical loop and the smile just growing bigger and bigger over my face. It truly was something special

[@DanielDavis1973]

When I was a student at UCF doing my engineering degree in the early 2000s, I had an annual pass to islands of adventure. This was by far my favorite ride there. I graduated in 2006 and moved across the continent to start working. I had no idea that the ride I took in April 2006 would be the last time I'd ever ride those dragons. I honestly miss Merlinwood as a whole.

[@brerkris]

I worked at Dueling Dragons... I'll miss it so much.

[@e2daron]

The timing for uploading this video is great since the new Hagrid coaster opens today.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

You could say it was planned! 😃

[@jebbeken7558]

Let’s go I love universal and your vids perfect combo

[@Charlie_Loves]

I’m so thankful to have ridden a ride that released at the same time I was born, and years later was closed. It was so much fun. Had that opportunity in 2014 when I was graduating middle school, took an expensive trip to Universal. It was a wonderful experience.

[@favethebatgirl7563]

Seeing the rides tracks turned into destroyed and unusable scrape metal really broke my heart. I absolutely loved that ride. My brother and I would ride it over and over again. I loved the red one, the air time within it was unique for it's coaster type and wild to experience.

[@coltonsupergame]

I love that you use the music from the areas in your videos! It adds a detail most youtubers ignore.

[@signegolash4091]

Went on the Hagrid ride a few days ago, it was honestly so much fun. Even my mom, who hates rollercoasters, had a great time.

[@the.jenn.abides]

Thank you for doing this episode! This was one of my absolute favorite roller coasters at Islands of Adventure, and I was so terribly upset when they decided to remove it. I'm glad that the last time I rode it, it was still in it's full glory. By far, a favorite between me and my brother. I still remember when we would ride it over and over again when there was no line!

[@djeez553]

I still get the feels about Dueling Dragons. I've met so many people, bonded with family & friends, marathoned both for one whole day. It was more than a coaster for me, it actually made a huge impact on my life from everyone I met and all the bonding this ride provided.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

That is great to hear! Hopefully the new ride will do the same for people

[@delidanks]

Disappointed to see it go, however, it lost so much luster after it stopped dueling for good. I was fortunate to ride both sides when it was dueling dragons and a few when the HP transformation. In spite of the accident, I know the sound the track and trains made were always an issue to the high school across the street so I’m sure finding a quieter and more gentle alternative was always in the books. Plus a ride 20 years old could look more outdated to the general public if they come for HP World. Anyway, amazing video as always! I’m a huge supporter👌🏼

[@cassandracatriona]

This is actually so WILD! I never got to ride Dueling Dragons or Dragon Challenge but I remember watching so many videos of it online as a kid! I never knew, however, how much of a rich and unique history the ride had!! And Merlinwood?! AMAZING! Such a shame that it is now defunct. I walked through the Lost Continent for the first time in 12 years this summer and it has SO much potential for great attractions fitting this theme! I hope they keep the unique and original theming of the Lost Continent in the future and add a new ride there! It is for sure one of the most beautiful lands in all of Universal Orlando resort!

[@ferdtothefuture3307]

When you are right over the water and the other coaster is coming straight at you, so awesome

[@Gummiistics]

I'm very happy to say I have gotten the chance to ride this the one time I was able to visit the park lol. I'll never forget it! Nice video btw!

[@briankellogg3186]

Many years ago I had season passes and Dueling Dragons was always the last stop of the day. Since it was at the back of the park I could ride each side about 5 times in the last 45 minutes or so! It was truly a great coaster!

[@peterjwest]

I rode Dueling Dragons at least half a dozen times when I visited many years ago. I was lucky it was a quiet day so I just kept getting back on. A fantastic ride and i'd heard it had been replaced so it was nice to hear a bit about the history and how it came to be replaced.

[@Technostatic]

I'm happy that they at least recognized how popular it was and made that tribute as the "Dueling club" with the fire and ice dragon. It was a nice touch. I rode DD the day it closed and I rode the new Hagrid coaster the day it opened. (I had to wait 13 hours yesterday, it was actually really cool at night though)

[@meowssoftly8790]

this video got me a lil teary eyed...I grew up going to islands of adventure and would spend a whole day just going on the dueling dragons as many times as I could. the lost continent in general was amazing as a little kid.

[@Cinnimin]

this was my favorite when entering the queue and seeing all the stained glass and then riding near miss to the others

[@bedazzled64]

Oh how I miss Dueling Dragons! We always just called it Fire & Ice. Loved that ride so much.

[@positivelycharlie5586]

I remember going to Islands of Adventure when I was 7 and being too small to ride Duelling Dragons, but I loved the overall vibe of it and my family's reaction to going on it made me promise myself I would go on it when I was older. Sadly I never got to. Now I just pray that one day a time machine will exist so I can go back in time and ride it hahah

[@visionist7]

Be sure to drop me a line when you travel back in time so I can try Pyrock! Never got a chance only Blizzrock

[@chaddwickg5276]

RIP duealing dragons!!! They were my favorite coasters. Island of adventures and universal do not have enough thrill rides now. Sea world and Bush gardens it is!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

The new ride is great

[@user-sd2gv8vz8f]

The Lawn & Business Guy just wait until the jp coaster which is Rumored to be the fastest multi Launch coaster in the world.

[@ElCriVa]

Dueling dragons was my favorite experience at Islands. Honestly the switch to IP’s has made me less willing to go back to islands. I just don’t feel the same going to the parks considering my favorite land and rollercoaster are gone 🤷‍♀️

[@oneandonlysound99]

I totally agree. There is just way too much harry potter now anyway. I didn't mind when we had a cool castle themed to it and the unicorns got changed to the hypogriff but then they went with the whole gringrotts thing in a big area where something way more original (aka not just a ride without the coaster version of the mummy with harry potter characters) could've went. The train is only cool because less walking. Taking out two excellent dueling B&M's for a family coaster-whether it's good or not-is just total nonsense. And there other new stuff hasn't exactly been good-Terminator is still dead, twister got replaced with a horrible effort at a fast and the furious ride, kong is ok at best, and transformers is literally spiderman with transformers characters. Did I miss anything?

[@TheSheehanjr]

I miss this ride so much. Becasue when i got off this ride my Legs felt like rubber cause i had a hard time walking to a bench to sit down

[@desireedomer6571]

Summer of 1999 i waited through a rain storm and a 20 minute wait for the front row for the blue side of Dueling Dragons. Life changing coaster. Still miss it to this day. Loved all the near miss moments.

[@stephennicholson1920]

Dueling dragons was amazing in its day. Even better in the dark.

[@slowmoe1686]

"The coasters dueled 18 inches apart from eachother" That can't possibly be safe... "One guest had to have his eye removed" Oh.

[@paldinox1]

I remember this being my first ever ride at universal, great video as usual

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you

[@mushieslushie]

The most detailed and longest queue line never used.

[@georgeharvey4226]

I'm glad they kept Duelling Dragons open while they were building the new Harry Potter land. I'd heard so much about the ride(s) and really wanted to experience it/them

[@jwoodsrt]

I loved the original que line. I remember it taking a longer amount of time to walk through and was only about a 5 minute wait in the station the last few times I got to ride Dueling Dragons. Also the Double Dragon music at the end was a nice trip down memory lane too.

[@gladiatordragon9219]

I'm devastated it is gone, but if it didn't leave, I wouldn't be here. It is the very closing of this ride that created the spark that would become my love of all theme parks, and my drive to ride coasters. The sadness it left me with led to be the enthusiast I consider myself today, willing to ride any coaster, anywhere. The twist: I _never_ rode it. Everyone else in my family had, but I was too much of a coward. I always wanted to eventually ride it, but not now, later. Then, it was gone. This caused me to realize something that I knew about before, but didn't truly understand. Nothing lasts forever, so take opportunities while you can. I'd say something cheesy here, like "Thank you Dueling Dragons," but that simplifies this personal journey too much for me. It was a combination of that and channels such as Coaster Studios and yours that caused me to become the enthusiast that I am today. I'm looking to go to Cedar Point later this year, and it's crazy looking back at the closing of Dueling Dragons and seeing how far from that point I have come.

[@jacksonengland3726]

here after the announcement

[@emilysmith4570]

My mom and I marathoned this coaster years ago when they still dueled. She doesnt ride roller coasters anymore so this ride holds an extremely special place in my heart. It closed when I was planning my trip to universal and was devastated that I wouldn't get one last ride. Hagrid's will be amazing, but dragons will always be better.

[@Gabes1321]

No. You don’t know that if you haven’t ridden it. Just because something makes you nostalgic doesn’t mean it’s better. That’s like saying ‘Pac-Man will always be better than Minecraft’. Because that’s not true.

[@letsgoOs1002]

Easily one of the most unique coasters ever. So amazing and I still miss it

[@e-manr.486]

The ride itself was thrilling but my favorite memory from when the coasters dueled was the two trains climbing up to the first drop and riders in each train smack talking to each other! It was always so fun getting pumped and calling each other out like we were really about to duel! #Nostalgia

[@TrafalgarD.Shambles]

So that explains the changes. When I first went to Islands of Adventure when I was a child, I went on too Dueling Dragons. When I graduated 8th grade we went here as a field trip. I noticed the changes especially the metal detectors, and the ride itself before it closed. My 2nd favorite rollercoaster I have ever rode, and also the reason why I adore rollercoasters.

[@oliviabradley332]

The one time I went to universal as a kid I rode dueling dragons a dozen times in a row thanks to express. I managed to ride it one more time right before it closed because I moved to Florida and ngl I cried. I have such special memories of it. 😢

[@themisfitowl2595]

I feel grateful that I got to ride both dragons (only as Dragon Challenge tho) many times in their last year before Hagrid moved in. Dragon Challenge was my favorite and while I never got to see them in their dueling state, I relished every chance I got to ride them and I rode them over and over. There was never really more than a 20 minute wait. Awesome times.

[@saxdude01]

While I do miss the Dragons, I do feel Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure is a worthy successor especially for the Harry Potter area, as well as being an enjoyable coaster on its own. Can't wait for what the new Jurassic Park ride will be as well.

[@unclepatrick2]

I loved that ride. My Sister and I were at the gates one morning when they opened on my Birthday and we went straight to Dueling Dragons. We met two sisters who were doing the same thing. The Four of us went on both coasters at least 4 time each and at least two of those times were in the front seats. It was a great way to spend a hour and a half.

[@visionist7]

Did you alternate between going on opposite coasters or ride each train all together?

[@unclepatrick2]

@@visionist7 We alternated. There was a second group that was doing the same thing and we past them on the way to the other coaster. It was a lot of fun

[@JakeLX]

I love that the wall in the que has a nod to the Dragons. I remember being so excited to ride them when I went. I loved when they duelled. I think they never planned on keeping it even before the two accidents. The theming they have it was so underwhelming compared to the rest of the area.

[@Daydreamer947]

I can't believe you didn't mention the Dueling Dragons' pivotal role in Bring It On: In It to Win It.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I nearly did but I cut it haha

[@Daydreamer947]

@David Riedy In the fourth Bring It On movie, cheer teams across the country are sent to Universal Studios to compete in a big competition, and the entire park plays a big role in the movie (pretty sure they were sponsors). The plot is basically there are two rival teams, but after a west side story inspired cheer off, multiple people from both teams are injured, making it so the teams are too small to compete in the competition. So the remaining cheerleaders begrudgingly decide to team up in order to compete, but it's a rough go of things and they can't decide on a good routine because their styles are so different. Then, as one of the head cheerleaders is sitting outside the Dueling Dragons, she's inspired by the ride to create a routine based off the ride. The Dueling Dragons act as a metaphor for their clashing squads (the colors even match their uniforms), and there's even a move that looks like one of the points where the dragons almost meet in the actual ride. So when I say the Dueling Dragons played a pivotal role, I mean it's what essentially inspires the latter half of the rest of the movie.

[@butterpecanbrielle]

@@Daydreamer947 looooooved the movie for that. Not to mention already being a coaster enthusiast lol

[@HannahPartyOfOne]

My older brother cried on this ride back in 2010! It was sooo cool, and I remember being slightly angry knowing Harry Potter was about to change its themeing-but then I was okay with the change overall. I even ended up working in the Wizarding World (opening team of Gringotts!). I was so sad when I heard they were going to get rid of Dragon Challenge. It was, and probably always will be, my favorite coaster. Good memories.

[@hp932]

I'm glad I got to ride it while it was open. I remember clutching my glasses to my face the entire time and even retying my sneakers to be double knotted while in the queue- just in case

[@9zero456]

There will never be a rollercoaster so amazing as dueling dragons

[@AirtimeThrills]

Great video, I got to ride Dragon Challenge in 2012, looks like they did their best to give it a worthy replacement

[@bhunt799]

This ride would make for a great movie.

[@melaniet6766]

I have to be honest... I never noticed the Merlin theming of the ride. When I had a pass (multiple years around 2007) I would go on this one 4-5 times on a row. I remember seeing the detailed queue but never saw Merlin anywhere. Thanks for pointing it out!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

His book was in there if you remember that as well

[@melaniet6766]

Expedition Theme Park I do! I remember the book, the stained glass windows (vaguely), and lots of skeletons. I think I didn’t notice due to the lack of lines, and my impatience to get on the ride as a teenager. Went again 2 years ago and noticed how empty it looked with it’s retheme. Made me sad.

[@cryptycpromethea1993]

Im glad I got to ride these coasters before they closed. . Being 17 at the time it was the same year it was set to close.

[@PyjamaLama]

I fondly remember that airtime hill on the fire side being the reason I started to really enjoy airtime on roller coasters.

[@brycevo]

This was such an amazing DnD land

[@fee427]

I was so lucky to get to ride it a few times the last day it was open! Sadly I haven't been back to Orlando since, can't wait to return in the future though!

[@sccarguy8242]

So sad :( I remember the Dual, it was awesome !!! Looking down and seeing someone else’s feet was crazy !! It was also great to run from one dragon to the other...

[@Ames-]

The outro music was a nice touch, quite the throwback. Dueling Dragons x Double Dragon, hell yeah

[@jeff59rt]

The day we went there was no one there and couldn't imagine waiting in that line. We sat up front and had no idea the other train came right at you, scared the crap out of us!

[@freddie4376]

Love you post this the day Hagrid Opens ... Good Luck if any of you go for that 10 hour queue

[@WorldOfExcitementE]

John Lorton Universal is not an amusement park. It’s a theme park! Theme parks invest a lot of money into creating rides that immerse you into a story. If you want a ton of coasters, go to Six Flags.

[@visionist7]

@@WorldOfExcitementE that's a weak argument. Do you honestly think Harry Potter World's attendance wouldn't increase if they built say, a B&M hyper and called it Voldemort? The GP would love it

[@WorldOfExcitementE]

Felice Graziano That’s not what I said. What I said was that they were aiming to build a themed roller coaster that’s story based. That’s one of the reasons they removed Dragon Challenge.

[@WorldOfExcitementE]

John Lorton And as I already said, Universal is a theme park that builds themed attractions. They’re not trying to rival amusement parks because they’re a theme park. Themed attractions cost a lot of money. This ride is by no means an intense coaster but it’s also not a kiddie coaster. Flight of the Hippogriff is a kids coaster. This is a coaster that preteens and older are more likely to enjoy. As I already said, you seem to care more about roller coasters, but that’s not what Universal is.

[@WorldOfExcitementE]

John Lorton Actually, it’s just making you look stupid. You obviously have no interest in theme parks, so why are you even complaining about Universal’s cost in developments? You sound like you prefer parks like Six Flags, an amusement park. The Incredible Hulk Coaster does have a storyline albeit not as well executed as Hagrid’s. Dragon Challenge was removed to make way for a ride with a more developed story that actually fit in with the Harry Potter theme. Universal is in competition with Disney, a theme park, no a standard amusement park. There’s nothing wrong with Cedar Point or Six Flags, but they’re not the same kind of park as Universal is. You’re the one complaining about this ride.

[@Porsmond]

Did you know that fire dragon held a very unique record in the world of B&M inverted coasters, it was the only B&M inverted coaster to NOT include an inline twist. I was gutted when it went, it was a truly unique coaster, and the duelling was amazing, I could have literally ridden it all day, it was great you could sneak through parent swap exit as well and go straight back into station if there wasn’t a queue, truely good memories

[@CapitanTater]

I had the opportunity to ride both sides of the attraction. Those vertical loops were no joke when they say that there are "near misses." I could see the tread on the opposing train's passenger's shoes!

[@Brandon-qd2lb]

Perfect timing I guess lol. Still miss the dragon statues :( what happened to them?

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I miss the dragon statues too

[@visionist7]

Would have been cool if someone bought them, bet they were scrapped though

[@oliviabradley332]

Destroyed :(

[@webbchildw6164]

Dueling dragons:we have the longest cue and wait time Hayride motor bikes,literally it’s replacement:hold my butter bear

[@kyoko2752]

9:47 Entitled people who think they are above the rules are why we can't have nice things... Honestly though, Hagrid's Motorbike Coaster is a MASSIVE upgrade

[@VincentVision]

One of my biggest theme park regrets is that I never chose to ride Dueling Dragons when I visited Islands of Adventure in its hayday. I would have loved to see the queue...ty for this video!

[@dariusq8894]

I've got nothing but happy memories of Dueling Dragons. My record was 5 rides in a row, alternating between FIre & Ice, before I got sick. =)

[@bryankriser8656]

i remember going to islands of adventure opening year. the line for dueling dragons was insane. years later you could just walk thru the queue line like it didn't exist

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeah crazy how times changed

[@jamesrauff]

I loved loved this coaster! I was devastated to see it go. I had such great memories with this coaster. I rode it for the first time when islanders of adventures was new around 2000. I was with my high school g/f then and we even got a night ride when the fire works were going off ( very rainbow road -esk) I rode it later on as non dueling dragons challenge and it did loose a lot of its charm as a lesser version of itself. But it was still a good ride. No B&M deserves to go to the scrap heap. I think part of my love for this coaster has to do with the time in my life I rode it, it really was a magical time in my life. I will forever miss this coaster. Also that enchanted oak BBQ place was my favorite spot to eat in the park. I was at islands of adventure last summer and it wasn’t the same. ❤️🐉

[@MayISpeak]

rode this wonderful ride for the first and only time in 2014 and it was awesome. I Came back 2017 and wanted to ride this again with my nephew but never got a chance. Unfortunately for us it rained cats and dogs that day so they shut the ride down for the rest of the day. I am still salty about this! But it taught me a valuable lesson on checking the weather before heading to a park.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

We will never see this type of coaster B&M again that’s what made this coaster awesome to look at and to ride and especially unique

[@ratchetpokemaster123]

I feel like I missed out majorly, because not only do I never remember going to Merlinwood at all during my earlier family Universal trips, but by the time I finally got around to being brave and old enough to ride the coaster, Potter had already overtaken the place. I still had fun on the ride itself, but man, its queue was so dull compared to seeing this footage. And now knowing it's gone for good is a bummer. It actually has me a bit resentful of Harry Potter in a few ways now.

[@TheRealSweedie]

Not at all mad that they removed this. It was a pretty good ride, but it definitely didn't fit with the Harry Potter theme once the land changed to that. Hagrid's is such a perfect fit for the park and the fact that we have almost every major location from the stories in this park now is so amazing to me!

[@SirBlackReeds]

Not to mention Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure has been repeatedly called one of Universal Orlando's best, if not their best, coaster(s).

[@TheRealSweedie]

@@SirBlackReeds definitely! Going in September and is ecstatic about this coaster :D

[@chicagun2915]

This was the best damn B&M invert in the world dude, shame it got scrapped.

[@ArrowThrills]

It could have been relocated

[@tubegold4390]

Rode this the first time the very year it closed... loved it.

[@angeladorning8015]

One of may fav b&m invert i miss it so much but this video makes me love you and your channel ☺️ thanks for being alive ☺️

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you for being alive too so you can watch!

[@skabs508]

At one point, during a break down, my brother and I were stuck in the skull hall. We named most of them. ^_^ my particular favorite was Bob.

[@jacobbackall]

I love your videos and your channel! Keep up the great work! :)

[@LiLTailormade]

GREEEEEAT VIDEO!!!! Omg it was so informative. I hate that I never got to experience dueling dragons 🐉 but I just recently visited the Harry Potter world and it’s AMAAAAZING!!! And the butter beer is soooo delicious!!

[@samichmachine]

Thank you for this!! I’ve been curious about their history for awhile now 💖😭

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks for watching!

[@DeadAsmodean]

Love the Double Dragon theme at the end. Bonus points on it being the NES version.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

The best version!

[@DeadAsmodean]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Hell yeah it is!

[@SuperEnthused]

12:11 my favorite part ;)

[@GwydionAE]

I don't keep up with much roller coaster news, but apparently I should start as a lot I love are dropping left and right, it seems... Knew the new Hagrid ride was a thing. Did NOT know that it replaced one of my favorite coasters ever, even if the amazing dueling element was abandoned and the gorgeous entrance and queue line had been gutted years ago. I loved Dueling Dragons so much when I had the chance to ride it in 1999 - sad to think even the HP face lift version is gone now. Hagrid's looks like fun and all, but give me a choice between them, and I'd take the inverted B&M any day. Glad I've still got the Raptor, and in a park much closer to home, so that's nice, at least.

[@JustOutnAbout]

Hope to find out next weekend when we ride Hagrids but I don't know, I sure loved the DUELING dragons!! Lol.. hope you had a good time there! ~Dawn

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Waited 9 hours today

[@JustOutnAbout]

@@ExpeditionThemePark whooaa... I saw some was in the NON AC!! ~Dawn

[@ArrowThrills]

@@ExpeditionThemePark that's too long

[@adamgarnes4269]

I rode dueling dragons on a band trip in 2000 when I was 14...that ride was awesome and will be missed by many coaster riders