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Dragon Challenge (WWoHPTP)

Entrance to the Dragon Challenge ride.

Dragon Challenge is one of the three main ride attractions at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, part of Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida.

Dragon Challenge is a pair of intertwined inverted roller coasters, both which feature two completely separate track layouts. The inverted rollercoaster trains are designed to resemble dragons, and the trains are dispatched in a staggered manner in order to simulate a "chase" between the two trains, much like Harry Potter being chased by The Hungarian Horntail in the First task of the Triwizard Tournament in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.[1]

Dragon Challenge miniature (Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park)

Miniature structure of a Dragon for the "Dragon Challenge" ride.

The red coloured track on the attraction is called the Chinese Fireball, while the blue coloured track is called the Hungarian Horntail.

Basic Facts

  • This attraction originally opened on May 28th, 1999 as Dueling Dragons, in the Lost Continent section of Universal's Islands of Adventure. After the announcement of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, in May of 2007, the attraction temporarily closed in 2009 to be slightly rethemed and incorporated into the new area. The attraction officially reopened on June 28th, 2010 as Dragon Challenge.
  • After entering the queue,located inside a castle, participants will walk through the champion's tent and will see some artefacts such as the Goblet of Fire.[1]
  • The queue has banners for Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter. There are only three Golden Eggs on display as opposed to four.
  • The riders have the option to ride the red dragon (the Chinese Fireball) or the blue/green dragon (the Hungarian Horntail). However, the Hungarian Horntail is actually black, this is due to the fact that in the original ride the blue dragon of ice and the new ride is a slightly modified version of the original.
  • Originally, both rollercoaster trains on this attraction where dispatched synonymously to simulate a "duel", However the trains no longer duel due to an accident where a rider was severely injured by flying debris.[2]

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) DVD 2nd-Disc Special Feature: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Sneak Peak
  2. Universal Orlando's twin dragon coasters will never 'duel' again
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Attractions:

Dragon ChallengeFlight of the HippogriffHarry Potter and the Escape From GringottsHarry Potter and the Forbidden JourneyHagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike AdventureHogsmeade StationOllivander's Wand Shop

Shops:

Borgin and BurkesDervish and BangesFilch's Emporium of Confiscated GoodsHoneydukesMadam Malkin's Robes for All OccasionsMagical MenagerieOllivander'sOwl PostQuality Quidditch SuppliesWands by GregorovitchWeasleys' Wizard WheezesWiseacre's Wizarding EquipmentZonko's Joke Shop

Restaurants:

Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream ParlourLeaky CauldronThe Fountain of Fair FortuneThree Broomsticks Inn

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