Dueling Dragons (Now called Dragon Challenge) is a pair of intertwined inverted roller coasters in what was then called the The Lost Continent area of Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure. The ride is themed to two chasing dragons, one side being Fire and the other Ice. It features a layout in which the two trains share adjacent lift hills but then traverse two unique courses. The ride was designed by Bolliger & Mabillard of Switzerland and opened on May 28, 1999. Fire dragon reaches a top speed of 60 mph, and Ice dragon reaches a top speed of 55 mph. Both versions feature five inversions. The total ride time is about two minutes and 25 seconds.
During much of the ride’s history, the trains were dispatched simultaneously, providing three near-miss encounters along the courses. However, after two injuries related to loose objects hitting people, the roller coasters are now dispatched separately. After a renovation period, the attraction reopened in mid-March 2010, and was officially renamed as Dragon Challenge with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter grand opening on June 18, 2010.
Statistics:
| Track: | Fire Dragon | Ice Dragon |
|---|---|---|
| Length: | 3,200 ft | 3,200 ft |
| Height: | 125 ft | 125 ft |
| Drop: | 115 ft | 95 ft |
| Inversions: | 5 | 5 |
| Speed: | 60 mph | 55 mph |
| Duration: | 2:25 | 2:25 |
| Elements: | Chain Lift Hill Immelmann Immelmann Loop Corkscrew Corkscrew | Chain Lift Hill Zero-G Roll Cobra Roll Loop Corkscrew |
Fire Dragon:
Upon departing from the station, the train makes a slight left turn leading into the transfer track section before beginning to climb the 125-foot (38 m) lift hill. Once at the top and after going through a pre-drop, the train makes a sharp 115-foot (35 m) left-hand drop back to the ground. Then, the train goes back up, through an Immelmann followed by a slight downward right turn before entering an air-time hill (this was the first of three near-miss points with the Hungarian Horntail train when the roller coasters duelled). Next, the train drops back down turning left slightly leading into a second Immelmann. After a downward right helix and a short section of straight track, the train goes through the second former near-miss point with the other train, a vertical loop. After the loop and another section of straight track, the train makes a right turn leading into the third and final former near-miss element which is a corkscrew. Then, the train makes a left turn followed by a small drop leading into another section of straight track before entering the final element in the coaster layout, another corkscrew. The train then make a left turn into the final brake run. Following a left turn, the train returns to the station where the riders unload and the next riders load.
Ice Dragon:
Upon departing from the station, the train makes a slight right turn leading into the transfer track section before beginning to climb the 125-foot (38 m) lift hill. Once at the top and after going through a pre-drop, the train makes a sharp 95-foot (29 m) right-hand drop back to the ground. Then, the train goes through a 270 degree right overbanked turn before entering a Zero-gravity roll which was the first of three former near-miss points with the Chinese Fireball train. Then, the train makes a slight right turn heading straight into a wall before entering a Cobra roll. After a straight section of track, the train enters the second former near-miss point with the other train, a vertical loop. The train then makes a right turn into the final former near-miss point, a corkscrew. Next, the train makes a right turn followed by a left turn leading into the final brake run. Following a right turn, the train returns to the station where the riders unload and the next riders load.
More Info:
* http://rcdb.com/558.htm
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Challenge
* https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Parks/Islands-of-Adventure.aspx