The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade (Orlando): Part 2

[anihilnation]

Hippogrif sticks out more than DC

 

[Milla4Prez66]

I essentially ignore dueling dragons. That area is such a low budge, pandering non-attraction. It doesn't fit in with how well done everything else is. It's basically a cut and paste job that typically has a 10 minute wait because no one cares about it.

This is straight up not true at all. The ride usually has short waits because of it's capacity, it's always been one of the park's most popular attractions since day one. The waits are likely going to swell up with Hulk sleeping for a while too.

 

[jwbitterman]

Dragon Challenge fits in Hogsmeade the same way that Hermione's voice does on the Hogwarts Express. That coaster and it's theming is what you'd expect from Univarsall Stadios, the official knock off Theme Park of Uzbekistan.

 

[Disneyhead]

But remember guys, this is the "Harry Potter Theme Park". And as modern theme park, most people not only expect large state of the art roller coasters, but would be disappointed if they didn't have at least one somewhere in the land.

 

[TubaGeek]

But remember guys, this is the "Harry Potter Theme Park". And as modern theme park, most people not only expect large state of the art roller coasters, but would be disappointed if they didn't have at least one somewhere in the land.

I just wish they would do some theming for the thing. Something to the same degree as Everest, minus the broken AA.
The Dragon Challenge scene in the film and book takes place on the converted quidditch pitch. Just building that would make it worlds better, and you could have some nice near-misses with the structures to replace those lost when they took away the deuling system.

 

[anihilnation]

With the new metal detector policy, is there any chance of it dueling again? Other thing I thought, use an empty train for dueling, though obviously this would cut capacity in half.

 

[ynnoj]

With the new metal detector policy, is there any chance of it dueling again?

I wondered this too, but seems unlikely considering the high risk.

 

[*Q*]

This would be a great way to beef up Universal's Christmas offerings, if that Great Hall rumor ever turned out to be true. Hogwarts Dinner Event: Celebrate Christmas in the Great Hall

 

[canobie#1]

Why are people bashing Dueling Dragons? That's one of the original rides! Like it or not, it was there way before Harry Potter and honestly, I think what they did to it is awful. The destroyed that unbelievable entrance, put giant stone walls in front of it and blocked the view, changed an awesome name "The Dueling Dragons" to a ridiculously stupid name (Dragon Challenge) and then it sadly lost the dueling. (Not their fault)

I think Dueling Dragons is so overlooked. Fire is still my favorite inert, and I've been on most of the big ones. (Montu, Talon, Raptor, Alpengeist)

The themeing is incredible, not sure why you would even try to criticize that.....

 

[Clive]

Why are people bashing Dueling Dragons? That's one of the original rides! Like it or not, it was there way before Harry Potter and honestly, I think what they did to it is awful. The destroyed that unbelievable entrance, put giant stone walls in front of it and blocked the view, changed an awesome name "The Dueling Dragons" to a ridiculously stupid name (Dragon Challenge) and then it sadly lost the dueling. (Not their fault)

I think Dueling Dragons is so overlooked. Fire is still my favorite inert, and I've been on most of the big ones. (Montu, Talon, Raptor, Alpengeist)

The themeing is incredible, not sure why you would even try to criticize that.....

The coaster itself is really fun. Very few people would argue that, though it did lose a bit of punch after the dueling was stopped.

It sticks out like a sore thumb in the otherwise impeccably themed Wizarding World and doesn't bring the same kinetic energy or aesthetic pleasure that Hulk does.

Furthermore, the ride itself is barren and really takes you out of the park experience, something that doesn't really happen to me on Hulk or even Rockit. Even when it was Dragons and had the stellar queue, the ride itself was lacking.

 

[canobie#1]

The ride experience is personal opinion but I wouldn't say that it sticks out. This is a theme park, with rollercoasters. Although the theming is not as impressive as the castle, it's still looks good. Plus it's super unique which will stick out when compared to the other WWOHP's.
I would like to see it get a nice revamp, perhaps more on ride sets from the movie, like close encounters and fly-bys.

 

[Clive]

The ride experience is personal opinion but I wouldn't say that it sticks out. This is a theme park, with rollercoasters. Although the theming is not as impressive as the castle, it's still looks good. Plus it's super unique which will stick out when compared to the other WWOHP's.
I would like to see it get a nice revamp, perhaps more on ride sets from the movie, like close encounters and fly-bys.

No... that isn't an opinion. Dragon Challenge's ride sequence takes place in a barren, unthemed lot with industrial walls keeping noise out from surrounding warehouses and a high school. It looks bad. It's always looked bad. It looks worse now that it's surrounded by WWOHP.

There is no theming once you leave the loading station. That's the issue.

 

[Ultranel]

So!? do you people want this coaster teleported somewhere else? I don't get it. It is in a empty lot, because it needs a space to exist. I mean, I would love to fly over Hogsmeade or an arena... or even through a forest, but what happends when a track needs some repairs? or the whole track needs to be repainted? There is an operation to run, and full access is needed. I think the best they can do is to lay some grass so it doesn't look like a dirt zone. Also it is cornered, in the middle of an urban area and probably taller than any coaster in WDW. I would be like me getting mad because I can see Downtown Tampa on the Sheikra lift when I am supposed to be in Africa. I love to dream and have an amazing theme on each ride but there's also an operation to run and that's the key, how to get reality and dream work together. The only thing I would agree is that if I have to go through those metal detectors then there is no reason for them not to duel, and also agree that DD's castle theme was waaaaayyyy better but I'm there for the coaster at the end of the line so I guess I can live with DC queue.

 

[Clive]

So!? do you people want this coaster teleported somewhere else? I don't get it. It is in a empty lot, because it needs a space to exist. I mean, I would love to fly over Hogsmeade or an arena... or even through a forest, but what happends when a track needs some repairs? or the whole track needs to be repainted? There is an operation to run, and full access is needed. I think the best they can do is to lay some grass so it doesn't look like a dirt zone. Also it is cornered, in the middle of an urban area and probably taller than any coaster in WDW. I would be like me getting mad because I can see Downtown Tampa on the Sheikra lift when I am supposed to be in Africa. I love to dream and have an amazing theme on each ride but there's also an operation to run and that's the key, how to get reality and dream work together. The only thing I would agree is that if I have to go through those metal detectors then there is no reason for them not to duel, and also agree that DD's castle theme was waaaaayyyy better but I'm there for the coaster at the end of the line so I guess I can live with DC queue.

Okay. The reality and the dream don't work together.

Sorry, just can't agree here. If I wanted bare bones coasters I'd go to Kings Island, Cedar Point, Carowinds (great amusement parks). This is a theme park. The bar has been raised. Hulk has no issues running despite it having track over water and extensive guest pathways. Build the Quidditch Pitch around Dragon Challenge, one that hides the bare surroundings, with an actual, fully-fledged field below. No one's asking for crazy show scenes or extensive animatronics or anything... just a bare minimum level of effort.

It's amazing to me the amount of hoops some of you will go through to justify mediocrity at the expense of the guest. It looks bad. The ride experience is fun but could be so much more for a comparatively small amount of money.

 

[NJBrandon]

It's amazing to me the amount of hoops some of you will go through to justify mediocrity at the expense of the guest. It looks bad. The ride experience is fun but could be so much more for a comparatively small amount of money.

But does the average guest even care?

 

[Clive]

But does the average guest even care?

Give a guest a big bad old coaster and plop it anywhere (ahem, Rockit) and they'll flock to it and enjoy it. It's got enough adrenaline-based thrills to excite. Give someone the thrills AND visuals and I guarantee they'll be far more impressed.

You can go for the low hanging fruit, or shoot higher. If you enjoy the ride as is, that's great (I have fun with it), but let's not pretend its thematic condition is up to par or the fact that it isn't "doesn't matter."

 

[Ultranel]

Okay. The reality and the dream don't work together.

Sorry, just can't agree here. If I wanted bare bones coasters I'd go to Kings Island, Cedar Point, Carowinds (great amusement parks). This is a theme park. The bar has been raised. Hulk has no issues running despite it having track over water and extensive guest pathways. Build the Quidditch Pitch around Dragon Challenge, one that hides the bare surroundings, with an actual, fully-fledged field below. No one's asking for crazy show scenes or extensive animatronics or anything... just a bare minimum level of effort.

It's amazing to me the amount of hoops some of you will go through to justify mediocrity at the expense of the guest. It looks bad. The ride experience is fun but could be so much more for a comparatively small amount of money.

I get it, but lets never forget that this is Dueling Dragons. The one that was supossed to be located in Beastly Kingdom "land" at Animal Kingdom... How it end up in IOA? not the point now, but when it came to the theme of the coaster, it was not about visiuals "that's what the queue was for", it was about the dueling part of it... "which it was awesome". Now that it doesn't duel, it really lost it's true purpose. So technically this coaster has nothing to do with HP. In fact, I still call it Merlin's Castle. I personally dont like when they try to change theme on something already built, many the best thing it's to take it down and build a real HP theme Dragon Challange.... although DD will be missed here.

 

[Clive]

I get it, but lets never forget that this is Dueling Dragons. The one that was supossed to be located in Beastly Kingdom "land" at Animal Kingdom... How it end up in IOA? not the point now, but when it came to the theme of the coaster, it was not about visiuals "that's what the queue was for", it was about the dueling part of it... "which it was awesome". Now that it doesn't duel, it really lost it's true purpose. So technically this coaster has nothing to do with HP. In fact, I still call it Merlin's Castle. I personally dont like when they try to change theme on something already built, many the best thing it's to take it down and build a real HP theme Dragon Challange.... although DD will be missed here.

Um... okay. You're welcome to extrapolate your own backstories, but you can't expect the rest of us to do so, too. I don't care that a (very different) version of a dragon coaster was going to be in Beastly Kingdom. A good queue does not excuse a mediocre ride.

 

[Ultranel]

Um... okay. You're welcome to extrapolate your own backstories, but you can't expect the rest of us to do so, too. I don't care that a (very different) version of a dragon coaster was going to be in Beastly Kingdom. A good queue does not excuse a mediocre ride.

Oh so you are one of those... just don't ride it, problem solved. you're welcome :wave:

 

[Clive]

Oh so you are one of those... just don't ride it, problem solved. you're welcome :wave:

Feel free to enlighten me what "one of those" means. God forbid I don't slather praise on every attraction in Universal's repertoire, especially those that are objectively lower grade in immersion and theming relative to other, newer attractions.

But then again, you seem to have some personal attachment to the ride and can't tolerate any debate or criticism of it whatsoever.