The new ride will replace Dragon Challenge at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™.
Universal Orlando just announced that Universal Creative is collaborating with Warner Bros and its design team on the new attraction. So far no name has been announced for the new ride and few details have emerged apart from the fact that it will include interaction with Potter characters.
“This ride is going to redefine the category and transport you to thrilling places, drawing you into even more exciting adventures within the wizarding world,” said the Universal Orlando’s official parks blog.
Dragon Challenge will close on September 4th. The coaster was built by Bollinger & Mabillard, based in Switzerland. It is a two-sided, intertwined and inverted ride, originally called Duelling Dragons. As such it was a key ride at the opening of Islands of Adventure in 1999. When Wizarding World opened in 2010 the new area absorbed part of the Lost Continent Land, including the ride. The coaster’s name was changed at the same time.
The ride was not without controversy. The original Duelling Dragons involved two trains on separate tracks. They would race past one another, possibly even inches apart, in a series of scheduled misses. However reports of accidents plagued the ride in 2011: one passenger lost an eye. So the ride was altered to avoid the too close encounters.
Universal Orlando opened in 1990 as Universal Studios Florida. Islands of Adventure opened in May 1999. In 2010 the newest island opened: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Universal Studios also has plans to open a new thrill ride called Fast & Furious — Supercharged. The new ride is being built at the site of the former Disaster attraction. The company also has two new hotels planned at the original Wet ‘n Wild site on International Drive.
Image kind courtesy of Universal Orlando
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-universal-potter-dragon-challenge-20170724-story.html
