Universal Orlando has permanently changed the nature of one of its most popular attractions after a pair of guest injuries on the roller coaster. Dragon Challenge, formerly Dueling Dragons, will never duel again. Instead it will become a chase with cars being dispatched so that they no longer pass close to each other.
The two trains of the coaster used to pass close to each other several times, including one moment when there was just a few feet between the feet of passengers. It was at this moment when flying objects injured passengers on the attraction. After the second reported major injury, Universal announced the attraction, a key part of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter area at Islands of Adventure, would change their dispatch procedure during the course of the internal investigation.
With the investigation completed, that change has now been made permanent.
There is, of course, a lawsuit and it will be interesting to see if Universal decides to settle in order to keep details of its investigation out of the public. What do you think of the changes? Does it make you feel safer?
More on the nature of the injuries and the lawsuit at the Orlando Sentinel.
Previously: Injury on Dragon Challenge at Islands of Adventure Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction.
Safer? Eh…
I think the whole thing is weird. Kind of like a freak accident that happened, what twice? In all the years that the ride has been open I’ve never even heard of anything like this happening.
It’s kind of sad that they are changing the way it launches. The whole point is to have the effect of the two roller coasters going together! I don’t like it.
I agree with Sakina, I went on the Dragon Challenge 6 times this summer, and I am just fine, and I have a track record with freak accidents. I am betting that these “falling objects” were someone’s keys, and it’s THEIR fault, not Universal. I thought that it was one of the coolest coasters I ever went on, too bad.
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I think they had to do this.
There’s just no way to keep idiots from purposely trying to hurt people on the other tracks.
And now that it’s happened, copycats would be an added danger.
It’s unfortunate, but this is the correct move for Universal.
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There are always a few morons who ruin the fun for everyone else. So unfortunate.
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