Dragon Challenge closing: Further Rumours

[Forkbeard]

Originally Posted by sha9

I was thinking this may be behind it. No matter how many people on forums say they love it Universal will know the numbers going through it. Maybe it's not financially viable to have it still running. It's a large piece of ground that it takes up and if it doesn't have the throughput it used to then it makes sense to change it.

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I suspect, and I think others have said it on here recently, that the fit with Potter is the biggest reason this ride is getting less traffic.

[sha9]

Originally Posted by Forkbeard

I suspect, and I think others have said it on here recently, that the fit with Potter is the biggest reason this ride is getting less traffic.

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Maybe. I do think that if people like a thrill ride they don't really care too much about theming so the die hard coaster fans won't care about the HP theming. Possibly the HP fans contain families with kids too small to ride Dragon Challenge.

[WhereIBelong]

Lines were longer than 10 min at Easter - never saw it shorter than 30min all day long.

[gavvy]

Originally Posted by WhereIBelong

Lines were longer than 10 min at Easter - never saw it shorter than 30min all day long.

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Even 30 mins is probably short compared to the hulk and other rides at that time of year, it has never really drawn a crowd from day one- before potter was there.

Am unsure why as its a great coaster(s)

[ratmanscoop]

Back when IOA used the traditional fastpass system I almost missed a reservation for Hulk and had to sprint across the park as the standby queue for Dragons was far higher than expected - must have queued over 60-75 minutes for it, but this was back in 2001.

[Bullpeppar]

Absolutely one of our favourites and with the FOLP you can ride it several times in half an hour until many other attractions. It just gives you such a buzz unlike so many of the other simulators that are coming more prevalent recently. It would be such a shame if they were to replace it with anything other than another coaster.

On a side issue, I don't see why you have to walk all the way down and back up round, rather than taking the shortcut like you used to be able to do, and then going through the metal detectors

[Animagus]

Originally Posted by Bullpeppar

Absolutely one of our favourites and with the FOLP you can ride it several times in half an hour until many other attractions. It just gives you such a buzz unlike so many of the other simulators that are coming more prevalent recently. It would be such a shame if they were to replace it with anything other than another coaster.

On a side issue, I don't see why you have to walk all the way down and back up round, rather than taking the shortcut like you used to be able to do, and then going through the metal detectors

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it does have a ridiculously long queue doesn't it? Takes a while to wind your way through. I couldn't quite believe how much of it there was, first time I rode.
Hope it stays open till end of August, DD will be tall enough to ride this year and is really looking forward to it.

[Forkbeard]

Originally Posted by sha9

Maybe. I do think that if people like a thrill ride they don't really care too much about theming so the die hard coaster fans won't care about the HP theming. Possibly the HP fans contain families with kids too small to ride Dragon Challenge.

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You're probably right. I just noticed it so much when it switched to Potter, the ride seemed kinda dead after that. I think we went the year Potter opened too.

As you say anyone wanting to ride it shouldn't have an issue heading over there.

I don't get why people love the Hulk more than this ride?!? Apart from the Hulk launch I'd say Red is better is all other aspects. I even prefer the theme of this to Hulk, before and after Potter.

[gavvy]

Best part of the queue is you get a great view of Hogworts Castle, it's worth going into the line just to take a few pics, that and Rons Ford Angela

[Forkbeard]

Originally Posted by gavvy

Best part of the queue is you get a great view of Hogworts Castle, it's worth going into the line just to take a few pics, that and Rons Ford Angela

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Is that a Ford Angela Merkel

I believe it's spelt Ford Anglia, hence my joke. Always loved those cars as a kid and the custom jobs too. Can't say the same for Merkel though