Leaderboard

The first time I rode this ride was 2019 and I have been lucky that every time I have gone it has been open and I have been able to ride it. I normally go in March and/or June and I guess I am lucky. But I have ridden it a lot. We were there last week and I have to agree with the people riding and seeing no difference. I told my kids to warn them it was chain, but after hill it is not supposed to be different. They were disappointed when I told them, but I told them to give it a shot. We had the last 2 rows of the coaster. It whipped us over that lift hill which shocked me honestly. But my kids and I all agreed it is still super fun and FAST. My one daughter said she thought it was better than last year. The lift hill was also faster than I expected and my oldest said the same. She expected Eagle and it was much faster than Eagle. My one said "I hate when you are right mom, but you were it was the same after the lift and really a lot of fun, can we go again?" Iron Gwazi is a chain lift and a very similar coaster and super insane and fun also. I agree with others, other coasters have come out that are better. I used to have this at the top with Iron Gwazi and now I have ridden coasters like Velocicoaster and now that is my top. Memories are an interesting thing and play tricks on us. I think this is a win for the park. I can't comment on up time vs down time since this vacation was no different than any others as I said we were always lucky and had a lot of up time on the days we went.

^ YAY for a Marvin encounter! Me here, with K-9, Marvin's pet dog, at SFMM/ Sept-2016.

Universal has released artwork and details about How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, coming to Epic Universe! https://media.universalparksusa.com/press-releases/take-to-the-skies-and-soar-with-dragons-universal-orlando-resort-reveals-new-details-about-how-to-train-your-dragon-isle-of-berk-a-larger-than-life-world-of-viking-advent/ Universal Orlando Resort invites guests of all ages to soar with dragons in a colorful, fully-alive world filled with Viking adventures in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk – one of the five worlds featured at the all-new Universal Epic Universe theme park opening in 2025. Here, guests will see what it’s like to live amongst dragons as they explore a larger-than-life world that includes exciting attractions, beloved character meet-and-greets, dining, shopping – and even flying dragons – based on DreamWorks Animation’s multi-award winning and Academy Award-nominated trilogy, “How to Train Your Dragon.” Developed in partnership between Universal Creative and the powerhouse filmmakers from DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk captures the heart, humor and scale of the films within an authentic re-creation of the rugged, rocky world where raucous Vikings and rambunctious dragons live together in hilarious harmony. Guests visiting Berk will encounter one of the most breathtaking environments Universal has ever created – complete with immense architecture featuring hand-carved details, lush landscaping, and extraordinary heights of rolling hills surrounding vibrant dragon houses and local establishments. And everywhere guests look within the bustling village, they’ll find endless activity – from active dragons in their natural habitats and sheep attempting to disguise themselves as Terrible Terror dragons to sporadic bouts of fire – making Isle of Berk an attraction unto itself. WELCOME TO THE ISLE OF BERK Guests’ first sight of Berk will be reminiscent of the iconic sweeping vista straight from the films – featuring a vast sparkling lagoon that boasts two 40-foot-tall Viking statues set against an energetic village perched above churning seas. Guests will discover four attractions, one live show, and several character and dragon meet-and-greet experiences that offer something for every member of the family, including: • Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – On this family thrill coaster, Hiccup invites brave new Vikings to take a ride in his latest glider contraption – a winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the sky for a dragon’s eye view of Berk. Guests will fly alongside Hiccup and Toothless and reach speeds up to 45 mph as they soar around the perimeter of Berk – and even through the lagoon – while experiencing firsthand what it’s like to fly on a dragon. • The Untrainable Dragon – Inspired by Universal Beijing Resort’s wildly successful “Untrainable” show, this dragon-filled live spectacular takes guests on an unforgettable journey with beloved characters Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. This heartwarming story comes to life with captivating musical numbers, breathtaking sets and life-sized dragons soaring overhead. • Fyre Drill – Mischievous Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut invite teams of Vikings to compete to outscore and out-soak each other on this wet-and-wild boat battle. Guests will board a colorful dragon-headed boat and blast water cannons at flame-like targets to practice putting out fires – a crucial skill to master when living with dragons. • Dragon Racer’s Rally – Berk’s new Vikings racers can practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on two Viking-made dragon-riding trainers that reach heights of up to 67 feet in the air. Guests can control how “wild” or “mild” their experience will be as they perform high-flying, gravity-defying, swooping and soaring skills that are necessary to earn the accolades worthy of a true champion dragon racer. • Viking Training Camp – Junior Vikings will learn everything they need to know about dragons as they climb, slide and explore their way through this sprawling interactive adventure play camp – featuring a Viking agility course, a Toothless-themed teeter-totter, baby Gronckle dragon climbers and so much more. • Meet Hiccup and Toothless – Guests can visit the Haddock Paddock for an incredible meet-and-greet experience with heroic Dragon Rider, Hiccup, and pose for a photo with his friendly Night Fury, Toothless. Plus, throughout the day, guests may also encounter other familiar Vikings and dragons while exploring Berk. Guests can also dine and shop like Vikings in the world’s variety of themed eateries and retail locations, including: • Mead Hall — The beating heart of Berk and the village’s main gathering hall, Mead Hall is where guests can feast like a Viking and enjoy a savory menu featuring a variety of meats, fish, sandwiches and more along with a collection of meads and ciders. • Spit Fyre Grill — Overlooking the action of the Fyre Drill water attraction, Spit Fyre Grill is a quick-service dining location featuring delicious, hearty meals flame-seared by a helpful (unseen) dragon fry cook. • Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel — Guests can grab quick bites at this festive racing-themed food stand located in the Viking Camp. • And after a day of dragon training, guests can commemorate their lessons with an array of merchandise available at highly-themed shops like Viking Traders, How to Treat Your Dragon, Hiccup’s Work Shop, and Toothless’ Treasures.

I'm not Robb, but we're certainly not sucking up to Dollywood. The ride really didn't seem any different to me. That being said, I think a lot of the newer RMC's and other coasters just out do it and it is an older ride now so it's not as crazy as it once was. People have this memory of riding it back in 2016 when it was legit amazing and new and something we hadn't really seen before. Since that time there have been a ton of new coasters that are bigger and faster and have equally crazy elements so I think it's more a memory issue. Oh, and the day we were there it ran two trains all day with a 5 minute wait so there you go. I'll take that thanks!

Needs to be restated x1000 times, TBH. Maybe get a skywriter to circle above the park on clear days. I'm one of the "lucky" ones who got to experience this back in 2016, but I'm much more excited this coaster can actually manage some semblance of a normal operating cycle now.

I'm not taking the time to find it, but I saw a side by side POV somewhere where LR was running at nearly the exact same speed pre-launch. But, I'd be willing to trust the word of a guy who pretty much rides roller coasters for a living over someone watching YouTube. I'm all for the consumer over the corporation, but damn. I'm sure you'll get a few ten-year-olds boasting about how the ride "sucks" now, despite riding it... Even with the outliers, in a couple years no one will care anymore. A large portion of guests will never know it had a launch. I bet they will love it over a "ride's closed" sign. RMC and DW rolled the dice on LR and they lost. Better choices could have been made, maybe. Regardless, I'll just be happy to know if I ever go back to DW again I will actually be able to ride LR.

I have a piece of friendly advice. Go to Dollywood, ride it. and decide for yourself. Another piece of friendly advice: Saying "I'm certainly not one to cause problems or throw shade" is just a signal that you plan to do exactly that. If Robb said he "couldn't tell one bit of difference," he's giving you his true opinion.

It was daytime out, no Flash was needed.

I took this picture on Saturday. We were hoping for a soft opening later in the day but sadly it never happened. Maybe next weekend…

Just found the photo I wanted, to show what I was explaining, i.e. Entry Portal vs. Exit. To the left of the Wizarding World portal, is the Exit with a possible security kiosk, to the left of that. Or maybe it's an information kiosk. Eventually, we'll find out. Thank you to @bioreconstruct and Theme Park Stop for all the info. about Epic Universe's ongoing construction.