Uploaded By: Curiosity Vault – Disaster Documentaries
Universal Studios Orlando was the scene of multiple roller coaster accidents involving the Dueling Dragons, later renamed Dragon Challenge Roller coaster. The Dragon Challenge accidents would cause lifelong injuries to the people involved.
This is the story of the Dragon Challenge Roller coaster Tragedy.
00:00 Intro
00:28 A bit about Universal Studios Orlando
1:43 Opening of Dueling Dragons Coaster
2:51 Sequence of accidents
Watch more at: Universal Studios Roller Coaster Accident | The Dragon Challenge Tragedy | Short Documentary
My brother and I were so disappointed that the coasters were removed. We had been wanting to ride these coasters since the park opened. I wish another park had picked them and had them rebuilt there. There was nothing else like this, it was one of a kind.
Dragon Challenge still had plenty of years left of life in it, and Universal could’ve sent the two coasters to separate parks, but sadly they just chose not to.
It really upsets me that Universal scrapped the ride prematurely in its life cycle. They said the ride had “reached the end of its service life” but that couldn’t be any further from the truth.
I honestly hope no other B&M’s are sent to the scrapyard before the end of their life expectancy, and I just hope that most of the older B&M’s continue to operate for a little longer, because the way I see it, the wounds from Dragon Challenge being scrapped prematurely still ain’t healed, not even Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure will make up for it.
I’ll give it 4 or 5 more years. 10 if I see another B&M get scrapped prematurely, which god forbid should that happen.
3:00 Badcock oh no that's unlucky
design fault, the idea of the trains constantly directed at each other is brainless
This is why I’m never riding a roller coaster 😭✌️
Ah, finally an accident on a coaster I've actually been on! Great coaster, and always felt safe despite the insane spectacle of the two train cars almost "kissing" each other at certain points.
Very sad (and totally expected) to hear that people were putting lives at risk just because they're too lazy to use the FREE lockers that were available to stow belongings before going on a ride. People like this shouldn't be allowed on any theme park rides, most especially roller coasters and other thrill rides that have risks attached to them
Honestly they should have repaired it when it came to the first accident . Honestly I’m not supervised it closed .
I actually got to ride this right before the name change, so that would have been December of 2009 if I recall correctly. I loved this coaster. It's just too bad that preventable, repeated accidents resulted in its demolition.
Just a side note on the ride tech struck by the ride. He was knocked unconscious and had a severe head injury but did recover and STILL works here!
He had leaned in to examine something on one of the pillars or was listening for an odd sound, can’t remember which.
There used to be a net under the first Twist of the hulk because people's items would fall off them. Idk if it's still there, or if they do the locker thing like someone else mentioned. It's been over a decade since I've been back to Florida
That ride was on Bring It On lol
Stop I literally have a fear of rollercoasters for this reason and I rode this unaware of the history as a kid 😅😅😅
Wow. Thousands of riders but the 1 loses his only good eye after losing the other to a condition. I hope he lost his first eye as an infant. Losing both after learning to use them is a sick joke.
I loved this ride so much. I only ever got to ride it once unfortunately, probably why my love for it is so great😭I want that feeling again smh. It’s almost got the same layout as Batman from our six flags here in GA tho. Just without the duelling aspect obviously.
Not the coasters fault that people are too stupid to follow directions
This is probably why they have metal detectors at Rip Ride Rocket.
That was a cool coaster too. Like what did that person gain for keeping his phone on him? If he got a message, would he even feel the vibration or hear the sound? If he did would he even try to message them back?
The guy is an idiot who only thought about himself, he got a loved ride destroyed, and blinded a man.
If you are riding a coaster, don't bring anything in your pockets unless you have a secure pocket (velcro, zipper, clasp, etc). Things like a couple of tissues, maybe a piece of paper if you use the ADA passes, other harmless stuff is one thing. But even small hard stuff can cause serious damage on some coasters. If you want to bring stuff and not bring a bag, I'd suggest getting a fanny pack or one of the cross body versions. It'll hold just as much if not more than your pockets, can easily be tucked away while yoyre on a ride, and most rides if they force you to bring your bag with you, you can safely keep it on.
There needs to be much stricter rules and regulations in place regarding theme parks because almost every one has multiple incidents due to a lack of safety. I mean it needs to be to the point that the moment you don't listen to a safety rule at a theme park, you're immediately banned for life. If a worker doesn't follow safety protocol, they instantly lose their job.
The guy who lost the eye is one of the most bizarre, freakish accidents I've heard! What are the odds on that one?
I loved this ride! That said, Hagrid's motorbike is now my favorite ride ever so it was a worthy sacrifice.
Tbh, it isn't Universal's fault, it's the guest's fault for disobeying the rules and refusing to put their items into the lockers
This was an awesome ride. I was able to ride it when it dueled (and a bunch of rides when it was just running single) … it sucks a bad as you are thinking you won't get to ride it
I got to ride this ride A couple years before it close but honestly haggrids is way better and I'm glad it's in its place
I rode this in 2013 when it was Dragon Challenge, and had no idea about the history behind it until later. I miss this coaster
This is one of my favorities!favorites!! Never knew had accidents
This was such a GREAT coaster
always wondered why Universal was so strict on their loose article policy compared to other parks but now I understand why and completely support it. I've been hit with phones on rides and it sucks. It sucks that people are too ignorant to just follow a policy that keeps everyone safe. Wish people weren't so selfish sometimes
Ah this explains why they stopped running this coaster with both at the same time. I always wondered.
That's awful what happened to that man's eye. Also, I loved this ride, but at least Hagrid's is even better imo. So many elements in one ride, it really raises the bar for well themed rides to new heights.
I’ve always wondered where this ride went, I didn’t go to universal that often, some ppl told me I was wrong and there wasn't a dragon coaster, this proves me wrong, really sad things turned tho
I feel like if they had added metal detectors sooner, and let it dual again, the ride would still be there.
Very sad to here about the man going completely blind, I hope that man can still live a decent life.
I remember riding this ride when the dueling was still a thing. It was one of my favorite coasters. It’s so sad that people are so selfish and because of their actions, not only did they shut this coaster down but people got injured! Imagine being that person who thought ‘this rule doesn’t apply to me’ and cause someone to go blind. Living with that guilt for the rest of your life because you were too selfish.
It was called dueling dragons today it is Hagrids motorbike
This is so sad, it’s truly not hard to follow basic safety rules. This was always one of my favorite universal coasters
I went to IoA in september 2011, didn't ride this coaster bc I was young and scared at the time. It's crazy that one month prior to my visit, Carlos (my dad's name by the way) was leaving this attraction and loosing his sight forever bc some idiot didn't follow the rules. In 2012 I went again and decided to give it a try… after the first drop I fainted lol Woke up when the ride was over, with some Universal employee staring at me and waiting for me to leave the car, so that other visitors could board it. It's funny that literally no one offered me any help to get out of the roller coaster, nor asked me if I was okay (I was 15 and alone). I remember that I laid down right next to Three Broomsticks, and that I stayed there for 15 minutes with my head spinning like crazy lol
Man we loved that ride! So sad that it’s been replaced because people couldn’t listen to instructions.
I went to Florida in 2004 and rode both of these track
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