Dueling Dragons

Two large battling dragons, Pyrrock and Blizzrock (or, Fire and Ice) greet guests at the entrance to the Dueling Dragons attraction. The queue to the attraction can be considered an attraction by itself. Most of it is inside a ruined castle, filled with claw marks and bashed in walls, which has been overrun by the dueling fire and ice dragons. As a result, parts of the castle are both frozen and charred.

As guests walk through the fortress, Merlin tells the story of the Dueling Dragons. According to the tale, an aging sorcerer once visited the castle. When he did so, the dragons attacked. Guests can see the charred remains of knights and the other knights who have been frozen into blocks of ice as further evidence of what took place. Guests then walk through the castle’s dungeon and see the bones of skeletons. Merlin pleads for guest to turn back. Once they have reached the end of the queue, guests are told “Choose Thy Fate.” Here, they must choose to either ride the Fire Dragon (to the left) or the Ice Dragon (to the right). The actual ride, which is quite intense inverted roller coaster, takes place outside. Dragon Lake, which is shaped like a dragon, can be found beneath the ride.

The speed of the 2 minute 25 second ride is approximately 57 mph and is filled with many turns, twists, loops and drops. The seats each hold 4 riders. The Ice Dragon ride contains a 95 foot drop and the Fire Dragon ride has a 105 foot drop. The Fire Dragon also has a few more twists than the Ice Dragon. Both rides have 5 inversions and reach a top height of 125 feet. While on the ride, guests endure a number of “near misses” as the two dragons battle it out on the outside of the castle.

The best time to catch this ride is before 10:30 am. Lockers are provided to store glasses, loose items, and cameras. There is also a separate line for those who want to ride in the front seat.

The minimum height for this ride is 54” and guests in wheelchairs must be able to transfer to the ride’s seating. The extreme acceleration, tilts, drops, and climbs make this ride a poor choice for expectant mothers, those with back or neck problems, and those with heart conditions. Those with motion sickness or wearing plaster casts should also avoid the ride. In addition, the safety devices used for the ride may be uncomfortable for certain body sizes and shapes. A replica seat is at the entrance to the ride so guests can test it before waiting in line.

Baby Swap is an option with this ride. There are two areas for swapping, one for each coaster. Either way, the swap area is just behind the last row of riders. They are narrow passageways containing bench seating.