The Future of Lost Continent

[Cole]

I very much doubt (and hope) Dragon Challenge will ever go, you don't just remove a major coaster.
With the train station now in place the coaster is even better, plenty of effects where you imagine you will bang into something. Also, in spite of it often appearing less busy, the ride does get good ridership.

Removing a big coaster has been done many times before and the only real effect in challenge after the removal of dueling is basically the wall in the ice section, that was made to make you jump. I don't see the purpose of it there anymore and I'm shocked JK allowed it to stay in the park anyways with it's naked theming outside of the queue. Looking at google maps now it would be a huge expansion pad and it could be another jaws sinario where the land it takes up and it's technical problems make up for its removal. You never know

 

[shiekra38]

There are so many other areas that need upgrading...keep DC and remove LC, TL, FFL, and Kidzone...then we'll talk tearing a world class coaster down

 

[anihilnation]

There are so many other areas that need upgrading...keep DC and remove LC, TL, FFL, and Kidzone...then we'll talk tearing a world class coaster down

:happy:

 

[Cole]

There are so many other areas that need upgrading...keep DC and remove LC, TL, FFL, and Kidzone...then we'll talk tearing a world class coaster down

Oh no question this isn't a main priority, I think potter phase 3 is already pointless as it is. It's just when it's time to make it (it will be made) this is a nice place to put it. Maybe after the fantastic beasts movies come out

 

[mahnamahna]

There are so many other areas that need upgrading...keep DC and remove LC, TL, FFL, and Kidzone...then we'll talk tearing a world class coaster down

It stopped being world class the minute it was turned into a non-dueling loosely Potter themed coaster

 

[GAcoaster]

Also, the fact that it is a pair of decent coasters which could easily be rebuilt on ANY flat piece of land anywhere in the world means it would be a fairly simple thing for Universal to sell them off. B&M coasters have been relocated several times and apparently it's a fairly easy thing to do.

 

[Cole]

Also, the fact that it is a pair of decent coasters which could easily be rebuilt on ANY flat piece of land anywhere in the world means it would be a fairly simple thing for Universal to sell them off. B&M coasters have been relocated several times and apparently it's a fairly easy thing to do.

Exactly, ain't no big thang

 

[blue180]

I very much doubt (and hope) Dragon Challenge will ever go, you don't just remove a major coaster.
With the train station now in place the coaster is even better, plenty of effects where you imagine you will bang into something. Also, in spite of it often appearing less busy, the ride does get good ridership.

Busch Gardens has done it with coasters in Williamsburg, also in Tampa, Six Flags has done it many times too. Its real estate in an already confined space.

My only issue with this is they kind of blocked it in...with the HE station right there. I mean obviously this will not be leaving for a very long time, if ever, but I think it is something to consider if they do feel constrained with space. This is a huge plot of real estate. If the dueling aspect was still in tack, then this would be fine. But I mean its not a "Challenge" by any means anymore. Its just two coasters that happen to be next to each other.

 

[mainejeff]

It stopped being world class the minute it was turned into a non-dueling loosely Potter themed coaster

:thumbs:

 

[shiekra38]

Oh no question this isn't a main priority, I think potter phase 3 is already pointless as it is. It's just when it's time to make it (it will be made) this is a nice place to put it. Maybe after the fantastic beasts movies come out

I like the Ministry of Magic idea that has been brought up so I wouldn't call it pointless...DC I think will be gone eventually..but I don't think we should worry about it for a while..it continues to be an iconic part of Universal..eventually it could be sold off and the land made into something, but for now it is a great pair of B&M inverts with a normally short line

 

[Mad Dog]

I would think most tourists don't know about the former dueling or don't really care. The illusion really only worked for the first couple of rows anyway. I never sit in the front so the ride doesn't seem any different to me. The attraction has a huge capacity and that's probably most important to Universal & the reason the lines aren't real long. I think this is really a non issue except for some of the locals.

 

[StarTrekGeek]

I'm sorry, but I hope Dragon Challenge will NEVER get removed. If that's the only option for Potter Phase III, then no Potter Phase III please. This ride made me conquer my fear of roller coasters. I don't care if it doesn't duel, it will always hold a place in my heart.

Busch Gardens has done it with coasters in Williamsburg, also in Tampa, Six Flags has done it many times too. Its real estate in an already confined space.

The only "major" coasters in Williamsburg I can think of are Drachen Fire, a ride that closed due to a horrible reputation with riders, and Big Bad Wolf, a coaster that closed due to reaching the end of its operating life span (or so the park claims it). Tampa, they're removing Gwazi (because the heat took a toll on the ride very badly, plus the ride has a horrible reputation with riders) and removed Python (again, I heard it was ending its life). Six Flags does remove major coasters, but not the best in the parks, unless they're planning on either selling or closing it, like Chang from Kentucky Kingdom.

On the other hand, Dragon Challenge is nowhere near as rough as some coasters (let alone DF or Gwazi) and also nowhere near the end of its life span. And Universal would never remove a major coaster if they don't have to (whether it's themed or not), unless they absolutely must. But this is a very reliable B&M that has never had any problems (except the dueling which was caused by some idiots). IMHO, there is absolutely NO reason why this ride should be removed.

Just my $0.02.

 

[GAcoaster]

If they're smart, they'll sell it to the park they're building in China where they'll actually be able to have it duel again. Six Flags was going to sell a bunch of their rides off to the company that was developing their original version of Six Flags Dubai. They were going to unload a bunch of rides that were either high cost to maintain or had flagging popularity so they could all be "new" for a new audience.

 

[StarTrekGeek]

If they're smart, they'll sell it to the park they're building in China where they'll actually be able to have it duel again. Six Flags was going to sell a bunch of their rides off to the company that was developing their original version of Six Flags Dubai. They were going to unload a bunch of rides that were either high cost to maintain or had flagging popularity so they could all be "new" for a new audience.

China has enough rides that I can't ride lol (seriously, I'm hearing Time Machine could go there). XP I guess that could happen (maybe to Universal Beijing).

I don't think I've ever heard of SF selling some of their rides to Dubai (the coasters I've known to be in that park were a B&M Dive Machine, B&M Giga Coaster, an Intamin Plug n' Play, Vekoma Family SLC, a Gerstlauer/Maurer Spinning Coaster, a MACK Water Coaster, and a Maurer Launch Coaster; source Gary Goddard, just scroll down a bit and you can see some cool concept images of the park. Maybe the 15th image). Other than the Plug n' Play and the spinning coaster, I don't see any other ride type that could have been relocated from the parks (since the parks don't have any of these rides). El Toro, they would never remove, but I admit that the spinning coaster seems possible for a relocation (maybe one of the Pandemonium clones).

Still, I just can't see Universal removing Dragon Challenge anytime in the future, unless it starts getting old.

 

[fryoj]

The attraction has a huge capacity and that's probably most important to Universal & the reason the lines aren't real long. I think this is really a non issue except for some of the locals.

Exactly, it's a people eater. If Universal wants to grow their attendance, they would have a hard time replacing that kind of capacity. At times, it seems to me that there is a large number of people on here that want Universal to be Disney with just a bunch of dark rides and omnimovers. While I agree that DC is not the same without the dueling, it makes no sense to remove it.

 

[StarTrekGeek]

Exactly, it's a people eater. If Universal wants to grow their attendance, they would have a hard time replacing that kind of capacity. At times, it seems to me that there is a large number of people on here that want Universal to be Disney with just a bunch of dark rides and omnimovers. While I agree that DC is not the same without the dueling, it makes no sense to remove it.

Definitely a great point about the capacity. DC is a great people eater (like most B&Ms).

Yes, Universal is not Disney. They're something else. Something different... which is what makes them great. I don't see any need for Universal to try and copy Disney, when the way they're doing it gives them success of their own as well.

 

[GAcoaster]

Kingda Ka was to be dismantled and sent over. They planned to sell it from Six Flags to the developer for nearly what they paid for it initially to try and recoup their investment (at the time they were more then $1 Billion in debt). In addition, they saw it as a cost saving of more than $5 million a year that they have to pay to maintain the ride. The Gary Goddard renderings were apparently a more fanciful vision of what the developers wanted than what Six Flags was planning (I've seen the ride list from Six Flags corporate).

Back to the topic at hand, if they could sell DC to the developer in China they could then reinvest any money from it in new attractions as well as using the HUGE tract of land for new uses.

 

[Cole]

Have any of you been on a universal dark ride? They are far and between but everyone is pretty much perfection. They do it right and there really isn't such a thing as too many dark rides especially in a park that needs family appeal, it's not copying Disney it's just being smart. Dragon challenge is like the mummy to me, I can definitely see it go for something else. Keep in mind the fire side was my first big roller coaster aswell, but when they changed the theming pretty much all those memories of that experience are now gone, AKA stitches great escape syndrome. It's like old yeller, sometimes you just have to put it out of its misery for a new batch of puppies

 

[shiekra38]

Exactly, it's a people eater. If Universal wants to grow their attendance, they would have a hard time replacing that kind of capacity. At times, it seems to me that there is a large number of people on here that want Universal to be Disney with just a bunch of dark rides and omnimovers. While I agree that DC is not the same without the dueling, it makes no sense to remove it.

No they want a bunch of Spiderman/FJ clones themed to random IPs..

I would rather Universal keep their coasters that made them famous and remove dead space...then towards the end of their life spans or when the attractions are deemed too costly..remove them..

 

[Cole]

No they want a bunch of Spiderman/FJ clones themed to random IPs..

I would rather Universal keep their coasters that made them famous and remove dead space...then towards the end of their life spans or when the attractions are deemed too costly..remove them..

Coasters that made them famous? Universal isn't a six flags or Busch gardens whatsoever. The only really memorable rollercoaster in the resort is really the hulk. Everybody else mistakes rockit for RnRC and dragon challenge becoming stale. Universal is now making classic rides like FJ, transformers and despicable me that will stand the test of time for decades in the future. If you really only see universal as a coaster park you haven't been