Dueling Dragons | Ice Dragon @ Islands of Adventure
The Dueling Dragons is a popular dueling roller coaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. It consists of a red (Fire) track and a blue (Ice) track. The inverted tracks share a lift hill, but after that their layouts are unique. They boast three duels or near-misses where the trains pass within feet of each other.
An Amazing Medieval Castle
The Dueling Dragons has one of the best themed stations I have ever experienced. The ride is located in the Lost Continent area of Islands of Adventure. An elaborately detailed medieval castle acts as the home to the dragons. 
Guests enter the long queue that has them walking through authentic-looking dimly lit pathways. If it wasn’t for the occasional exit signs you might really believe that you were in some European castle. Finally, you emerge at a fork in your path. Here, guests are asked to “Choose Thy Fate” and either head left for the Fire Dragon or right for the Ice Dragon. Even the trains are adorned with claws and dragon skin to help add to the theme.
The Ice Dragon
While both of the dragons offer fun rides, the Ice Dragon’s is a bit less interesting. Your ride begins with the typical 
Bolliger & Mabillard swooping drop. After the drop, Ice Dragon traverses a banked curve then heads back down to the ground. Next, is the first near miss. Ice Dragon flies up and into a fun zero-g roll as Fire Dragon passes by overhead. Then, Ice Dragon handles two back-to-back inversions as it does a cobra roll next to the castle. The train returns to the ground and flies over a pond before it performs a synchronized vertical loop with Fire Dragon. Around a turn into the final near miss, an interlocking corkscrew. Ice Dragon finishes by working its way back to the station with a series of turns.
The Near Misses Are Great for Style, Not So Much for Substance
In my opinion, the near misses are over rated. Your best chance to see them is in the front seat, otherwise they don’t
really add much for the riders. On the other hand, from off the ride, they look amazing. In that way, they remind me of Griffon and SheiKra’s splash sections which also do nothing (other than slow the train down) for the riders, but look cool for spectators. On my rides on both Dragons I never really felt that close to the other train like the maneuvers suggest. On the trains you are just way too insulated with four-across seating and the track over your head.
My Take – A Fun Ride, But Too Much Filler
Ice Dragon felt kind of soulless. Where the Fire Dragon’s intensity grabs you and doesn’t let up. It’s fun and forceful at 
times, but most of the time I felt like much of the course was being used to set up the near misses. If you’ve ever tried to design a dueling coaster in Roller Coaster Tycoon, you’re probably familiar with having to add certain filler sections to make the duels work. Still, Ice Dragon is a fun and very smooth ride that’s much better than lesser inverted coasters like the Mind Eraser clones. Final Rating – 7.5 (Good Approaching Great)
Dueling Dragons Ice Dragon is rated ‘TH’ for Thrilling. It’s a 3 out of 5 on my Thrill Scale.
What’s Your Take?
Have you ridden the Ice Dragon? What did you think? Leave a comment below.
October 25, 2009 at 13:43
funny, i just put up a link for that exact same video on the top three dueling coasters post, i got it on the american coaster network, you should realy see their site.
October 25, 2009 at 14:55
I got the video from your comment QB3. Read the line above the video…
October 25, 2009 at 15:21
oh… i dont usualy read the stuuff above the video, it usualy just says "this is a video of" ect. seriously though, you should check out their site.
October 26, 2009 at 04:13
thanks 4 the review!
October 26, 2009 at 05:06
if you guys ever want to skip the line on this one, then first: if you are going on the first time, go thru child swap. second: if u want to re-ride, cut thru baby-swap again!
October 27, 2009 at 04:07
i found a really good video of both of them on coaster image:
http://www.coasterimage.com/dueling-dragons-video…
just go to the bottom of the page after the advertisment ends.
October 27, 2009 at 17:26
What about the thrill rating (out of 5)?
October 27, 2009 at 17:47
It's a 3 out of 5 on the Thrill Scale. Thanks for reminding me 8G3.
QB3, I fixed the link you posted. That is a cool video especially considering it's kind of hard to video tape that ride at some points. Those near misses DO look close. They just don't add as much as you'd think. Fire Dragon review on the way…
April 1, 2010 at 14:32
I think you sold the Ice Dragon short in your review, while slightly overrating the Fire Dragon. The Ice Dragon's track layout was built so that it was built to maintain as much speed as possible, vs. the Fire Dragon which has higher speeds at times, but also more hills that slow it down (2 Immelmans loops and an airtime hill). Ice doesn't have an inversion after the first drop, as it simple is about maintaining speed throughout the zero-g roll and the cobra roll which absolutely whips you around. I actually think the constant feeling of speed on Ice makes it feel more intense.
September 27, 2011 at 12:36
sorry i must disagree this and fire are in my opinion 9 out of 10 why
first i love the near misses second reridability 3rd fires layout with airtime hill ive been on afterburn and batman which i found no airtime 3rd atmosphere if you went when the harry potter/ hogsmead its perfect it just makes the rides nearly perfect or perfect