A question about Dueling Dragons?

[jewell]

My 13 year old son and I both love roller coasters--well the fast kind, we will even do loops but we both HATE long, huge, steep drops on a coaster. I've read that the Mummy ride should be fine for us (right? ) and I KNOW we won't be riding Hulk! But tell me about Dueling Dragons? Any long steep drops in this coaster? We were in the parks in 2000, hubby rode DD, but can't remember if there were any drops or not, he seems to think there was one but it wasn't too bad. He loved both the Hulk and DD, but he preferred DD, he said it was such a nice smooth ride and he is trying to talk me and our son into riding it, but I told him that first I needed to post this question on the boards THEN I would decide!!!!

 

[spencem]

Nearly ALL coasters have a drop, to provide the energy for the rest of the ride, the exceptions are the launch coasters like Kingda Ka where a huge fly wheel does the job.

That said DD are both quite low rides, and from what I THINK you are saying you will be fine on either ride. By the time you realise your on the first drop something else is happening and your ok. The same can be said of Hulk, by the time your in the first big drop your also in the first vertical loop.

If you can give us some examples of rides you do and don't like then maybe we can help some more.

 

[ChrisFL]

Nearly ALL coasters have a drop, to provide the energy for the rest of the ride, the exceptions are the launch coasters like Kingda Ka where a huge fly wheel does the job.

That said DD are both quite low rides, and from what I THINK you are saying you will be fine on either ride. By the time you realise your on the first drop something else is happening and your ok. The same can be said of Hulk, by the time your in the first big drop your also in the first vertical loop.

If you can give us some examples of rides you do and don't like then maybe we can help some more.

Kingda Ka has a big drop after the top of the hill though, so there's still a big drop.

Actually Hulk doesn't really have any big drops

 

[dreamscometrue47]

I won't ride either Hulk or DD scared1: but DD 17 likes the Hulk better. She said it's less scary (this from someone who always waits for the front row.)

There is a really good viewing area where you can watch Dueling Dragons before you decide to ride. It's part of the exit for the ride. Look for the lockers for DD and the path is behind the gift store to your right. Just follow this up a bit.

 

[bubba's mom]

i would agree w/ Chris....Hulk "shoots" you out and right into the loops and such...no big "climb" to the top and then "drop".... DD does have the 2 coasters (Fire and Ice) that "climb" next to each other simaltanouesly (sp) and then they "part ways and drop" off to each side...... Since DD is a "suspended" coaster, you can't really see what's coming unless you're in the front seat. I say, if you like coasters, give er a whirl...the ride is great (not to mention the "near misses" with the opposing coaster ) also, don't forget Flying Unicorn too.....
ETA: IMHO, Hulk is smoother than Fire, Fire is smoother than Ice....(but both Fire and Ice are good rides!)

 

[yaytezIOA]

<sigh>
Hulk
Length: 3700'
Height: 110'
Drop: 105'
Inversions: 7
Speed: 67 mph
Duration: 2:15
G-Force: 4
Max Acceleration: 0 − 40 mph in 2 seconds
Elements: 150' long Tunnel
Zero−G Roll (Camelback)
Cobra Roll
Loop
Corkscrew (Flat Spin)
Loop
Corkscrew (Flat Spin)

Track: Fire Dragon Ice Dragon
Length: 3200' 3200'
Height: 125' 125'
Drop: 115' 95'
Inversions: 5 5
Speed: 60 mph 55 mph
Duration: 2:25 2:25

Everest:
Length: 4424'
Height: 112'
Drop: 80'
Inversions: 0
Speed: 50 mph


As you can see Hulk doesnt have a drop as big as the fire track on the dragons, nor than Everest. The biggest drop is 115 for any of the coasters listed. Those drops are no where near steep, but more of a banked drop. Its a good drop on all of those coasters. I was showing Everest, because it is considered the tamest of the three coasters yet it compares in drops and speed. Go for it, you only have to do it once and you'll live to tell the tale. They arent that tall at all. And Hulk is the shortest of the three. Its launch speed is actually less than RRC at MGM.

 

[jewell]

Well we loved the Rockin Roller coaster at Disney, a couple loops, but no huge drops. I 'might' give hulk and Dueling Dragons a try, thanks so much for all the info, it definitely helped!

 

[damo]

I don't consider any of the drops big in Florida. Now, there are a few at Cedar Point that I would consider big...

 

[ChrisFL]

I don't consider any of the drops big in Florida. Now, there are a few at Cedar Point that I would consider big...

What about Sheikra? That's a pretty big drop (200' plus) and 90 degrees straight down!!

 

[yaytezIOA]

What about Sheikra? That's a pretty big drop (200' plus) and 90 degrees straight down!!

90 degrees, yes.....but 200 feet, no. It drops about 135 ft initially. Its 200 ft high, true enough.
Rcdb.com is the place to go for all the coaster stats.
If you check there, you'll realize that rrc at mgm is a lot scarier than you think.......you just get intimidated by Hulk and Dragons because you can see them.

 

[DOOM1001]

The drop in Sheikra is sick!! The first time you do that drop it feels very intense.I've been on Millenium Force and Top Thrill Dragster in Cedar Point where the drops are 300 and 400 feet but Sheikras drop was more forceful in my opinion since it's vertical,however going up Millenium Forces lift hill was probably the only time I've felt nervous on a coaster,it felt like you just kept going up and up and up some more.In Top Thrill you get up to 120mph so fast that you go up that 420 foot tower in a blink of an eye and it gives you no time to get nervous since everything happens so fast!!If you've been on RnRC I think You should have no problem with Hulk or Dueling Dragons.

 

[tikkipoo]

jewell - I have the very same issue as you. I hate long drops - in fact - I am terrified to get back on Ripsaw falls (yeah, I know I'm a chicken @#$E) just for that very reason. But I have to say that I really enjoy both Hulk and DD for the reasons everyone has stated. Maybe you could go to youtube and pull up the rides and "see" if you would like them. They have some pretty good footage of the actual rides. HAVE FUN!

 

[bubba's mom]

......you just get intimidated by Hulk and Dragons because you can see them.

EXACTLY! well said!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

The drop in Sheikra is sick!! The first time you do that drop it feels very intense.

Agreed. I rode that coaster 5x and every time, I get nervous when staring straight down and not seeing the first few feet of track under me. It happens so fast that all you can do is go "OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP" and then it's already over.

And I also agree that when you SEE a coaster's Initial Drop, it can be intimidating.

 

[Cinderella822]

Now I'm confused. According to the statistics above, posted by yaytezIOA, DD is higher than Hulk. Yet, when I stand next to each one, Hulk to me looks much higher and more intimidating! We did ride DD many times on our last trip, but everytime we stood under the tracks to Hulk, we chickened out. Now I'm wondering if we should give Hulk a chance this trip. Our issue is the height. We don't like high coasters. That's why we do like the coasters at WDW, and especially the dark ones where we can't see the track!

 

[yaytezIOA]

Its all perspective. It looks higher because you are directly underneath it, and it stretches down beneath you. It makes it look very tall, when in fact you are juststanding next to it.
I had a similar fear on King Cobra at Kings Island in Cincinnati, because you walked right under it, and it looked HUGE. In actuallity it was only about 70 ft. high, and the Beast which I loved was a hell of a lot bigger. Its all mental, you just have to put it out of your head.
The thing that gets me is anticipation, whether it be you going up the lft hill or waiting on the track to be launched......you know whats coming, and waiting for it is just torture. I dont think I could do Top Thrill Dragster or Kingda Ka knowing that 400 ft and 120 mph is waiting for me in just a few seconds. I still get butterflies and stress a little when going up the lift hill for Sheikra because its so steep and all you see is sky. At least on Dragons and Hulk you have other things to distract you.

 

[ChrisFL]

Now I'm confused. According to the statistics above, posted by yaytezIOA, DD is higher than Hulk. Yet, when I stand next to each one, Hulk to me looks much higher and more intimidating! We did ride DD many times on our last trip, but everytime we stood under the tracks to Hulk, we chickened out. Now I'm wondering if we should give Hulk a chance this trip. Our issue is the height. We don't like high coasters. That's why we do like the coasters at WDW, and especially the dark ones where we can't see the track!

Im not a fan of that feeling you get on big drops, so while I kinda enjoyed Sheikra, it did give me that bad feeling to start out.

Having said that, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Hulk, I dont feel any of that (negative G's basically) until that brake run near the end and that's very small forces. I say you have to try it, it's a total blast.

 

[damo]

What about Sheikra? That's a pretty big drop (200' plus) and 90 degrees straight down!!

The straight down part is excellent and makes the drop look a whole lot worse than it actually is. I had actually forgot about Sheikra but I wouldn't really call that a BIG drop. I don't think the actually drop is quite 200 feet since the coaster height is 200 feet and you come out of the 90 degree part quite early. I wonder how long the 90 degree section actually is?

I do really enjoy that coaster though. Probably more than any other in Florida. I love the big drops on coasters. That is my favourite part. Inversions really don't thrill me. Give me a good old hyper any day.

 

[Akdar]

I love the big drops on coasters. That is my favourite part. Inversions really don't thrill me. Give me a good old hyper any day.

Than you would love Kingda Ka up here in the Northeast, 450 ft up, then 450 ft down, with a twist on the down half! I love it, especially the rush of going from 0 to 120 mph in like 4.5 seconds. It's also nice that it's just 2 hours from here. I try to hit Great Adventure once a year, as a way of satisfying the urge until I can get to USO!

Great Adventure is no USO, but it's cheap through AAA and relatively close (compared to USO that is)

 

[damo]

Than you would love Kingda Ka up here in the Northeast, 450 ft up, then 450 ft down, with a twist on the down half! I love it, especially the rush of going from 0 to 120 mph in like 4.5 seconds. It's also nice that it's just 2 hours from here. I try to hit Great Adventure once a year, as a way of satisfying the urge until I can get to USO!

Great Adventure is no USO, but it's cheap through AAA and relatively close (compared to USO that is)

We did that last summer on our East Coast coaster tour. With our six flags annual passes, we had a pretty cheap vacation.