About the cessation of the dueling coasters For more than a decade, the signature thrill of Universal Orlando's “Dragon Challenge” has been the ride's three near-collisions, in which the attraction's two intertwined roller coasters, speeding along their tracks at up to 60 mph, pass within 18 inches of each other.

The original Dueling Dragons (later renamed Dragon Challenge) was a pair of "inverted" roller coasters at Universal's Islands of Adventure that reached a top speed of 55 mph (88 km/h). Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, the two tracks—Fire (Chinese Fireball) and Ice (Hungarian Horntail)—offered slightly different ride experiences. The "Fire" dragon was known for being slightly faster and having more airtime, while the "Ice" dragon featured more intense turns and "near-miss" elements. The iconic feature of this ride was the "near-collision" moments where the two trains would pass within inches of each other during loops and corkscrews. However, the ride was permanently closed in 2017 and replaced by Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. In 2026, fans still fondly remember Dueling Dragons as one of the most innovative dual-coaster designs in theme park history. If you are looking for the current "speed king" at Universal in 2026, the VelociCoaster has far surpassed the old dragons, reaching speeds of 70 mph with a much more modern, high-intensity launch system that makes the old 55 mph speed seem almost leisurely by comparison.