Dragons. They’re everywhere these days. TV shows, books, movies, games… You name it, there are dragons. But now dragons are taking over a whole new frontier: theme parks. And not just any dragons, either. The beloved dragons from DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon franchise are coming to Universal Orlando Resort’s new theme park, Universal Epic Universe. Yes, before they hit the live-action screen in June, Toothless and all his friends are flying into Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk so you can meet them in true live-action. It was Nerdist‘s pleasure to attend a press preview of Epic Universe, where we got to mingle with all the wonderous dragons at the theme park.
Universal Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk perfectly captures the heart and beauty of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise in a sprawling land complete with thrilling rides, theming that never quits, and all the dragon animatronics you can imagine. (And even more than that!)
Check out our full account below.
Universal Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk Is a Haven of How to Train Your Dragon Animatronics
Usually, animatronics are reserved for special occasions in theme parks. They’re often brought out as a neat feature on a ride or for the pinnacle moment of a show or attraction. But at Universal Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk, dragon animatronics are quite literally everywhere and ready to interact with you. That’s right, you don’t have to wait in any kind of line to be completely wowed by spectacular dragons that seem to really live and breathe before your eyes. They are just one part of the immersive landscape of the Isle of Berk. From a huge ice dragon that blows smoke at you to baby dragons fighting over dinner to a particular sleepy fella snoozing in the forge, these guys were just hanging out everywhere. Honestly, we’ve never seen such complex animatronics so casually dispersed in any other theme park or experience ever.
In addition to the dragon animatronics that live as part of the Isle of Berk setting, there were also interactive animatronic dragons walking around the Universal Epic Universe land, ready for meet and greets. They are designed to actually engage with guests and respond to cues such as smiling for a photo or engaging with touch in real time. We imagine that when Isle of Berk opens, there will be a longer wait for these experiences, but they’ll be worth it. Toothless the Night Fury, and his rider, Hiccup, are, of course, at the center of this interactive animatronic dragon experience. But we also saw Storm Fly and Astrid mingling with guests.
Careful, though, if you scratch under a dragon’s chin, it might just fall asleep on you. Or so says Isle of Berk’s Hiccup. And if it does, you’ll have to carry the heavy creature home.
There’s no other way to say it. These Isle of Berk dragons are SO COOL.
Universal Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk Features 3 Very Different Rides, Including One of Our Favorite Roller Coasters
In our opinion, you could spend a whole day exploring Universal Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk without ever getting on a ride. Simply taking in the gorgeous water feature that glistens at the center of the land, as well as the many animatronics, and dragon-ton of details, Easter eggs, and gorgeous touches all around could occupy you for a good long time. But we bet you probably want to know what thrills Isle of Berk has in store. And we feel delighted to share them with you. In total, there are three major rides in Universal Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk, and each of them is very different but very fun.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders Is a Thrilling But Not Scary Roller Coaster
We love a roller coaster that goes fast but doesn’t scare us and that’s exactly what we get from Hiccup’s Wing Gliders in Universal Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk. This outdoor roller coaster is full of thrills, but it doesn’t go upside down, too high, or too fast. Instead, the highly themed Isle of Berk roller coaster stops right at the point of a fun thrill and doesn’t step over the line. It also takes you all around the Isle of Berk (including right through the lagoon), giving you a lovely view of the Epic Universe world.
The story of Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is that Hiccup invites brave new Vikings to take a ride in his latest glider contraption, a winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the sky for a dragon’s eye view of Berk. This ride also features an ENORMOUS Toothless animatronic, which is truly amazing.
Dragon Racer’s Rally Lets You Fly Like a Dragon
You’ve probably been on a ride similar to Dragon Racer’s Rally at your local theme park. But Hiccup’s Wing Gliders take this flyer-type ride to a whole new level. Firstly, Isle of Berk’s Dragon Racer’s Rally takes you 67 feet in the air, which, trust us, is higher than you’ve gone before.
Additionally, while this ride is “mild” in its standard form, individual riders can decide if they want to add some “wild” to the experience. If you control your wings just right in the air, you can do a full 360 barrel roll in the Viking-made dragon-riding trainers. Universal Epic Universe’s tour guides share that you can do up to 50 barrel rolls in one Dragon Racer’s Rally ride if you try hard and believe in yourself. (No one on the tour was able to do this. It takes more strength than you think to get a full roll.)
But if you’re not feeling like aerobatic maneuvers, you can glide high above the park in perfect serenity. (You know the kind that vikings and dragons are experiencing thanks to Hiccup and Toothless.)
Soak Your Friends… We Mean Practice Safety… on Fyre Drill
With so many dragons running around the Isle of Berk, there are bound to be some fires to put out. On Universal Epic Universe’s Fyre Drill ride, you get to practice fire safety. By that we mean go on a boat equipped with water blasters and do your best to soak your friends… And maybe try to put out some fires (wooden targets attached to some cool-looking wooden dragons) while you’re at it. This ride offers the perfect break on a hot day, and absolutely anyone will have a blast riding it. Epic Universe describes this Isle of Berk ride as a “wet-and-wild boat battle” and that is very apt indeed.
We Can’t Wait to Go Back to Universal Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk
Animatronics, Wing Gliders, and water soakers, oh my! But there’s even more to the Isle of Berk than that. In addition to the rides and animatronic fun, there is also a spectacular show in the How to Train Your Dragon land called The Untrainable Dragon. This incredible experience, which brings Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid to the stage, features some breathtaking settings and the best screenwork I’ve ever seen. There was one point where the viking village was on fire via screens, and it really did feel like everything was burning. The Untrainable Dragon also features Universal Epic Universe’s LARGEST animatronic. (Which, as you can tell, is saying something.)
In addition, Isle of Berk guests can dine in the highly themed Mead Hall, Spit Fyre Grill, or Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel. There are also gift shops full to the brim like any good dragon’s hoard. They include Viking Traders, How to Treat Your Dragon, Hiccup’s Workshop, and Toothless’ Treasures. In Toothless’ Treasures, you can actually name your own baby dragon with an elaborate naming ceremony.
We love it. Isle of Berk is a huge new land in Universal Epic Universe and, like your new baby dragon, it will keep you more than busy with unexpected fun and massive thrills.
Universal Epic Universe opens on May 22, 2025.
Content shared from nerdist.com.