From the beloved animated films to the upcoming live action film, How to Train Your Dragon is more than just a juvenile depiction of soaring dragons and epic adventures. At Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe, the Isle of Berk land succeeds in capturing the true character of the stories that delight fans.
As guests, or travelers, leave Epic Universe’s Celestial Park, the simple phrase, “we have dragons,” alerts guests that this land encourages people to look around every corner, cast their eyes to the skies, and even embrace the opportunities to take their own flight to embrace a new perspective.
At first blush, the space feels expansive. With Viking and dragon totems emerging from the water, the vibrant colors contrasting the vivid sky create an instant connection to those movies. Guests can imagine that at any moment a dragon can appear on the horizon. Although some of the flying drones have yet to appear, many people can imagine them studding the sky.
With water being the centerpiece of the land, guests can step aboard their own ship and battle. On Fyre Drill, the interactive boat ride creates laugh that rises to the heavens. Whether people get a little wet or fully soaked, those moments capture the family togetherness that is a key component of the movies.
While an epic battle can be talked about for a long time, a key element to How to Train Your Dragon movies is the ability to fly. Hiccup might be an engineering marvel, but he finds true joy on the back of dragon.
On Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, the family friendly coaster captures that sense of the first time Hiccup jumps on Toothless and soars. As the track weaves its way through the land, rides twist, turn, dip and dive. This coaster is not designed to pull-Gs. It is meant to be approachable and one to ride time and again.
Even though the rides are an essential part of the Epic Universe theme park experience, Isle of Berk feels more like a village where people are meant to stroll, interact, and enjoy themselves. Anyone who watches these movies appreciates that the relationships are as essential as the adventures. The storytelling in this land captures that sentiment.
Whether guests choose to meet Hiccup and Toothless, happen to see one of the baby dragons emerge from the hiding spots, or just stumble across one of the many characters wandering the areas, the unexpected moments are just as important as the planned ones. Just like a true walk around a village, the unscripted ones are just as important as the well-choreographed meetings.
From the people who grew up watching these movies to new adapters, the reality is that Isle of Berk is as impressive with its immersive qualities as the Wizarding World is with its complexities. When it is time to let imagination soar and dreams turn into a reality, it is time to meet a dragon and soar beyond what was ever thought possible.
While people will watch and rewatch the new live action How to Train Your Dragon movie, they can step into that real-life adventure at Universal Orlando's Epic Universe. The dragons might be trainable but the fan's delight with an imaginative world stepping into reality will never be tamed.