Originally Posted By mousermerf And compare that to Disney's off-the-shelf coasters in DCA and AK with minimal theming that don't have their own environments: Mulhulland Madness and Primeval Whirl. Now which company sinned more thoroughly against the ideal?
Originally Posted By dshyates "I like themed environments. I like coasters. But cold steel is not themed." What themeing would you suggest for the tracks to represent Flying Dragons?
Originally Posted By brotherdave Dueling Dragons is an amazing attraction. Great coasters with one of the best queue lines ever created. However, my beef with the theming isn't so much with the actual track and coaster structures as they really would be difficult (though certainly not impossible) to hide. I'm sure financing dictated how that was finished. But what I don't care for are the big blue walls that surround the ride on the back side and the area underneath the ride. Personally, I would have loved to see those walls themed into either more castle structure or just a natural looking stone cliff face (or a combination thereof) to help complete the theming better. I feel that this would help to give DD a more complete feeling than is there right now. But if money were truly no object, imagine how much better the ride were to look if they did build fake rockwork around the coaster structure, similar to how Nemesis was constructed at Alton Towers in England. Granted, Nemesis rockwork is real as Alton Towers literally had to dig a huge 'hole' in the ground for the ride to be installed so that it didn't tower above the treeline, which the park is not allowed to do legally. Still, this gives Nemesis the definite thematic edge over Dueling Dragons, at least where the coaster itself is concerned.
Originally Posted By dshyates I do agree about the ugly blue/green wall. I think they shoud at least paint trees on it. Or better yet plant trees in front of it. I also think some sort of pyro effects through out the course would be cool. They ARE fire breathing dragons.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 The queue to DD was great (I assume they're changing it for HP, but I also assume they'll replace it with an equally good queue). But once you get on, the theming all but disappears. It's a suspended coaster, and you might as well be on Batman or Hangman or any other suspended coaster, but for a couple of moments coming close to the other train (if it's timed right).
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>But haveing actually seen this construction project unfold, I can tell you what they have built is VERY impressive.<< I've driven around this end of IOA and couldn't agree more. This looks like a beautifully detailed addition. >>See, I know many Disney Fans are gonna pooh-pooh this project.<< Well, I'm not one of 'em. But I do disagree with the assertion that it's being bult on the same timeline as World of Color.
