The Experience
Introduction
Deep inside a majestic medieval castle sits Dragen, a 1997 Mack Rides Powered Coaster at Legoland Billund in Denmark. As the very first "Dragon Coaster" at the original Legoland park, it holds a special piece of history. Today, there are numerous Legoland parks worldwide, and they all feature their own version of the Dragon (with many newer locations also including a smaller Dragon's Apprentice coaster). Given how large some of the later Dragon coasters have become, it is fascinating to look back at this admittedly small and tame original version.
A Darkride Hybrid
Dragen is very much a dark ride/coaster hybrid, and it seems to pay just as much - if not more - attention to its dark ride section as it does to its outdoor coaster segment.
The theming here is fantastic. As you venture over the drawbridge and into the castle itself, you are greeted by Olli, Legoland's friendly green dragon, alongside the rest of his dragon kind. The indoor queue section leading up to the station is dimly lit and quite atmospheric, offering several interactive scenes to enjoy while you wait in line.
It makes perfect sense why the park went with the Mack Powered Coaster model. It feels tailor-made for a project like this, where the designers wanted a ride that could cruise along like a traditional dark ride and then seamlessly accelerate into a coaster - all without the need to break up the pacing with a lift hill.
The theming here is fantastic. As you venture over the drawbridge and into the castle itself, you are greeted by Olli, Legoland's friendly green dragon, alongside the rest of his dragon kind. The indoor queue section leading up to the station is dimly lit and quite atmospheric, offering several interactive scenes to enjoy while you wait in line.
It makes perfect sense why the park went with the Mack Powered Coaster model. It feels tailor-made for a project like this, where the designers wanted a ride that could cruise along like a traditional dark ride and then seamlessly accelerate into a coaster - all without the need to break up the pacing with a lift hill.
A Tour of the Castle
The ride begins as large wooden doors open, allowing you to venture into the darkness before being met by the first scene: a grand royal court featuring numerous animatronics, including a jester, the king, and a dancing bear.
As you travel further through the castle corridors, you encounter chefs, wizards, drunken monks, and even a bit of lightweight torture (if such a thing exists). The dark ride section concludes when you come face-to-face with a massive red dragon guarding the castle treasure. It seems none too pleased with your unannounced arrival (though, to be fair, it does get visitors about every minute or so).
You then turn a corner where a grand wizard seemingly blesses you with a spell, granting you the magic required to shoot out from the castle walls.
Overall, it is a truly great and immersive way to start a ride.
As you travel further through the castle corridors, you encounter chefs, wizards, drunken monks, and even a bit of lightweight torture (if such a thing exists). The dark ride section concludes when you come face-to-face with a massive red dragon guarding the castle treasure. It seems none too pleased with your unannounced arrival (though, to be fair, it does get visitors about every minute or so).
You then turn a corner where a grand wizard seemingly blesses you with a spell, granting you the magic required to shoot out from the castle walls.
Overall, it is a truly great and immersive way to start a ride.
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A True Mack Launch
There are two major differences between this and the newer installations (especially the large Zierer Force models):
The Launch: Instead of hitting a lift hill, you "power up" through a long, narrow passageway and out into the sunlight. As kids, we remembered this feeling like a powerful launch, but as adults, we have to admit there isn't much juice in the machinery.
The Layout: The newer models are actually quite thrilling, standing decently tall and reaching respectable speeds with true family-thrill layouts. The same cannot be said about the original, where you simply meander around the beautiful back garden of the castle. It is very visually appealing, but it serves as a bit of an anticlimactic ending, as this outdoor section is both brief and incredibly tame.
The Launch: Instead of hitting a lift hill, you "power up" through a long, narrow passageway and out into the sunlight. As kids, we remembered this feeling like a powerful launch, but as adults, we have to admit there isn't much juice in the machinery.
The Layout: The newer models are actually quite thrilling, standing decently tall and reaching respectable speeds with true family-thrill layouts. The same cannot be said about the original, where you simply meander around the beautiful back garden of the castle. It is very visually appealing, but it serves as a bit of an anticlimactic ending, as this outdoor section is both brief and incredibly tame.
Conclusion
Dragen is an undisputed classic and a big piece of Danish theme park history. It features an impressive facade, good theming all around, and an elongated dark ride section that is very immersive.
As for its rating, we find it hard to score it higher, as the actual coaster section is both short and very tame. Honestly, it might have been better to keep the coaster track indoors in the dark; the sense of speed and thrill is amplified that way without the ride actually having to go faster.
All in all, Dragen is a really good attraction, especially for the park's target audience, though we do feel it is a better dark ride than a roller coaster.
As for its rating, we find it hard to score it higher, as the actual coaster section is both short and very tame. Honestly, it might have been better to keep the coaster track indoors in the dark; the sense of speed and thrill is amplified that way without the ride actually having to go faster.
All in all, Dragen is a really good attraction, especially for the park's target audience, though we do feel it is a better dark ride than a roller coaster.
Gallery
Dragen Gallery
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Information
NameDragen
Year1997
ParkLoading...
ManufacturerMack Rides
ModelPowered Coaster
ScaleFamily-Chill
Ride Count1
Technical Specs
Specifications
Sit DownPoweredCustomSemi Enclosed
TypeSteel
Inversions0
Duration120 sec
Notes
Dragen means "The Dragon" in Danish