Ride review | Fyre Drill at Epic Universe: Soaked is an understatement
Warning: You will get soaked riding Fyre Drill, so stay dry and read our review of the boat ride located in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk at Universal Epic Universe.
The story behind Fyre Drill
Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut invite Vikings-in-training to board their latest creation: Fyre Drill. Transforming the former Berk Fyre Skööl into an interactive boat battle, Fyre Drill aims to train riders on putting out fires caused by the Isle’s dragon inhabitants. The result is a fun attraction where each side of the boat battles to be the winner.
Photo by Seth Kubersky
Queue
Ruffnut and Tuffnut attempt to recruit guests for their team while instructing them how to “play” while aboard their boats. Art hand-painted by the Viking twins explains which targets to hit.
This queue has the best shade out of all the rides in Berk, as the roof is solid and not just scrim like at Hiccup’s Wing Gliders or Dragon Racer’s Rally.
In terms of water, nowhere is safe, not even the queue. Once you’re in line for Fyre Drill, it’s too late. Right before you board the ride vehicle, the portion of the line leading to the load platform is just behind the part of the ride where the water cannons attached to the boat turn on. During our visit, riders were aiming above that wall, trying to soak guests still waiting in the queue on the other side. Since the walls are high, you can’t even see the people you blast while riding; riders were just doing it for the sheer thrill of getting someone soaked. It is admittedly very funny to watch, but when it’s your turn to get drenched, you’re not laughing! That is, until you get on the ride itself.
You will get soaked, drenched, and everything in between
You are about to make enemies with people you have never met before and will never see again. As soon as those water canons turn on, you’ll immediately get blasted with a stream of water from another boat — and you’ll have the opportunity to return the favor by blasting them back.
Artwork courtesy of Universal
While it’s loads of fun getting other riders wet, in doing so you might miss out on the objective of the ride. Colorful set pieces across the ride track are scattered with targets you need to blast to put out the “fire.” Legoland Florida has a similar attraction known as Battle of Bricksburg. Unlike Battle of Bricksburg, Fyre Drill keeps track of the targets you fire, which adds a competitive element to the ride. Some targets even set off show elements, like spinning characters.
Photo by bioreconstruct
The winner is determined at the end of the ride and your canons are immediately shut off so you can’t soak anyone else. Your reign of terror is over. Avoiding eye contact with the father of two who just made your socks wet for the rest of the day does proves difficult.
Will I ever dry off?
You might be apprehensive about riding Fyre Drill due to its lack of lockers and not wanting to be soaked all day. This will be the only time the Florida sun acts in your favor, as you’ll dry off relatively quickly, depending on how much time you spend in the heat. Each boat is equipped with large chests to leave your belongings in. These are a very welcome addition. During our ride, nobody’s belongings got so much as a drop of water on them! Isle of Berk is also home to “people dryers” (pictured below), which you can utilize to get dry for a fee. Note that’s it’s “actually” the dragon’s fiery breath that dries you.
Photo by bioreconstruct
Final thoughts
We’ve said it before: every ride in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk is a home run. Each ride will make you feel like a kid again. The simple joy of spraying someone with water is something you’ll never grow out of, and Fyre Drill reminds you of that. Isle of Berk is sure to be a crowd favorite when Epic Universal opens on May 22, 2025 in Orlando, Fla.
Disclaimer: Our Epic Universe reviews are based on a preview of the park, so some of what we have talked about may change by the time the park officially opens.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
Ready for adventure? Our trusted partner Universal Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the fun. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating epic vacations. Visit Universal Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
When you say soaked and drenched do you mean that as in the same level as Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges or more along the lines of Kali River Rapids?
I’m just trying to gauge the level of wetness
It’s not on the same level as Popeye’s, maybe a little more than Kali River Rapids.