Universal Epic Universe · How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Hiccup's Wing Gliders
A launched family coaster over the Isle of Berk, and the best step-up ride in the park for a child moving on from gentle attractions.
Ride facts
- Type
- Roller coaster
- Height
- 40in (102cm)
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Motion sickness
- Low motion risk
- Getting wet
- Stay dry
- Indoor / outdoor
- Outdoor
- Air conditioned
- No
- Rider Switch
- Available
Last verified July 2026
What it is
Hiccup's Wing Gliders is the family coaster Epic Universe needed. It launches out of the Viking village and runs a low, fast circuit over and around the Isle of Berk, with a flight-themed conceit that puts you on a glider rather than in a cart. Nothing about it is extreme — no inversions, no big drops, no darkness — and it is genuinely exciting rather than merely tolerable.
At 40 inches it sits at the bottom of the park's height ladder alongside Mario Kart, and it is the far better ride of the two for a child working out whether they like roller coasters. The launch does the work, the layout keeps the speed up, and the whole thing is over before anyone has time to get frightened.
It is also the coaster adults dismiss and then enjoy. The sightlines over the village and the harbor are the best of any ride in the park, and being outdoors in the open air is a relief in a day otherwise spent inside dark buildings.
What riding it is actually like
You board in the village and launch out over the settlement rather than climbing a lift hill, which is exactly the right decision for a family coaster — the ride is at speed before a nervous child has had time to think about it.
The layout runs low and fast around the world, with banked turns rather than airtime hills and one or two moments of genuine lift. The views over the harbor from the far side of the circuit are the best on any ride here.
It ends quickly, and the standard reaction from a first-time young rider is to ask to go again. That is the whole job of a coaster like this and it does it well.
Is Hiccup's Wing Gliders scary?
A launched family coaster with no inversions, no long drops and no darkness. The launch is the only moment that gets a reaction, and it is brisk rather than aggressive. This is the right first real roller coaster for a child, and adults who dislike intensity can ride it comfortably.
Scores are editorial, on a 1–5 scale, judged against what frightens a typical four- to seven-year-old rather than an adult.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair
- Must transfer to the ride vehicle
- Audio description
- Not offered
- Handheld captioning
- Not offered
- Assistive listening
- Not offered
- Sign language
- Not offered
- Service animals
- Must use a kennel or wait with a companion
Full transfer into the train is required and riders need to hold themselves upright under a lap restraint. There is a test seat by the entrance, which is worth using for larger adults.
Tips that actually help
- This is the right first real coaster for a child. If your party is working up to Stardust Racers, ride this one first and read the reaction.
- Take it in the first hour after opening. Isle of Berk is the least crowded world at rope drop because everyone runs for the Nintendo portal or the Ministry.
- Sit toward the back for a bit more speed through the turns, and toward the front for the clearest views over the harbor.
- Use the test seat if you are a larger adult. The restraint geometry on this train is tighter than it looks from the queue.
- It shuts down in lightning, which in Florida summer is a near-daily afternoon event. If the forecast is bad, ride it in the morning.
Timing
- Best time to ride
- The first hour after opening, or during a mid-afternoon lull while the rest of the park queues elsewhere.
- Typical wait
- Twenty-five to fifty minutes most of the day, and it falls off quickly in the evening.
- Express Pass
- Universal Express Pass
Hiccup's Wing Gliders: common questions
What is the height requirement for Hiccup's Wing Gliders?
40 inches, which ties it with Mario Kart and Curse of the Werewolf for the lowest coaster requirement at Epic Universe. It is the natural first roller coaster for a child who clears that mark.
Is Hiccup's Wing Gliders scary?
Not particularly. It launches rather than climbing a lift hill, has no inversions and no substantial drops, and stays outdoors and lit throughout. The launch is the only moment that startles anyone, and it is over in a second.
Is Hiccup's Wing Gliders worth it for adults?
Yes, as a short, fast, open-air coaster with the best views in the park. It is not a headliner and will not compete with Stardust Racers, but it is the ride most adults are surprised to have enjoyed.