First Look at How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Epic Universe Brings Animated Village of Dragons and Vikings to Life

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Universal Epic Universe, opening May 22, 2025, invites guests into five expansive new lands — and few feel as instantly full of life as How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. Based on the DreamWorks trilogy beloved for its heart, humor, and stunning score, this world brings you into the village where Vikings and dragons live side by side.

During a recent media preview, I had a chance to explore Isle of Berk. While I’ll be avoiding major spoilers, here’s a first look at what to expect — from soaring coasters to tender moments that took me by surprise.

This Is Berk

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk is positively bursting with movement, color and energy, bringing the Viking village from DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon to life in vivid detail. Towering Viking and dragon statues hold court in the foreground of a windswept coastline filled with dragon perches and rookeries, ships anchored in calm water, and jagged peaks surrounding the village. The scale is overwhelming — in the best way. When I stepped through the portal, the panoramic vista paired with one of the franchise’s most moving melodies brought tears to my eyes.

My kids and I have long loved this series for its balance of humor and heart, its soaring score, and its deep message of compassion — for dragons, yes, but also for anyone who doesn’t quite fit the mold. The land captures all of it. Every element, from the oversized doors to the custom-carved benches, feels hand-built and true to the world of the films.

We, My Friends, Have Dragons

And of course, there are dragons — lots of them. Everywhere. I spotted tails swaying from perches overhead, an ice-breathing Snow Wraith blasting unsuspecting guests with a fog of cold air, and Astrid and Stormfly roaming and chatting with guests. At Haddock Paddock, I met Hiccup and Toothless and was moved by Hiccup’s protective, gentle guidance to guests to treat dragons with mutual respect and always ask their permission before petting them. Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and baby dragon Dart were also spotted making their way around the village.

The Untrainable Dragon

The land’s heartbeat is its stage show, The Untrainable Dragon, a beautifully layered production that folds in original storytelling, large-scale puppetry, and a pair each of live singers and drummers enhancing music drawn from the original score. The narrative — a new dragon arrives in Berk and resists being trained — unfolds in a way that feels emotionally grounded, humorous, and deeply true to the spirit of the films. Some of the show’s wow moments are so impressive, I audibly gasped — and cried. If you can manage to go in blind for this one — do. It’s worth it.

Soar the Skies, Brave the Sea

The land’s three rides put you in Berk’s skies and sea. Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a family coaster, launches guests aboard Hiccup’s flight invention for a high-speed glide through the cliffs at up to 45 mph. This is a positively delightful family coaster and one of my favorite rides at Epic Universe. Enhanced with great music and a few surprises I won’t spoil, this is the land’s must-do ride.

Dragon Racer’s Rally elevates you 67 feet in the air and from the ground looks like a recipe for motion sickness. But because riders control their own rotation during the aerial maneuvers, I was able to sit back and enjoy the view without feeling queasy.

Led by Ruffnut and Tuffnut, Fyre Drill introduces a more playful kind of chaos, pitting teams in boats against one another in a dragon fire-fighting training exercise — complete with water cannons and flame-shaped target practice. Skip this one if you don’t want to get wet because you’re all but guaranteed to become a target at some point.

Fun, Food and Final Touches

Viking Training Camp, the land’s dedicated play zone, includes climbing structures, lots of dragon-themed elements, and hands-on features designed for kids to expend some energy and explore.

I didn’t have much time for food or shopping during this swift preview, but took a peek in the Mead Hall, the village’s primary dining location. Tapestries, wood carvings, and a huge chandelier adorn the vaulted stone hall, hollowed from the interior of a mountain. Viking-inspired fare, cider and mead are fun, themed options on the menu. Spit Fyre Grill and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel offer quicker bites for guests on the move.

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