The buzz around Florida’s Universal Epic Universe theme park is continuing much closer to home: Comcast unveiled a new How to Train Your Dragon: Flight Academy in Philadelphia last week. Now fully open to the public, it’s a fun free stop to add to a Philly day trip.
Check out a preview on our Instagram feed.
We got a first look at this free exhibit located at Comcast’s Technology Center. Taking the escalator to the second floor, you can’t miss the gigantic Universal Sphere: it’s a 34-foot-high 360-degree dome theater that has the feel of a planetarium.
With shows changing seasonally, the newest experience based off of the DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon movies is meant to take you into the Isle of Berk so you can get your official dragon rider’s license.
The entire experience takes 15 minutes – starting with a tour of dragon eggs by your guides and a brief intro that asks you to give your best Viking roar, and then a 7-minute show inside the Sphere.
Inside the “dragon training arena” you’ll gently lift off the ground from auditorium-like seats, then get a dragon’s-eye view through the scenes. Characters from the movies – like Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid and Stormfly – lead you on an animated adventure through air, land and sea with scenes and sounds that match the movies.
The seats do not move during the show, though you may feel some rumbling underneath your legs. Be advised that motion sickness could apply here. If you’re familiar with the Orlando theme parks, it has an Avatar-meets-Soarin’ type feel.
The Sphere does feel dark and confined, so anyone with sensory issues or claustrophobia can either book one of the sensory-friendly showtimes (when the music is lower and the lights are brighter) or decide not to ride but still take in the pre- and post-show activities.
Once the show is over, you’ll get your official dragon rider’s license. Through the use of video screens, you’ll choose your favorite dragon, preferred Viking name and take a photo – within a minute an actual credit card-sized license comes out for you to keep.
Details to Know Before You Go
- The experience is free. Timed reservations are preferred but not required; the Comcast Technology Center is a public building, so you can pop in during your trip to Philly. Booking slots are in 15-minute increments. Pro tip: If you choose not to go into the Sphere, you should still book a ticket with your crew so that you have access to the pre- and post-show activations at the same time.
- The Comcast building does not have designated parking, but there is metered street parking and parking lots in the area. Pro tip: If you don’t mind walking a few blocks, The Franklin Institute has a public garage that is only $15, which is the most affordable in the area. You can also take the train to Suburban Station, which is just two blocks away.
- With all of the FIFA, America 250 and MLB All-Star action taking place this summer, Philadelphia is expecting huge crowds. To accommodate, the show is available in English, American Sign Language, French, German, Hindi, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish. Ask for headphones, or bring your own.
- Other accessibility accommodations include closed captioning and audio descriptions.
- The Universal Sphere is open year-round. After How to Train Your Dragon: The Flight Academy ends, Shrek’s Festive Flight returns for the holidays, followed by Po’s Awesome Lunar New Year Adventure. Steven Spielberg’s The Power of I is expected to return in 2027.
- The Comcast building offers more to do for families. Directly across from How to Train Your Dragon is Vernick Coffee Bar for some grab-and-go treats. There are 40 public art installations all around the building, so you can create your own scavenger hunt. Downstairs, follow the tunnels to the Concourse where there are quick-serve restaurants. Across the street in the other Comcast building – accessible via the street or through the underground tunnels – is a public, sensory-friendly room for some quiet time (a security guard has to open the doors for you). You can also sign up for a tour of the campus grounds.
More to Do in Philly
You’ll probably spend about a half-hour at the Universal Sphere experience, so be sure to plan other things to do in Philly for the day. Head to The Franklin Institute where a two-level Universal Theme Parks exhibit opened earlier this year. You get to see series like Jaws, Jurassic Park, Minions and Harry Potter behind the scenes, in a part-museum, part-studio tour.
The Barnes Foundation partners with a series of free playgrounds in the area, including Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse, Coxe Park and Schuylkill River Park Playground. Toddlerpalooza on May 31 is a morning of music, performances, art making and special surprises for littles hosted by The Barnes.
There’s lots to do near Center City Philadelphia; check out Rittenhouse Square (with a pretty park), the Pennsylvania Convention Center (with events held year-round) and Reading Terminal Market (with hundreds of choices for lunch or dinner). Two hotspots in the area include Federal Donuts & Chicken and 1-900-Ice-Cream.
The Comcast Technology Center is located at 1800 Arch St. in Philadelphia. How to Train Your Dragon: Flight Academy is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, through November 20. The hours will extend during the summer months. Tickets are free but should be reserved in advance.
The Flight Academy brings the Island of Berk to life with interactive activities, dragon-themed details and plenty of photo-worthy moments for young fans. It’s a fun day trip, especially if your kids love Hiccup, Toothless and the world of dragon training.
The Flight Academy is a partnership between Comcast, Universal Destinations & Experiences, and DreamWorks Animation.
Families who are planning a future Florida trip can also find a much larger Berk-inspired land at Universal Epic Universe, where attractions include Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, Dragon Racer’s Rally, Fyre Drill, Viking Training Camp and The Untrainable Dragon.
Check out the dragon-filled adventure on our Instagram page.
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Read More:
Universal Theme Parks Exhibit Opens in Philly: Here’s Why the Kids Will Love It
Things to Do in Philadelphia
Florida Gets Another ‘Epic’ Theme Park
