Epic Universe theme park in Universal Orlando has been open for nearly a year, and already it shines brightly in the Florida theme park landscape. Epic Universe offers guests four immersive “portals”:
- SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
- Dark Universe
- How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
Celestial Park is a lunar-themed central area acting as the park’s hub.
Most of the stories told in these portals are fairly “universally” known (pardon the pun), with the possible exception of the How to Train Your Dragon universe. Yes, it’s about Vikings and dragons. Yes, it’s an animated trilogy from Dreamworks Animation. Yes, the franchise includes a live-action remake of the first film in the series.
But how much do you really know about this fantasy world? Would you know one dragon from another, or the names of key Vikings, if you were to step foot inside Berk?
If you’re planning to walk through the portal into Isle of Berk, you aren’t just visiting a theme park land—you’re entering a living, fire-breathing Viking village. To fully appreciate the details, from the stony peaks to the soaring dragons above, it helps to know the story of Hiccup, Toothless, and the other residents of this surprisingly colorful world.
Here is everything you need to know to enhance your journey to Berk.
How to Train Your Dragon Films
Isle of Berk at Epic Universe is set between the second and third films in the How to Train Your Dragon series – a time when Vikings and dragons live together in harmony. Based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, the animated films follow the adventures of Hiccup, a young Viking who befriends a rare dragon – Toothless – and challenges his village’s long-standing misconceptions about dragons.
Pro Tip: While all three films in the animated series are excellent, you’ll get the most bang for your buck by watching the first two films (and the 2025 live-action remake), as they provide the foundation for Isle of Berk timeline in Epic Universe.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
The original film in this fantasy series introduces Hiccup, a misfit (or maybe just misunderstood) Viking son of the strong village chieftain. Hiccup is clumsy and un-Viking-like, but very resourceful, leading him to invent a catapult to prove his worth. When he accidentally downs a rare and dangerous Night Fury dragon, Hiccup finds himself unable to kill it, eventually befriending the creature and naming him Toothless. Hiccup works tirelessly to gain Toothless’ trust and to nurse him back to health. In the process, the pair develops a friendship destined to challenge centuries of violent misconceptions and change the course of Viking history.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
This second film explores Hiccup’s growth as a leader and his emotional journey as he reconciles the loss of his father. Set five years after the original film in a world where Vikings and dragons are united on Berk, Hiccup and Toothless spend their days exploring uncharted lands. They discover a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of wild dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider, who turns out to be Hiccup’s long-lost mother, Valka. However, Berk’s peace is threatened by Drago Bludvist, a ruthless warlord bent on building a dragon army to conquer the world. To protect their home and the bond between their species, Hiccup and his friends must stand against Drago’s massive “Alpha” dragon in a battle that demands a heavy emotional sacrifice.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019)
The final chapter of the trilogy takes place at a time beyond that featured in the Epic Universe portal. Hiccup – now chief of Berk – faces the challenge of an overpopulated dragon utopia and a dangerous new threat: a ruthless dragon hunter named Grimmel the Grisly. To protect his people and their dragons, Hiccup leads a quest to find the mythical Hidden World, a safe ancestral home for dragonkind. Along the way, Toothless discovers a female Light Fury, sparking a romance that forces both dragon and rider to realize that their bond must evolve. Ultimately, Hiccup must make the heartbreaking decision to let the dragons go free to their world to ensure their survival, bringing the era of Vikings and dragons to a bittersweet but memorable conclusion.
How To Train Your Dragon (Live-Action – 2025)
This live-action remake of the original 2010 film retells the original story of Hiccup and Toothless, with sweeping vistas and stunning visual effects. The live-action nature of the film helps bridge the gap between the animated films and the tactile, physical world guests visit in Epic Universe.
The Residents of Berk (and Beyond)
The Vikings living in Berk are as colorful as the dragons roaming the skies above. Let’s meet a few notable residents and their flying friends.
Hiccup
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is the thoughtful and inventive son of the village leader, though his attributes are hidden behind his clumsiness. Unlike the stereotypical brawny Vikings of Berk, Hiccup is lean, witty, and relies on his intellect and mechanical skills to solve problems. Hiccup doesn’t think like other Vikings; he is, by his own admission, different. But this exact difference allows him to be a bridge to the dragon community. As the first person to befriend a dragon – a Night Fury named Toothless – Hiccup transforms his tribe’s relationship with dragons from one of war to one of peace and harmony. As Hiccup’s story progresses, he evolves from a clumsy outcast into a courageous, compassionate leader who proves that empathy and brains are just as powerful as brute strength.
Toothless
Toothless is a legendary and highly intelligent Night Fury dragon who becomes an unlikely friend and loyal companion to Hiccup. His jet-black scales, large green eyes, and sleek, aerodynamic build pack a lot of punch for a relatively small body. Toothless was originally feared by the residents of Berk as the “unholy offspring of lightning and death” due to his immense speed and powerful plasma blasts. But despite his intimidating reputation, Toothless shines with a playful personality, and his deep sense of devotion leads him to risk his life repeatedly for Hiccup. Ironically, it was an injury Toothless sustained from Hiccup – leaving him unable to fly without a specialized prosthetic tail fin – that directly led to an unbreakable bond between the pair, transforming them into an elite duo capable of changing the world. Toothless’ journey eventually leads to him becoming the Alpha of all dragons.
Trivia Tidbit: Toothless got his name from his unique ability to retract his teeth into his gums, a trait Hiccup discovered during their first peaceful encounter.
Astrid and Stormfly
Astrid Hofferson is a formidable Viking warrior of the Hooligan Tribe and the primary female powerhouse in the series. This fierce, “no-nonsense” fighter takes great pride in her family’s warrior lineage. Like most residents of Berk, Astrid has a deep-seated distrust of dragons, but her perspective shifts after Hiccup and Toothless take her on a transformative flight, leading her to become one of the village’s most skilled dragon riders alongside Stormfly – her Deadly Nadder dragon. Over the course of her journey, Astrid evolves from a stoic rival into Hiccup’s most trusted confidante, advisor, and eventually his wife and Chieftess of Berk. Known for her sharp strategic mind and unwavering loyalty, she serves as the “voice of reason” for Hiccup, balancing his idealism with her grounded, tactical approach to leadership.
Stormfly has a vibrant turquoise body, beige belly, and wings mottled with yellow, orange, and red. She is one of the fastest dragons in Berk, possessing an exceptional sense of smell and a diverse arsenal of weapons, including fire that melts metal and poisonous tail spines she can fire with pinpoint accuracy. Despite her lethal abilities, Stormfly is characterized by her playful, bird-like spirit and a notable streak of vanity. Her bond with Astrid is built on mutual trust and fierce protectiveness, with the pair often performing complex aerial maneuvers together.
Stoick
Stoick the Vast is the formidable Chieftain of the Hooligan Tribe and the father of Hiccup. A legendary Viking warrior, he boasts immense physical strength, a flaming red beard, and an unwavering commitment to protect the people of Berk. For much of his life, Stoick viewed dragons as enemies to be eliminated, leading to a strained relationship with his inventive, un-Viking-like son Hiccup. However, Stoick changes profoundly when he learns to embrace the bond between humans and dragons, eventually befriending his own Rumblehorn dragon, Skullcrusher. Though he presents a stern and stubborn exterior, Stoick is a deeply selfless leader whose greatest motivation is the safety of his village and his love for his family.
Gobber
Gobber the Belch is the eccentric village blacksmith, dragon trainer, and the most trusted advisor to Stoick the Vast. He serves as a mentor and secondary father figure to Hiccup, and convinces Stoick to allow Hiccup to enter dragon training. Gobber has an unforgettably boisterous personality, a long braided mustache, and an array of interchangeable prosthetic limb attachments (which he swaps out for various tools like hammers and hooks). Gobber spent much of his life crafting weapons to fight dragons, but eventually transformed into Berk’s premier dragon dentist and doctor, becoming a vital bridge between the old Viking ways and the new era of dragon riding.
Ruffnut and Tuffnut
This comedic, fraternal twin duo of the Hooligan Tribe are known for their eccentric behavior and constant bickering. As inseparable members of the Dragon Riders, they share a unique, two-headed Hideous Zippleback dragon co-named Barf and Belch. Despite their chaotic nature and love for destruction, these twins are surprisingly skilled in combat and possess a bizarre, “outside-the-box” logic that often helps the team in unpredictable ways. Their signature look includes long blonde braids and helmets adorned with multiple horns, reflecting their wild and rebellious personalities within the village of Berk.
Snotlout
Once an arrogant rival to Hiccup and a hopeful suitor to Astrid, Snotlout Jorgenson is the hot-headed, boastful, dragon hunter who becomes a member of Hiccup’s Dragon Riders. Snotlout rides a Monstrous Nightmare dragon named Hookfang, and the two share a hilariously stubborn bond where Hookfang frequently humbles Snotlout by ignoring his commands or lighting him on fire. Despite his loud-mouthed bravado and occasional insecurity, Snotlout is a highly skilled warrior and a loyal – albeit reluctant – lieutenant who eventually accepts Hiccup’s leadership while maintaining his signature cocky attitude.
Fishlegs
Fishlegs Ingerman is the resident dragon enthusiast and intellectual heart of the Dragon Riders, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of dragon species. He is the largest of the young Vikings, but a gentle, sensitive soul who prefers studying ancient dragon lore over actual combat. Fishlegs shares an incredibly affectionate and nurturing bond with his Gronckle dragon, Meatlug, whom he treats more like a pampered pet than a beast of war. His mastery of the “Dragon Manual” makes him an indispensable strategist for Hiccup, as he is usually the first to identify a new dragon’s weaknesses or unique abilities.
Valka
Valka is the long-lost mother of Hiccup and the wife of Stoick, who was presumed dead for twenty years after being carried off by a dragon during a raid on Berk. During her time in exile, Valka became a fierce and soulful dragon guardian, living within a massive ice sanctuary created by a Bewilderbeast. Having spent two decades living among dragons, she possesses an unparalleled understanding of the creatures, which she passes on to Hiccup. Valka rides a majestic, four-winged Stormcutter dragon named Cloudjumper – the very dragon that took her from Berk. Her return in the second film brings a deep emotional core to the story, as she reconciles with her family and helps lead the resistance against villain Drago Bludvist’s dragon army.
Light Fury
A rare shimmering female white dragon, the Light Fury is a subspecies of the Night Fury. While she shares many physical traits with Toothless—including high-speed flight and explosive plasma blasts—she possesses the unique ability to camouflage herself by heating her scales, allowing her to appear invisible. Unlike the now-domesticated dragons of Berk, the Light Fury is a wild, elusive creature with a deep-seated distrust of humans. Her innate traits cause Toothless to rediscover his feral instincts, and he eventually leads his kind to the Hidden World. The pair ultimately mates to secure the future of the Night Fury lineage through their offspring, the Night Lights.
The Bad Guys
The war between Vikings and dragons was waged for centuries, but as Hiccup and Toothless transformed hate into heart, several villains rose to claim their own devious way.
Red Death
This gargantuan, six-eyed dragon is the “Queen” of the Dragon Nest in the first film of series. Residing deep within a volcano, she acts as a parasitic tyrant, forcing smaller dragons to raid Berk and bring her food under the threat of being eaten themselves. She possesses immense physical strength, a heavily armored club-like tail, and the ability to breathe massive torrents of fire that can incinerate entire fleets. Red Death rules through pure fear and coercion, and her defeat at the hands of Hiccup and Toothless serves as the climactic turning point that finally ends the generations-long war between Vikings and dragons.
Drago
Drago Bludvist is a ruthless, power-hungry warlord seeking to upend the newfound peace between Vikings and dragons. Claiming to be a “dragon god,” he seeks to conquer the world by enslaving dragons to his will, using fear and brute force rather than the bond of friendship championed by Hiccup. This massive, imposing figure sports a prosthetic arm, replacing one he lost to a dragon in his youth. He commands a brainwashed Alpha Bewilderbeast dragon to control other dragons, even taking control of Toothless for a period of time. His cold-blooded philosophy makes him a dark foil to the residents of Berk, leading to a devastating confrontation that changes the fate of the community forever.
Grimmel
The world’s most infamous dragon hunter, Grimmel the Grisly is a genocidal hunter whose sole mission is the total extinction of the Night Fury species. He is a master of psychological warfare and chemistry, using a specialized venom derived from his own Deathgripper dragons to mind-control them into serving him. Lean, silver-haired, and armed with a massive crossbow, Grimmel serves as the ultimate dark mirror to Hiccup; where Hiccup believes in the harmony of humans and dragons, Grimmel believes dragons are mere vermin that must be eradicated for humanity to thrive.
Visiting Berk
Isle of Berk at Epic Universe puts guests in the middle of a colorful, rugged village, built around a central lagoon, guarded by massive 40-foot-tall Viking statues, and surrounded by rocky peaks. Vikings and dragons live here in harmony, and the vibe is 100% fun and adventure.
Now that you know the main characters and storyline, here’s how you can connect with them in the Isle of Berk at Epic Universe.
A Note About Sheep: While Vikings and dragons dominate the Berkian landscape, the sheep of Berk are the true, unsung MVPs—mostly because their primary job description is “involuntary aerodynamic projectile.” While the Vikings are busy bonding with dragons, these fluff-balls are living a high-stakes existence where a casual grazing session might end with being plucked into the stratosphere for a round of Dragon Racing. They have reached a level of zen-like apathy that is honestly inspirational. Whether they’re being used as a target dummy or a fluffy finish line marker, they maintain that iconic, wide-eyed stare of someone who has seen the afterlife and found it moderately underwhelming. These sheep aren’t just livestock; they are the world’s most resilient, woolly sports equipment, proving that you don’t need wings to fly—you just need a very hungry dragon and a complete lack of resistance. These sheep are dotted all over Berk, and they’re sure to put a smile on your face!
Meeting Toothless and Stormfly
Image: Attractions Magazine
A full-sized Toothless is brought to life with advanced (and adorable) animatronics. Toothless breathes, blinks, and wiggles his ears, directly in response to his guests. A slightly scaled down Stormfly lives and breathes with a combination of animatronics and puppetry, and is equally as charismatic with visitors. While meeting guests, Toothless and Stormfly are always accompanied by a Viking – often Hiccup or Astrid. If you enjoy meeting your heroes, this experience is a must-do.
Pro Tip: Toothless is very popular, so get in line early to meet him, and bring your patience!
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
This fun family-friendly thrill coaster gives riders the chance to try out a “winged flying machine” invented by Hiccup. When Toothless launches the coaster, riders swoop and dip through Berk, paying a visit to Hiccup and Toothless (as well as several baby dragon hatchlings) along the way. This coaster has no inversions, but there are plenty of sharp turns to keep the thrill high and make riders feel like they are truly flying on the back of a dragon.
Dragon Racer’s Rally
Image: Universal
Astrid and Snotlout lead new Vikings to practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on a Viking-made dragon riding trainer. This swooping, circular spinner sends guests flying at heights up to 67 feet in the sky. More skilled riders may even be able to complete full rotations!
Fyre Drill
Ruffnut and Tuffnut guide riders through a “Fyre Skööl” training mission, teaching them how to put out fires caused by the resident dragons. Fyre Drill is a good old-fashioned water ride, where guests can blast water cannons at flame-like targets – and at the occupants of other boats. But watch out! The targets (and other riders) shoot back! Fyre Drill has the potential to be a very wet experience, so consider yourself warned.
The Untrainable Dragon
This indoor stage show stars Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid, and Gobber as they attempt to train a mysterious new dragon. The loveable Toothless soars overhead in an awe-inspiring moment of the show.
Pro Tip: This show feels very refreshing on a hot Orlando day, and get’s super crowded at times of foul weather.
Viking Training Camp
This interactive, multi-level playground gives “junior Vikings” the chance to burn off energy through various dragon-themed physical and sensory activities. Kids can play with an interactive sheep launcher, strike Viking drums and chimes, or look through Toothless-themed viewfinders. Themed equipment includes baby Gronckle climbers and a Toothless teeter-totter.
Mead Hall
Carved directly into mountain rock, Mead Hall is the signature quick-service dining location in Berk. During the timeline featured in Isle of Berk, Stoick is sadly no longer with us, but his soul can be felt throughout the grand, rustic Viking hall, which proudly displays tapestries portraying Vikings, dragons, those adorable sheep, and even Toothless, Light Fury, and their dragon children (Night Lights). Guests may be greeted by Ruffnut and Tuffnut as they wind their way through this favorite watering hole.
Dining Around Berk
Other quick-service food locations include Spit Fyre Grill and Hooligan’s Grog and Gruel. Spit Fyre features hearty Viking-inspired bowls, including Stoick’s Steak Bowl, Hiccup’s Salmon Bowl, and Valka’s Vegan Bowl. Hooligan’s features Berk’s famous Mac and Cheese Cones. Both locations also sell tasty beverages including Stoick’s Ale, Gobber’s Mead, and other more “native” drinks.
Deeper Dragon Dive
If you are interested in diving deeper into the Viking lore of Berk, several supporting television series and short films offer tons of fire-breathing content. Keep your eyes peeled and you may see some of these dragons in Isle of Berk.
Animated Series
DreamWorks Dragons (2012–2018): This core series connects the first and second movies. It is split into three titles: Riders of Berk (Season 1), Defenders of Berk (Season 2), and Race to the Edge (Seasons 3–8).
Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021–2023): This modern-day spinoff is set 1,300 years after the original films.
Dragons: Rescue Riders (2019–2022): A preschool-oriented series.
Short Films and Specials
Gift of the Night Fury (2011): A holiday special set on Berk.
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming(2019): An epilogue special set before the third film.
Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon (2010) and Book of Dragons (2011): Shorter adventures within the How to Train Your Dragon Legends collection.
Dawn of the Dragon Racers (2014): This short explains the origin of dragon racing and is.
Snoggletog Log (2019): A themed fireplace special.
Let’s hear from you! Do you consider yourself an honorary Viking, or will you soon be taking your first steps into Berk? Do you have a favorite dragon? Join the conversation with a message on social: Instagram Facebook X
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