Learn more about the King Kong ride at Universal.
Universal Studios is packed with plenty of rides and attractions that easily make for a great experience. No matter what your purpose is for visiting, you can be sure to leave with a happy smile. Their attractions pay tribute to some of the most famous movies, including Harry Potter, Sesame Street, and the like. While they are all special in their own way, there is no denying that the King Kong ride in Universal Studios remains to be one of the most iconic.
Universal’s King Kong has certainly stood the test of time, with its origins dating back to the 80s. Fast forward to 2021 and Universal Studios in Orlando has brought back Skull Island: Reign of Kong after 14 years of not having the character in the park. If you are planning to visit soon, do not miss out on the opportunity to try out this amazing ride.
Get to know more about this exciting King Kong ride in Universal Studios Orlando, and you might just be convinced to add it to your itinerary for your next trip.
History of the King Kong in Universal Studios
Universal Studios first introduced King Kong in its Hollywood Park in 1986, and the first King Kong ride at Universal was King Kong Encounter. Here, guests were taken along an adventure that recreated scenes from the 1976 film. Even during this time, Universal’s Kong animatronic was already impressive. It stood at 30 feet in height—the biggest that the park has ever designed!
Building from the attraction’s success, Universal then released the Kongfrontation attraction in its Florida park in 1990. It had a similar storyline, where guests would be stuck in New York City, just like the 1976 film. Starting with the queue, they were already immersed in the experience, with scenes about King Kong’s escape being broadcasted on television screens.
Unsurprisingly, Kongfrontation was also a beautifully executed attraction, especially with its advanced technologies. Again, Universal Studios took it up a notch and made not one, but two King Kong animatronics that stood 40 feet tall. They were a sight to behold for any guest who would come face to face with the attraction.
In 2002, Universal Studios closed down Kongfrontation. It was only in 2016 when they opened the Skull Island: Reign of Kong attraction, bringing back the famous character that kickstarted their momentum into thrill-seeking rides. Compared to the previous iterations, this version was heavily inspired by the 2005 production of Peter Jackson.
About Skull Island: Reign of Kong
What can you expect with the Skull Island: Reign of Kong attraction? As you might have guessed, the ride is located in Universal Islands of Adventure. You will find it between the Thunder Falls Terrace restaurant in Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon. It brings together elements from the Kongfrontation ride that was released in Florida in 2002 and the King Kong 360 3-D ride in Hollywood but delivers an elevated experience to guests.
Skull Island is essentially a dark trackless multi-dimensional ride that takes you through an exhilarating adventure in Skull Island while riding an expedition truck. It starts when you walk through the temple of natives, where you will see countless skulls lining up the walls and mantels. After venturing through the temple, you move into the base camp, where the supplies will be loaded up into the expedition vehicles.
The queue alone for the King Kong ride Universal Studios will already be an exhilarating experience. Just seeing all the skulls, along with the loud and daunting music, can already get your heart racing. While the ride’s height requirement is at 36 inches—relatively shorter than most other rides—some children may get scared of certain parts, especially because of how realistic the simulations are.
Once your ride vehicle arrives, you can grab your 3D glasses to get enhanced visuals, then hop onto your truck. The attraction is designed to have five different drivers, each having their own stories and dialogues, and you get assigned one of them during your ride. This makes your experience unique and different each time.
As you progress through the ride, you start to hear the locals and natives chanting King Kong’s name as you encounter various prehistoric creatures and predators. Some of these include bat-like creatures called the terapusmordax and the giant deplectors. Much like the movie, you can expect the whole ride to have that sense of danger and suspense looming. Even so, you and the other passengers will still trudge on to journey into the island.
Anything can happen in Skull Island, so expect all sorts of surprises and adventures. At one point, dinosaurs will start attacking your vehicle before Kong finally appears. With King Kong being built with audio-animatronics, you will surely feel the excitement and perhaps even a little bit of fear when you see the iconic Universal character.
You can expect Skull Island to be a thrilling and immersive ride that is sure to make your trip to Universal Studios memorable. The wait times may sometimes be long as guests do not want to miss out on the chance to experience the ride. If you have limited time, you might want to consider booking a VIP tour to skip the lines. Make the most out of your time in the park.
Add the King Kong Ride Universal Studios in Your VIP Tour
Planning to visit Universal Studios Orlando soon? If so, make sure to include the Skull Island ride in your itinerary. The King Kong ride in Universal is sure to take you on a wild adventure that will give you a memorable and immersive experience. To take away all the stress and hassle in planning your trip, contact World Class VIP today at (407) 270-2519 for a customized Universal VIP tour and a free private VIP tour quote!
Let us know your needs, priorities, and plans. From booking your reservation at the Universal Orlando resort to organizing your schedule around the park, we will help you have the best possible vacation.