Orlando Attractions Update – Universal Orlando has taken the wraps off elements of Skull Island: Reign of Kong, its under-construction ride at Islands of Adventure theme park. A first-look photograph shows off the attraction’s Great Wall, and new details hint at the mystery surrounding the big-ape storyline. One big question that remains unanswered: When is its opening date? Universal has only said it will open sometime in the summer of 2016.
The newly released photo is a dark image of a menacing, gigantic doorway. There is fiery red lighting traveling up its sides and through gaps that suggest glowing eyes. Its look might be a cross between a screaming animal and an ancient temple. Three people standing at the base are dwarfed by the carved entrance. This part of the attraction currently is peeking above walls that separate construction from Islands of Adventure guests.
Kong-watchers have seen this area before in early concept renderings from Universal, which also portrayed elongated ride vehicles that have been described by Universal officials as “massive” and “revolutionary.”
Skull Island: Reign of Kong is located between the park’s Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park areas. It is the first major addition to IOA since the Wizarding World of Harry Potter debuted in 2010.
The 3-D attraction’s story line, according to a new Universal Orlando news release, will include a start at a campsite of the 8th Wonder Expedition Company research team. After boarding the vehicles, those massive doors “slowly open, revealing a labyrinth of caves,” the release says.
Inside, there’s a perilous struggle between gigantic, fierce creatures, with the ride building up to “an even more enormous, earth-pounding presence” — Kong.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong is Universal Orlando’s second go-round with an attraction based on the big ape. A ride called Kongfrontation opened with Universal Studios in 1990. It closed in 2002 and was replaced by the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster.