Skull Island - Reign of Kong Coming to Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure!

Time to put to rest all the speculation, King Kong is finally coming back to Universal Orlando after a 14 year hiatus. It's been fairly well known this was coming, but today it's all official, and what better way to celebrate the park's 25 anniversary than with one of the most iconic Universal characters of all time?

The new ride, being built between the Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon sections of Islands of Adventure, is being touted as a "multi-experiential" experience that will feature a variety of elements and effects that immerse riders into the world of Skull Island.

So, what else can we expect? The Orlando Business Journal sat down with Universal Creative Executive Producer, Mike West, and he had these tidbits to share on just what we'll see with this massive new addition to the parks.

"We will take guests to Skull Island and to Kong. It's a combination experience of walking through the queue and then the ride. You enter through Skull Island and go through dense jungles, meandering temple ruins and mazes, and along the way, you run into hostile natives and other unimaginable giant creatures on this journey."

That's not all though, West went into a bit more detail on some actual ride elements and the experience as a whole as well;

"A lot of tension and excitement. When you get on the expedition trucks, the first part is outdoors approaching the 72-foot-tall great wall. There are beautiful wooden doors and flames shooting on each side. You then drive up through the doors and you enter a dark cavernous cave with deep chasms with other creatures within. You'll take another turn where you are submerged further into this island where it becomes a fight for survival meeting small and large prehistoric creatures face-to-face."

Definitely sounds like an intriguing mix of things going on, and by the looks of the concept art for the attraction, the ride vehicles should be pretty intersting as well. I'm getting some some flash backs to Indiana Jones at Disneyland with this one, or the long since abandoned Jurassic Park trucks that Universal had planned many moons ago. Toss in this tidbit from West and it seems even more likely that these are going to be some rather large vehicles, "The ride vehicle is one of the biggest we have built. But the scale, while big unto itself, seems to fit the environment."

Some out there are thinking that it may be very similar to Kong 360 at Universal Hollywood, but the feeling from West is that this one is going to be unique in a lot of ways. His comment about 3-D and how their use of it varies leads us to think that differences will be there without question as well, "We have 3-D imagery. But, in the context of Hollywood, it was used out there as part of the film. Ours isn't film. It's about creating an environment with great 3-D imagery, but with a whole new facet to it."

Add it all together and mix in the fact that it possibly has the longest run time of any attraction at Universal in it's history and that's something right there for sure! Skull Island - Reign of Kong will open sometime in 2016.

Stay tuned right here for more news and updates out of Universal Orlando and be sure to follow us on on Twitter, Google+, Tumblr and Facebook for all the latest!

Universal Orlando/Islands of Adventure- Kong Construction Goes Vertical

Image from Orlando United

Kong 360/Skull Island Going Vertical at Islands of Adventure

 Well, some good news out of Universal Orlando this week. It seems Islands of Adventure's newest project "Skull Island/Kong360" has finally gone vertical.

 The new attraction, which still hasn't been formally announced seems likely to open in 2016. Stuffed in near the current 'Jurassic Park' area, Kong is likely to be announced sometime soon as Universal is well known to announce attractions when they can no longer 'hide' the fact they're up to something.

 Until then, speculation as to the new attraction will continue to exist. No matter how much some of us are wishing for a Jurassic Park Expansion!

Islands of Adventure- King Kong Construction Update

Image from Touring Plans on Twitter

Islands of Adventure makes Progress of new "King Kong" attraction.

 While it may not look like much now, the area which will become "Skull Island" is making progress.

 This is the area which will hold the new "King Kong" themed attraction in Islands of Adventure.

 It's located to the far side of the 'Jurassic Park' themed land and will cut deep into the old backlot area. This attraction is also believed to be a clone of the "King Kong 360 3D" attraction which is in Universal Studios Hollywood.  However, many are saying it's not going to be the same, that Islands of Adventure will be getting something unique and very different from it's sister park.

Image from Amusement Buzz

King Kong Returning to Universal Orlando

 King Kong Returning to Universal Orlando.
  But oddly enough, not where we once lived. 

 King Kong will return to Universal Orlando but he'll be moving into Islands of Adventure, right beside Jurassic Park. While many of us aren't sure of this new moved from Universal or what it means for the current "Jurassic Park" area- it can no longer be denied since plans have come out showing us exactly where the newest addition's ride building we be located.

  After a little bit of playing with Google Maps and Paint (I know, awesome skills, right?)- I've tried to highlight the various areas which will be changing over to "Kong".

 The new building will go in the current service area beside and behind Jurassic Park River Adventure. Right up against the side of Toon Lagoon and Dudley Do-Right's. Full plans aren't available yet (or at least no one has dug up the full permits and posted them online yet) to tell us what areas will be changed to an entrance plaza for this new attraction. It also begs the question of what will happen if Jurassic Park ever wants to expand, more so with the addition of a new movie coming out in 2015.

 Right now, no one knows when this new "King Kong" themed attraction will open but many speculate it will be ready to roll in 2015-2016. We're also not sure if this will be the same attraction "King Kong 3D-360" which is found at Universal Studios Hollywood. Right now- we've got more questions than answers. 

More news and rumors about this new attraction as it becomes available.

Rumor Update- King Kong/Skull Island at Universal Orlando

 The long rumored "King Kong 360 3D" or 'Skull Island Project' may well be true.

 Today Screamscape reported that the possible new attraction may well have an announcement day coming soon.  As early as Spring of 2014 and possibly before the official opening of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley area.

 Rumor suggests this new area may be placed in the Islands of Adventure theme park, possibly someplace between Toon Lagoon and the Jurassic Park area. Details are unknown and as of right now this is still classed only as a "rumor".

Universal Orlando Resort Rumors

 Lately a lot of rumors have been flying around the Universal Orlando Resort, Both in regards to possible new attractions, attraction updates and all kind of other crazy things. Thing's are starting to get harder to follow with so much speculation around, so we're going to attempt to sort them out for your reading pleasure!

 Rumor One-The Lorax Dark Ride.

 Rumor has been floating around since 2012 when The Lorax was made into a movie for the big screen. Supposedly Universal Orlando's 'Island of Adventure' theme park was/is planning in putting in a dark ride based off The Lorax someplace in Seuess Landing.   However, rumor is now suggesting this, like the others, may have been scrapped.  Either way it has a proposed opening date (if it happens) of Summer 2016.

 Rumor Two- Jurassic Park

 Rumor has it that Universal Orlando's 'Islands of Adventure' theme park may be considering adding in a new attraction in their Jurassic Park area. This could possibly be a new Roller Coaster coming to the area was well as a new improvements to the Thunder Falls restaurant.  The supposed location for this is the lot currently sitting behind the Thunder Falls Restaurant, with Jurassic Park getting a new movie in 2015- This rumor is possible with an opening date of 2016 also.

 Rumor Three- King Kong/Skull Island

 Yet another rumor suggest that King Kong/Skull Island may be moving into an area of Universal Orlando's 'Islands of Adventure' theme park. Possible in or around the current Jurassic Park area, with the park relocating the current Jurassic Park gate closer to the Thunder Falls Restaurant. There are no real deatils with this rumor other then speculation of if this new ride would be a slow moving show style attraction or if it could be more along the lines of 'Revenge of the Mummy' which replaced the original King Kong attraction in 2002.  This also as a possible proposed opening date in the 2015/2016 range.

Rumor Four- Lord of the Rings/Middle Earth

This rumor suggests that Universal Orlando may replace the currently aging 'Cartoon Lagoon' area of their 'Islands of Adventure' theme park with Middle Earth, the land which hosts the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movies. While unlikely, this project is rumored for the 2017 season. No details on possible attractions or even theming has been proposed.

Rumor Five- Replacing Marvel Superhero Island

Ever since Disney bought Marvel in 2009 the rumor mill has been working overtime with the belief that Universal Orlando will eventually drop the Marvel name and characters. Rumor suggests they may eventually look into replacing it with DC comic characters or  even another franchise. Speculation suggest Universal already has had meetings and a plan in place but no one seems to know that the real plan or deal may involve. The soonest this could happen is 2018 which is the soonest Disney could try to re-negotiate the Marvel/Universal deal after 20 years.


 So while a lot of speculation and rumors have been flying around about Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios,  but no one has any concrete proof or information. Some of this is old and some is new, either way they are simply just rumors and I'm not really included to trust any of them until someone from Universal makes a press release or they can no longer hide their plans from the public.