Skull Island: Reign of Kong has been closed for weeks at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, with no operation since August 26th. Rumors circulating online suggest the marquee King Kong audio-animatronic caught fire during maintenance, though nothing has been confirmed. Universal Orlando Resort has not responded to a request for more information about the downtime or the rumored fire. Here’s the latest.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong Closed Since Late August Amid Fire Rumors
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Skull Island: Reign of Kong has not operated since August 26th
- Online rumors point to a fire involving the King Kong animatronic during maintenance
- Universal Orlando has not confirmed a cause or a reopening date
Weeks of Unexplained Downtime
Skull Island: Reign of Kong has been closed at Islands of Adventure since August 26th. Universal has posted no official notice explaining why, and the resort’s published refurbishment schedule doesn’t list the attraction either.
Rumors have begun circulating online that the issues center on the ride’s signature King Kong audio-animatronic, the towering figure that anchors the attraction’s finale. The claim making the rounds is that the animatronic caught fire during maintenance work. Universal Orlando Resort has not responded to a request for more information about the downtime or the rumored fire, so the fire claim is a rumor until the resort says otherwise.
What’s at Stake if the Animatronic Is Involved
Reign of Kong opened in July 2016 between Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park. It’s a trackless dark ride that builds to a face-to-face encounter with Kong himself. That animatronic is enormous, standing roughly three stories tall, and it’s the single most complex show element in the attraction. A figure that size doesn’t get repaired quickly if it has sustained significant damage.
None of that is confirmed, though, and whether a fire happened at all is still just a rumor at this point. The closure itself is the only confirmed part of this story. We’re looking at weeks of downtime, with no explanation from Universal.
We’ll continue watching for any update on Skull Island: Reign of Kong. We’ll follow up should we receive official word on what’s behind the closure and when the attraction might reopen.
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