King Kong at Universal Studios: A History of the Ride
King Kong and Universal Studios have maintained a strong connection, with the giant ape appearing in various attractions at both the Hollywood and Orlando theme parks. From his debut as part of the Universal Studios Tour in 1986 to the present day, Kong has remained a significant presence.
King Kong Encounter: The Original Hollywood Experience
The first King Kong-centered attraction at a Universal Studios theme park was the King Kong Encounter, which opened on June 14, 1986, at Universal Studios Hollywood as part of the Studio Tour. Based on the 1976 film, the attraction featured a 30-foot-tall animatronic ape, designed by Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr, that weighed seven tons.
The Studio Tour tram entered a soundstage recreating New York City, where guests watched news broadcasts about Kong's rampage. The tram then drove onto the Brooklyn Bridge, placing guests at eye level with the massive animatronic ape. Kong shook the bridge and ripped the suspension cables, attempting to grab the tram. The attraction broke new ground and paved the way for the complex themed attractions of today and was the inspiration behind the former Kongfrontation attraction at Universal Studios Florida.
The detailing of the animatronic was so rich that Kong even had banana-scented breath. The attraction opened on June 14, 1986, with the un-dubbed voice of actress Sheree J. Wilson as Kelly King in the news footage. The poor reception of Wilson's original voice acting led to voice actress Tress MacNeille dubbing King on June 15, the day after the opening of the attraction. MacNeille's dubbing was praised for giving the character a more suitable and intense tone, and helped to improve the overall quality of the attraction.
The King Kong Encounter was a thrilling stop on the tour, thanks to its scale, pyrotechnics, motion effects, and Kong's banana breath. It remained a visitor favorite until it was destroyed in a fire on June 1, 2008. The fire, which lasted 24 hours, also damaged over 150,000 master recordings of music. Universal Studios officials stated that the experience would not be rebuilt, but instead be replaced by a new contemporary attraction.
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Kongfrontation: Bringing Kong to Florida
On June 7, 1990, Kongfrontation opened at Universal Studios Florida, based on the 1976 remake of the 1933 King Kong film. This stand-alone ride expanded on the King Kong Encounter concept, offering a more immersive experience.
Guests entered a queue themed to resemble the Roosevelt Island aerial tram line in 1976. After boarding an aerial tram, guests were "evacuated" to Roosevelt Island, witnessing Kong's destruction of New York City along the way. The attraction featured two 40-foot-tall Kong animatronics, each capable of performing 62 separate functions. A smellitzer device was installed in each Kong figure, which emulated banana-scented breath emitted toward riders as the animatronics roared.
The aerial trams could move up and down, simulating the feeling of falling or shaking during Kong's attacks. Like its predecessor attraction, Kongfrontation was a technological masterpiece, creating an immersive and intense experience for park guests.
Despite its popularity, Kongfrontation was plagued by mechanical issues and high maintenance costs. In 2002, Universal closed Kongfrontation and replaced it with Revenge of the Mummy in 2004. Parts of the original King Kong ride are still found on the ceiling of the current attraction, and Revenge of the Mummy also pays tribute to Kongfrontation in a few other ways. For instance, part of the ride includes a golden Kong statue in the scenery.
King Kong 360 3-D: A New Dimension in Hollywood
In 2005, director Peter Jackson's remake of "King Kong" was released. Universal Studios Hollywood once again teamed up with Jackson to create an immersive 3-D experience that brought the studio tram into the trenches of Skull Island. In 2010, the Studio Tour would officially debut King Kong 360 3-D.
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King Kong: 360 3-D is an immersive two-and-a-half-minute 3-D film experience. Guests don 3-D glasses and are transported to Skull Island, where they witness a battle between King Kong and a Vastatosaurus rex. The attraction uses motion, water, heat, and the perception of falling to create a thrilling experience. King Kong: 360 3-D continues to be a major stop on the current Universal Studios Hollywood Tram tour.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong: A Standalone Adventure in Orlando
Building on the success of King Kong: 360 3-D, Universal Orlando created Skull Island: Reign of Kong, a standalone dark ride that opened at Islands of Adventure on July 13, 2016. The ride draws inspiration from Peter Jackson's 2005 film.
As guests wait in line, they travel through a temple and a base camp, encountering natives and monstrous animatronics. After boarding vehicles, they join an expedition into the jungles of Skull Island, where they are attacked by dinosaurs and other creatures.
The ride features 40-foot trackless vehicles, lifelike animatronics of expedition members, and 3D glasses for enhanced visuals on 360-degree screens. The ride experience varies depending on which of the five expedition members leads the adventure, each with their own unique dialogue and backstory, varying the ride experience each time. Finally, the truck will experience the same screen created battle between Vastatosaurus rex and King Kong, with the extra payoff of a scale animatronic head and torso of Kong to say goodbye.
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