Skull Island: Reign of Kong has remained unexpectedly closed at Universal Islands of Adventure amid an unconfirmed rumor that the attraction’s massive King Kong animatronic caught fire while undergoing repairs.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong Remains Closed
Inside Universal reported on X that as of September 11, Skull Island: Reign of Kong has experienced a persistent, unannounced closure for the past few weeks.
Universal Orlando has not officially shared any details about the closed attraction in this period; there has been no update regarding a reopening date or an identified reason for the extended closure. The resort’s website continues to list Skull Island: Reign of Kong as a current attraction with ostensibly standard operating hours.
As of writing, the Universal FL app reflects the continued closure, with the attraction showing a “Closed” status on its in-app listing (from the “List” view). Although there is currently no known reopening date, Universal has not formally characterized the attraction’s closure as indefinite, so it’s possible that Reign of Kong may resume operation any day now.
King Kong Animatronic Reportedly Caught Fire
According to an unverified report shared in a Universal Orlando Facebook group, the King Kong animatronic was undergoing some repairs several weeks ago when it allegedly caught fire. The post suggests the reported incident is responsible for the attraction’s continued closure.
The unplanned closure has also circulated among Universal Orlando fans on Reddit. In response to a guest asking about the extended downtime, one commenter also affirmed that Kong had reportedly caught fire.
However, neither post provided further documentation or an identifiable source. Universal Orlando has not confirmed that a fire occurred, and there is no confirmed information regarding the extent of any potential damage or how long repairs could take.
About Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Skull Island: Reign of Kong officially opened at Universal Islands of Adventure on July 13, 2016. The dark ride takes guests aboard large, trackless expedition vehicles for a journey combining physical environments, animatronics, and screen-based encounters with the creatures of Skull Island.
The adventure concludes with a close encounter with a massive physical King Kong figure. When Universal unveiled the animatronic, it described Kong as approximately three stories tall and 18 feet wide across the shoulders, with a head larger than an automobile.
The animatronic is one of the attraction’s most prominent physical elements and distinguishes its finale from the preceding projection-based sequences. If the figure was damaged as rumored, its considerable size and mechanical complexity could potentially contribute to an extended repair period. That possibility remains speculation, however, unless Universal confirms the reported incident.
Universal Orlando has not announced any plans to permanently close or replace Skull Island: Reign of Kong. We will share further updates if the attraction reopens or additional information about the closure becomes available.
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