The construction walls are down at Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal's Islands of Adventure! The wait has been long, but soon we'll be able to get our first rides on this new immersive attraction. We should hopefully expect to see soft opens within the week. It really could be any day now (or any hour even). Plus the outdoor gift shop stand, Base Camp Provisions, is open and selling Kong merchandise. Check out the video and photos below to see how the area looks now with the work walls down and some of the items you can get at the new gift shop and food stand. Stay tuned for more information as it happens. This should hopefully be our last update video before softs start and we'll post as soon as they start letting guests on the ride!
Construction Updates
Mako Coaster Update – Soft Opening, Review, and Shark’s Reef Area Complete
Mako is currently in soft opening at SeaWorld Orlando and I got to ride it yesterday! It was incredible. The first drop and first turn are exhilarating and I won't lie, I was somewhat terrified for a few seconds. It's funny to me that a ride where you come up out of your seat so many times doesn't have shoulder restraints. I guess they want to really allow you to feel the air time. I rode a second time in the front row and it was even more incredible. After the first drop and turn it's a somewhat relaxing of a ride, even though I know we were traveling super fast because my ponytail was sticking straight out behind me the entire time! There's no loops or upside-down moments, so it's all about speed and air time. It's a fun ride and one I'll be riding every time I visit for sure. See the video for footage of the soft opening, my thoughts on the new coaster right after I rode it, check out some cool stuff in the gift shop and see all of the Shark's Reef area theming that is now complete. You can also see lots of images of the beautiful area theming below! And stay tuned for more theme park updates coming soon.
Incredible Hulk Coaster: Ride Testing and Construction Update – With Video
I braved the crowds on a very busy Memorial Day weekend to get some pictures and video of vehicle testing as well as construction progress for the Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure. The brand new coaster trains look incredible in person and I cannot wait to hear the on-board music while riding. (Learn more about the new trains here.) The "roar" of the trains has been dampened a little to make for a quieter Hulk Coaster. I've been told this was to make the area a little more bearable for people trying to hear each other talking, but also help you to be able to hear the new on-board music for the ride. But trust me, it still roars out of the launch tunnel! It looks like there's still a lot of work to be done to the queue building before the Hulk Coaster can re-open later this summer. The queue building is being extended as well. Check out the video and all the images below for more details!
Mako Coaster Construction Update – Ride Testing and Shipwreck Themed Area Comes Together
We're just a couple weeks away from the June 10th official grand opening of Mako, SeaWorld Orlando's new hypercoaster. Mako will be the fastest, tallest, longest coaster in Orlando, and I cannot wait to ride it! During this visit I got video of their continuous ride testing and some great images of the new Shark Wreck Reef area theming surrounding the ride and nearby attractions. The new paint scheme and underwater scenery is gorgeous, most notably the shipwreck set-piece directly underneath some of the Mako track along the pathway! See the video for footage of the ride testing, the new area shipwreck theming, footage from the Mako Rising special presentation, as well as a few other surprises (namely a strange "Flamingo Walk" event). You can also see lots of images of the new area theming below! And stay tuned for more theme park updates coming soon.
Volcano Bay Construction Update: Volcano Takes Shape and Water Slides Appear
I recently stayed at the delightful Cabana Bay Beach Resort and while I was there I had the opportunity to get some good video and photos of the construction progress over at Volcano Bay. Volcano Bay will be Universal's water theme park that will be opening sometime in 2017. (In preparation for its opening, Wet ‘n Wild will be closing later this year.) The new water park will be located directly south of Cabana Bay and will be visible from the pool area at the resort, as well as from I-4. The giant centerpiece of this new water park will be a massive volcano. The volcano will have multiple slides and rides built-in to it and a wave pool beside it. In addition to the steel structure for the volcano you can also see some of the slides being installed near the south side of the site. Check out the video as well as lots of images of construction below and stay tuned for more theme park updates!
Universal Studios Florida Construction Update: Jimmy Fallon Ride, Fast & Furious, and More
Twister and Disaster have long closed to make way for the new attractions Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and Fast & Furious Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida. More New York facades are being added around the gutted soundstage building for the Jimmy Fallon ride. It'll be nice to have that big bland building blocked by more themed New York building facades. Also, there is what looks to be a big rounded section of steel inside the building. It could be for a big screen, especially if this does turn out to be a Soarin' type attraction as rumored. Lots of digging continues at the site of Fast and Furious, but not much else is happening there. And new picture spot props have been added to the Hello Kitty store. Check out the update video and lots of construction images below!
Incredible Hulk Coaster Refurbishment Update – Electrical Work and Queue Paint – With Video
It looks like lots of electrical work is underway at The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Island's of Adventure. Electrical boxes have been installed on nearly every footer on the front-half of the coaster and conduit with cables are attached leading up each of the track supports. I'm not sure yet what these cables will lead to, but my best guess would be for exterior lighting. Perhaps just blinking red lights for height markers, or maybe something more elaborate and interesting looking for a spectacular view of the coaster at night. We'll see as construction continues. It looks like the launch tunnel has been completely re-painted. the exterior of the queue building has been painted white and themed elements are being added now. Other small things like the outside brake elements on the track as well as the evacuation stairs on the braking station have been added. Check out the video and screenshots below and stay tuned for more continuous updates!
Kongstruction Update: New Area Music and Mess Tent Food Stand Open – With Video
The walls around the food stand have been moved back and "The Mess Tent" is now open and serving guests. It's now just a matter of weeks, or maybe even days, before all the walls come down around Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal's Islands of Adventure. I think the most exciting thing I saw today wasn't even something you can see... It was the beautiful original score for Skull Island now being pumped into the area. (You can listen to a sample here, or in the video below.) See the video as well as images below to get a better look at The Mess Tent, some more little touches that have been added, and listen to the new area music.
Opening date? The media preview for Skull Island, along with the new Sapphire Falls hotel, is scheduled for June 22-24. I'm assuming the grand opening will be around this time. Usually soft opens happen in the weeks leading up to a new attraction's grand opening. Soft openings, or technical rehearsals as it's called by Universal, allow team members to get used to operating the ride during a practice period. During this time some effects may not be running as problems are fixed throughout testing. Soft opens may only happen for a couple hours a day at first. They will last longer as we get closer to the official opening date until eventually it is open all day. Check back here and I will be posting when soft opens have started. It could begin any time from now until the end of June. Stay tuned!
Cobra’s Curse Spinning Coaster: Construction Update and Elevator Lift Testing – With Video
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's brand new Spin Coaster, Cobra's Curse, is opening this Summer. I was able to get some video over the weekend showing off the completed track, the innovative vertical lift being tested, and a sample spinning car they have on display, plus a few shots of some cuddly, (and some not-so-cuddly) animals. Cobra's Curse is being touted as a "family coaster," but boasts some incredible features including a vertical elevator lift that takes riders up 80 feet to start the ride from the top, speeds up to 40 mph, and several key points in the ride where your car turns backwards, forwards, and even freely spins during the three and a half minute journey. Check out the video below, along with concept art, coaster specs, and construction snapshots. And stay tuned for more theme park updates coming soon!
Toothsome Chocolate Factory Update – Facade Takes Shape – With Video
The factory facade is starting to take shape at the upcoming Toothsome Chocolate Factory & Savory Feast Emporium restaurant taking over the NBA City in CityWalk Orlando. This incredible facade will include towering smoke stacks and funky gadgetry that is certain to catch the eye of all visitors to Universal Orlando. The new steampunk themed restaurant is planned to open later this year. See the video as well as some snapshots of the construction site below and stay tuned for more theme park updates coming soon! Check out the previous updates for concept art, food, dessert and milkshakes pics, and more video!