Work never seems to let up on the facade for Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal's Islands of Adventure. I was able to grab some photos on my recent visit this week and it's looking just as amazing as ever. There seems to be something being constructed on the ground near the left-most side of the area. Not sure if it's going to stay there or be moved into place later. Check it out and let me know what you think it is. This will be just a small photo update since my last big update with video. If you haven't yet, please check out the video from my last update as it explains some of the concept art by comparing it to the construction site. Check out today's photos below!
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Kongstruction Update: Scaffolding Comes Down and Entrance Arch Takes Shape – With Video
Since it's my first visit back to the parks after the official announcement for Skull Island: Reign of Kong was made last week, I decided to get some video in addition to my usual construction photographs. All of the scaffolding has now shifted to the right, leaving a breathtaking view of the giant temple gate. They've also started work on the attraction entrance near the pathway. From the concept art we can see it will be an arch with Kong's head shaped into it. It's very exciting to see everything taking shape, and to have concept art to compare it to! See all the photos below and check out the video here as well!
Universal and Nintendo Partner Up to Bring New Attractions to Japan and Orlando Parks
The dust hasn't even settled on yesterday's announcement of Kong returning to Orlando and we have another big announcement today. Nintendo and Universal have partnered up to bring Nintendo’s wildly popular games, characters and worlds into the Orlando and Japan parks in the form of major attractions! Nintendo holds the rights to some of the most profitable properties in the world and with Universal's recent successes in bringing IPs to life, this partnership seems like a perfect fit. This will be the first time attractions and theme park experiences will be based on Nintendo characters and worlds. Read below for more information and my take on possible venues in the Orlando parks for Nintendo-based attractions.
Kongstruction Update: Facade Looking Amazing as Construction Walls Start Closing In
Kongstruction is looking amazing today in Islands of Adventure! The creepy faces are coming along nicely, the brick color is looking beautiful, and the temple facade is growing across the right side of the structure. The construction walls have begun encroaching on the pathway, having moved out about to 10 to 20 feet in some places. The food stand is gone now, considering there isn't enough room to accommodate it on the path anymore. The walls have probably been moved out to make way for construction of the outdoor scene that will take place in front of the structure. Supposedly the ride vehicle will exit the structure after load and venture into an outdoor scene before re-entering the building through the enormous temple gate. See all the pictures from today below!
Kongstruction Update: Painting the Rockwork and Faces Appear
Workers are making quick work of the rockwork at the new King Kong attraction and Skull Island area at Islands of Adventure. A few faces have started to take shape around the entrance to the temple ruins. The paint-work is looking very complete on the left-side of the building. Most of the exterior walls are complete throughout much of the structure and from what I can see the interior work is coming along nicely as well. Check out all of the pictures below.
There have been rumors flying around the web now that the Australian company Creature Technology will have some hand in the animatronics for the ride. They were responsible for the incredibly impressive King Kong puppet from the Kong musical. Watch this video for a sample of the giant Kong puppert-work. They were also the studio behind the beautiful Walking with Dinosaurs puppets and animatronics from its arena show, which I can tell you from seeing it in person, is just amazing. See a sample of that work here. If they apply their skill to create expressive puppets and impressive skins to the figures in the Kong ride I will be very pleased.
Kongstruction Update: Skull Themed Construction Walls and Photo Update
The walkway out in front of project 340, (AKA the new King Kong attraction at Islands of Adventure), has received some shiny new skull-themed construction walls. They jut out pretty far, but the area does look a little cleaner with them. It seems clear now with these skull themed walls what attraction they are in fact building back there, in case there were still any doubts. As far as construction progress goes, it looks like they're putting a primer and/or sealant over the rockwork before painting, the top of the rockwork is looking more and more like the Skull Island temple, and the right side of the structure is finally getting all walled up. Check out the pictures below to see the construction progress as well as the new themed construction walls. And check out the previous update for some video!
Kongstruction Update: Walkway Widened as Facade Work Moves Forward – With Video
The mysterious green walls are down revealing a slightly widened pathway in front of the construction site at Project 340 in Islands of Adventure. I'm guessing spring break might have something to do with the large crowds in the park, and everyone is turning their heads to see the new imposing structure towering above. I decided to do something a little different this time and in addition to the photo update I took some video as well. It can help illustrate just how massive this building really is! Check out the images below as well.
Kongstruction Update: Rockwork Going Strong and Structure Interior Taking Shape
Workers are working at a furious pace at Project 340 in Islands of Adventure, wrapping the facade in beautiful rockwork. Meanwhile the inside of the structure is taking shape while the walls continue to enclose the main show building. There are always dozens of workers on site every day. The temple facade is growing to the right of the gate opening, with large supports being installed and readied for more rockwork continuing to the right on the structure. Check out all of the construction photos below.
Jurassic Park Refurbishment at IOA
During the slow season is when the parks like to get their annual refurbs done. At Islands of Adventure they've just completed work on Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls and Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges in Toon Lagoon. Now that things are all sparkly and new over there they've moved their attention to the Jurassic Park River Adventure and surrounding areas. Workers have been cleaning the rockwork at the big drop, painting posts and there are construction walls up all around the area. Everything is going to be all shiny and new just in time for Jurassic World to hit theaters this summer! See the pictures below. ...continue reading
Kongstruction Update: Rocks, Rocks, Rocks – Rockwork Begins as Comcast Announces Kong Ride
The rockwork has finally begun over at Project 340 in Islands of Adventure. Things are shaping up to make for a gorgeous facade. In addition to the temple gate area a flat two-dimensional "rock-like" structure is being applied to block the show building from guests inside the park. It looks like that's what will be seen looming behind the Thunder Falls restaurant in Jurassic Park, which is good, as rocks look better than another big building ruining the skyline. Construction photos from today are below!
.@Comcast's exec just CONFIRMED KING KONG at @UniversalORL ORLANDO!
— Richard Bilbao (@RichOBJ) February 24, 2015
Also, today Comcast executives let the cat out of the bag during an earnings call, confirming that Kong is in fact returning to Orlando. "As we continue to invest in attractions, including Harry Potter and Fast and Furious in Hollywood and a King Kong attraction in Orlando, investments in our theme park are driving strong returns," said Michael Angelakis, CFO, during the fourth-quarter conference call. There has not yet been an official announcement from Universal Orlando, but at this point in the construction it's pretty hard to deny what's being built. This is clearly the temple gate from Skull Island we're seeing. ...continue reading