Skull Island: Reign of Kong Reopens at Islands of Adventure Without Its Massive Kong Animatronic

Skull Island: Reign of Kong is once again welcoming guests at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, but the attraction is currently missing one of its biggest stars. The ride reopened on Friday, September 18, after being unexpectedly closed for several weeks, and guests riding since its return report that the massive King Kong animatronic at the attraction’s finale is not currently in place.

Related: Universal Confirms Damage to Iconic King Kong Animatronic, Closing Skull Island Indefinitely

Universal Orlando previously confirmed that the King Kong figure sustained damage during routine maintenance and was undergoing repairs. The company did not share additional details about exactly what happened, how extensive the damage was, or how long repairs might take. Rumors had circulated that the figure may have been damaged by a fire, but Universal has not confirmed those reports.

With Skull Island: Reign of Kong now back in operation, riders say a black curtain is currently covering the area where the giant Kong figure normally appears, and the animatronic itself appears to have been removed. It is a pretty noticeable change to the experience, especially since the enormous physical figure is the centerpiece of the ride’s finale after several projection-heavy scenes throughout the attraction.

There is currently no announced timeline for Kong’s return, so for now guests can once again venture onto Skull Island, just without that final face-to-face encounter with the king himself. We will be keeping an eye out for any updates from Universal Orlando on repairs and the animatronic’s eventual return.

Related: We Tried the New Fat One’s Hot Dogs and Italian Ice at Universal CityWalk

If Skull Island is on your must-do list for an upcoming Universal Orlando trip, our partners at Get Away Today can help you plan the adventure and make sure there is plenty of room in the itinerary for Islands of Adventure.