Skull Island: Reign of Kong - General Discussion

[belloq87]

I 100% respect epcyclopedia's review, as well as anyone's. It definitely made me less excited to ride it but it is what it is. I think once I heard the lack of AA's in general and how it's basically Kong 360 with some added pluses I was super bummed. Hopefully softs happen tomorrow so I can post my own review.

I'm kind of with you. My expectations are at a level where I'm sure I'm going to enjoy the ride (because the most important factor to me has always been the Kong AA, and it appears like they nailed that element), but it doesn't sound like it's going to fully be the "best of both worlds" experience some of the early rumors suggested it might be.

I'll be interested in hearing your appraisal if you get to ride soon; I want to hear all points-of-view regarding this ride.

Some people are just not going to be impressed with a screen attraction anymore, no matter how effectively they're used. It's crazy to think but Universal is responsible for changing the game 17 years ago. Unfortunately, this will go for Disney fans too as they should expect plenty of screens on Avatar and Star Wars.

Universal did change the game, and I'm glad they did. I'm ready for them to do it again in a different way. I just don't know how much further they can push the screens stuff without a bunch of attractions feeling same-y or being rendered redundant experiences. That doesn't really apply to Kong, because there's nothing approaching the 360 section anywhere in Orlando, but once Fast & Furious opens (which sounds like it's basically going to be the same thing as Kong, only with a different theme and lacking the AAs), we're probably looking at two attractions that are quite similar.

Yes but they will be "better" because Disney did it...that's what irks me

Let's not paint everybody with a broad brush and assume that any critiques of Universal must be coming from biased, intellectually dishonest Disney nuts.

 

[Universalfanboy]

We always have to remember that reviews are only a persons personal opinion. Take Batman VS Superman, I personally loved the movie while a lot of people didn't. There'll be people that will not like this attraction and that's OK. We have to respect people's opinions.

 

[Thisguynamedlee]

So idk if you guys mentioned it on another page but ITM on YouTube posted a video of the witch and omg that thing is horrifying and Moves so smooth

 

[OLSinFLA]

There were tons of warning signs for Alien Encounter ("takes place in complete darkness" "Not suitable for small children" etc etc). No one read them. So the ride ended up being replaced with the gawdawful Stich Encounter

 

[Scott W.]

It was all hosed down this morning... why are they sweeping?

Sweeping away the collapsed pixie dust.

 

[GadgetGuru]

I hope more than anything that Jurassic Park / JW gets a proper land soon. The entrance to JP was one of my favorite places in all of Universal. Hell, in all of Orlando. Jurassic Park deserves so much more than it's been reduced to.

 

[belloq87]

One of the big issues with Alien Encounter was that it was so radically different in tone from anything else in the Magic Kingdom, so it was incredibly unexpected for many to discover how intense it was, even if they studied the signage. Islands of Adventure at least already has several intense attractions with dangerous or scary tones, and doesn't have as child-friendly a reputation as MK does.

 

[misterID]

@epcyclopedia , totally agree with you. Funny how people who haven't even ridden are calling you a Debbie Downer when you're speaking the truth...
Got to ride last night at TM preview. Very fortunate, great experience. Queue is incredible, theming is incredible, no doubt about it. I rode around 9:30pm, preview was supposed to go until 12am but they closed early due to technical issues (there were a LOT of by the way). I don't think this ride is even close to being able to be opened because of the tech issues I experienced, but what do I know.
It's a cool ride -- I think I'm just over the typical 3-D screen rides Universal has become so reliant on. I'm not saying the 3-D isn't cool. It is. But I'd like to see what else Universal can do besides the same ride over and over. Also, there's barely any movement, and whoever said Frozen ride has more movement with the drop is most likely correct. With that being said, the ending is one of the most incredible things I've seen which makes rating this ride super difficult.
Anyways, I'm excited to ride again when they ironed out the kinks. I rode twice last night but the first time it broke down and the screens turned off so they let us ride again right away which was cool. My understanding is this was happening multiple times throughout the night so I'm really shocked they're supposedly about to do soft openings.
I got to watch them take down the walls last night too which was super cool.
Hope you all enjoy.

Thanks for the review. Totally agree, they need to change things up with the 3D. We're getting another version of Kong with Fast & Furious, and Fallon. Change it up. And from all the reviews the highlight of Kong is the AA!

 

[Teebin]

So, are the walls still down? I wonder when they will put them back up...

 

[SkiBum]

Sweeping away the collapsed pixie dust.

Awesome. So, what color do the diehard Disney fans turn when UNI gets a new ride? Mila Kunis green or Evil Queen from Snow White?

 

[Mad Dog]

Great to see that! Hope you are having a fun time with the dozens of people wanting to be apart of Kongwatch today!

What gives? That's two pictures you took today & not a drink in sight.

 

[IzzyB]

So for those TMs that have been on this, is there a child swap?

 

[Teebin]

So for those TMs that have been on this, is there a child swap?

Yeah, I confirmed that a bit ago. I believe it is a large room between load and unload.

If you want to bypass the queue, I would take your daughter through single riders and you can drop her off there as you will walk right by it.

 

[TheRazorSlash]

@epcyclopedia , totally agree with you. Funny how people who haven't even ridden are calling you a Debbie Downer when you're speaking the truth...
Got to ride last night at TM preview. Very fortunate, great experience. Queue is incredible, theming is incredible, no doubt about it. I rode around 9:30pm, preview was supposed to go until 12am but they closed early due to technical issues (there were a LOT of by the way). I don't think this ride is even close to being able to be opened because of the tech issues I experienced, but what do I know.
It's a cool ride -- I think I'm just over the typical 3-D screen rides Universal has become so reliant on. I'm not saying the 3-D isn't cool. It is. But I'd like to see what else Universal can do besides the same ride over and over. Also, there's barely any movement, and whoever said Frozen ride has more movement with the drop is most likely correct. With that being said, the ending is one of the most incredible things I've seen which makes rating this ride super difficult.
Anyways, I'm excited to ride again when they ironed out the kinks. I rode twice last night but the first time it broke down and the screens turned off so they let us ride again right away which was cool. My understanding is this was happening multiple times throughout the night so I'm really shocked they're supposedly about to do soft openings.
I got to watch them take down the walls last night too which was super cool.
Hope you all enjoy.

About the technical issues- It doesn't surprise me that they'd be ready to open with tech issues. Transformers broke down all the time when it first opened. I remember being down there the week it opened and it had to have broken down once out of every three rides, screens off and all.

 

[Mad Dog]

OK that worked better........Hey Dave, what gives? That's two pictures you took today and not a drink in sight.

 

[Universalfanboy]

So for those TMs that have been on this, is there a child swap?

Yes.

 

[Universalfanboy]

Yeah, I confirmed that a bit ago. I believe it is a large room between load and unload.

Correct

 

[Teebin]

Very cool. I shook hands with Mark Woodbury in Diagon Alley during softs

You know, it is interesting that this is the first major attraction in some time that we haven't seen Mark standing over. Mike has been a grand addition to the lineup and I don't gush over people as a general rule. He is just really good on camera.

 

[Disneyhead]

OK that worked better........Hey Dave, what gives? That's two pictures you took today and not a drink in sight.

Cheers! Pennsylvania's finest!

 

[Mike S]

You know, it is interesting that this is the first major attraction in some time that we haven't seen Mark standing over. Mike has been a grand addition to the lineup and I don't gush over people as a general rule. He is just really good on camera.

Why thank you