universal tour king kong

If there’s one character that has endured since the dawn of cinema, it’s King Kong. The “Eighth Wonder of the World” made his first silver screen appearance in the 1933 movie, in which an expedition discovers Skull Island. And we all know how the classic story ends: Kong falls for human woman – all the way from the top of the Empire States Building, to be specific. As well as the recent ‘MonsterVerse’ entries, there was a 1976 reboot and Peter Jackson’s epic take in 2005, both of which went on to inspire attractions at Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. So now that you’re all caught up on Kong in film, let’s look at his 35-year-long rampage through the theme park…

King Kong Encounter - Universal Studios Hollywood (1986 - 2008)

The first Kong-themed attraction had a few names, but was best known as King Kong Encounter. Based on the 1976 remake, the ride opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in 1986, and would later inspire Kongfrontation at Universal Studios Orlando. The ride transported guests into the studio backlot’s New York City via tour tram, where a news report detailed the devastation of Kong. Sirens blared out across the city and upturned vehicles littered the streets. The huge and genuinely terrifying animatronic Kong would investigate the tram, before the action concluded on Brooklyn Bridge. Sadly, the attraction was destroyed by fire in 2008, and Universal decided not to rebuild. However, an uproar from guests led Universal to build a new Kong-themed ride, which would arrive in the form of King Kong 360-3D in 2010.

Kongfrontation - Universal Studios Orlando (1990 - 2002)

Kongfrontation opened to the public in 1990 and, like its Universal Studios Hollywood cousin, rooted itself firmly at the park’s New York soundstage. Here, guests boarded an aerial tram at a recreation of Pennsylvania Station, while a news report described Kong’s attack on New York. Once in the city, guests were greeted with destruction – upturned trucks erupted with fire below and torn electrical cables sparked violently overhead. During the first ‘Kongfrontation’ - arguably the scariest version of Kong ever seen on an attraction - the tram was attacked. When guests finally escaped the second encounter on Queensboro Bridge, they were able to see themselves on a news report. The ride closed in 2002, but it wasn’t the airplanes killed the beast, nor was it beauty – it was apparently a combination of staffing, operating and maintenance cost challenges.

King Kong 360-3D (Studio Tour) - Universal Studios Hollywood (2010 - Active)

Based on Peter Jackson’s monstrously epic 2005 remake, King Kong 360-3D is a part of the Studio Tour attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood where guests enter a CG/3D/HD rendition of Skull Island. With your 3D glasses firmly on, your first encounter is a pack of the raptor-like Venatosaurs. Things get even more chaotic when the island’s V-Rexes make their appearance, which in turn draw Kong out of the jungle. Before beating his chest, the King beats the super predators to a pulp – but not before you plunge down a chasm choked with vines. Using two huge wide screens, the part of the Studio Tour is seamlessly panoramic, with the action switching sides throughout, all the while your senses are assaulted with wind, water, motion and the damp scent of the jungle. It’s a short and sweet experience, but a feast for any fan of the 2005 film.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong - Universal Studios Orlando (2016 - Active)

Set on the Islands of Adventure, Skull Island: Reign of Kong is also based on the 2005 film by Peter Jackson (while also drawing on others in the franchise). This trackless ride pits guests outside the iconic temple gates, where an audio-animatronic savage native warns them of Kong. From that moment on, classic Skull Island mayhem ensues: giant bats lift screaming expedition members and grotesque, swamp-dwelling meat-weasels swallow people whole, and there’s some signature Kong-Vs-dinosaur action too, not unlike King Kong 360-3D. But what sets this ride apart from its Hollywood counterpart is the impressive audio-animatronic Kong at the end of the ride. Skull Island: Reign of Kong continues to rule over the Islands of Adventure.

The Future of Kong

With more recent adaptations such as 2017's  Kong: Skull Island and this year’s mash-up sequel Godzilla Vs Kong , the great ape remains as relevant as ever. Though it would appear that Universal Studios has committed to Peter Jackson’s Kong, there may still be room for the newer version. With that said, Jackson’s Skull Island, a fantastical, out-of-control, natural dystopia, is more park-worthy than the MonsterVerse’s somewhat uninspiring depiction. Nevertheless, as for future attractions, something that echoes the ground-breaking theater production, King Kong: Alive on Broadway , could see Kong on stage where he would ultimately break free from his shackles to terrify guests. But a Godzilla Vs Kong -inspired experience wouldn’t be out of the question, either, with the film possessing the right ingredients for a theme park adaptation.

There may be no real ‘winner’ in this year’s Godzilla Vs Kong , but when it comes to Universal Studios, it’s fair to say that Kong is King.

Dan is a freelance writer from the UK who specializes in writing about Disney theme parks and filming locations. Previously a film critic for a local radio station and his blog Curious Rookie, he's now working on becoming a children's author. His other passions include travelling, film, the Toronto Raptors and visiting Disney theme parks.

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The History Behind the King Kong Rides at Universal Studios

King Kong  inspired two different experiences at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando. 

King Kong and Universal Studios go together like banana splits and hot summer days. The two have long been associated with both the Hollywood and Orlando theme parks. It's not hyperbole to say that Kong has been a big deal at the Universal Studios theme parks going back to his first appearance as part of the Universal Studios Tour on June 14, 1986. Since then, the major monkey has continuously appeared in several experiences at the theme parks including Kongfrontation, King Kong: 360 3-D, and the Orlando exclusive dark ride, Skull Island: Reign of Kong . 

With the great ape celebrating his 90th birthday in 2023, here's some history about how King Kong has made his presence felt at Universal Studios for almost 40 years. 

Inside King Kong's History at Universal Studios

King kong encounter .

Credit: Universal Studios

The first King Kong-centric experience at a Universal Studios theme park was for the Hollywood Studio Tram Tour . King Kong Encounter was based on the 1976 film directed by John Guillermin, and the park actually built a 30-foot animatronic ape that weighed seven tons. It was designed by legendary theme park Imagineer, Bob Gurr. Guests on the tram would get an eye-level experience with the beast as he rampaged New York City and the Brooklyn Bridge. Just as he ripped the suspension bridge cables, the tram would jolt to safety. A thrilling stop on the tour due to the scale, pyro, motion effects, and Kong's banana breath — we kid you not — the ride remained a visitor favorite until it burned down in the tragic Universal Studios fire of 2008.

RELATED:  The Real Reason Kong Is Alone: The Science Behind King Kong

Kongfrontation

On June 7, 1990,  Kongfrontation opened at Universal Studios Florida. It was also based on the 1976 remake of the 1933 King Kong , and was a riff on the successful King Kong Encounter at Universal Studios Hollywood. A full standing ride, there was no tram tour associated with this iteration of the experience. Guests would enter a queue that was themed to look like the actual line for the Roosevelt Island aerial tram circa 1976. Everyone would eventually load into a Roosevelt Island tram (which was similar to a tram car) and then make their way on a supposedly calm commute. Guests would then float above 50 set-dressed facades modeled after Manhattan's Lower East Side during the late '70s, while radio traffic alerted the tram operator and guests about the impending Kong danger. After making it past flames, electrical explosions, and flowing fire hydrants on the streets, guests got face-to-face with a livid Kong hanging on the Brooklyn Bridge. The tram then found itself in the middle of a helicopter attack between the ape, with shots fired and the tram swinging in danger until everyone escaped. It became a huge attraction and cornerstone of the early Orlando park's success until it was retired in 2002.

King Kong: 360 3-D

In 2005, director Peter Jackson rebooted the monster for his version of King Kong . A technology enthusiast, Jackson and WETA helped develop a brand-new Kong experience based on the Skull Island section of his film called King Kong: 360 3-D . The first iteration was designed for the Universal Studios Hollywood Tram Tour as an immersive two and a half minute 3-D film that is part of the tour. Guests on each tram get a video introduction to the experience by Jackson who explains the tech developments of using two 200-foot wide screens on both sides of the tram with 3-D glasses to make guests feel like they're smack dab in the middle of a prehistoric fight between a Vastatosaurus rex and King Kong. With that, the tram rolls into the ancient looking cave and the chaos ensues. Using motion, water, heat, and the perception of actually falling off the tracks, guests get an exhilarating thrill from Hollow Earth. King Kong: 360 3-D continues to be a major stop on the current Universal Studios Hollywood Tram tour . 

RELATED:  Peter Jackson’s 'King Kong' Remains an Underrated Wonder of the World

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

With the success of King Kong: 360 3-D at Universal Studios Hollywood, the idea was expanded upon for a non-tram version at Universal Studios Orlando.  Skull Island: Reign of Kong opened on June 9, 2016 as a dark ride where guests enter the experience via a full scale, ancient native temple honoring King Kong. In the highly detailed queue, guests encounter a shamaness who warns the outsiders that they are trespassing on sacred ground. As they continue to meander inside, they'll see bodies littered around as another visual warning until they reach base camp. There is the entrance to a truck that will take you into the dark ride danger zone. Riders on the expedition will see animatronics mixed with 3-D filmed footage of all kinds of creatures like Terapusmordax attacking the riders and the expedition leader named Kate. Finally, the truck will experience the same screen created battle between Vastatosaurus rex and King Kong, with the extra payoff of a scale animatronic head and torso of Kong to say goodbye. It's a full circle way to honor the very first Kong ride and bring the big beast into the cutting edge of ride technology!

Peter Jackson's King Kong is now available from Universal Pictures. For more information on the King Kong theme park attractions, head to Universal Studios  Hollywood and Orlando .

• Peter Jackson
• Theme Parks
• Universal Orlando
• Universal Studios
• Universal Studios Hollywood

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Complete Guide to Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

As you make your way through Universal’s Islands of Adventure, you’ll come upon a mysterious — and somewhat foreboding — presence of ancient ruins adorned with skulls. This island is home to one of the iconic legends, King Kong, in a thrilling ride that explores the secrets of Skull Island and brings you face to face with the treacherous creatures.

Here’s everything you need to know to prepare you for your encounter with the island’s inhabitants and the mighty ape on Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal Orlando Resort .

Congratulations! You’ve been invited to join the 8th Wonder Expedition Company on their research mission to find evidence of prehistoric creatures on Skull Island, a tropical island layered with rumors of colossal creatures battling for dominance. What could go wrong? Your journey will take you deep into the island where you’ll discover just how this strange land got its daunting name.

You can read the full story behind Skull Island: Reign of Kong here .

The first part of your adventure has you entering dark ruins, which echo with the rhythmic beating of drums and a haunting chant. Uneasiness may creep in as you discover hundreds of skulls embedded into dark alcoves and signs of a native presence (although it’s unsure whether you’ll encounter them or not). You’ll finally come across the base camp of the expedition company and board your vehicle to embark on your mission.

Fun Fact: There are 887 skulls throughout the attraction. That’s a whole lot of skulls to keep track of.

You’ll board your expedition vehicle and take off with your driver to rendezvous with your expedition leader. Your journey brings you to ancient temple ruins, through a dark labyrinth of caves, and into the thick of the jungle. The entire time you’ll be faced time and again by the predatory creatures that inhabit Skull Island, culminating in an epic battle between the Vastatosaurus Rex and the colossal ape of legend, King Kong. You’ll be surrounded on all sides by the action, which is enhanced by the 4-D special effects. In the end you’ll discover the answer to the question that surrounds Kong: Is he your friend or your foe?

Fun Fact: When the ride opened in 2016, it created a first for Universal with a ride vehicle that operates on a completely trackless system. You’ll work your way across the rugged island without a rail or guidance track in sight, further immersing you into the story.

Ride Details: – Minimum height requirement of 36″ (92 cm) to ride – Universal Express Pass is accepted – You can take your bags on this ride (woot!) – Child Swap is available upon request

THE CREATURES

As I mentioned above, you’ll encounter a number of voracious creatures during your expedition on Skull Island. Here’s a rundown to prepare you.

• King Kong: We’ll start with the king himself. Kong is a Megaprimatus, an ancient species of giant ape standing approximately three stories tall. He expresses human-like emotion. You’ll notice distinctive scars likely from battles with Vastatosaurus Rex.
• Arachno-claw: These carnivorous arachnids move throughout the swampy underworld of the island’s dark caverns, foraging for dead or injured creatures. The six-legged scavenger uses its crab-like claws to crush its prey before feasting on the remains.
• Carnictis: The giant, slug-like Carnictis lacks eyes or facial features. But its gaping, oozing mouth — ringed with sharp, jagged teeth — is a distinguishing feature that allows this slow but relentless creature to feed on dead and wounded beings that have succumbed to the wretched, murky chasms of the island.
• Decarnocimex: One of the largest and most aggressive cave-dwelling inhabitants on the island, the Decarnocimex will attack anything smaller or weaker that dares to cross their path. These vicious insects tear apart their prey with their razor-sharp mandibles and two-bladed forearms.
• Terapusmordax: These are the largest flying predators on the island, with wingspans up to 10 feet. They live in colonies within the island’s interior caverns and are easily provoked. Spearing victims with lethal talons, they use large carnivorous fangs to penetrate anything — or anyone — caught in their jaws of death.
• Vastatosaurus Rex: The V. Rex is the largest, most intimidating dinosaur that roams the island’s dense jungles. Despite its large, bulky head and tough leathery skin, it’s an agile predator, changing direction at high speeds and ripping into its prey with razor-sharp teeth.

Will you survive Skull Island and your confrontation with Kong? Remember, this is his territory, and you’re at his mercy.

The post Complete Guide to Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal’s Islands of Adventure appeared first on Discover Universal .

Book your next Universal Orlando Resort vacation with Far Beyond Infinity Travel! Receive the expert guidance of an experienced UOR Travel Agent at no cost to you. Contact us today at   [email protected]   or   visit us online   to fill out a no obligation quote. 

Complete Guide to Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal’s Islands of Adventure was originally published on July 27, 2021 at 09:30AM by Denielle Ricci from Universal Orlando Blog. Far Beyond Infinity Travel Blog takes no responsibility for errors in syndicated content.

Source: Universal Orlando Blog

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As a kid, I had visited Disney multiple times and it sparked a passion for all things Disney. In 2010, I proposed to my wife in front of Cinderella's Castle an since then it has been a large part of our life. Now as a father of three and experiencing Disney with my wife through our children's eyes, our love for Disney has grown tenfold and I can't wait to share my passion and experiences with you. View more posts

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Guide to The Best Seats on the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood

No trip to  Universal Studios Hollywood  is complete without experiencing our signature attraction,  The World-Famous Studio Tour . This legit journey through the actual sets of some of your favorite movies and television shows is mixed with exhilarating attractions and entertaining insights, making it an educational thrill ride unlike anything you can experience anywhere else. And while it’s safe to say there are no bad seats on the Studio Tour, there are definitely some  preferred  seats, depending on what you’re most excited to see. Let me break it down for you.

Flash Flood

The flash flood on our Old Mexico set was added to our backlot tour back in 1968. You may recognize it from films like “Big Fat Liar”   and  “ Fletch Lives”, but seeing it in person is truly something else. A rainstorm starts out of nowhere and before you know it, 10,000 gallons of water are rushing toward you, blasting through windows, knocking over signs, when suddenly… *WHOOSH* It stops just short of washing away the entire tram. How? Movie magic, of course.

Best Seats: Car 2, Left Side

King Kong 360 3-D

The first of its kind on the Studio Tour, this attraction was created under the direction of “King Kong”   director Peter Jackson. As you make your way through Skull Island, the tram is suddenly surrounded by hungry dinosaurs and giant insects.

Luckily, Kong is on your side. Actually, he’s on all sides, throwing punches (watch out for dinosaur saliva) and catching tram cars. Good thing the tram roof is built to support that kind of weight.

…it is, right?

 Best Seats: Car 2, Right Side — if you want to see Kong’s epic entrance Car 4, Left Side — if you want to see what happens to Car 5

War of the Worlds

One of the most well-known sets from the Studio Tour is the plane crash from Steven Spielberg’s, “War of the Worlds”. Now I won’t tell you all the fun facts about this set (that’s what the tour is for), but it is a real 747 airplane that was torn apart for the movie and it is truly something to behold up close. As the neighborhood appeared in the film, you can still see the smoking wreckage of the crash and the scattered debris. Don’t worry — the tram will stop for a moment so you can snap plenty of pictures.

Best Seats: Car 3, Left Side

Some may recognize the peaceful village around the water as Cabot Cove, from the classic show, “Murder, She Wrote”. However, this section is most commonly known as Jaws Lake, home of the unstoppable great white shark from the movie “Jaws”. After greeting one of the divers in the water, the tram will pause on the dock (for safety, I guess?), allowing the shark to cause some destruction by the gas pumps before attacking the tram. This is why they tell you to keep your arms inside the vehicle, folks.

Best Seats: Car 2, Right Side — to get a good look at the shark just as he emerges Car 3, Right Side — to get a good look at the shark and enjoy those fire effects (if it’s chilly outside)

Earthquake — The Big One

This part of the tour has been featured in movies like “Beverly Hills Cop III”   and the TV show “Bones”. Much like King Kong 360 3-D, this attraction delivers thrills and action on all sides, so there are no bad seats. The difference here is that all the effects are practical (no 3D glasses needed). Plus, if you missed the fire effects from Jaws Lake or the flood from Old Mexico, Earthquake features both — and they’re on opposite sides!

Best Seats: Car 3, Left Side — for those fire effects (just watch out for the gas truck) Car 3, Right Side — for that impressive flood

Courthouse Square

Your tour guide can rattle off dozens of different movies and TV shows that have been filmed on this beautiful block of the backlot (and likely a few current productions!), but none more well-known than “Back to the Future”. While some of the facades have changed, you’ll still be taken back to 1955 (or 1985, or 2015). There’s plenty of fun stuff to see on all sides, but the tram tends to pass by the iconic courthouse and clocktower just once.

Best Seats: Car 2 or 3, Left Side – for the best view of the courthouse

New York Street & Colonial Street & Six Points Texas

A good portion of the tour is spent traveling down streets designed to look like any city  but  Hollywood. This is where the history of filmmaking on the Universal backlot comes alive with facades everywhere. Because this is a working studio, the route can vary day-to-day!

Best Seats: Anywhere!

Fast & Furious — Supercharged

There’s a government spy on board the tram and the villainous Owen Shaw is on his way to take them out (and I don’t mean to dinner). Fortunately, the “Fast & Furious” crew is aware of the situation and are here to protect you and everyone else on board. After a failed attempt to hide out at Sullivan’s Garage, the tram finds itself in a high-speed chase through the streets of LA, with intense action happening all around it. This attraction uses similar technology to King Kong 360 3-D, meaning that once again there aren’t any bad seats. To take it a step further, the action throughout is pretty similar on either side, and one character is even carried along both sides of the tram by helicopter (before jumping back into their moving vehicle, of course).

Best Seats: Any Car, Left Side – for a good look at the souped-up vehicles right when you enter Sullivan’s Garage Any Car, Right Side – for a good look at the pre-show dance party and Shaw’s arrival

As you can see, no matter where you sit on the World-Famous Studio Tour, you’re bound to get an unforgettable experience. Just remember to stay seated while the tram is in motion, and don’t put those 3D glasses on just yet. Action!

Let us know in the comments below your favorite part of the Studio Tour and we’ll see you soon!

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Josh Levesque

HHN fanatic and honorary Springfield, USA resident. Firm believer that milkshakes go with every meal. Very excited to meet your dog.

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19 comments.

For Norman Bates: Car 4, right side, second to last row. The actors who play him are usually really cute and they’ll get right on your face.

Lol. It’s sad that I know this.

I’m at Universal Studios tour guide. The Normans will be happy to hear this. Starting today through Halloween horror nights Norman is up at the psycho house so your best view will be on the left side in car four. 👍🏻

Hi. Universal Studios tour guide here. For the earthquake section you have your sides flipped. Truck comes down on the left. Flood comes from the right. 👍🏻

MVP Tour Guide! Thanks for catching that, Luke. All fixed for future readers. 🙂

Does it still pass the Psycho house ? I am taking my daughter there for the first time next week. She is obsessed with that movie and it’s all she wants to see.

Hi Vanessa! Guests will see the legendary Bates Motel from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho during the Studio Tour.

hi,i wear glasses,so i wondering there have so many 3d thing,how about bad eyesignt people could enjoy this?

Hi there! If an attraction has 3-D glasses available, they can go over normal glasses just fine!

A partir de que estatura puede hacerse este ride?

Hola Nash! Esta atracción no tiene restricción de altura y todos los Visitantes pueden experimentarla.

[…] store to choose materials for their house renovation. This store sequence was filmed entirely on the Universal Studios lot in Hollywood. This lot is made up of many stages and backlots and provides the production team with a completely […]

Hola quisiera saber que dias hay tours en español?

Hola Fernanda,

Le recomendamos comunicarse con nuestro equipo de experiencia VIP al 1-866-346-9350 para recibir asistencia con reservar un guía que hable Español para su recorrido. Se puede contactar con ellos los 7 días de la semana de 9 am a 7 pm. Para obtener más información, recomendamos consultar nuestra página de VIP Tour Experience en nuestro sitio web: https://bit.ly/3syPMhz Visitas guiadas. ¡Esperamos su bienvenida!

Can I purchase this tour without the general admission? I’ll be visiting with senior crew from abroad and they only care about the “movies tour”

Hi Cat! Guests wishing to experience The World-Famous Studio Tour will be required to purchase park tickets. We recommend viewing the Special Offers page on our website for the most up-to-date deals currently available: https://bit.ly/3wh6Hqn . We hope to see you soon!

Hola! dónde puedo ver los horarios del tour (idealmente en español)? Gracias!

¡Hola Carolina! Para informaciones actualizadas sobre los horarios del Studio Tour, recomendamos que utilice nuestra aplicación móvil de Universal Studios Hollywood. ¡Esperamos verte muy pronto!

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Ultimate Guide: Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood

The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood is in my opinion one of the best attractions at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park.

The World-Famous Studio Tour is a one-hour tour around the backlot at Universal. This is a real working movie studio, as such you’ll see sets from your favourite shows and movies as well as some of Hollywood’s most legendary filming locations.

This tour is suitable for the whole family (I recently did it with my wife and our 14-month-old little boy) and features two cinematic ride experiences; Fast & The Furious: Supercharged & King Kong 3D.

What Is The Universal Studio Tour?

The World-Famous Studio Tour takes you behind the scenes of a real film studio which has been the home to a number of movie and television shows since its inception over 50 years ago.

The tour is hosted by comedian Jimmy Fallon alongside a live guide who provides commentary throughout the duration of the tour.

Highlights Of The Studio Tour

During the tour, you will travel through different past various sound stages, and through movie sets. Throughout this time you’ll experience a variety of attractions including;

Bates Motel

This is perhaps the scariest part of the tour.

Here you’ll pull up to the Bates Motel from the epic thriller film Psycho just as Norman Bates himself is carrying a body from a room to place in the back of his truck.

As he does so, he spots you, a witness.

In an aim to cover his tracks, Norman will come towards you with a fake knife. Thankfully, the driver will begin to pull away just in time.

Norman gets closest to the back two carriages of the tram. As such I highly recommend sitting in the carriages closest to the front if you’re travelling with young children.

Plane Crash Wreckage

After escaping Norman Bates, you’ll enter the plane crash wreckage area of the tour. This features a commercial 747 aircraft which was purchased by the production company behind the hit 2005 film War of the Worlds, directed by Steven Spielberg.

The plane was chopped into pieces and transported to Universal where the full set has been left fully dressed as it was during filming.

Obviously, given how realistic this all is, it can be scary for younger guests.

Jupiter’s Claim

This new area of the backlot tour opened on July 22, 2022 (timed to open the same day as Jordan Peele’s movie Nope).

This is a drive-through area which has been rebuilt at Falls Lake (previously occupied by the Log Cabin) and features select theme park sets used in the sci-fi horror film.

Flash Flood Simulator

As you drive through the Mexcian Village, you’ll experience one of two flooding simulators that feature within the Universal Studios backlot tour.

This is one of the oldest parts of the backlot tour (in operation since 1968) and has appeared in countless films including Big Fat Liar and Fletch Lives.

In my opinion, this isn’t as scary as the other flash flood simulator which takes place as part of Earthquake: The Big One!

Earthquake: The Big One!

Earthquake: The Big One is the only split-level sound stage in the world, and has been in operation at Universal since 1969.

As the tram pulls into the subway area, an 8.4 Richter-level earthquake hits, causing a subway train to come off the tracks as it pulls into the station and flooding from the streets above to pour down into the underground.

Various scenes have been shot here including; Beverly Hills Cop III and Season 5, Episode 15 of the TV show Bones.

The Jaws portion of the Studio Tour dates back to 1967 and subsequently is one of the most nostalgic parts for long-time visitors.

As the tram approaches the water, the tension builds as the tour guide narrates the scene. Suddenly the giant animatronic shark jumps out of the water, jaws wide open.

King Kong 360 3-D

King Kong 360 3-D is one of two simulator-based rides on the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour.

This simulator was created by Peter Jackson himself and is the world’s largest 3-D experience.

The film lasts just a couple of minutes and see’s you caught in the middle of a terrifying struggle between a 35-foot T-Rex and the 8th wonder of the world – King Kong.

Fast & The Furious Supercharged

This is another simulator-based ride situated on the back lot tour.

Once again you’ll put on your 3D glasses and experience a high-speed chase alongside Dom and the gang. This is far from my favourite part of the tour, but sadly it’s not optional. Thankfully, it only lasts a couple of minutes.

Where Is The Universal Studios Tour Located?

The World Famous Studio Tour is located in a dedicated lower lot area of Universal Studios Hollywood which can be accessed from Springfield, home of The Simpsons via a number of escalators.

This dedicated lower lot area is not to be confused with the lower lot escalators down to Jurassic World & Super Nintendo World.

If you’re unsure as to where to go for the Studio Tour be sure to ask one of the Universal Studios team members situated around the park, or the Universal Studios mobile app which features a map with GPS.

How Long Is The Universal Studio Tour?

The Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood lasts between 40 minutes and one hour. During the ride, there are no stops and no toilet breaks.

While the ride itself is between 40 minutes and an hour, the standby wait line for the ride can be another hour (give or take) depending on how busy the park is during your visit.

This ride is eligible for the Universal Express Pass so, if you are upgrading to the Universal Express Pass then you will be able to skip the line here. We did this during our most recent visit and we walked straight on (the standby line at the time was around 20 mins – February 2022).

How Much Does The Universal Studio Tour Cost?

The Universal Studios Tour is free.

However, to go on the tour you will need a Universal Studios Hollywood park ticket.

Universal Studios Hollywood tickets are sold using a dynamic pricing model based on estimated demand.

As such quieter days or times of year often have lower ticket prices, while more popular days and seasons (Christmas, Halloween, Spring Break, Summer etc.) have higher ticket prices.

This dynamic pricing model also applies to Universal Express Pass tickets and tickets for the VIP Experience.

Do You Have To Book The Universal Studio Tour?

Sadly, you can not book your tour of the Universal Studios backlot in advance. Instead, spaces on each tram are on a first-come, first-served basis. Each tram roughly holds between 100 and 150 people split across 6 or so carriages.

How Long Is The Wait For The Universal Studios Tour?

The wait time for the World Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood can vary depending on factors such as the time of day, day of the week, and season.

During quieter times at the park, you can wait as little as 10 or 20 minutes to board the tram. However, during peak periods such as holidays or weekends, wait times can be in excess of one hour.

Can You Use A Universal Express Ticket For The Universal Studio Tour?

A Universal Express ticket at Universal Studios Hollywood can be used for the Studio Tour, as well as for many of the other popular attractions and rides in the park.

The Universal Express ticket gives guests priority access to select attractions, allowing them to bypass the regular standby line and experience the attraction with a shorter wait time.

Best Time To Go On The Universal Studios Tour?

Generally, speaking the best time to go on the tour is in the morning when the park first opens.

During this time the crowds are typically smaller and the lines are shorter, allowing visitors to enjoy the tour with minimal wait times.

On the flip side, the worst time to go on the tour is usually in the early afternoon, just after lunchtime as most people get to this area of the park at this time of day.

Is The Universal Studios Tour Scary?

Certain areas and attractions within the World-Famous Universal Studio Tour may be scary to younger children. However, none of them last long (maximum of four minutes).

If you’re looking for thrill rides then this tour isn’t it!

Is The Universal Studios Tour Suitable For Babies & Toddlers?

The Universal Studios Tour is suitable for babies and toddlers.

However, you will be on the tram ride for up to an hour so be sure to bring any supplies you may need for that duration of time with you.

It’s also worth noting that children must remain seated throughout the duration of the tour for health and safety reasons. So if you have a restless little one consider bringing a book, toy or iPad.

There is an extensive stroller parking lot available in the Lower Lot area from where the tour departs, this is covered so if it does start raining while you’re out on the tour then your stroller should be protected.

Are There Any Height Or Weight Restrictions For The Studio Tour?

Unlike other rides at Universal Studios Hollywood there are no weight or height restrictions on the World-Famous Studio Tour.

Can You Take Photographs & Videos During The Studio Tour?

Visitors are permitted to take photographs and videos during The World Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.

However, flash photography is not permitted during the tours 3D cinema experiences (King Kong 360 & Fast and Furious: Supercharged).

Is The Studio Tour At Universal Studios Hollywood Worth It?

While going on the Studio Tour takes up a significant portion of your day at Universal Studios Hollywood park. I believe it’s a worthwhile time investment.

This tour provides a unique insight into how scenes from your favourite movies and TV shows are made while the expert tour guide provides some incredible Hollywood secrets.

Can You See Celebrities On The Universal Studios Hollywood Tour?

There is always the possibility of seeing celebrities on the World Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood, as the tour takes visitors through active movie and television sets where productions are often being filmed.

However, there is no guarantee.

I’ve been on this tour more than ten times over the past couple of years, and the only person I’ve seen is Mario Lopez who was filming at the entrance of the theme park.

Does Universal Studios Orlando Have A Backlot Tour?

Sadly, Universal Studios in Orlando does not have a backlot tour since it is a dedicated theme park, rather than a film studio.

The Universal Orlando Resort does, however, have a VIP Experience (which is also available at Universal Studios Hollywood).

The VIP Experience is a full-day tour of the Universal Studios park with a dedicated Universal guide. The ratio of guests to guide is roughly 8:1 so it’s a very personal experience in which you’ll skip the line on every ride in the park, go behind the scenes and learn park secrets.

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Everything about tourist attractions

Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour – tickets, prices, discounts

The World-Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood is a 60-minute tram ride to explore a real working movie studio behind the scenes.

It is also known as Universal Studios Hollywood backlot tour or the studio tour.

During this tour, you will visit 13 city blocks of the studio (also known as the backlot), built with creative consultation from Steven Spielberg.

It is one of the most important experiences at the Los Angeles tourist attraction and is included with every  Universal Studios Hollywood ticket . 

This article covers everything you must know about the World-Famous Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Top Universal Studios Hollywood Tours Tickets

# VIP Tour ticket # General Admission ticket # Express Ticket

Table of contents

King kong 360 3-d, fast & furious – supercharged, earthquake – the big one, flash flood, boeing 747 from war of the worlds, amity island’s jaws, bates hotel & mansion, celebrity guides of the studio tour, studio tour’s timings, how long does the studio tour last, best time to take the studio tour, vip backlot access, what to expect on the studio tour.

Universal Studios Hollywood is a must-visit for movie buffs, and the studio tour is the closest visitors get to movie-making. 

It takes you behind the scenes where movies are made and where Hollywood’s biggest stars work daily. 

During the world-famous studio tour, you will learn about Hollywood’s filmmaking secrets and see the world’s most extensive street movie set.

Buy tickets in advance The  General Admission ticket  helps you skip the ticket counter lines and save money. Select the Express Ticket  on the booking page if you want to skip both the ticket counter lines and the ride queues. Follow the link to find out more about Universal Hollywood Express Pass . If you are on a budget holiday, there are many ways to score discount tickets at Universal Hollywood .

Here are some of the highlights of the backlot tour –

The award-winning King Kong 360-3D created by Peter Jackson is the world’s most enormous 3-D experience and is included with every  Universal Studios ticket . 

During this experience, you will get caught in a terrifying struggle between a 35-foot T-Rex and King Kong.

During the Universal Studios Hollywood’s King Kong ride, your heart will pound, and you will be scared, but you will ask for more when it is over!

Fast & Furious – Supercharged At Universal Studios Hollywood is a 3-D immersive attraction that takes you into all the movie action.

You will ride along with the all-star cast from the hit movies on an exhilarating high-speed chase that exceeds 195 km (120 miles) per hour and catapult you into the world of fast cars and international crime cartels.

The length of the attraction is 247 meters (809 feet) — longer than two football fields – and uses cutting-edge, hyper-realistic special effects on the world’s most expansive 360-degree canvas.

The Fast and Furious ride, which you will experience during the World-Famous Studio Tour, is not a roller coaster.

Recommended Reading: Minimum height requirements at Universal rides

Universal Studio’s Earthquake experience is designed to look like an 8.3 Ritcher scale earthquake in a San Francisco subway station.

When the tram tour reaches Stage 50, the earthquake starts. 

The whole station starts shaking, a burning gasoline truck collapses through the roof; a subway train derails, and a flood of water rushes in. 

Even as there is chaos everywhere, your tram starts shaking. 

The attraction resets itself within just 15 seconds and gets ready to welcome the next studio tour tram.

Before booking your tickets, find out everything about the  different kinds of tickets at Universal Studios Hollywood .

Visual Story : 13 must-know tips before visiting Universal Studios Hollywood

The Flash Flood effect at Universal Studios happens on a winding street running through a Mexican village. 

Even as you are enjoying the ‘rain effect’ and ‘thunderstorm effect’ from your tram seat, the guide announces that there has been a flash flood and water is rushing down from the hill.

A wall of water (10,000 gallons!) rushes down the hill, scares the guests, and drains off. 

The massive Boeing 747 set used by Steven Spielberg for his movie  War of the Worlds  is next to the Psycho house (remember Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho?).

The outdoor set was erected at an exorbitant cost – US$60,000 for a decommissioned plane and US$200,000 to cut it into pieces and transport it to Universal Studios Hollywood.

It got used for three days of shooting in 2005 and is still available for guests to walk around and explore. 

Recommended Reading: Universal Hollywood to Disneyland Park

The Amity island set, used in  the Jaws  movie, got included in the Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot Tour a year after Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film.

Guests see a moving shark animatronic from the film, which usually scares them.

The Jaws attraction is a recreation of a few buildings seen on Martha’s Vineyard, where the entire film was shot on location.

During the studio tour, you will see both the Psycho House and the Bates Motel.

Since Alfred Hitchcock wound Psycho’s shooting in 1960, the sets have been moved around the backlot a bit. 

You will also see Norman Bates hanging around the motel if you are lucky. 

Occasionally he is moving around a dead body, and if he sees you seeing him, he chases your tram with a knife!

Is the Studio Tour scary? Some of the  rides at Universal Hollywood , such as Jurassic Park, Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey , and Revenge of the Mummy, can be terrifying for some. However, putting a scare quotient on the Studio Tour is difficult. During the studios’ backlot tour, you will be seated in a tram and exposed to loud sounds, intense shaking, extreme water, fire effects, etc., which can scare some kids and adults. 

Back to Top

Comedian Jimmy Fallon, the star host of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” shares entertaining clips during your tour. 

He augments the live Studio Tour guide’s narration, and you can see him on the HD monitors in the trams.

Visitors love his jokes and laugh their hearts out during the tour. 

Occasionally, the tour has special guests who hop on and serve as a guide. 

Studio Tours are available in Spanish on special days. On the day of your visit, look for digital boards throughout the Park for tour times.

Backlot Tour at Night During the peak season, guests can go on a night tour of the studio’s backlot. If you visit during the peak summer, we recommend doing both the regular Studio and Nighttime tours. The  General Admission ticket  can also get you access to the nighttime tour.

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The Universal Studios Hollywood opens some days at 8 am; on some days, it begins at 10 am, and its closing time varies seasonally, from 6 pm in winter to 11 pm during peak summer. 

Check the daily hours in advance of your visit.

The World-Famous Studio Tour trams start an hour after the park opens and end an hour before the theme park shuts down for the day. 

The Universal Studios Hollywood tour lasts about 60 minutes, and you get a peek into the world of movies. 

The tram travels through the Front Lot, Backlot, and various attractions, passing sets and props from numerous movies.

Some tourists have claimed that their tours lasted only 45 to 50 minutes, which is possible during crowded days.

The best time to take the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour is late morning, afternoon, or early evening because the temperature increases and waiting times for the Universal rides are high .

It is better to go on the Studio Tour mid-way through your visit when you are tired and would prefer to sit down and enjoy the 60 minutes of the tram ride.

The World Famous Studio Tour trams stop before Universal Studios Hollywood closes, so don’t wait till the last tram departure.

Opt for  Universal Studios Hollywood’s VIP Tour , which includes exclusive access to the Universal Studios Backlot, if you want to get a closer look behind the scenes. 

You can access areas not available to regular ticket holders with the  VIP Tour ticket . 

You will tour the movie industry’s busiest sets in a special trolley and disembark to explore famous outdoor locations.

The VIP ticket also gets valet parking, light snacks, refreshments in the private VIP lounge, unlimited priority access to all rides and shows, and a gourmet meal in the private VIP dining room. 

Sources # Universalstudioshollywood.com # Wikipedia.org # Blog.discoveruniversal.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

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Priyanka Dwivedi

Since she doesn't want to leave anything to chance, she prefers sightseeing with the assistance of a tour guide or a city map. She also prefers to visit one place during one holiday, and leave nothing unexplored. During her vacations, she takes long walks, pondering the most profound philosophies of life. Favorite Cities: Prague, Lisbon, Vienna, Munich, Nice

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What Happened to the King Kong Ride at Universal Studios?

The King Kong ride, known as Kongfrontation, was one of the main attractions at Universal Studios Florida when it first opened in 1990. However, it closed permanently in 2002, leaving many fans wondering what happened to this beloved attraction.

The King Kong ride, also known as Kongfrontation, at Universal Studios Florida was closed permanently in 2002 due to speculated high staffing, operations, and maintenance costs. It was replaced by Revenge of the Mummy in 2004. However, King Kong made a return to Universal Orlando in a new attraction called “Skull Island: Reign of Kong” in 2016.

Introduction to the King Kong Ride

King Kong Encounter, the original King Kong ride, was first introduced on June 14, 1986, at Universal Studios Hollywood. It was based on the 1976 King Kong film and served as the basis for the Kongfrontation ride in Florida. The significance of King Kong Encounter lies in its groundbreaking use of animatronics and immersive experience, which marked the beginning of a new era of theme park attractions.

The Experience of the King Kong Ride

The King Kong ride was an immersive, multi-dimensional thrill ride that took guests on a 1930s-set expedition to Skull Island. The ride utilized 3D technology, immersing riders in the story as they encountered giant bugs, dinosaurs, and King Kong himself. The animatronic King Kong figure was a marvel of engineering, standing 26 feet tall and proving to be highly expressive and detailed.

The Closing of the King Kong Ride

Despite its popularity, the decision to close the King Kong ride was announced on August 15, 2002, and the ride was permanently closed on September 8, 2002. Universal never provided a solid reason for the closure, but it is speculated that high staffing, operations, and maintenance costs were to blame. The attraction was later replaced by Revenge of the Mummy in 2004.

Public Reaction to the Closing of the King Kong Ride

The closing of the King Kong ride elicited mixed reactions from the public and fans. Some fans were disappointed with the closure, as Kongfrontation had become one of the most beloved Universal attractions of all time. However, some fans had more positive reactions to newer King Kong-themed attractions, such as Skull Island: Reign of Kong.

The Replacement of the King Kong Ride

In 2010, King Kong Encounter was replaced with King Kong: 360 3-D at Universal Studios Hollywood, and Kongfrontation was replaced with Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida in 2004. Later, a new King Kong attraction called Skull Island: Reign of Kong was opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 2016.

The Future of King Kong in Universal Studios

Despite the closure of the original King Kong ride, the famous ape made a return to Universal Orlando in a new attraction called “Skull Island: Reign of Kong” in 2016. This attraction takes visitors on a journey through a recreated version of Skull Island from Peter Jackson’s 2005 movie, King Kong.

While the original King Kong ride is no more, its legacy lives on in the new King Kong-themed attractions at Universal Studios. As technology continues to advance, we can expect future attractions to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in theme park entertainment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the original king kong ride at universal studios hollywood closed.

The original King Kong ride at Universal Studios Hollywood, known as King Kong Encounter, was destroyed in 2008 due to a fire at the studio. The ride was then replaced by King Kong: 360 3-D in 2010.

What is the difference between the original King Kong ride and the new King Kong: 360 3-D ride?

The original King Kong ride was a tram tour that featured a large animatronic King Kong. The new King Kong: 360 3-D ride is a 3D immersive experience where guests wear 3D glasses and are surrounded by a 360-degree screen.

Is the King Kong ride still available at any Universal Studios theme parks?

Yes, a King Kong-themed attraction is still available at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. The ride is called “Skull Island: Reign of Kong” and it opened in 2016.

What is the “Revenge of the Mummy” ride that replaced Kongfrontation?

“Revenge of the Mummy” is an enclosed roller coaster based on the Mummy film franchise. It replaced the Kongfrontation ride at Universal Studios Florida in 2004.

What are the main features of the “Skull Island: Reign of Kong” ride?

“Skull Island: Reign of Kong” is a 3D dark ride that takes guests on a journey through Skull Island. It features animatronics and 3D screens to create an immersive experience.

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Theme parks, disney cruise line – what you need to know, cruise line ships, recent walt disney world, recent disneyland, all reviews, recent reviews, allears style, newsletter home, what happened to kongfrontation at universal studios.

Kongfrontation is one of the most important attractions in Universal Orlando ’s history. Not only was it the biggest — and arguably most dependable — headliner in the park’s opening months, but its star animatronic is a big part of why Universal’s Florida park exists in the first place.

However, even with all that, the attraction closed in 2002. So, why did such a historically important attraction shutter just over a decade into its lifespan, and how does Kongfrontation’s closure — and tangential return — still impact Universal Orlando to this day? Let’s find out.

Like many of Universal Studios Florida’s early attractions, the story of Kongfrontation begins 3,000 miles away from Orlando on the Universal Studios Hollywood Tram Tour.

In June 1986, King Kong Encounter was added to the Tram Tour. This segment saw the park’s famous trams enter into a massive soundstage dressed to appear like the New York of the 1970s, as featured in the 1976 Universal-produced King Kong film, and featured a 7-ton, 30-foot-tall Kong animatronic designed by a Universal creative team that included Disney legends Bob Gurr and Peter Alexander.

According to Alexander, his former college roommate — Steven Spielberg himself, saw the animatronic during the testing phase and was blown away. Alexander explained years later:

“It all goes back to a spring day in 1986 when Craig Barr and I were animating the first “L.A. version” of King Kong in a sound stage on the “lower lot” of Universal Studios Hollywood. Kong was due to open to the public in a week or so, and Craig and I were running the 30-foot monster through his paces, adding one “move” after another via the animation control system in order to bring the ape to life. When we finished an animation sequence, I turned my head and saw Steven Spielberg, accompanied by his bodyguard Larry, drive into the sound stage in Steven’s golf cart. “I didn’t know you were doing this,” Steven said. Although we had been college roommates at Long Beach State, I hadn’t seen Steven since I had started as the Show Producer for Universal in 1983. “Yeah, you want to see Kong do his thing?” I asked. Steven said yes, and we ran Kong through his routine again. The big guy put on an amazing show. The team of Tom Reidenbach, Dave Schweninger, and Bob Gurr — all, like myself, former Disney Imagineers — had done an incredible job creating the Kong figure, and when brought to life by Craig’s programming, with a little help from my “arm waving” (the technical term for art direction), he was awesome to behold. Steven said, “You guys are pretty good at this. My friend (George) Lucas told me only Disney could do this. He just took me on Star Tours at Disney. He said, ‘You (Steven) screwed up going with Universal. They could never do a Star Tours.'” Then Steven got a devilish glow in his eye and said, “If you guys can do this … why don’t you see what you can do with Back to the Future?” He then drove away in his golf cart, but the next day, I was called to Sid Sheinberg’s office (Chief Operating Officer of Universal Studios) for a “Spielberg Visit Debriefing Meeting.” Steven had apparently called Sid immediately after seeing Kong and told him how impressed he was with not just the monkey, but the entire attraction. In Sheinberg’s mind, if Steven Spielberg liked Kong, then millions of people might think the same …”

The addition — and specifically the massive Kong animatronic (complete with banana breath) — was hugely popular, and combined with Speilberg’s enthusiasm, reignited Universal’s interest in opening a Florida version of their theme park, a plan they’d flirted with earlier in the decade and abandoned due to some alleged corporate shenanigans.

Given the part Kong’s popularity played in restarting the Universal Orlando project, it’s no surprise that the giant ape was planned for the new park from the start. However, like its fellow Tram Tour stops Earthquake and Jaws, Kong would be expanded from a quick experience within the tram tour into a massive E-Ticket in its own right as a way to ensure that Universal’s park could compete with the then newly-announced Disney/MGM Studios theme park .

When Universal Studios Florida opened in June 1990, the Kong attraction — dubbed Kongfrontation — was one of the park’s headline attractions along with Earthquake: The Big One and Jaws . The ride saw guests entering a massive facade of New York’s Penn Station into a graffiti-strewn full scale New York City street. Through a subway station queue, guests view news reports — hosted by real longtime NYC newscaster Roland Smith — detailing Kong’s rampage through the city (using footage of the aforementioned 1976 film).

Upon reaching the end of the line, guests board a near replica of the real Roosevelt Island tram. The ride vehicles — suspended from the ceiling of the show building on tracks — travel through a destroyed New York, encountering military and police vehicles and eventually two massive Kong animatronics, which measure 39 feet tall with arm spans of 54 feet. One of these Kongs weighed approximately 13,000 pounds, while the lighter, slightly more mobile figure weighed approximately 8,000 pounds, and both featured banana breath.

Opening day of Universal Studios Florida has long-been known as a disaster , and like the other headline attractions, Kong faced its fair share of issues. According to Alexander, Universal’s creative team was unsure if they could safely achieve several of their planned effects, including the illusion of the Kong animatronic “grabbing, lifting, and dropping” the tram. He would explain: “By opening day in 1990, they had just about every bug worked out except the ‘talk back’ system: there was still no way to be certain that Kong wouldn’t malfunction and stick his hand into the tram car and nail that lady in the third row or that the tram car wouldn’t break off Kong’s hand in the process. The result was that we couldn’t guarantee the safety of the general public and had to screen opening day passengers! This problem occasioned my favorite memory of the King Kong ride. On opening day, I had to serve as on-board ride control, communicating Kong’s actions to Craig and his crew in the control room. If Kong acted up, I was to radio Craig to “pull the big guy’s plug.” I also had to serve as “gatekeeper” to determine who looked like a good risk to let on the ride: we didn’t want the guests to repeat my double hernia experience.”

However, despite these initial issues, Kongfrontation would quickly become one of the nascent Universal Studios Florida’s most reliable attractions, especially compared to Earthquake and Jaws , both of which ended up involved in lawsuits between Universal and their respective designers over their issues. Thanks to this comparative reliability, Kongfrontation, and specifically the animatronics, would become a major part of Universal’s promotion during the park’s first decade.

Kongfrontation would remain massively popular as Universal entered the 20th century, however that didn’t stop the company from abruptly closing the attraction in September of 2002. While no official reason for the closure has ever been given, many have speculated that a mixture of high necessary staffing, operations and maintenance costs were to blame. However, while these likely played a role, the likely answer is that Universal needed the massive show building space for something new.

The new attraction, Revenge of the Mummy, opened in 2004. The indoor coaster earned widespread praise, even begrudgingly from die-hard Kong fans, and ushered in a new era for Universal Orlando. In the years since, numerous other iconic early Universal attractions including Earthquake: The Big One, Back to the Future: The Ride and Jaws have closed to make way for new intellectual properties and attractions. However, Kong’s days in Orlando weren’t done yet.

In June 2008, a massive fire broke out at Universal Hollywood, destroying a portion of the backlot including the Studio Tram Tour’s King Kong Encounter. In August, Universal announced that the destroyed segment of the tour would be replaced by King Kong: 360 3-D, a new screen-based experience based on Peter Jackson’s 2005 version. That addition opened in 2009, and met with mixed reviews as many praised the attraction while lamenting the absence of a Kong animatronic.

History repeated itself in 2016, when the King Kong: 360 3-D was expanded into a full-size attraction, Skull island: Reign of Kong, which opened at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park that summer. The new attraction was built mainly around a clone of the 360 3-D film, but also featured massive sets and an animatronic “half” Kong figure.

While Skull Island has returned Kong to Orlando, there are still many who miss the original Kongfrontation. However, Peter Alexander had a philosophical take on the ride’s closure and place in Universal history, saying “The big guy,” as we used to call him, had a good run at Universal Studios Florida. Though he has now been retired, his legacy — the two theme parks, hotels, and CityWalk — lives on, and sometimes … I think I can still smell his banana breath.”

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Did you get the chance to ride Kongfrontation during it’s Universal Orlando run? Do you wish the attraction was still there? Let us know in the comments below.

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One Reply to “What Happened to Kongfrontation at Universal Studios?”

Yes! I loved the ride!! I LOVE the thrill is exciting rides, but not a big fan of rollercoasters! However, the Kong ride was equally exciting without turning my stomach into mush! It was PERFECT!!

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King Kong Encounter

• View history

Original Poster For The Ride

King Kong (better known as King Kong Encounter and also known as Kongfrontation during opening and King Kong: The Ride ) was part of the Studio Tour at Universal Studios Hollywood until it was replaced by King Kong: 360 3-D . The ride

was built in 1984, and opened up in 1986, the year King Kong Lives came out. The ride was one of the most popular parts of studio tour, and everybody was amazed by Kong for 22 years. The story of the ride is long, and amazing. But first let's go over what the ride is about.

• 2.1 Timeline of the attraction
• 3 Video Gallery

The Ride [ ]

The ride takes place during the Universal Studios Tour. For those of you who don't know the Universal Studio Tour is a 1 hour long attraction where tourists at Universal Studios can ride on a special bus to actually see props and famous sets throughout Universal's history. They also have attractions along the way from movies that stun and flabbergast the passengers, and to make it seem like they are part of the movie. To learn more about the studio tour visit  Universal Studios Wiki  to learn more about the attraction's history. One of the attractions was the King Kong Encounter, which amazed and scared tourists for 22 years!

The Famous Kong Animatronic

The ride starts when the tour bus drives through the doors of a giant building. Once the doors close, the bus is transfered into the world of King Kong. It comes out of a 12 yard long dark tunnel, and is in a giant set of New York City. While the bus makes it's way along a long twisty bridge, tourists see Kong's path of destruction. Cars that have been flipped over, street lights broken, a subway train is derailed, multiple (Staged) fires are burning, and animatronic police cars drive through the street below.  Suddenly, the tour operator turns on a news bulletin on the TV inside the bus. Another TV turns on outside the bus, inside of building, that tourists can see through the window.

Real life ABC News Anchor Sander Vanocur plays himself.

As the bus is moving, the news report shows a News Anchor (Sander Vanocur) saying why all this destruction is happening. He says a strange and rare ape known as Kong has escaped captivity and is going on a rampage through New York City. They then switch the Camera's Over to a reporter named Kelly King (Sheree J. Wilson), who is in a news helicopter following Kong throughout New York City. Suddenly, she notices the studio bus, and says to the pilot to go down and help them, because they are getting closer to Kong. Suddenly, Kelly screams, "Look out for the bus!", because Kong is chucking a city bus at the chopper off screen. The bus hits the Chopper, and screaming, Kelly and the pilot spin out of control as the TV goes static.

Actress Sheree J. Wilson plays Telecopter Reporter Kelly King.

Suddenly, on the left side of the bus, the News Helicopter comes crashing down, and gets tangled up in telephone wires, causing it to explode right in front of the passengers. The bus makes it's way through a turn, and onto the Brooklyn Bridge. The right side of the bus is dark and people can only see the shadows of buildings and glowing of the windows. People can see black outlines of people in the window pointing and staring at bridge. No one knows what their looking at until they here a shout.

Everyone hears someone shout, "Ready the Searchlight!" Suddenly, a searchlight from atop the Chrysler Building shines down onto the bridge, revealing Kong climbing up the side of the bridge pillars, at eye to eye level with the tourists. Right when he is climbing up, he notices the bus, and roars at it. The bus and tourists attempt to escape, but Kong shakes the bridge, shaking the terrified passengers toward the edge of the bridge. Just before the passengers fall into the Hudson river, a police helicopter fires shots at Kong with a machine gun, distracting Kong from killing the tourists, and at this point the bus escapes. The bus heads off the bridge, into another tunnel, and heads through another door, exiting from the world of King Kong, and back to reality. While the tourists are exiting, they see another News Report, with footage of them being attacked by Kong, and saying they were an underground bus system, that barely escaped Kong's grasp. This News Report gives people an amazing feeling like they were actually in the movie!

History [ ]

Bob Gurr was the designer of the Kong figure.

The King Kong Encounter's construction began in 1984. As the studio tour bus drove by the construction sight, many people got excited. Building the attraction was mostly easy. Universal Studio employees bought broken down cars and other broken parts, to scatter around the set. They created 30 foot tall realistic buildings with lights and decorations inside. Finally, they built a giant building over it, and decorated it with paintings of city skylines, controlled fire machines, and spotlights on the ceiling.

A press advert for the attraction.

An another press advert for the attraction.

However dealing with machinery was the most difficult part. The crashing helicopter was almost life-sized, and had a controlled fire machine on it. It took almost 5 months to build, and 3 weeks to install it. However, they got it done. They built another helicopter prop, the half scale police helicopter that fires on Kong, so the tourists can escape. The helicopter was built with a small searchlight on it, a loudspeaker, a flashing light designed like a machine gun, spinning blades, and a hidden fan to make wind, and make the encounter as realistic as possible.

Kong under construction

Of course, the most amazing part was Kong. The 30 foot tall animatronic was built with a budget of over 7 million dollar budget. It weighed seven tons, and was the most complex and amazing animatronics of it's time. Kong was designed by Bob Gurr, who also worked on some of the attractions at Disneyland. So much detail was put into Kong, that he even had Banana-Scented breath! The giant animatronic was completed and installed 1985, and was put next to the shaking bridge.

The attraction was opened up in 1986, and it made national headlines. It instantly became one of the most popular rides at Universal Studios. The ride also helped Dino De Laurentis's spread the news of the release of King Kong Lives, prompting people to go see the movie after being on the ride. The ride amazed everybody who went on it, and made the Universal Studio tour more popular. 

Billboard Ad for Attraction

This ride inspired another attraction at Universal Studios Orlando. The ride was called the  Kongfrontation , and it featured kind of the same plotline, but this time, it had more suspense and two Kong animatronics! However, King Kong Encounter was still popular at Universal Studios Hollywood. What was even cooler was that the ride was even featured in the movie, The Wizard, which increased it's popularity even more. Kong stayed King for 20 years, and was still cool for everybody who encountered him. The ride celebrated it's 20th anniversary in 2006 and it was a big celebration. In the ride, Kong temporarily wore a giant Party hat that said Happy 20th! He continued to scare more people for two years. However, those of you who are thinking about riding it, I'm sorry to say you can't. The Story of the King Kong Encounter ends in tragedy,

Kong on his last day alive.

just like the movie.

On June 1st, 2008 Kong, and the entire attraction met it's fate. On this day, a fire broke out in the Backlot of Universal Studios before the Studio Tour opened. The fire was accidently caused by a malfunctioning special effect. The fire spreaded, consuming multiple sets, and spreading very fast. Suddenly large gust of wind blew the flames into the Kong building. The whole building was up in smoke in less than 10 minutes. People gathered up in line to wait for the Studio Tour buses to pick them up. But instead of the welcoming horns of buses, loud deafening sirens shook the ground, as 10 firetrucks pulled through an emergency entrance, and drove down the studio tour roads. It took Firefighters almost all day to extinguish the flames. Soon the fire was contained, and the rest of the backlot was safe. Unfortunately, it was not enough to save the Kong attraction. The building was completely destroyed. The only part of Kong left was his severed hand. 

The studio tour opened up again, once they cleared the debris, but for everybody, it wasn't the same without the King of Skull Island. Many people were devastated by the loss of Kong. However, their sadness turned to anger when Universal Studios announced they would not be rebuilding the ride, but replacing it with a new attraction. This caused outrage among many fans, who longed to see King Kong again. But Peter Jackson, creator of the 2005 remake of King Kong decided if they want Kong again, they shall have him. In 2009, at Comic Con, he announced to everybody that he would be creation the King Kong 360 3D ride for the studio tour. Everybody was overjoyed to hear this, and in 2011, the Kong was back! To learn more about the King Kong 360 3D, click on the link above. However, we will always remember the King Kong Encounter!

Timeline of the attraction [ ]

Voice Actress Tress MacNeille dubs the voice of Kelly King in early 1987.

Before the opening of Kongfrontation in 1990, WWOR-TV News Anchor Rolland Smith plays himself inside its WWOR-TV's newsroom.

• 1976 – King Kong (John Guillermin) is released, and provides the inspiration for this attraction.
• 1984 – Work starts on the attraction at Landmark Entertainment
• October 1985 – Sequoia Creative starts work on the Kong figure. [1] .
• March 18 1986 – Attraction previews at Universal Studios, Hollywood
• June 14th 1986 – Public opening at Universal Studios, Hollywood
• Late 1986 – MCA (Universal’s parent company) takes control of WOR-TV in Secaucus, New Jersey and renames it WWOR-TV .
• Early 1987 - Kelly's voice is being dubbed by Tress MacNeille
• Feb 1st 1990 – News video footage re-made with WWOR news anchor Rolland Smith at the station's studios in Secaucus.
• 1990 – Attraction opens as Kongfrontation at Universal Studios Florida.
• September 8, 2002 – Kongfrontation closes in Florida to make room for their version of Revenge of the Mummy dark ride.
• 2005 – King Kong (Peter Jackson) is released.
• June 1 2008 – The entire King Kong attraction destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire . Only the outer walls of the show building remained. A few days later, they had been demolished too.
• July 1, 2010 – The entire King Kong Encounter attraction was replaced with King Kong: 360 3-D .

Video Gallery [ ]

Universal Studios Tour King Kong

King Kong Encounter - Attraction Video Universal Studios Hollywood

King Kong Opening (1986)

King Kong - Universal Studios Hollywood

King Kong Chase - Excerpt from The Wizard

KING KONG - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS - HOLLYWOOD - 1994

Old Universal Studios Hollywood Tour New York Street and King Kong

King Kong Universal Studios Los Angeles California

Old King Kong Attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood HD

HD King Kong Encounter & the Mummy Tunnel Sandstorm at Universal Studios Hollywood

The King Kong Encounter 2008 HD

Goodbye King Kong

26. The King Kong Encounter (1986 -2008) KING KONG REVIEWS

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• 1 Vastatosaurus rex
• 2 Ann Darrow
• 3 Skull Island

Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates 60 years with this new Studio Tour experience

Universal Studios Hollywood reissues iconic Glamor Trams as the world-renowned Studio Tour celebrates a milestone 60 years. (Photo credit: Victoria Wall Harris/Universal Studios Hollywood)

LOS ANGELES - Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates the Studio Tour's 60th anniversary this season with a new, "experiential" addition to their popular Los Angeles back lot tours. 

While guests are normally confined to keeping their arms and legs inside their vehicle during the tour, beginning April 26, Universal Studios Hollywood is flipping the script. The park invites guests to get off the tram to pose for photo opportunities in front of some legendary movie scenes, like Universal's "King Kong" and "Jaws" sets.

For a photo opportunity like never before, the anniversary event will also feature the first-ever original replica of the Hollywood Sign situated along the iconic back lot for guests to get up close to the iconic landmark.

Universal Studios Hollywood reissues iconic Glamor Trams as world-renowned Studio Tour celebrates a milestone 60 years. (Photo credit Victoria Wall Harris/Universal Studios Hollywood)

Other notable attractions include the renovated debut of Universal's "Earthquake – The Big One," which features a realistic 8.3-magnitude quake, and a large Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur display. The 60th-anniversary elements offer guests new ways to immerse themselves in Hollywood's most iconic scenes – and take the photos to prove it.

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"The Studio Tour is a crown jewel in our theme park portfolio and a beloved attraction for millions of guests," said Universal Studios Hollywood Executive Vice President and General Manager Scott Strobl. "We are thrilled and honored to share our enthusiasm for its historic relevance with guests both new to the experience as well as those who have journeyed with us along the way."

As part of the Studio Tour 60th anniversary celebration, Universal Studios Hollywood offers a selection of specially created, highly themed food and beverages, available from April 26-August 11, 2024. (Photo credit Victoria Wall Harris/Universal Studios Hollywood)

The anniversary celebration also includes new eatery options, including BBQ brisket sandwiches and BBQ chicken sandwiches from Hollywood & Dine, burgers and chili dogs from Mel's Diner, ice cream from Studio Scoops and cookie sandwiches from City Snack Shop.

Universal Studios Hollywood's 60th anniversary event runs from April 26 through August 11, 2024. Click here for more information and for tickets .

Box Office: ‘Godzilla x Kong' Staying on Top, ‘Monkey Man' Swings Into Second and ‘The First Omen' Gets Crossed Up

It's a primate face-off at the box office this weekend, plus some old-fashioned Antichrist horror on the side. Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros.' "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" looks to stick on top of domestic charts, holding off the opening weekend bows of Universal's beat-em-up "Monkey Man" and 20th Century Studios' horror revival "The First Omen."

That kaiju victory lap probably has less to do with the staying power of "The New Empire" than the strength of its competition though. The blockbuster monster mash earned $8.5 million on Friday, down a steep 77% from its opening day a week ago. "The New Empire" could be eyeing a drop north of 60% across the three-day frame - not a superlatively large decline from a blockbuster's opening weekend, but still a pretty sizable one. It puts in perspective the impressively slim 44% drop that fellow Legendary production "Dune: Part Two" faced in its sophomore outing.

Still, "The New Empire" has already surpassed a $100 million domestic total - something only two other movies have done so far this year. And the movie got off to a smashing start overseas , where both Godzilla and King Kong have traditionally drawn crowds. With a $150 million production budget, the film is still meeting expectations for Legendary and Warner Bros., but things are perhaps coming back to Earth a bit after a bigger-than-expected opening weekend.

Eyeing second is Universal's "Monkey Man," which the studio picked up after Netflix dropped an initial deal with the production. The action movie, starring and helmed by Dev Patel in his feature directorial debut, nabbed $4.2 million on Friday and previews. It is now looking at a $10.5 million debut from 3,029 locations - a couple steps behind the $12 million bow that projections had it at before the weekend. The film scored strong reviews following a buzzy premiere at the SXSW Festival in March. Audiences that showed up early are leaning positive, as indicated by the B+ grade determined by survey firm Cinema Score.

It's not a bad place to start for "Monkey Man," which Universal acquired for $10 million with some help from Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions. The film tells an action-packed revenge story of a boxer in India that infiltrates his city's underground criminal empire.

Landing a less auspicious debut is "The First Omen," which earned $3.2 million from 3,375 locations across Friday and preview screenings (per rivals). Projections heading into the weekend had pegged an opening north of $14 million; now, it seems the release from 20th Century Studios (owned by Disney) will be lucky to even hit $10 million.

It's a rare underperformance for horror at the box office, though it might have something to do with attempting to entice audiences with a decades-old property. Another revival of a legacy franchise from the '70s, "The Exorcist: Believer," also came in behind expectations last October.

Of course, 20th Century Studios didn't spend $400 million on "The Omen" rights and tout plans for a new trilogy, like how Universal did with "The Exorcist." Instead, "First Omen" is modestly budgeted at $30 million (though that's still somewhat steep for horror - oftentimes a low-risk, high-reward gamble for studios). The film earned positive nods from critics, though audiences are less-enthused, turning in a C grade on Cinema Score. Even if "The First Omen" can't find its way out of the red in the weeks ahead, it's not going to amount to a staggering financial burden.

Serving as a prequel to Richard Donner's 1976 original "The Omen," this new sixth entry follows an American working at a Roman church who unravels an unholy conspiracy. Nell Tiger Free, Sônia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy and Tawfeek Barhom star, while Arkasha Stevenson directs.

Sony's "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" looks to land in fourth place, facing a 42% drop in its third weekend. The supernatural comedy sequel will get past an $85 million domestic tally this weekend, along with $40 million internationally - not a figure that would seem to justify a $100 million production budget, plus marketing costs and accounting for exhibitor's take of ticket sales. The film's predecessor, franchise revival "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," notched $102 million after 17 days of North American release in 2021, a pace that "Frozen Empire" is trailing well behind.

Universal's "Kung Fu Panda 4" looks to round out the top five, projecting another modest drop this weekend (23%) for another $8 million. In the coming days, it will surpass the $165.2 million domestic sum of 2010's "Kung Fu Panda 2" to become the second-highest grossing title of the DreamWorks Animation franchise in North America.

More from Variety

• Box Office: 'Monkey Man' Makes $1.4 Million in Previews, 'First Omen' Follows With $725,000
• How 'The First Omen' Channels '70s Horror Imagery and Remixes the Most Terrifying Scares From the 1976 Original, and What a Sequel Might Look Like

More From Forbes

Is ‘kung fu panda 4’ available on streaming here are ways to watch it online.

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Cropped poster for "Kung Fu Panda 4"

Kung Fu Panda 4 — Jack Black’s latest animated film hit — is now available to stream online on select digital platforms.

Released in theaters on March 8, Kung Fu Panda 4 marks the first big screen adventure for Black’s martial arts expert Panda Bear Po since Kung Fu Panda 3 in 2016. The film franchise kicked off in 2008 with Kung Fu Panda and its first sequel hit theaters in 2011.

After a $57 million opening weekend in March, Kung Fu Panda 4’s box office has earned $166.4 million at the domestic box office to date. Combined with $251.3 million in ticket sales overseas, Kung Fu Panda 4 has a combined gross of $417.7 at the worldwide box office so far.

While a “free” streaming date for Kung Fu Panda 4 has not been set yet by Universal Pictures — provided you subscribe to the studio’s streaming service Peacock — the film is now available to stream on premium video on demand.

Currently, such streaming platforms as Prime Video , AppleTV+ and VUDU have the film available to rent for $19.99. If viewers don’t want to rent Kung Fu Panda 4 via PVOD — which generally gives renters 48 hours to stream the film once they start watching it — a digital copy of the film is available to purchase on the same platforms for $29.99.

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, what is ‘kung fu panda 4’ about.

At the beginning of the Kung Fu Panda saga, Po (voice of Jack Black ) finally accepts his destiny per ancient prophecy and becomes a Dragon Warrior and a master of Kung Fu.

In Kung Fu Panda 4 , Po’s Kung Fu teacher, Master Shifu (voice of Dustin Hoffman), informs the gregarious Panda Bear that he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior so he can become the new Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.

However, since a new enemy called The Chameleon (voice of Viola Davis) has emerged, Po is reluctant to make the transition. Naturally, Po comes face to face with the Chameleon — and discovers that the shapeshifting sorceress wants to steal his Staff of Wisdom so she can pull all of Po’s previous enemies out of the spirit realm and gain their Kung Fu skills.

Thankfully, Po won’t face the Chameleon alone since he’s found a friend in a sly fox named Zhen (voiced by Awkwafina).

Kung Fu Panda 4 received a warm reception from Rotten Tomatoes critics by earning a “fresh” rating of 72% based on 145 reviews. The film was embraced even more by viewers and earned an 86% positive audience score based on 1,000-plus verified ratings.

Kung Fu Panda movie received a franchise -high 87% percent “fresh” Rotten Tomatoes rating while Kung Fu Panda 2 scored an 86% percent rating and Kung Fu Panda 3 nabbed an 81% rating.

While Kung Fu Panda 4 has the lowest rating of all four films via Rotten Tomatoes critics, it surprisingly has the highest audience score in the franchise.

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