Differences

1. Setting and storyline

At Kongfrontation, the premise was that Kong was terrorizing Manhattan and you were being evacuated to Roosevelt Island. It was set in 1970s New York City, and King Kong was clearly the villain. Although he was never actually stopped, the video epilogue indicated that he did leave New York after the events of the ride.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong has a vastly different premise. You are an explorer in the 1930s who has found your way to Kong’s mysterious island home. As you battle fierce, prehistoric predators in this most unusual jungle setting, you come face to face with the king of beasts, King Kong himself.

For me, the biggest question is: Will he be a clear-cut villain this time? Removed from the city, where he clearly doesn’t belong, is he actually a villain at all? The movies did a remarkable job of making him a sympathetic character, somewhere between anti-hero and anti-villain, caught up in a web he did not understand. By setting the entire ride on Skull Island, this time the designers have an interesting story choice to make: what if Kong turns out to be the hero, the only one who can save guests from the true predators of the jungle? We’ll have to wait to find out, but it is clear that the events of this ride have absolutely nothing in common with the events of the previous attraction.

2. Physical location of ride vehicles

Part of what made Kongfrontation such an instant classic was that it placed guests 30 feet in the air on aerial trams. Jaws used to be described as “Kong in the water,” and Kong was described as “Jaws in the air.” Both had very similar basic plots, but I always felt that Kong had the edge. The dramatic moment when Kong dropped the tram, sending guests hurtling towards the “East River,” was a shining spot in late 20th century ride design.

The ride vehicles in Reign of Kong are safari-style trucks that remain firmly on the ground. Of course, there’s no telling what tricks Universal might use to fool our senses into believing that we’re somewhere other than terra firma. But I’m slightly concerned that without physically elevating the rider, this incarnation will lose some of the wow factor of the original. And how will we ever come face to face with the great ape himself? We’ll have to wait to find out.

3. Size and scale

The five minute Kongfrontation attraction was in itself an impressively massive and lengthy attraction. Yet Universal assures us that this one is so much more, in every conceivable way. More massive, more immersive, and even longer than before. The 72 foot tall Great Wall is only the beginning. On sheer size and scale, Reign of Kong looks to win decisively.

4. Height restriction

Interestingly, Reign of Kong will be the first Kong attraction with a height restriction. At Kongfrontation, the only requirement was that children had to be able to sit up on the bench seat next to a parent. King Kong 360 and the former King Kong Encounter, both at Universal Hollywood, have always been part of the Studio Backlot Tour, which does not have a height requirement. Reign of Kong’s restriction is low, at just 34 inches, but it does arouse curiosity. What could this ride possibly entail that would require the imposition of a height restriction at all?

We have only the barest of information about Skull Island: Reign of Kong. As opening day draws nearer, many of the questions posed here will likely be answered. But one thing seems certain: the new attraction will be truly epic, and a worthy successor to a much-loved ride. I’m happy to see the ape who, in many ways, built Universal Orlando Resort, finally return home.