A Kong that’s truly King-size
WE HAD been in the queue for only a few minutes and we were already convinced that we had wandered into a lost world and that the legend was real – there was a large and dangerous primate lurking in wait.
The skulls were the obvious clue, along with mummified bodies and mysterious runes etched into the volcanic rock.
Reaching the innermost cave, we were greeted by the shambolic figure of a native Sha-woman, intoning words of warning. Slowly, the chants built up in the echoing chamber: ‘Kong! Kong! Kong! KONG!’
Fire flamed from the eyes of the gigantic ape skull carvings and it was clear this would be no ordinary theme park ride. We were about to venture deep into Skull Island: Reign Of Kong.
Universal Orlando has created an epic new attraction in its Islands Of Adventure park, and the experience is as terrifying as the movie legend.
Taking on the look and feel of Peter Jackson’s 2005 film version of the Kong story, the immensity of Skull Island is a wonder in itself, brimming with the outlandish bugs, dinosaurs and other creatures.
All feature on the ride, an expedition-type truck journey that rocks and rolls through a helter-skelter mixture of 3D film screens, real scenery, massive animatronics and full-scale animal encounters that culminate with a close-up with the Great Ape himself.
The action happens all around you as your truck driver tries to escape this lair, and the end result is a rollicking, immersive adventure.
It also throws down the gauntlet to Disney to come up with more than just new restaurants, fireworks and Frozen characters.
The two park rivals have engaged in an escalating ‘arms race’ over the past decade but, since the opening of its Wizarding World Of Harry Potter in 2010, Universal has stolen a march in terms of the headline rides.
Meanwhile, the opening of Universal’s new Caribbeanthemed Sapphire Falls hotel provides extra capacity for people to stay in the heart of all this movie-based magnificence.
And with the reopening of the Incredible Hulk rollercoaster, it gives adventure-seekers a real double helping of monstermovie magic.