Guests heading to Universal Islands of Adventure hoping to board Skull Island: Reign of Kong are finding the attraction dark — and have been for several weeks now. As of September 11, 2026, the ride remains unexpectedly closed, with no official explanation from Universal Orlando and no announced reopening date. The resort's website still lists the attraction as operational, while the Universal FL app continues to show it as closed.
Circulating through Universal fan communities on Facebook and Reddit is an unverified claim that the attraction's enormous King Kong animatronic caught fire while technicians were performing repairs. Multiple commenters have echoed the story, though no one has provided documentation or an identifiable firsthand source, and Universal Orlando has not confirmed that any fire occurred.
The animatronic in question is a centerpiece of the ride's finale — a figure Universal described at the time of the attraction's July 2016 opening as roughly three stories tall, 18 feet wide at the shoulders, and with a head larger than an automobile. If the figure did sustain damage, its sheer scale and mechanical complexity could reasonably extend a repair timeline, though that remains speculation in the absence of any official statement.
For now, Universal has not characterized the closure as indefinite, nor has the company announced any plans to permanently retire or replace the attraction. Guests planning a visit and hoping to catch the ride should check the Universal FL app for the most current status before heading to the park.
Planning Your Trip
Undercover Tourist is an authorized seller of Universal Orlando tickets, often at a discount off gate price.
This story was originally reported by WDWNT, citing Inside Universal and Universal fan community discussions.
