Tag Archives: Painting

00189.MTS.Still007It's time for a big update of the construction progress for Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal's Islands of Adventure. Lots of plants, trees, and bushes have been brought in by the landscaping team. This not only creates an incredible atmosphere, but is also helping to separate the area from neighboring Toon Lagoon. While I was there they were (briefly) testing fire effects as well as testing the blackout doors in the big temple entrance. These are inner doors behind the big gates used to block out the light after the ride vehicle enters the building. Inside the doors you can see a huge animal skull and bones. Lots of work is also being focused on preparing the queue and ride entrance for guests. New lanterns have been added throughout the path and I even saw a ride warning sign up now! Things are getting really close for their Summer opening. Check out the video and photos below and stay tuned for more updates!


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This week's update of the construction progress for Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal's Islands of Adventure shows us that the Kong entry arch is finally being painted. Also, a new food stand (presumably) has appeared along the walkway. Little touches are always being added day to day, including many many more skulls being added atop stakes along the ride path and outdoor queue section. This week also saw the update of the attraction info page on Universal's website with an all new ride description and details. See it yourself here or read below!

The monstrous new ride for your life. Opening Summer 2016

kongscreenshotLive the brutal struggle of a 1930’s expedition that’s caught in a clash between prehistoric predators, man-eating beasts and the most colossal ape ever to walk the earth—King Kong. Around every thrilling turn, ferocious monsters fight for dominance, while you just fight to survive. It’s the multi-sensory, multi-dimensional ride for your life.

Enter the ruins of a primal realm and journey into the dark heart of an island filled with untold dangers. Vicious, ancient predators and unspeakable monstrosities rip into your crew and swarm from every side. Then, in an act of sheer ferocity—or monstrous bravery—King Kong charges between you and certain doom with an earthshaking fury. With each thundering roar and each chest-pounding thud, one colossal truth comes clear.

This is his home, his kingdom. Only he reigns.

Check out this week's full photo report below and stay tuned for more theme park updates! ...continue reading

thumbI headed out to Universal's Islands of Adventure on a dark and gloomy December morning to get some new images and video of the construction progress for Skull Island: Reign of Kong. So much has been accomplished since my last update, but I imagine some of the more incredible work has been going on inside the building, beyond those massive gates. According to eye-witnesses, apparently those giant gates have been tested recently and are ready to go. When I came by they were locked open and covered in tarps, but lots of other work was being done: the outdoor ride path and set pieces are coming along nicely, the outdoor and indoor portions of the queue are taking shape, and little flourishes like skulls, spears, and torches have started to appear! Take a look at the images below and watch the video for more. Be sure to share the video and check back soon for more park updates.


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P1050042It's been a few weeks since my last visit to Islands of Adventure and a lot has changed over at the Skull Island construction area. The first thing that caught my eye was a beautifully painted mural on the mountain range backdrop behind the facade. They've already finished the left-side and are continuing on the right, but it is looking incredible. It really sells the perspective, and even features some 2-dimensional brickwork extending the building upwards. Also new, are the two posts above the giant temple gate. These look like the posts used in the earlier King Kong films to tie down the sacrificial human when offering them up to the mighty Kong. The queue building on the right side of the construction zone is coming along nicely, with a rough fort-like roof style and some new covered walkways extending out from the Kong face arch. Check out all the images below for details in this Kong-sized photo update!

Skull Island signs added to the construction walls along with the words, Summer 2016
Skull Island signs added to the construction walls, displaying proudly that it's opening Summer 2016

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P1030768Kongstruction is looking amazing today in Islands of Adventure! The creepy faces are coming along nicely, the brick color is looking beautiful, and the temple facade is growing across the right side of the structure. The construction walls have begun encroaching on the pathway, having moved out about to 10 to 20 feet in some places. The food stand is gone now, considering there isn't enough room to accommodate it on the path anymore. The walls have probably been moved out to make way for construction of the outdoor scene that will take place in front of the structure. Supposedly the ride vehicle will exit the structure after load and venture into an outdoor scene before re-entering the building through the enormous temple gate. See all the pictures from today below!

Ancient temple gate looming over the construction walls
Ancient temple gate looming over the construction walls
The construction walls have been moved in and the food stand is gone
The construction walls have been moved in and the food stand is gone

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P1030128Workers are making quick work of the rockwork at the new King Kong attraction and Skull Island area at Islands of Adventure. A few faces have started to take shape around the entrance to the temple ruins. The paint-work is looking very complete on the left-side of the building. Most of the exterior walls are complete throughout much of the structure and from what I can see the interior work is coming along nicely as well. Check out all of the pictures below.

There have been rumors flying around the web now that the Australian company Creature Technology will have some hand in the animatronics for the ride. They were responsible for the incredibly impressive King Kong puppet from the Kong musical. Watch this video for a sample of the giant Kong puppert-work. They were also the studio behind the beautiful Walking with Dinosaurs puppets and animatronics from its arena show, which I can tell you from seeing it in person, is just amazing. See a sample of that work here. If they apply their skill to create expressive puppets and impressive skins to the figures in the Kong ride I will be very pleased.

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P1020510The Jurassic Park River Adventure at Universal's Islands of Adventure is back open after being down for seasonal maintenance from February 17th to March 12th! The waterfalls and rockwork are looking gorgeous and the dinosaurs skins have never looked better, with no holes or unsightly patchwork visible. And it's just great to have all those construction walls finally down around the area. I took some pictures as well as some on-ride video to show off the cleaned up attraction.

While everything looked great, I did notice a lot of the dinosaurs eyes were closed during the ride, and the gate doors did not open as the boat passed through them in the beginning. Other than those small items though, everything else was in perfect working order. Watch the video to see for yourself and check out the images below as well.


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P1020384The Jurassic Park River Adventure is still down for seasonal maintenance at Universal's Islands of Adventure. It appears that the water has been drained to facilitate cleaning and maintenance work. Other areas outside of the ride are also receiving some love such as planters and brickwork around the land. With the Jurassic World film less than 100 days from opening it'll be nice to have everything back in working order on the ride, including, hopefully, all of the animatronic figures' rubber skins, which need to be replaced and repaired quite often in the Florida sun and rain.

Check out the photos below, of both the ride rehab, and some sights around the area. I was fortunate to meet a baby triceratops on my travels and you can see a video below.

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P1020233During the slow season is when the parks like to get their annual refurbs done. At Islands of Adventure they've just completed work on Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls and Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges in Toon Lagoon. Now that things are all sparkly and new over there they've moved their attention to the Jurassic Park River Adventure and surrounding areas. Workers have been cleaning the rockwork at the big drop, painting posts and there are construction walls up all around the area. Everything is going to be all shiny and new just in time for Jurassic World to hit theaters this summer! See the pictures below. ...continue reading