Tag Archives: stand

00527.MTS.Still001The walls around the food stand have been moved back and "The Mess Tent" is now open and serving guests. It's now just a matter of weeks, or maybe even days, before all the walls come down around Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal's Islands of Adventure. I think the most exciting thing I saw today wasn't even something you can see... It was the beautiful original score for Skull Island now being pumped into the area. (You can listen to a sample here, or in the video below.) See the video as well as images below to get a better look at The Mess Tent, some more little touches that have been added, and listen to the new area music.

00527.MTS.Still004Opening date? The media preview for Skull Island, along with the new Sapphire Falls hotel, is scheduled for June 22-24. I'm assuming the grand opening will be around this time. Usually soft opens happen in the weeks leading up to a new attraction's grand opening. Soft openings, or technical rehearsals as it's called by Universal, allow team members to get used to operating the ride during a practice period. During this time some effects may not be running as problems are fixed throughout testing. Soft opens may only happen for a couple hours a day at first. They will last longer as we get closer to the official opening date until eventually it is open all day. Check back here and I will be posting when soft opens have started. It could begin any time from now until the end of June. Stay tuned!


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00409.MTS.Still037The non-stop construction continues for the new multi-sensory ride, Skull Island: Reign of Kong, opening soon at Islands of Adventure. Today I got my first glimpse of vehicle testing and got a chance to see what else is being worked on at the site. The food stand, named "The Mess Tent", is nearly ready to start serving guests. It already has all the equipment and warmers it needs to offer snacks like soft pretzels, churros, and cold drinks. And now they're decorating it with nets, ropes, and other decor to better match the area. New exterior lighting has appeared, mainly pointing at the temple gates and surrounding area. Much of the lighting has a blue tint to create the perfect nighttime mood after dark. I also saw folks painting and set-dressing the area near the entrance, adding accents to bamboo spears and painting. Check out the video and snapshots below and stay tuned for more updates!


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