Nearly three weeks of silence have ended, as Universal Orlando Resort finally confirms what caused Skull Island: Reign of Kong to shut down so abruptly, addressing weeks of speculation surrounding the ride’s iconic King Kong animatronic.
An Unexplained Closure Sparks Speculation
Skull Island: Reign of Kong has remained closed since August 26, catching guests off guard since the attraction never appeared on any scheduled refurbishment calendar. Universal Orlando Resort also initially stayed silent about the shutdown, and given that technology-heavy rides occasionally require extended downtime, the closure didn’t immediately raise an alarm.
That changed as the weeks dragged on. Rumors began to circulate that the ride’s massive three-story animatronic gorilla had suffered significant damage in a fire, forcing an extended closure. Given how central the animatronic is to an otherwise screen-heavy attraction, some fans even speculated Universal might choose to retheme the ride entirely rather than attempt repairs.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong first opened at Universal Islands of Adventure in 2016, and its towering King Kong animatronic — standing over 30 feet tall and spanning 18 feet wide — would understandably require substantial time and cost to repair if damaged.
Universal Confirms the Damage
Universal Orlando Resort finally addressed the situation Monday morning in a statement provided to BlogMickey. The outlet shared the update on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing:
UPDATE: Universal Orlando has confirmed to BlogMickey that the King Kong animatronic sustained damage during routine maintenance. A reopening timeframe has not been identified
UPDATE: Universal Orlando has confirmed to BlogMickey that the King Kong animatronic sustained damage during routine maintenance. A reopening timeframe has not been identified https://t.co/img0G4qssJ
— BlogMickey.com (@Blog_Mickey) September 14, 2026
Universal’s statement offered limited detail and, notably, didn’t clarify whether a fire was involved in the “routine maintenance” incident. The full statement read:
“During routine maintenance, the King Kong animatronic sustained damage and is undergoing repairs. We look forward to welcoming guests back once the work is complete.”
As of now, there’s no confirmed reopening date for Skull Island: Reign of Kong, though Universal’s wording suggests the park intends to repair the animatronic rather than replace the attraction altogether. Notably, Universal Orlando Resort’s official website still hasn’t acknowledged the ride’s closure.
Have you ever been on Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal Islands of Adventure? Share your experience with Disney Dining in the comments!
