Credit: Universal Orlando Resort Universal Orlando Resort guests are used to ride delays. When you build massive attractions packed with screens, sensors, animatronics, and moving ride vehicles, something is eventually going to go wrong. A short shutdown here and there isn’t shocking, and most guests shrug it off as long as the ride comes back quickly.
But lately, one Universal attraction has been experiencing so many closures that it’s starting to feel like something bigger is happening behind the scenes.
Universal Orlando’s Skull Island: Reign of Kong—often referred to simply as the “King Kong ride”—has been forced to close repeatedly due to ongoing operational issues, and the frequency is turning heads.
This isn’t a situation where the ride shuts down once or twice a week. This is becoming a pattern that guests can’t ignore, especially when it impacts crowd flow across Islands of Adventure.
The Kong Ride Has Been Closing at an Alarming Rate
Reports tracking ride downtime from AllEars at Universal Orlando show that Skull Island: Reign of Kong closed a staggering 87 times during the month of January alone.
That number is honestly hard to wrap your head around.
Because if a ride closes nearly 90 times in one month, that means there were days where it likely went down multiple times in a single afternoon. It’s the kind of thing that leaves guests standing outside the entrance, staring at the sign, wondering if they should wait it out or just give up and move on.
And for a ride that many families consider a “must-do,” this has quickly become one of the more frustrating problems at Islands of Adventure.
Why This Problem Matters More Than You’d Think
The issue isn’t just that Kong keeps going down. The bigger issue is where it’s located.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong sits in its own themed area of Islands of Adventure, positioned between Jurassic Park and Toon Lagoon. It’s not part of a crowded land filled with other attractions. It’s basically the centerpiece of that space, which means guests naturally funnel into it throughout the day.
So when Kong shuts down, guests don’t just disappear. They spill into the nearby rides, food locations, and walkways.
That’s when the entire area starts to feel crowded, tense, and backed up.
And it gets even worse when you consider that Jurassic Park River Adventure is also expected to remain closed until November 19, 2026, leaving guests with fewer options in that corner of the park.
So if Kong is down on top of that, you’re suddenly looking at a major dead zone in one of the busiest parks in Orlando.
Screen-Based Attractions Can Be High Maintenance
Kong is a ride that depends heavily on technology. While it does include physical elements, much of the attraction relies on screens and timed ride programming. It has a similar feel to attractions like Fast & Furious — Supercharged, which is known for its screen-heavy setup and motion-based ride system.
And that type of attraction can be a nightmare when something goes wrong.
If the screens aren’t syncing correctly, if the ride vehicle system detects an error, or if the attraction’s programming gets out of alignment, the entire experience has to stop. Universal can’t just “power through” the issue, because the ride depends on timing and safety systems working perfectly.
Even a small glitch can force a closure.
That could explain why the ride seems to be shutting down so frequently. A minor technical issue might not be a big deal once, but when it happens repeatedly, it starts to feel like the ride is struggling to keep up.
The Kong Animatronic Is a Big Part of the Appeal
One reason guests still keep coming back to this ride is the finale.
Even though Kong is mostly screen-based, it features a major animatronic moment at the end, and when it’s working properly, it’s genuinely impressive. It’s one of those “wow” moments that makes people step off the ride talking about how massive and realistic it looks.
But if the animatronic is having problems, that alone could cause serious downtime.
Animatronics aren’t simple machines. They’re complicated, expensive systems that require constant maintenance. And if Kong’s most important element isn’t functioning correctly, Universal may be forced to pause operations more often than usual.
Guests may not know what’s happening backstage, but they can definitely feel it when they keep seeing the ride go down.
These Closures Can Ruin a Guest’s Entire Day
This is where the situation gets frustrating.
When a ride closes once, it’s annoying. When it closes multiple times in a day, it becomes disruptive. But when a ride becomes known for constant downtime, it changes how guests plan their entire park experience.
People don’t just casually walk into Islands of Adventure anymore and “see what happens.” Most guests plan every hour. They’re checking wait times, trying to hit major rides before crowds build, and deciding when to eat based on where they are in the park.
So if someone schedules Kong into their day and it shuts down, it throws off everything.
Guests might waste time walking over there only to find it closed. They might decide to wait it out and lose an hour. Or they might leave and come back later, only to have the ride close again.
That’s how a single attraction starts creating a ripple effect across the park.
And when Kong is down, nearby rides can get slammed as guests look for a backup plan.
Is a Major Refurbishment Coming?
At this point, Universal may not have many options if the closures continue.
When a ride is shutting down dozens of times in a month, it usually means something is happening that quick resets can’t solve. It might be a long-term mechanical issue, a system that needs replacing, or even a technology upgrade that’s overdue.
The longer Universal waits, the more guest frustration builds.
So it wouldn’t be surprising if Skull Island: Reign of Kong eventually faces a more significant refurbishment to get everything stable again.
That’s not great news, especially with other closures already happening around the resort. But if the ride is already down constantly, a planned closure might actually be the best move.
At least then guests would know what to expect.
What Guests Should Do If They’re Visiting Soon
If you’re planning a trip to Islands of Adventure in the near future, the best approach is simple: don’t make Kong your top priority unless you’re prepared for disappointment.
If you see it operating, it might be worth jumping in line while you can. If it’s closed, don’t waste your day waiting around. Move on to something else and check back later.
Because right now, Kong isn’t acting like a ride having a “bad day.”
It’s acting like a ride that’s dealing with sustained problems.
And with closures happening at this kind of rate, it’s hard not to wonder how long Universal can keep operating the attraction like this before bigger changes are forced to happen.