During the first ‘Kongfrontation’ - arguably the scariest version of Kong ever seen on an attraction - the tram was attacked. Once in the city, guests were greeted with destruction – upturned trucks erupted with fire below and torn electrical cables sparked violently overhead. Here, guests boarded an aerial tram at a recreation of Pennsylvania Station, while a news report described Kong’s attack on New York. Kongfrontation opened to the public in 1990 and, like its Universal Studios Hollywood cousin, rooted itself firmly at the park’s New York soundstage. Kongfrontation - Universal Studios Orlando (1990 - 2002) Image: Inside the Magic However, an uproar from guests led Universal to build a new Kong-themed ride, which would arrive in the form of King Kong 360-3D in 2010.

Sadly, the attraction was destroyed by fire in 2008, and Universal decided not to rebuild. The huge and genuinely terrifying animatronic Kong would investigate the tram, before the action concluded on Brooklyn Bridge. Sirens blared out across the city and upturned vehicles littered the streets. The ride transported guests into the studio backlot’s New York City via tour tram, where a news report detailed the devastation of Kong. Based on the 1976 remake, the ride opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in 1986, and would later inspire Kongfrontation at Universal Studios Orlando. The first Kong-themed attraction had a few names, but was best known as King Kong Encounter. So now that you’re all caught up on Kong in film, let’s look at his 35-year-long rampage through the theme park… King Kong Encounter - Universal Studios Hollywood (1986 - 2008) Image: Pinterest As well as the recent ‘MonsterVerse’ entries, there was a 1976 reboot and Peter Jackson’s epic take in 2005, both of which went on to inspire attractions at Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. And we all know how the classic story ends: Kong falls for human woman – all the way from the top of the Empire States Building, to be specific. The “Eighth Wonder of the World” made his first silver screen appearance in the 1933 movie, in which an expedition discovers Skull Island. If there’s one character that has endured since the dawn of cinema, it’s King Kong.

King kong ride