Kongstruction Update: New Area Music and Mess Tent Food Stand Open

The 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!


Construction Update

New rock wall facing walkway with built-in bench and hidden speaker playing new area music

New rock wall facing walkway with built-in bench and hidden speaker playing new area music

View of new snack bar from the new bench

View of new snack bar from the new bench

View of the new snack bar from the front

View of the new snack bar from the front

The Mess Tent sign

The Mess Tent sign

Front of The Mess Tent

Front of The Mess Tent

Menu board left

Menu board left

Menu board right

Menu board right

Piecemeal design with crates, sandbags, and more

Piecemeal design with crates, sandbags, and more

Design "made of" crates, sandbags, and luggage trunks

Design “made of” crates, sandbags, and luggage trunks

Lettuce crate

Lettuce crate

Gorgeous temple from the walkway

Gorgeous temple from the walkway

New sensors in the center of the outdoor track area

New sensors in the center of the outdoor track area

New LED spotlight added, and on, with mountain range in background

New LED spotlight added, and on, with mountain range in background

Closer view of spotlight

Closer view of spotlight

Ride entrance with wait time sign, warnings, height restriction, and two paths: one for main entrance and the other most likely for Express in the future

Ride entrance with wait time sign, warnings, height restriction, and two paths: one for main entrance and the other most likely for Express in the future

Attraction sign, looking incredible

Attraction sign, looking incredible

Ride exit path, with stroller parking sign and gift shop cart

Ride exit path, with stroller parking sign and gift shop cart

The view from Camp Jurassic tower

The view from Camp Jurassic tower

Looks like the skull inside the ride building has been painted to be more realistic

Looks like the skull inside the ride building has been painted to be more realistic

Scary skulls on spears in the center of the ride path

Scary skulls on spears in the center of the ride path

Landscapers were working this morning, planting more foliage

Landscapers were working this morning, planting more foliage

New (temporary) weather vane near ride path

New (temporary) weather vane near ride path

Something added on top of queue, maybe more sensors?

Something added on top of queue, maybe more sensors?

View from Toon Lagoon side. Building disappears behind the foliage

View from Toon Lagoon side. Building disappears behind the foliage

Big yellow cartoony gate has been replaced with a more appropriate bamboo gate

Big yellow cartoony gate has been replaced with a more appropriate bamboo gate

Structure and 2D backdrop blends in perfectly with real foliage

Structure and 2D backdrop blends in perfectly with real foliage

The view from Jurassic Park

The view from Jurassic Park

The mountain range fits in well behind the Jurassic Park skyline, matching the area's style nicely

The mountain range fits in well behind the Jurassic Park skyline, matching the area’s style nicely

That’s all for this Kongstruction update. Check out the last Kong update with vehicle testing here. See all the Kong updates and subscribe to the feed for more continual updates!

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