kongfrontation closing?

[Briar Rose 7457]

thoguht I saw this on the news.

 

[BarryHom]

It closed a few months ago.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

it was a story on our local news this week.

I guess if I want to ride the Roosevelt Island tram I'm really going to have to go to Roosevelt Island.

 

[rangebob]

That will be the only way. There is nothing left in the building except for a slab of concrete. Not even any of the falling fur from the old kongs.

 

[rocketman23]

Originally posted by Briar Rose 7457
it was a story on our local news this week.

I guess if I want to ride the Roosevelt Island tram I'm really going to have to go to Roosevelt Island.

Or you could go to USH... they still have Kong.

 

[Molokai Gram]

USH has Kong, but no RI tram. You see Kong on the studio tour tram at USH - BUT THAT IS BETTER THAN NOTHING (this comment is aimed at Earl).

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I went on the RI tram in NYC in June 2001. It was, eh, blah.

 

[USO2003]

Kong in USH was revamped for December it was all Decorated to fit a Christmas Theme. I think USF could have used that last Christmas but, it's gone now. I use to have closing pictures and stuff online but I took them down as it's old news now.

10,000 Annual Passholders showed up to ride Kong one last time on 9.8.02 I was one of them and it was a very sad day. I actually got misty eyed when the Tram Operator said "We're going to miss the big guy."

That was a sad day.

Mike

 

[the Dark Marauder]

10,000 AP Holders went? Wow.

 

[Molokai Gram]

Universal made a BIG mistake closing Kong. But then, Universal has never treated it's symbols well. They closed the Monster Revue at USH! Nothing is sacred at Universal and I think that is sad. USF used to be a balanced theme park. something for everyone in the family. Now they seem to want to be a thrill park. This will severely limit their audience. And they are not looking ahead. Everyone knows Kong and the Monsters. A surprising number of people do not realize that BackDraft at USH and Twister at USF and Earthquake at both are based on movies. I am afraid the same will be true of a coaster based on the Scorpion King or anything bsed on Jimmy Neutron.... It is nice to have a neat ride, but unless it has character history, it will become passe as soon as some other park develops their own great ride. Kong wasn't a terrific ride, but it was a wonderful way to "ride the movies" and be part of the history. It also appealed to the kids too young for coasters and too old for Barney. And adults like me.

 

[USO2003]

I think people know that Twister is based on a film, actually I would imagine as Bob Gault said "Your in a movie based park so you can imagine that the ride will be based on a movie." (Speaking about Kong's Replacement) Most people who go to the parks realize that the shows except Street Break are based loosely on films, and the rides are based off films.

Just my opinion but you might be right.

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
10,000 AP Holders went? Wow.

Yep, that's what Universal said, also when we arrived and flashed our annual pass we got a letter stating that Thousands have expressed intrest in joining the Kong Ceremony. It also stated that we should ride it early in the day and not at night to lessen the crowd. If we decided to stay we had to go to that IOA Preview Center/Kong's Express Pass area and we had to register and get tickects. I got to the park around 12pm and I got a 7:30PM pass. I think the park was open until 12am that night just for the crowd to ride Kong.

Then some got free Key Chains, while most of us got a Plush Kong. The keychain only cost $2.50 but the plush Kong cost $6.99. Add all that with 10,000 people Universal gave alot of money way that night.

 

[chris mcfly]

Originally posted by Molokai Gram
I am afraid the same will be true of a coaster based on the Scorpion King or anything bsed on Jimmy Neutron.... It is nice to have a neat ride, but unless it has character history, it will become passe as soon as some other park develops their own great ride.

I would rather have a good ride based on a passe movie than a passe ride that has a bad movie based on it (Haunted Mansion, Pirates, etc)

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by chris mcfly
I would rather have a good ride based on a passe movie than a passe ride that has a bad movie based on it (Haunted Mansion, Pirates, etc)

Hahahahahaha. How true. The Country Bears anyone? LOL!

 

[BarryHom]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
Hahahahahaha. How true. The Country Bears anyone? LOL!

Personally, I'm waiting for Tomorrowland Transit Authority: The Movie.

But still, a ride is a good ride even if it is based on a passee movie. Look at Batman and Robin: The Chiller in Six Flags Great Adventure. Cool ride, bad movie.

 

[pheneix]

Then of course there is Waterworld the stunt show vs. Waterworld the film...

 

[DocBosch]

I think that a Mummy based ride could work well at USF without suffering a Twister-esque fate (i.e. attraction based on a forgetable movie). Despite being inspired by the success of the recent "The Mummy" remakes, and being marketed as such, so long as long as the central theme to the ride is the mummy monster, everything will be fine.

The Mummy is a classic Universal Monster, and long after the apeal of the Brendan Fraser versions wears off, it will continue to be remembered as such. Years down the line, people will just assume that The Mummy ride housed in the old "Kong" building is based on the classic Universal Monster movies. Lets not forget that "Kongfrontation" was based on the 1976 "King Kong" remake, and it's follow up, "King Kong Lives".

-Kevin