News Round Up

[Josh Hendy]

Kongstruction update

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/10/reign-of-kong-update-mural-expansion-in.html

The themed kongstruction walls are a nice touch.

Am I correct to assume that this attraction will be a sort-of plussed up, indoor-outdoor version of Revenge of the Mummy? Short on track but long on effects?

Or if you prefer, a scarier version of 7D Mine Train.



I wonder if they have a backup disco mode if their main Kong AA gets broken ...

 

[luisov]

The themed kongstruction walls are a nice touch.

Am I correct to assume that this attraction will be a sort-of plussed up, indoor-outdoor version of Revenge of the Mummy? Short on track but long on effects?

Or if you prefer, a scarier version of 7D Mine Train.

I wonder if they have a backup disco mode if their main Kong AA gets broken ...

I'm not quite sure either. From what I understood from the concept art, it looks like some sort of tour through the island with lots of effects and such. Some sort of Jungle Cruise/Indiana Jones kind of thing.

As for the Kong figure, I've read that it's not an actual animatronic, but rather a massive puppet, similar to the Kong from the theatre play. That's what Universal has more experience with, anyways.

 

[rteetz]

The west section of the speedway has already been paved for expanded parking

https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/658027632492171264

 

[rteetz]

The themed kongstruction walls are a nice touch.

Am I correct to assume that this attraction will be a sort-of plussed up, indoor-outdoor version of Revenge of the Mummy? Short on track but long on effects?

Or if you prefer, a scarier version of 7D Mine Train.

View attachment 130773

I wonder if they have a backup disco mode if their main Kong AA gets broken ...

I thought based on concept art you would be in a truck of sorts kind of like a Kilimanjaro safari type truck in the attraction.

 

[TXStormtrooper]

I wonder if they have a backup disco mode if their main Kong AA gets broken ...

This made me laugh.

 

[luisov]

Meet the characters and voices behind Disney Animation Studios upcoming film, Zootopia:
http://www.rotoscopers.com/2015/10/25/meet-the-characters-and-voices-behind-disneys-zootopia/

 

[texasgingerbread]

Shanghai photo updates

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.fr/2015/10/shanghai-disneyland-update-new.html?m=1

Is there a "proposed" open date? It's hard to find online. Many different dates found. Most spring 2016? This looks like far away from Spring!

 

[Josh Hendy]

I thought based on concept art you would be in a truck of sorts kind of like a Kilimanjaro safari type truck in the attraction.

OK I looked at the art now and I get what you mean. I didn't see the art before but I guessed that it'll be a coaster of some kind based on construction photos showing (possibly) a track looping out of the stone temple and back inside again.

It's hard to see how they could develop serious speed/thrills with a ride mechanism based on actual trucks ... unless they go for the old bridge-collapsing gag which is frankly pretty tired even at Kilimanjaro.

It could be Test Track style but I didn't think the footprint is big enough to develop any kind of speed on rubber tires.

Unless of course it's not based on speed/turns at all but achieves thrills mostly through scene effects such as AAs, video, pyrotechnics, etc.

I will be very disappointed if it's a herky-jerky ride with gratuitous un-Newtonian bumps and lurches like Dinosaur.

 

[rteetz]

Is there a "proposed" open date? It's hard to find online. Many different dates found. Most spring 2016? This looks like far away from Spring!

The only date I've seen rumored is May 8th 2016.

 

[rteetz]

Kawaii: Japan's cute culture has opened at Japan in World showcase

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/10/new-kawaii-japans-cute-culture-exhibit.html

 

[rteetz]

Disneyland is getting ready for the holidays

http://micechat.com/113799-halloween-time-wraps-up/

 

[rteetz]

Save pleasure island says the new frontera Fresca restaurant will be going in an existing building on west side

http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2015/10/ds-update-where-is-frontera-fresco-going.html?m=1

 

[rteetz]

New treasure cove artwork for Shanghai Disneyland

http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2015/10/shanghai-disneyland-update-new-treasure.html?m=1

 

[eXo]

On one of the forums I visit a guy who is somehow involved with the construction of the Kong ride or is in park management posts. So far he has dropped the following info:

• Ride Vehicle will consist of "Safari Trucks" with 11-12 rows per vehicle. Each row should sit anywhere from 4-6 guests per row.
• Half of the ride is indoors air conditioned, Half is outdoors.
  
• The main Kong is a massive animatronic (not a puppet)
• No lockers required (you can take your stuff on the ride with you)
• Expect a VERY interactive queue, natives will be in the queue, and possibly a glimpse of an animatronic
  
• The ride can be shortened to exclude the outdoor part in the event of inclement weather
• Merchandise will have one small cart to the left of the exit path.
  
• There are 9 scenes, details about them can be found in the spoiler section below
• Expect large screens and some sort of 3D glasses (wouldn't be a Universal ride without em' I suppose)

Spoiler Section (highlight to read):
Scene 1&2 are outdoors, but can be skipped. (Massive rock work currently being built is the temple entrance)
Scene 3 is the entrance into the Show Building.
Scene 4 features 1 screen.
Scene 5 has a screen, and motion platform.
Scene 6 is the 360 dome, but don't expect an exact Hollywood 360 dome replica. Also has a motion platform, duh.
Scene 7 is the MASSIVE Kong AA, and you will pass him on the right.
Scene 8 is the unload scene.
Scene 9 is the post show scene. I don't yet know much about it as it has changed a lot.

 

[Josh Hendy]

Thanks for the info! Sort of Kilimanjaro Safari meets the Simpsons ride ... with King Kong playing the role of Little Red.

I would prefer to have new rides not so heavily based on video screens like Kong and Fast and Furious ... but I still have the rebuilt Hulk coaster to look forward to ...

 

[twebber55]

On one of the forums I visit a guy who is somehow involved with the construction of the Kong ride or is in park management posts. So far he has dropped the following info:

• Ride Vehicle will consist of "Safari Trucks" with 11-12 rows per vehicle. Each row should sit anywhere from 4-6 guests per row.
• Half is the ride is indoors air conditioned, Half is outdoors.
  
• The main Kong is a massive animatronic (not a puppet)
• No lockers required (you can take your stuff on the ride with you)
• Expect a VERY interactive queue, natives will be in the queue, and possibly a glimpse of an animatronic
  
• The ride can be shortened to exclude the outdoor part in the event of inclement weather
• Merchandise will have one small cart to the left of the exit path.
  
• There are 9 scenes, details about them can be found in the spoiler section below
• Expect large screens and some sort of 3D glasses (wouldn't be a Universal ride without em' I suppose)

Spoiler Section (highlight to read):
Scene 1&2 are outdoors, but can be skipped. (Massive rock work currently being built is the temple entrance)
Scene 3 is the entrance into the Show Building.
Scene 4 features 1 screen.
Scene 5 has a screen, and motion platform.
Scene 6 is the 360 dome, but don't expect an exact Hollywood 360 dome replica. Also has a motion platform, duh.
Scene 7 is the MASSIVE Kong AA, and you will pass him on the right.
Scene 8 is the unload scene.
Scene 9 is the post show scene. I don't yet know much about it as it has changed a lot.

wow thanks

 

[eXo]

If you have been on Escape from Gringotts, I would suspect it would be most similar to that - without the light roller coaster aspects though. Instead of the black area between screens you would have jungle and animatronics.

The video screens injected into every single ride do get old for me as well.... but I suppose that is what they feel defines them as Universal where you can "ride the movies"... or maybe these days it is "watch a movie while riding".

I have to admit, rides like The Cat in the Hat don't have anything to differentiate themselves from a standard Disney romp, and the only way the can really compete with Disney in any fashion is to try and give a totally different feel to their rides. A disney-like park in Orlando will always loose out to Disney. Universal's bag of tricks essentially rely on the things that imagineers hate to use: gimmicks that require props (like 3d glasses).

I'm not sure if this has held true throughout the design process, but there were heavy rumors early on that the Kong animatronic would be able to run down the tram, as opposed to a giant static monkey just swinging his arms around.

Also, the complete schematics of the ride leaked 2 months ago. While some things have changed since then (for example, the schematic showed the trams have open tops, but the ones that arrived at Universal are closed), a good portion of the actual track and props appear to be identical.

 

[LittleDreamer]

On one of the forums I visit a guy who is somehow involved with the construction of the Kong ride or is in park management posts. So far he has dropped the following info...

This is what I sort of expected, I'm a little disappointed with the tram tour attractions but with Universal's space issues they just make too much sense. I do find the inside/outside aspect interesting, just thinking of how the route can change from a fixed loading area to eliminate outdoor sections.

 

[rteetz]

On one of the forums I visit a guy who is somehow involved with the construction of the Kong ride or is in park management posts. So far he has dropped the following info:

• Ride Vehicle will consist of "Safari Trucks" with 11-12 rows per vehicle. Each row should sit anywhere from 4-6 guests per row.
• Half of the ride is indoors air conditioned, Half is outdoors.
  
• The main Kong is a massive animatronic (not a puppet)
• No lockers required (you can take your stuff on the ride with you)
• Expect a VERY interactive queue, natives will be in the queue, and possibly a glimpse of an animatronic
  
• The ride can be shortened to exclude the outdoor part in the event of inclement weather
• Merchandise will have one small cart to the left of the exit path.
  
• There are 9 scenes, details about them can be found in the spoiler section below
• Expect large screens and some sort of 3D glasses (wouldn't be a Universal ride without em' I suppose)

Spoiler Section (highlight to read):
Scene 1&2 are outdoors, but can be skipped. (Massive rock work currently being built is the temple entrance)
Scene 3 is the entrance into the Show Building.
Scene 4 features 1 screen.
Scene 5 has a screen, and motion platform.
Scene 6 is the 360 dome, but don't expect an exact Hollywood 360 dome replica. Also has a motion platform, duh.
Scene 7 is the MASSIVE Kong AA, and you will pass him on the right.
Scene 8 is the unload scene.
Scene 9 is the post show scene. I don't yet know much about it as it has changed a lot.

Thanks!

Also Jim Hill just came out with a new podcast where he got a preview of the project including a site walk through. I haven't listened to the podcast to see what he says.

 

[rteetz]

Thanks for the info! Sort of Kilimanjaro Safari meets the Simpsons ride ... with King Kong playing the role of Little Red.

I would prefer to have new rides not so heavily based on video screens like Kong and Fast and Furious ... but I still have the rebuilt Hulk coaster to look forward to ...

I don't know if you've seen an pictures of what they are doing to hulk yet but the cobra roll has been dismantled. The queue seems to be getting totally redone as well. I've also seen pictures of all the ride vehicles in a dump.