Is King Kong Back at Universal Orlando? Reign of Kong Ride Update

King Kong has returned to Universal Orlando — but not quite in the way theme park fans were expecting.

After weeks of unexpected downtime, Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Universal Islands of Adventure has reopened to guests. However, the attraction is currently operating with a major part of its finale missing.

The huge King Kong animatronic that normally towers over riders at the end of the attraction is currently unavailable.

Instead, guests are being presented with a modified version of the ride while Universal carries out further maintenance.

Reign of Kong Reopens After Weeks of Closure

Skull Island: Reign of Kong unexpectedly closed on August 26, 2026, with Universal Orlando initially providing little information about the reason for the extended downtime.

The attraction remained closed for several weeks, leading to considerable speculation among theme park fans about what was happening behind the scenes.

Universal eventually confirmed that the ride’s giant King Kong animatronic had been damaged during routine maintenance.

In a statement issued to media outlets, Universal said:

“During routine maintenance, the King Kong animatronic sustained damage and is undergoing repairs. We look forward to welcoming guests back once the work is complete.”

Universal did not reveal the extent of the damage or provide a timetable for when the animatronic would be repaired.

King Kong Is Still Missing From the Ride

Now the ride has reopened, visitors have discovered that the famous King Kong figure has not yet returned.

The attraction reopened on September 18, but a black scrim or curtain is currently covering the area where the enormous animatronic normally appears.

A sign outside the attraction reportedly warns guests that Reign of Kong is temporarily featuring a modified ride experience while maintenance work continues.

That means guests can once again experience the majority of the Skull Island adventure, but the climactic face-to-face encounter with the giant physical Kong is currently absent.

What Happened to King Kong?

This is where things get particularly interesting.

There have been reports and rumours online suggesting that the animatronic may have been damaged by a fire while maintenance work was being carried out.

However, Universal Orlando has not confirmed that a fire was responsible.

The official explanation remains that the animatronic sustained damage during routine maintenance and is undergoing repairs.

Universal has also not confirmed exactly how extensive the damage is or how long it will take to restore the figure.

For now, the reports about a fire should therefore be treated as unconfirmed speculation rather than established fact.

Why Is Kong So Important to the Attraction?

The absence of the animatronic is particularly noticeable because Kong is the centrepiece of the attraction’s finale.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong opened at Universal Islands of Adventure in July 2016, bringing the legendary giant ape back to Universal Orlando following the closure of the former Kongfrontation attraction at Universal Studios Florida.

The trackless attraction takes guests deep into Skull Island aboard large expedition vehicles before encountering a series of creatures and dangerous environments.

The experience eventually culminates in a dramatic encounter with a huge physical King Kong.

The animatronic was designed to be one of the attraction’s biggest visual moments, standing at more than three storeys tall. Universal previously revealed that creating the figure took around 18 months.

Without Kong, the finale is therefore noticeably different for returning guests.

Is Reign of Kong Being Replaced?

For now, there is no indication that Universal Orlando is permanently replacing Skull Island: Reign of Kong.

In fact, Universal’s statement specifically says that the damaged animatronic is undergoing repairs and that the company looks forward to welcoming guests back once the work is complete.

The attraction itself has now reopened, albeit in a modified form.

That suggests the current situation is focused on repairing the Kong figure rather than immediately replacing the entire attraction.

However, Universal has not announced when the animatronic will return.

When Will King Kong Return?

That’s the big question.

As of September 20, 2026, Universal Orlando has not announced a return date for the King Kong animatronic.

The ride is currently operating with the modified finale, meaning visitors can experience Reign of Kong but should not expect to see the giant physical Kong at the end.

The attraction’s extended closure and the subsequent reopening without the animatronic suggest that repairs could take some time.

For Universal Orlando visitors planning a trip specifically to experience the famous Kong finale, it may therefore be worth checking the latest attraction status before visiting.

King Kong Isn’t Gone From Universal Orlando

Despite the unusual situation, King Kong has not disappeared from Universal Orlando.

The Reign of Kong attraction remains open at Islands of Adventure, and Universal has confirmed that the damaged animatronic is being repaired.

For now, though, the attraction’s final encounter is missing its biggest star.

Whether Kong returns in the coming weeks or the repairs take considerably longer remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: theme park fans will be watching closely for the moment that the giant ape makes his full return to Skull Island.

We’ll continue to update this story as Universal Orlando provides more information about the King Kong animatronic and its return to Skull Island: Reign of Kong.