Skull Island: Reign of Kong™
Universal's Islands of Adventure · Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Overview
Trucks on Skull Island: Reign of Kong carry up to 72 passengers at once, which is why the standby line here often moves faster than it looks. It opened in 2016 as the park's eighth island, located between Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park, and the temple queue carries its own genuine scare effects well before guests board a truck.
ParksLog verdict
Don't treat the queue as filler — it has real scare elements of its own and functionally extends the experience beyond the truck ride itself. The high passenger capacity means lines move faster than the visible queue suggests; single rider helps further. A lower height minimum than most Islands of Adventure thrill rides makes this a solid option when the bigger coasters are off the table for younger riders.
About this experience
Brave the dangers of a mysterious island where prehistoric predators and vile creatures attack from all sides. Just as all seems lost, the most colossal ape ever to walk the Earth—King Kong—hurls himself between you and certain doom.
Best for
- King Kong fans
- Guests who enjoy creature-encounter dark rides
- Families with children 36" and taller
- Solo riders (single rider line available)
Tips
- The outdoor queue walk-through contains genuine scare effects and creature encounters — sensitive guests should know the experience begins before boarding the truck.
- Single rider line is available and often faster given the ride's large vehicle capacity and high throughput.
- The 72-passenger trucks mean the standby line often moves faster than it appears — throughput is very high relative to many Islands of Adventure rides.
Details
History
Skull Island: Reign of Kong opened July 13, 2016, adding a new island to the park rather than replacing an existing attraction. Guests ride in open-air expedition trucks that carry up to 72 passengers.
Closure history
- Aug 26, 2026 - Sep 17, 2026
Fun facts
- Each expedition truck carries up to 72 passengers
- When it opened in 2016, Skull Island became Islands of Adventure's eighth island.
- The outdoor queue walk-through contains its own scare effects and creature encounters, functionally extending the ride experience significantly beyond the truck vehicle section.