Kong to Officially Close in October/New E-ticket is Greenlighted

[pheneix]

Full credit goes to Earl at IOA Central for breaking this story out on the net. You can take what he says as the gospel though, the guy just doesn't lie.

>>>Well, it's about as official as it gets. Barring any changes, Kong makes it final run the first week of October. Expect heavy marketing sometime after Labor Day for that "one last chance" to ride.

The new attraction has gotten the green light and it's full speed ahead. Of course, that's still the secret ......<<<

http://www.ioacentral.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=131

Hang on folks, this ride just got a little wilder...

 

[Tron]

While I can't decisively say if I'm happy about this or not until I find out what Kong's replacement is going to be (and even then I won't know for sure until I ride the thing), I am pretty darn sad to see Kong go -- especially since I won't have a chance to go on it again before October. I still think from queue to finish, it's one of the best themed rides at Universal, and I'm still awestruck ever time I walk inside and see the 'set' they constructed inside that soundstage. Hopefully they'll be able to incorporate portions of the street scenes into whatever replaces it.

 

[rocketman23]

While I'm a little sad to see it go, I am much more excited about what is to come. You know it will be a great attaction with the large size of the studio. This brings up the question, will we see two major attractions build, one for IOA and one for USF, in 2004?

 

[pheneix]

The next big thing(s) coming to UO are HUGE. I wouldn't expect the both to open in the same year. Not only would opening them up back-to-back on a yearly basis be more financially prudent, but it would also create one/two punch that Disney would have a hard time fighting. This is based on any real facts, but mere speculation on my part, but I would imagine that their game plan is somewhat like this.

Don't worry, IOA isn't the stepchild of Universal. It will get it's proper attention soon enough...

 

[dxwwf3]

This is the best news I have heard in some time. Finally Kong will be gone. I am truely sorry to those that liked the ride but I thought it was a waste of space. Now maybe there will be something besides T2-3D to bring me over to USF for a couple of hours on my IOA day. Bring on the new ride.

 

[MKCustodial]

I really don't care what comes in its place. They have enough room to put it somewhere else. Kong IS A CLASSIC, and I agree with Tron, it's one of the best themes attraction in all parks, nit only Universal, from queue start to the store finish.

 

[pheneix]

>>>Kong IS A CLASSIC, and I agree with Tron, it's one of the best themes attraction in all parks<<<

Agreed. I'm still not sure I agree why they are doing this. Yes, all of the reasons are justifiable, but they could still put Kong under rehab and correct these problems. The only other real justifiable reason that they have for closing Kong is the rumor that the ride system was pulling a Horizons on the structural integrity of the entire building (the weight of the system has severely weakened the roof according to these rumors).

 

[woofboy111]

remember...this is still a rumor. If Universal doesn't officially announce it (and they could change their mind too), We don't know for sure if it's closing unless they announce it.

 

[rocketman23]

No, I think it's pretty official now. Earl knows what he's talking about...

 

[woofboy111]

even so, I'll believe it when it closes down. These rumors and offical closing dates have been going on since before last HHN...so, what makes this "official date" different. Like I said, I'll believe it when it closes down and is replaced.

One thing they better not do is close it down and not put anything in it for years (20,000 Leagues).

 

[pheneix]

>>>what makes this "official date" different<<<

Because the other "official dates" were announced by Screamscape.

 

[woofboy111]

and who is this guy giving the date? Is he high up in universal or something like that???

 

[rocketman23]

Yes, he's an engineer and has never steered us wrong.

 

[pheneix]

So you figured out he is an engineer? I was betting that he was some kind VP at Universal Orlando.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

We've loved the Kong ride ever since our first visit to USF in '94. I agree that the ride is a little dated but it should not be replace. I love the theming through the monorail station with all the graffiti - and smell those bananas !!!!
USF has plenty of room to develop new rides - Leave Kong alone.

 

[rocketman23]

Originally posted by pheneix
So you figured out he is an engineer? I was betting that he was some kind VP at Universal Orlando.

Well, once at a DIS meet at Universal he visited the group at Spiderman... some how it came out that he was an engineer.

 

[HMGhost13]

i'm also a memeber at BTTF meesage board, reports of Fast and The Furious merchandise is over taking BTTF store. not looking too good for BTTFTR either.

 

[Tron]

Originally posted by HMGhost13
i'm also a memeber at BTTF meesage board, reports of Fast and The Furious merchandise is over taking BTTF store. not looking too good for BTTFTR either.

Not a chance. There's NO WAY they would replace BTTF with a Fast/Furious attraction. I could easily see them adding SOME type of FATF attraction (even something as simple as putting some of the cars on display between BTTF and MIB) and sharing the gift shop, but I don't see Universal getting rid of BTTF, at least not for a long, long time.

 

[pheneix]

>>>There's NO WAY they would replace BTTF with a Fast/Furious attraction.<<<

I'm just trying to figure out how they would do it and make the effect of riding in a car believable. The screen and the placement of the simulators in front of it are perfect for simulating flying, but as far as driving goes I just can't see how that effect would be believable with the current setup.

When BTTF's time comes, it's successor would almost certainly have a flying theme to at least keep Universal from having to gut the building and start over. Didn't Minority Report have some wicked car chase scenes set in the future?

 

[HMGhost13]

i'm just posting what i saw some one report...as usual rumors flew over the clock tower about F&TF replacing BTTF. hasn't happened yet, but who knows. i'm not saying that it is, just that F&TF merchandise is over running the BTTF store. if universal removes BTTF within the next year which would be bad move due to DEC. 17th release of the Trilogy on DVD or in 2004 another bad move, a year later will be the 20th anniversary for BTTF. Also, this new guy whatever his name is, has mentioned BTTF by name as a possibility of being replaced. wouldn't mention something if it was actually conceived and thought of possibly doing.