Screamscape: King Kong/Skull Island in IOA/Jurassic Park?

[djlaosc]

From Screamscape (I know...)

http://www.screamscape.com/html/islands_of_adventure.htm#Kong

King Kong 360º 3-D - Rumor - (2/11/13) A very interesting rumor was sent my way has could have an interesting effect on the future of Islands of Adventure. Our source comes forward with rumors of yet another interesting new ride concept being pitched to the park… one that would see a new ride added into that big empty space between Ripsaw Falls and the tall Jurassic Park building, running behind the Thunder Terrace restaurant.

The interesting thing is that this new ride is not themed to Jurassic Park, not to Toon Lagoon… and not even to anything associated with Middle-Earth, but is distinctly a Universal creation. Breaking it down, this is essentially a ‘ride’ version of the King Kong 360º 3-D attraction added to the backlot tour at Universal Studios Hollywood. Guests would be loaded onto some kind of tram ride vehicle and taken for a tour through the jungles of Skull Island (I assume this part is outdoor) and then they would transition into an indoor building where the action finale scene would take place, as it does in Hollywood.

What do you think? Would this work in Islands of Adventure? [...] There are dinos in the attraction, but would it fit in next to Jurassic Park? Another possibility is, could they be considering transforming Toon Lagoon into Skull Island instead, possibly rethemeing Ripsaw and Popeye as well?

Or perhaps they may be taking a page out of the playbook from the Dubai park, where they planned an “Epic Adventures” themed land that would have featured a King Kong themed version of Dueling Dragons (Flying bats), a Jurassic Park River Rapids ride (like the one in Singapore) as well as a Dubai version of the Waterworld stunt show. I’ve got to admit, while I’m not sure how they will make the theme work, adding Kong and Skull Island to Islands of Adventure does seem like it might be a good fit, especially if added as just one phase of a project that could see many new attractions added to the park’s other islands.

 

[twebber55]

i do think they could make it work with the dinosaur part of the movie..... so basically we have no idea what they re going to do to JP

 

[SleepingMonk]

A Skull Island themed area on the level of detail equal to Potter would be simply amazing.

The creatures, the natives, the geography, etc...

I won't hold my breath though.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

This would be really cool, however, considering the source, I won't hold my breath either haha

 

[cheezbat]

I had heard this rumor a long time ago...personally, I'm not sure how much truth there ever was to it.

I'd rather have a Kong flume or launch coaster hybrid dark ride than just a longer Kong 360 3-D.

 

[djlaosc]

If they were going to add "Skull Island" as a new, separate island, then you would be looking at a land roughly the same size as "the outside walking area of Seuss Landing" (Seuss Landing minus The Cat in the Hat minus One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish minus Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-Pendous).

Basically, enough for one attraction of a good size (Spiderman or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey size) and possibly a shop or a restaurant.

It would be nice to get Kong represented again (I never got to experience Kongfrontation), but would having two islands with basically one main attraction (not including Discovery Center, Pteranodon Flyers or Camp Jurassic) be a good idea? Or would, as Screamscape say, they turn the area into another Lost Continent (Sinbad and Poseidon both represented, but not named in the land)?

 

[BryceM]

I do not like the idea at all. But I'm sure that they're wrong, as usual.

 

[AswaySuller]

It's bs... I have no insider info other than instinct from what I've grown to know of universal but I can't see it happening or working.

 

[JT3000]

They aren't going to randomly put a Kong attraction where it doesn't belong. Not in IOA. USF would've been more believable, but even the somewhat popular Kong-to-Disaster rumor never came to fruition.

Screamscape needs to stop posting everything that's sent their way.

 

[djlaosc]

I think the only way that you are going to get another (not a replacement) land in Islands of Adventure is:

• Use the land behind the Lost Continent (may already be in use for backstage)
• Knock down Toon Lagoon Theater and get access (build a bridge/queue) to the land across Hollywood Way
• Build the entrance to the land behind Thunder Falls Terrace and get access (build a bridge/queue) to the land across Hollywood Way - However, this is the site for Cabana Bay.

 

[BryceM]

I think the only way that you are going to get another (not a replacement) land in Islands of Adventure is:

• Use the land behind the Lost Continent (may already be in use for backstage)
• Knock down Toon Lagoon Theater and get access (build a bridge/queue) to the land across Hollywood Way
• Build the entrance to the land behind Thunder Falls Terrace and get access (build a bridge/queue) to the land across Hollywood Way - However, this is the site for Cabana Bay.

The Toon Lagoon theater needs to be demolished regardless. Toon Lagoon can then fully expand all the way to the end of Marvel Super Hero Island. The space in between Toon Lagoon and MSHI is very weak thematically and it would be neat to have an immediate transition from one type of comic to the next.

 

[djlaosc]

The Toon Lagoon theater needs to be demolished regardless. Toon Lagoon can then fully expand all the way to the end of Marvel Super Hero Island. The space in between Toon Lagoon and MSHI is very weak thematically and it would be neat to have an immediate transition from one type of comic to the next.

It looks like they could possibly build a Spiderman/HPatFJ size ride there.

Short of just using one comic strip as a theme for a new ride (I don't really know who is/would be popular - I've never heard of Dudley Do Right - maybe Betty Boop could get her own ride?) - maybe they could have a good-size family dark ride where each scene is from a different comic strip (one scene Betty Boop, one scene Marmaduke, etc. - they could still include Popeye/Dudley Do Right as well)? Like a history of comic strips?

Are there any old superhero comic strips? (could help transition from Marvel to Toon Lagoon)

It wouldn't need to be water-based, or thrill-based - and a good family attraction could help complete Toon Lagoon.

They could also replace the stands (are they carnival games?) across from the Theater and make another shop.

 

[BryceM]

It looks like they could possibly build a Spiderman/HPatFJ size ride there.

Short of just using one comic strip as a theme for a new ride (I don't really know who is/would be popular - I've never heard of Dudley Do Right - maybe Betty Boop could get her own ride?) - maybe they could have a good-size family dark ride where each scene is from a different comic strip (one scene Betty Boop, one scene Marmaduke, etc. - they could still include Popeye/Dudley Do Right as well)? Like a history of comic strips?

That's a neat idea! I think a family dark-ride would be awesome. And I don't think a Betty Boop ride would be appropriate... But yeah, the other 3 attractions (Ripsaw Falls, Barges and Me Ship, The Olive) are all based on comics/TV shows. I think a ride (like you said) based on multiple characters from the Sunday comics (such as Marmaduke) would be nice.

And I wouldn't want the extension of the land to be just an extension of Comic Strip Lane. I mean Comic Strip Lane looks decent, but I would much prefer something like the theming around Popeye and Dudley.

 

[djlaosc]

That's a neat idea! I think a family dark-ride would be awesome. And I don't think a Betty Boop ride would be appropriate... But yeah, the other 3 attractions (Ripsaw Falls, Barges and Me Ship, The Olive) are all based on comics/TV shows. I think a ride (like you said) based on multiple characters from the Sunday comics (such as Marmaduke) would be nice.

And I wouldn't want the extension of the land to be just an extension of Comic Strip Lane. I mean Comic Strip Lane looks decent, but I would much prefer something like the theming around Popeye and Dudley.

I would guess it would depend on whether they used Betty Boop (1930-1934) or Betty Boop (1934-1939) - it would probably be the biggest option for marketing (she already has her own shop in USF) - but most of the merchandise will probably be based on 1930-1934 Betty Boop. However, there would be argument that 1930-1934 Betty Boop wouldn't be "family friendly". Even if she didn't get her own ride, she could still get a scene in a multiple character ride, as she would probably be one of the most iconic comic/cartoon characters.

 

[JT3000]

Rocky & Bullwinkle would get an attraction before Betty Boop. Not that I see either happening at this point.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

Screamscape is proposing a property that last hit popular culture eight years ago will get an attraction now? Never mind that it will take a year to put the thing together, at least. On top of that, JP will have a new movie rolling out, and the new attraction in town is King Kong?

C'mon guys, let's think this one through.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I am not into Disaster! so they would please me by putting Kong in there.