Skull Island at Islands of Adventure

Skull Island is the smallest island in the park and holds exactly one thing: Skull Island: Reign of Kong, which opened in 2016 in the strip of land between Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park. Universal built the whole island for one ride, and that includes an enormous temple facade with carved gates that is arguably better than the attraction behind it.

The queue is genuinely part of the experience and genuinely unpleasant for some people. It runs through a dark, tight, humid temple interior with live performers who appear from alcoves, animatronic natives, and lighting designed to make you uncertain what is scenery and what is about to move. Children who were fine with the outside of the building sometimes turn around inside it, and there is a bypass queue for exactly that reason - ask a team member.

The ride itself is a large expedition truck on a trackless-feeling path through 3D screen sequences, with an unusually good practical finish: a 16-foot animatronic Kong face at the end that is one of the best physical effects at Universal Orlando. The screens have aged less well than the animatronic, and the whole thing is more atmospheric than thrilling. It is worth doing once, and it is worth doing after dark.

Do not miss

The temple gate facade, the best piece of architecture in the park
A queue with live performers in it rather than props
The 16-foot Kong animatronic at the finale
A single rider line that regularly halves the wait

Skull Island tips

Ask about the alternate queue if anyone in your group is nervous. The scary part is the indoor walkthrough, not the ride, and it can be skipped.
Use single rider. The trucks seat a lot of people in bench rows and the line moves faster than you expect.
Ride it in the evening. The temple exterior and the queue both work considerably better in the dark than at 11 AM.
There is no food or drink on this island at all. Fill your bottle in Toon Lagoon or Jurassic Park before you cross.

Attractions in Skull Island

Skull Island: Reign of Kong

36"91cm

Dark ride · 5½ min · Express

A truck expedition through a dark temple and a 3D jungle, ending at a 16-foot Kong animatronic that is the best physical effect in the park.

Skull Island: Reign of Kong opened in 2016 on a strip of land between Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park that Universal turned into an island for the purpose. It is a large expedition truck ride: you board a twelve-row vehicle with a driver figure, roll through a temple, and then run a gauntlet of creature encounters delivered on very large curved screens with the truck pitching and turning in sync.

Tips for Skull Island: Reign of Kong

Ask about the alternate queue at the entrance if anyone is nervous. The walkthrough is the frightening part and it can be skipped without missing the ride.
Use single rider. The trucks hold a lot of people and the gaps are constant, so this line moves faster than almost any other here.
Take a back row if you are prone to simulator sickness and a front row if you want the effects. The difference is unusually large on this ride.
Ride at night. The temple exterior lighting and the queue both improve substantially after dark, and the wait is shorter.
Repeat-visitor note: the driver character is randomized. There are several, and collecting them is the only reason to ride this more than twice in a trip.

Full guide to Skull Island: Reign of Kong →

Nearby

Universal's Islands of Adventure map See where this land sits All attractions Every ride in Universal's Islands of Adventure Port of Entry The entry bazaar and the park's only crossroads - no attractions at all, and most of the useful services. Marvel Super Hero Island Primary-colored comic architecture wrapped around the park's two most physically aggressive rides and its best dark ride.