Universal Orlando has confirmed that damage to the King Kong animatronic is behind the weeks-long closure of Skull Island: Reign of Kong at Islands of Adventure, providing the first official explanation for the attraction’s unexpected downtime.
The attraction has been closed since August 26, 2026, fueling speculation that the King Kong animatronic may have been damaged after reportedly catching fire while maintenance work was being performed.
Universal has now addressed the attraction’s closure, confirming to BlogMickey.com that damage did occur to the animatronic.
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 spokesperson
Although Universal’s statement confirms that the animatronic was damaged, it does not provide any additional details about the extent of the damage, whether a fire was involved, or how long repairs are expected to take.
The roughly three-story-tall King Kong figure is a centerpiece of Skull Island: Reign of Kong, appearing during the attraction’s finale.
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