Overview
- The ride returned to service on Friday, Sept. 18, but guests reported the signature three‑story King Kong figure was absent and the finale area was blocked by black curtains.
- Universal told park reporters that the animatronic sustained damage during routine maintenance and is 'undergoing repairs,' but the company has not disclosed the extent of the damage or a repair timeline.
- An Orlando Fire Department incident report documents an animatronic fire on Aug. 27 that damaged machinery and was extinguished by staff before firefighters arrived, though Universal has not publicly linked that fire to the Kong figure.
- The missing physical Kong removes the attraction's main tangible payoff after projection-driven scenes, producing a noticeably different guest experience and prompting on-site advisories about a modified ride.
- Restoration could be lengthy and costly because the figure is unusually large and complex, so future signs to watch are official Universal updates, visible construction or permit filings, and changes in the park app or refurbishment listings.