Universal Studios: Kongfrontation
June 7, 1990 - September 8, 2002

• Location: New York
• Type: Cable Car Confrontation with King Kong
• 2-Part: Queue Pre-Show / Ride

The Queue Pre-Show

From the moment you enter, you are immediately transported into 1990's New York. The entire queue is set to the streets of New York and a subway station. A great amount of detail went into creating this set. Anyone who lives in New York or has ever visited would be impressed with the detail all the way down to the old gum stuck on the floors and the graffiti on the walls. Lined along the alleys of New York and the turnstiles of the subway, are TV monitors locked on WWOR-TV - Channel 9 New York. Anchorman, Roland Smith (an actual newscaster), gives a special report on "Kong on the Loose - Monster or Madness: A Special Report". Kong is currently heading toward the East River and has already destroyed two subway trains and it appears that authorities are powerless to stop him. You will be evacuated to Roosevelt Island via the tram system. So you'll climb aboard and pray for safety.

The Ride

Upon entering the tram, you'll notice that it is fitted special monitors which are fitted with monitors displaying the Emergency Broadcast Frequency. Chopper One immediately radios your tram guide, that Kong is headed towards the 59th Street Bridge. Your guide tries to reassure you that you are safe and he is no where near. As luck would have it Kong is now headed for the tram route "Stop All Trams"! But you can't you're on automatic and he's headed your way. A spotlight shines on a building and Kong's profile is seen roaring with anger. Look out! He's got a power poll. You see the poll being ripped down and the transformer blows sending a huge fireball bursting ahead of you. Word on the radio says Kong is heading for the bridge.

As you make your way around the buildings towards the 59th Street bridge, there he is! Kong is hanging of the side of the 59th Street Bridge and directly in your path. Choppers buzz around you wanting to fire, but you're too close. Regardless, they fire anyway. Kong extends his arm to grab your tram as the chopper tries to fly up and over, but meets with an unfortunate demise. The distraction helps you narrowly escape. Fear not the chopper crew will survive.

You may just have made it to safety. There's hope...but not for long. As you turn the corner, Kong has cut you off. As you pass Kong you are intercepted. He's got you. He's actually got you and picks up your tram. Choppers request permission to fire. But your too focused on the giant mouth at your trams side. Brace yourselves! The chopper fires! Kong's hit, but so are some power lines which explode around Kong. Without warning, Kong drops you and you almost plummet into the East River, but your guide has regained control and your off to safety.

A special report comes on the monitors that shows your tram narrowly escaping the clutches of Kong. You've survived the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Discover Universal Orlando: Kongfrontation Insider Guide

• Kong's Height reached 39 Feet Tall
• His arm span reached 54 Feet
• Two (2) Kong's were used in this attraction. The first on the 59th Street Bridge weighted roughly 8,000lbs. The second Kong, on the street weight roughly 13,000lbs.
• The sound stage (current home of Revenge of the Mummy) is 35,000 Sq. Ft.
• The set was modeled after Manhattan's lower east side.
• There are rumored to be three (3) references to Kongfrontation in Revenge of the Mummy. In the queue, there are hidden coins from various parades and the old arcade tokens. In the ride, there is a dead tourist's T-shirt that says, "Kong Lives!", and there is also a golden Kong statue in the treasure room.
• Your could smell Kong's "Banana Breath" in while on the ride.
• Roland Smith (the newscaster in the queue's monitors that breaks the news of Kong) was the current Anchorman for WWOR-TV Channel 9 in New York when Kongfrontation opened in 1990.
• Konfrontation is often considered the ride that built Universal Studios Florida.