Defunctland: The History of Kongfrontation

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In this episode of Defunctland, I take a look at the highly requested extinct attraction Kongfrontation, formerly found at Universal Studios Florida.
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[@Defunctland]

The audio sucks. I know it. You know it. But luckily, it gets better. Please don't let it turn you away, as every episode starting with Back to the Future should be better than this weird low-pitched whisper. Thank you all for watching regardless!

[@Bounty_Hunter84]

I see u have made a few of these . I was lucky enough to in 1997 been in Universal Studios and was on the Kong Ride. I was also on the Jaws ride which was ok not as good. Was back 4 years ago and went on the new 3s ride which was not as impressive. Was more impressed with Transformers.

[@Ayden_B]

Defunctland Please do Snow Whites Scary adventures. That ride was cool, and was replaced with.....a Disney princess meet up spot.

[@CPlusKaraoke]

Defunctland audio is fine man, amazing job as always

[@CPlusKaraoke]

Defunctland how about one on The Peoplemover? Tower of Terror?

[@bunnyboyking5215]

EI8HT 8IT Well Bright Sun Films already covered The Peoplemover. But not the Tower of Terror

[@PinkTeaTuesdays]

Every ride at Universal: "oh no you're gonna die!" then "Congrats! Your survived!"

[@Coffeekitty7]

*sprays water on you*

[@theboywonderlol]

Honestly they don’t even need a good story to be fun though, Universal rides are kind of like the “Doom” of theme park rides in my opinion

[@Noobie2k7]

Don't forget all the screens.

[@jek__]

isnt that the point of rides? Like people like riding around fast and going in twirls because it feels unsafe

[@Viking_Luchador]

Hopefully when Epic Universe opens, Klassic Kong will be among the Universal Monsters land

[@disneydork100]

Disneyland: I had the most disastrous opening of a major theme park ever Universal Studios Florida: hold my beer.

[@reillymcwriting]

Disney’s america: hey, can I have my whis- Bartender:no, you corporate jerks.

[@amydamjanovic9183]

🤣😂

[@amydamjanovic9183]

"Come on! My children need wine!"

[@RaptorBoyJoe]

disneydork100 Jurassic Park: You guys opened?

[@velociraptor4you3291]

"It was just a delay. That's all it was, all major theme parks have delays. When they opened Disneyland in 1956...NOTHING worked!"

[@Yukendoit]

During Halloween Horror Nights 10 and 11 at Universal Studios Florida they actually had a haunted house in the kong ride. You could actually walk into the ride and see Kong wreck havoc above you all with actors trying to scare you as you walked through the seedy new york streets. Surprisingly the haunted house at HHN 10 was a cross promotion with Nightmare Creatures II. And at HHN 11 which was 2001, they had to tone down the violence because of the event that happened a month prior and they had like a foam party area in there.

[@Yukendoit]

I'm happy your stuff is getting more and more views. You do a great job!

[@carvahaunter122]

HHN 2, as well.

[@lion-orichie398]

What happened in 2001 ? Someone died ?

[@carvahaunter122]

9/11, they had to tone down the violence because of it, they even had to scrap the icon: Eddie. (You can look it up).

[@gator9339]

Charlie Queer Hello McFly. 9/11 happened

[@Revkor]

A mistake to get rid of it.

[@animatedink2529]

I'm happy I got to experience both Kongfrontation and JAWS in my lifetime. Both were absolutely thrilling. I already fear giant sharks but a giant monke is a thousand times more terrifying. I pity the new generation that will never know what that terror is like to have gone through both this and JAWS

[@wanniluv8671]

❤❤❤

[@miranimal]

I was extremely little when Kongfrontation was a thing, but I know I’ve been on it because I slightly remember the destroyed city and the big Kong figure. While I wish I could remember it more, I am glad that gave the opportunity for us to have my favorite the Mummy AND have King Kong in Florida, even if it does have more screen time than animatronics.

[@Whatlander]

I had no idea this was gone! Kongfrontation was my favorite thing about the time my family went to Universal Studios. It was the only ride with a "drop" that I ever actually enjoyed. Which was kind of a Thing for me because I do not handle roller coasters well at all. We probably still have the souvenir photo you can pose for after the ride somewhere in my parents' house.

[@sirMAXX77]

I'm really sad that I never got to experience that.

[@MsKitcloudkicker]

Lmao @ 5:27 "Guests can smell his banana breath" THANK YOU FOR YOUR HUMOR, I love it lol!

[@kylev.1163]

I have some Nostalgic pictures in my house somewhere from when I was a kid on this ride. I remember the Exit had a huge Kong you could take pictures with.

[@Howlingburd19]

At least it’s replacement is a masterpiece of an attraction. Revenge of the Mummy has to be one of the best, if not the best indoor roller coaster!

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

I agree.

[@paulm2163]

Kongfrontation was incredible. The theming of the queue actually felt like some gross NYC commuter station and there was a sense that you were in the middle of an actual crisis. The Mummy is incredible, I just wish they didn't need to kill Kong for it.

[@ElTrolldego]

I remember going on this ride in 90, and that we had a technical difficulty/breakdown mid way, so we got transported through the non-working ride back to the start and got to go through it again. I was so scared by the first part though, so I demanded to be let off before the do-over started, and sat waiting on a bench while the rest of my family went through it again. :P

[@thelifeandtimes.ofazombiegirl]

I went on this when I was about 12 and loved. Brings a lot of great memories back! J.

[@lieutenant_dan27lt.d45]

Dood! I always thought it was a shame that these rides get shutdown never to be enjoyed again. I like your idea of resurrecting and preserving them somehow. Another cool one would be the old school haunted mansion, and old school pirates.

[@Tareltonlives]

That Kong scared the crap out of me as a kid. By far the best thing to ever come out of that awful 76 movie.

[@towelclipz]

What's with Universal Studios and fires, I can name about 3 off the top of my head... Kongfrontation Dudley Do-Right And Backdraft (which was sort of amusing since no one realized anything was wrong) (Also, I'm pretty sure there was a fire before the first studio was a theme park, but I might be misremembering)

[@RedLeader327]

When I worked at Mummy (opening crew), we all tried to figure out how much of the old Kong building remained intact.

[@chdreturns]

Defunctland needs a roller coaster... Might I suggest either a Harry Traver, or Frederick Pierce ride... Not many of those survive and were also quite good... A John Miller coaster would do as well.

[@christinamorra-tiu2960]

Tram driver: DONT SHOOT Helicopter: so anyways I started blasting

[@Nick-zn1vj]

Damn that was really insightful! Thank you for your work and these fascinating tales.

[@mudlark4099]

Yes and more about Pretzel darkos!

[@TDM1138]

What was that Ghostbusters thing on the old Universal map? I'm a huge GB fan and it's nothing I've ever seen before. Can you do a video on that sometime?

[@SometimesFunny1]

As someone who has a huge fear of animatronics. I would probably cry seeing this huge kong right at my face. A even as an adult man lol

[@thriftbee]

I was on the Skull Island ride a couple of years ago, and while it was impressive, I definitely would have much rather preferred Kongfrontation. Plus, even with all of those screens instead of animatronics, the ride was still constantly stopping and we got stuck on it for a while in front of the big Kong at the end. So much for getting their shit together? *shrug*

[@captghost4844]

loved this ride i rode it many times

[@patzuki8918]

Hey man your awesome you should do one on the Back to the Future ride that was replaced with Transformers over in LA. It seems great to do it

[@BM-mw4nv]

Actually it was replaced by The Simpsons Ride, not Transformers

[@jblue6236]

I remeber this ride. It was short and boring. And my mother was yelling at the operator that her sit wasn't buckled and the lady just ignored her to give the script. Not that much happened.

[@realhayabusa9515]

Kong really had banana breath? That's neat

[@TJR219]

your videos are great

[@kjd9634]

Queued for an hour to ride Kongfrontation in 91, you saw Kong briefly twice. whilst well made a very short ride and ultimately disappointing.

[@HungryCreatureProductions]

Could you do an episode on the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride?

[@leonemmorsu3693]

My dad actually worked for Universal at the time that Kongfrentation was being renovated into Revenge of the Mummy. He noted that on it's opening day that the building still smelled like bananas.

[@RerunTheWizard]

Actually factually

[@Drewggles]

I missed that smell. It was throughout the waiting area, too. I remember seeing the "Children of the Damned" movie poster while waiting in line

[@TheDerpyBoi]

Wait what

[@NannerMan]

Glad I'm not the only one who fucking hates "rides" that are glorified 3D films with the equivalent of a rumbling controller and a single smoke machine used as effects.

[@dapperloser3025]

honestly i like simulators there a fine experience to see places that otherwise would be impossible to go to and i actually prefers the new kong ride for having a more likely scenario of what king kong is and not demonizing him missing the point of the movies (but one thing we can agree on is that universal has long over due for something practical to balance things out)

[@MK1MonsterOck1989]

^_^ THANKS FOR THE REQUEST!

[@jimbear62]

no rant from me... I agree with you... though I do miss Kong's "banana breath" lol🦍🍌

[@SunnySharma-qn8lg]

Squid Kid I completely agree if I wanted to see a 3D show I would go to my local theatre not spend a bucket load of cash to go to a theme park like universal or Disney

[@dapperloser3025]

sunny see your point but to be fair the parks have 4d effects ad moving seats that actually immerse you in the film and not expensive hard to find distractions at the cinemas and this is also why rides like escape from gringotts and spider man are Superior to stuff like shreck 4d or philharmagic

[@solcarlosofficial]

What I would give to ride a ride like this today! This is so immersive

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Go to the past.

[@Chris47629]

I missed out on it as I didn’t go to universal until 2002 when it closed.🤬

[@PoseidonXIII]

Emergency stop, stuck in pitch black with a giant killer Kong all while suspended in the air!! God I 'm getting a panic attack just thinking of it...I love it!

[@Diorm]

Recently in the new one, I was in the ride and it stopped at the King kong giant face. Then the light turned off and we were in the dark with that giant head... it was really creepy. Hopefuly the ride started working again right after that.

[@LawrenceW78]

@@Diorm I always had the feeling that an issue like that would happen, Im surprised it doesnt happen more often

[@pfanzers]

I remember going when I was about 5 or so. One of my best childhood memories. JAWS as well. Good times.

[@quietdemon8138]

Bruh imagine if it started moving on its own, I’d finna jump out of the thing and run like the flash

[@ctdaniels7049]

You know something's up when even Kong is stuck.

[@Blue65Tank]

Not to mention the Kong animatronic at Hollywood was Steven Spielberg's inspiration for the Jurassic Park dinosaur animatronics

[@TheCatmadilloLizard]

Yea, the new ride even has him fighting them, so that makes sense.

[@Coffeekitty7]

@@TheCatmadilloLizard those were just screens tho

[@JustInDisney]

Wow didn’t know that

[@ryanward652]

@@JustInDisneyWhat’s so neat about the ride is that they have two Kong animatronics and they both have hot banana scented breath 🍌

[@WondersChannel]

This ride was so well done. I used to love looking into all the windows of the shops along the way. Attention to detail was so damn nice. And I miss this kind of ambitious ride rather than the routine use of lazy projector screens these days. Zzzzzzz.

[@PSaricas]

definitly projections are boring and not really worth the ride at least for me

[@yuothineyesasian]

I remember all the change at the bottom of the ride because people would throw change at Kong.

[@erinthevirgo]

Nothing like universal and Disney in the 90’s

[@Howlingburd19]

I think it depends on the “screens”, because don’t forget Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and The Amazing Adventures are some of the best attractions on the planet (probably the two best dark rides). But sometimes there’s just WAY TOO MUCH screens and the new Kong ride is probably the best example…

[@SupraRy]

Thank GOD I was able to ride this before it was taken down. I got to ride it in 93 and 96. Absolutely one of my favorite rides of all time. At the time there was no other ride like it but I remember the line being soooo long both times but while waiting in line for back to the future my sister and I leaned against the yellow railings on the ramps on the higher part outside of the building. Well there was no "wet paint " signs so an attendant immediately came to us and my parents and whisked us away. I was scared that we had done something wrong and were in trouble because I was only 10 at the time. She took us to guest services, took our painted shirts to be washed back to new, gave us brand new universal studios hoodies and then gave us all access VIP passes for the 4 of us. Now this was before any fast passes or anything like that. When we went to E.T. next we showed the passes and the attendees took us through the back stage areas of the rides where we were able to see the inner workings of the rides and all the stuff you weren't supposed to see until we got to the exit part of the ride where they boarded us onto the front row of every single ride with absolutely no waits and were able to see all the coolest stuff you could imagine in these back stage places on the rides. They also gave us all the free food and drinks we could want with souvenirs galore. It made for the best theme park experience we have ever had. God bless you universal studios and bravo on taking care of your guests above and beyond the call of duty.

[@ktsp2538]

That sounded really fun

[@mattkaustickomments]

Damn, will bring my own paint next time. Whatta score!!!

[@Viking_Luchador]

I was honestly too scared to ride on my first visit, and on my second visit I had no one to ride with. By the time I visited the third time, it was gone 😿

[@bonniehowell9206]

Same! It was so cool looking down from the tram and seeing "New York City" in chaos including small details like fire hydrants spilling out water and lamps lit inside apartment buildings.

[@ryanward652]

@@bonniehowell9206Yeah, that was so incredible! Plus it was based on the 1976 remake of King Kong

[@warbot4017]

This ride was thee most immersive attraction I have ever been on, from the very opening of the queue you bombarded with this certain level of trepidation of what was to come. The news footage, the uneasiness of the crowd around you was so delightfully terrifying in all the right ways..then the ride. I know it may seem cheap now a days. but the scale and scope of having this larger the life ape seemingly striking your tram was beyond awe inspiring and chilling. If universal's plan was to make you feel part of the movies this ride gets a A+ and will always be something I will remember with wonderment.

[@zombiebbq14]

War Bot it definitely was super scary

[@andrewh4855]

I totally agree. You actually felt like you were in a subway station. I even scribbled my name on one of the posts. This ride WAS Universal Studios to me. Universal needs to go back to this type of immersive attractions instead of flashy screens.

[@Jillbles]

I'm from the tri-state area, and had ridden the Roosevelt Island tram; it lent another level to the reality of the ride. They even managed to make it SMELL like NY. This ride scared the heck out of me, TBH.

[@keithwellerlounge74]

Not sure how it would seem cheap nowadays? If anything it would look even more impressive nowadays with people being used to screens and simulators. Unfortunately, there aren't many attractions like this anymore where you're totally immersed in a world which has actually been built. This and Jaws are 2 classic rides, the likes of which we probably won't see again due to financial reasons. That's the sad world we live in.

[@cheffpm]

@@keithwellerlounge74 this is 3 years late, but have you seen the new jurassic world beijing ride? I think old universal is back

[@djmutt2000]

Most flammable things in the world: - Zuko - the Baudelaire parents - Joan of Arc - movie studios in the 1920s - theme park rides

[@dharmallars]

The husband from hereditary

[@simonhassnilsson7009]

Brad Dourif in spontaneous Combustion

[@TheQuashingoftheTub]

King's Landing

[@Mayra-ye5xc]

Massive ape with fire everywhere while flying around in an unstable trolley scared the shit outta me as a kid (especially when the helicopter crashed.) Kinda sad to know it's not there anymore, but I'll never forget how much I cried in the gift shop haha!

[@danielle4703]

Mayra Berrios I’m glad to see that I wasn’t the only little kid crying after getting off Kong

[@swandive46]

@@danielle4703 Then you had to get in hand to take the photo. I was beyond scared on that ride.

[@Cardenas50zz58]

Omg Mayra. You are soo right. I was just glad to be able to experience this as part of my childhood before it was gone. It was so realistic to me.

[@happiestplace3754]

The first time I ever rode Kongfrontation, it did indeed break down and stop after the first encounter with Kong. We sat there with everything in the show building turned off just for a few minutes, then our tram began to continue forward with the show around us turned off. So my first time seeing the second more full sized Kong was of him completely motionless. It was disappointing and our guide told us to remain seated and we would be allowed to go around again to experience the attraction again. It was definitely a bit anticlimactic the second time around.

[@porterredkey948]

The same thing happened to me too. Except they shut the ride down after we got back and I received a pass to ride later. This was 1991.

[@superorangecat6937]

That happened to me with the Harry Potter ride kinda like this that is in Universal Florida around 2011ish. Let's just say fortunately it broke down when I was outside the spider part. XD

[@goldenovaries]

SuperOrangeCat Harry Potter opened in 2014, so thats highly unlikely

[@goldenheart4575]

sara Ibre The first land, Hogsmeade, opened in 2010 at the Islands of Adventure park, which contains a scene with the spiders inside Hogwarts castle. The second land, Diagon Alley, opened in 2014 in Orlando Studios Florida park which has the ride in Gringotts bank.

[@FeatheredWingz]

I'm getting a headache just thinking about how much electricity that attraction needed. I feel like it could've justified a private power plant. It looks amazing though! Pity I never got to experience it...

[@arnold20139]

As someone who rode this and Jaws in Orlando in 1999, it was awesome. I actually miss animatronic rides like these, they are a lot better than those 360 screen rides we get now. I know the screen rides are cheaper and easier to switch around, but nothing beats animatronics.

[@CarloisBuriedAlive]

These defunct Universal attractions are so rich in history - excellent series (and narration) so far!

[@wearebuffa]

This was my absolute all time favorite attraction at Universal; it was amazing. I was crushed to find out it was gone when we took our daughter there in 2010.

[@raulvana]

Me too

[@bonniehowell9206]

Same!!

[@prettygirl2105]

This one of my favorite rides at Universal. The attention to detail was amazing. You felt like you were in New York. The graffiti and the TVs with the breaking news were excellent. I loved looking into the shops and apartments. The details. The ride was scary but fun for a pre-teen/teenager like myself.

[@Rschr101]

Universal got rid of all the good ones. Terminator, Jaws, ET, Back to the Future.

[@WorldwideWyatt]

Earthquake was fun too

[@susieboo22]

Speaking as someone who came in about mid-season two... man, going through your older videos is sooooo strange. Great content as always, but the presentation is just different enough to feel odd.

[@hbryster96]

Old comment I know but I think it’s mostly his deep voice that he tried out for a bit

[@sarah531]

Okay I'm really curious now. Where did the massive, very impressive Kong animatronics end up eventually?

[@MrVickers13]

It was moved to California where it was one of many historic pieces lost in a fire in 2008.

[@GojiBoiEarth1964]

The makers of the 3D Kong ride: how many screens should we have in the ride? Universal: *Y E S*

[@vriv9267]

Honestly the line for Skull Iland was way better than the ride.

[@scifikoala]

Agreed, but I will have that witch woman's speech stuck in my head til the end of time since the operation was delayed while I was in that room. The live jumpscare actor was a nice touch though, scared the crap out of me. I'm surprised more thrill rides don't do that

[@cosmicjenny4508]

I’ve just come back from vacation to Florida, and I honestly really enjoyed the new Kong ride. I never had a chance to ride the original Kongfrontation in Universal, but I do think that the original looked more unique. I saw the live actor scare once... kinda... I saw his arm shoot out of a wall briefly, and never saw him against because Skull Island was always a “walk-on” for us (we waited no more than 15 minutes to ride it).

[@vespernight4236]

Evan Blenkinsopp depends where you sit, I was on the far right side and smack in the middle so I got the best possible view of the beast himself, so in my experience the ride was great. I mean Kong looked, spit and roared right at me, but with longer wait and a worse seating I can understand why you’d not like the ride as much. I’m definitely going again though whenever I go back, I’m a sucker for animatronics.

[@johnnyweissmuller5559]

Same thing with that Fast and the Furious ride. All those lovely cars, but you get a measly "party bus."

[@MissKris64]

You should do a Nickelodeon Studios episode

[@mudlark4099]

Kisses From Kristen Yeah!

[@siramaytheshowgundragon]

hmmm fine ill bite how about the original journey into imagination among other things

[@Kuriboh1008]

Kisses From Kristen he did

[@w1lDstYLe]

the memeboy this comment is old.

[@Kuriboh1008]

Jimmy Hank my spaghet is cold so would you let me eat it

[@RussellRadio]

Removing Kongfrontation at that time may have been for the best. A public with 9/11 fresh on their minds may not want to ride something that features NYC under attack.

[@paulm2163]

It IS NYC....The Roosevelt Tram is a REAL thing in NYC. It crosses the East River from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. I agree though that saying people couldn't handle it due to 9/11 might have been a stretch, but I imagine for New Yorkers visiting Universal it would've been potential traumatic.

[@amydamjanovic9183]

I never thought of that! Good point!

[@sharkheadism]

Whatever dude

[@cristinasydnor9509]

@@paulm2163 cool...I want to ride the real tram. I need to go to New York! Also, this ride was awesome! I rode it as a kid, and I was scared more in the line than I was on the actual ride. I hadn't watched King Kong, so I wasn't really keen on the source material. My parents loved it too!

[@VileEPeyote]

I got to ride it in 2002, smack dab right in between 9/11 and the ride being shut down. I don’t recall any thoughts of 9/11 from myself or anyone else in the line...

[@leemaster777]

Fun fact, my dad actually worked on the Kongfrontation ride. (he also worked on the Jaws ride, and brought home some props one day). He has a fun story about it. Apparently, when it was first built, the Kong robot had fingers that could move independently. However, one day, it was altered, and the fingers could only move together (like Kong was wearing a giant mitten). He told me that someone had used the Kong robot to flip off the guests on the ride, so the higher-ups had it changed immediately so that wouldn't happen again. True story (well, if my dad is to be believed, at least).

[@mudlark4099]

So excited for a new episode, much appreciated on this night off work. Cheers!

[@humbertocellig]

Please pal do Maelstrom the ride in Norway pavilion at EPCOT!! The new frozen terrible, what a shame the demolished the classic. It was one of my dad's favorite rides ever, just a part of my childhood. Your channel rocks by the way, thanks for sharing.

[@amb163]

I'm so glad I got to ride Kongfrontation when it was working properly! It was incredible!

[@fathertime38]

“3D 360-degree projected screens, props, screens, animatronics, and more screens” Lol

[@tylortap]

You should do that Jimmy Neutron Ride

[@carminecdinoproductions]

Tylor T Exactly!

[@Sebastianjoao]

Throwing my hat into the ring for the Ghostbusters special effects show from Universal Studios Florida.

[@mattyg4186]

Got removed for Twister then that got removed for Jimmy Fallon lol

[@mattyg4186]

Saw ghostbusters show once in 1993 and that was it 😔

[@Sebastianjoao]

Fallon strikes again. I too saw it in the early 90's and sadly in the era of film the photo I had taken with my beloved heroes was over exposed, then around '98 I finally went back and it had been replaced by Twister. I was devastated.

[@mattyg4186]

I haven't been to universal Orlando since 2007, I saw the original park attractions in 1993 when I was 5, and some stuff changed by 1997 & 1999 when I went again and now sits all gone except ET 😢

[@Sebastianjoao]

I was at least able to do Kong and Jaws, then in my late 90's return hop on The Mummy which was fantastic. I'll never forgive them for Ghostbusters though, especially because the New York Public Library facade, complete with lions, was still up to taunt me.

[@peridott1933]

4:06 WTF???? 😂😂😂

[@cbut_1727]

DealerMan_805 and 14:09. XD

[@TheNeXusCore9032]

6:05

[@robertforster8984]

Kong was Universal’s best ride. I went on it dozens of times between the early ‘90s and 2001. I didn’t know it closed. Also, Kongfrontation takes place in 1990, and not 1976 like the one in Hollywood. I’ve been on this ride many times, and at no point does it say or suggests that it takes place in 1976. Letting people naturally assume it takes place in modern day (being 1990). Having been from Long Island where I frequently visited NYC around that time period (1990), I easily saw how New York City in King Kong totally passes as the New York City of 1990. Look at season 1 of Law and Order for reference. The city and subways still had a lot of graffiti in 1990. Time square was an unsafe dump too. The cars looked modern to me, and there is no way you could distinguish 1990 NYC from 1976 NYC from what Kongfrontation presented you. There would have to be a direct reference to it being 1976 during the ride or the line. And all those pennies had various years on them. In other words, unless completely obvious (like if they reconstructed 1933 NYC), a ride takes place in its opening year, unless directly specified otherwise. That is just the status quo with rides. At least in my mind.

[@Howlingburd19]

Have you ever been on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey? That ride is f**king amazing!

[@mjmjmartino6]

Answers To Did it Go As Plan? 3% Yes. 97% No

[@KatieGrady1997]

I was a young kid at the time, but I'm so glad I got the chance to see the giant Kong!

[@darksouls-qv8jb]

Me too

[@robertmcginty4146]

This was the first thing I ever did at Universal Studios back in 1999! Such memories.

[@timothytotten9456]

Spieling (that's what they call being the operator/actor on the ride) at Kongfrontation (Florida) was my first theme park job. This video is accurate about the sound in the headsets. We were expected to not only provide entertainment to the guests but also be responsible for their safety and listen to the entire show staff on the radio. At the same time, we were expected to wear the provided earplugs to protect against the dangerous noise levels inside the attraction. Haha. One time, I rounded the corner into show scene 2 - the bridge scene - and when the steam curtain dissapated I was supposed to yell something like "Oh no, there's Kong!" but there seemed to be a problem. Specifically, his head was hanging under his armpit. I slammed the "show stop" button super fast, because the movement of the animatronic seemed like it was about to snap the rest of his head off. Needless to say, we didn't reopen that day. It was an awesome job. I think it's important to point out that while Jaws was removed to make room for Harry Potter, both rides were expensive because they required a spieler on each ride vehicle. Performance strain - both physical and vocal - meant that you couldn't run these folks all day long, so there was a regular rotation and required additional staff. You also had to hire people capable of acting and running a ride, as well as assign staff to regularly critique and train them. The attractions that have replaced the old spieling rides at theme parks are a lot cheaper to run from a labor perspective. For me, there's not as fun. I really enjoyed the rides that connected a person operating the vehicle, like Kong, Jaws, Jungle Cruise. A good spieler makes the ride better.

[@BM-mw4nv]

You should do an episode on the Back To The Future ride

[@Daniel_Schmaniel]

I never rode kongfrontation, but I did ride Skull Island. I know some may not like the use of screen but liked it and thought it was really well done. The queue had people in the walls who would scare people. It was enjoyable.

[@JacobElyachar]

Kongfrontation remains one of my all_time favorite Universal Studios attraction!

[@kellykeltner9514]

I went to Universal Orlando the first year it opened. Kong was constantly down and I didn't get to ride it until the following year. It was an amazing ride and one that I miss supremely.

[@katemilou42]

I remember the graffiti, I went on this ride when I was three and I recall my three year old self thinking how disgusting it was people had written graffiti everywhere 😂

[@andrewward4386]

You should do one on Snow Whites Scary Adventure and Mr Toad's ride in Disneyworld, add them with the pretzel rides and call that land Dark (Ride) Land

[@biancalauren4981]

Snow White ride terrified me as a child

[@EM-wo6wf]

Omg the snow white ride used to scare me as a kid. Although it was an amazing ride and I cannot deny that

[@darthsparkles551]

We should do a full purge of the Harry Potter land and bring all of them back.

[@arranmcgee2582]

Do an episode on Funtastic world of Hannah Barbara

[@DanVillainFilms]

Arran McGee King's Island? If so there's a documentary on KZbin about the history of KI and there's a whole section about that land.

[@MathieuLeblanc1991]

He meant the ride at Universal

[@Kdub09swm]

Man when i was really young and was visiting universal with my familyi was just too scared to go on this ride. the banners for this ride freaked me out so much. Something about getting thrown around in a tram by a giant ape really high in the air just was too freaky for me. I never realized how innovating this ride was at the time. I totally would have gone on this ride these days.

[@AntoinetteChanel]

LOVED this ride!! And once again with the commentary 😂 “You know full well that it didn’t.”

[@MegaMac464]

Just discovered this series and I love it, been binge watching all day!

[@davethewave0075]

Great video, you should do Back to the Future the ride, Horizons, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and World of Motion.

[@nathanbessman261]

that photo of kong at the beginning just made it looked like he was just vibing talking to someone online what a wholesome photo

[@chameleonlux8642]

This Kong ride was the best.

[@raulvana]

I agree 👍

[@raulvana]

In island of adventure there is a truck ride called skull island reign of kong

[@thedisgruntledkakapo]

I wish you had said something about the queue line, though I might've missed it. You were allowed to graffiti and you got to look into various apartments. It's still easily my favorite queue line enviroment

[@emilylogan2379]

Lord. I remember getting flyers for the rides at Universal when I was little and going to Disney to make my grandmother read to me about the “scary rides” over and over. She read it dramatically for me every time. This and Jaws were ones she read constantly. ❤️

[@2001Tavis]

I REMEMBER THE KONG RIDE 🤔🤔🤔 PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO CLIMB OUT 😳😳😳.. THEN CORPORATIONS GOT INVOLVED AND REDUCED IT TO CHEAP THRILLS... DAMN 😔😔😔

[@Ayden_B]

Please do Snow Whites Scary adventures. That ride was cool, and was replaced with.....a Disney princess meet up spot.

[@josh3658edwards]

Wow I thought I dreamed this ride. Turns out I actually rode it when I was a kid

[@Mechasonicrocks]

To be honest, I think you’d be in more danger walking through New York City’s subway tunnels in the 1970’s than encountering King Kong...But that’s just me.

[@T3hXinro]

I never went to Universal when Kongfrontation was open, but Revenge of the Mummy is one of the best rides in the park! Last time I was there, I rode it three times in a row after finally getting over my fear of trying it.

[@ETEZ5597]

I love the 3d rides, they're awesome, however a couple of non 3D rides(terminator, wolfman, jaws, back to the future,) would really spice things up. They actually kinda missed an opportunity with fast and furious, which I believe will be 3d

[@jordandodson6830]

pew tube jaws the ride was very expensive to get the proper maintenance such as draining the lagoon, providing petroleum fuel for the boats, and testing how the eco friendly mechanical sharks work when submerged underwater!!!!!

[@allistull24]

When I went to universal in 2019, I rode the mummy 4 times. I love it so much.

[@sdbck]

One of my earliest childhood memories is going on this ride at 5 years old and being absolutely terrified and bawling my eyes out. Good times!

[@ariareveluv]

while I wish I could have ridden it once, I love the mummy ride

[@patagonianratz]

I cried when I first went on this in 1996, although I was 4, none of the other rides scared me as much. Except for the queue for ET

[@amydamjanovic9183]

Kong: "Oh crap! Sorry! I'm like a bull in a china shop!"

[@lunapyrope9683]

Speaking of Disney's Backlot tour, you should do a defunctland on that! I used to love that so much

[@AroundIndiana]

I was always glad that in Florida we got the full ride instead of just a quick pass through on a tram tour like in California.

[@KingKong19100]

4:06 6:07

[@paulm2163]

You are the hero I needed but didn't deserve.

[@MrNateSPF]

Yes, the Kongfrontation set was amazing!!!