Skull Kingdom: The Neverending Story

Jeff Vinciguerra

On a recent trip to Orlando, I decided to return to Skull Kingdom, A year round Haunt on International Drive, near Universal Studios. While touring the attraction, I noticed several changes to the Skull Lord's Castle and decided to call Doug Wolfe and discuss the new rooms and improvements that have been made. I was unprepared to encounter the laid-back and witty Doug Wolfe, who is wearing many hats these days at the castle, now acting as General Manager and Operations Manager of the Haunted Attraction. Not only did he update me on the new and improved attraction, but also answered the question "Where is Trevor Thompson?” (the previous General Manager). 

The Effects Team's Commitment

The Skull Kingdom effects team is comprised of Doug, Brian Pastor, Bill McCoy and Nick Herrera. Bill and Nick are also the attraction’s leading makeup artists. Doug Personally oversees all construction, however, his team puts a lot of themselves into the renovations and the attraction. 

Each year, the Kingdom does two major renovations. At least two rooms are upgraded or changed out completely during the summer, and each of the scenes are "tweaked" for the Halloween rush with an October 1st deadline. These changes prompt repeat attendance from local patrons who return to discover if any changes had been made since their last visit.  

Another thing I noticed at Skull Kingdom is an all too common occurrence in Orlando attractions. The ticket price had increased from $9.95 to $11.95 (which is still a bargain in the Orlando Area). Doug explained that had not raised their prices to the walk-through in two years and in December 1999 they felt that "It was time." 

Newly Added or Expanded Scenes The expanded Circus Horrificus section of Skull Kingdom, is now comprised of 4 rooms. In the first, you will notice that the walls and the floor have an unusual feeling about them, dubbed the Trampoline Room by Doug, the walls and floors of the room are made of spring tensioned nylon canvas, and you ‘bounce’ as you walk through. The next room which formerly was painted in very drab browns and dull reds, now has the bright glow of fluorescent circus colors. Wildfire brand paints were used for the new scenic art and the effect is almost blinding. Added to the walls in the Circus section are hand-painted sideshow posters circa 1920, but something seems eerily wrong in each and every one of them. In the next room, 3-dimensional pop up clowns eagerly wait to spring from the mouths of new clown facades. Your path then leads to the Killer clown’s Lair. A word of warning....Be Careful. You never know what lurks there. This expanded theming does a great job of tying the Circus section together and is an improvement to the overall flow of the attraction. 

What had been a short dark corridor in the summer of 1999 has now been renovated into a very convincing Blair Witch room. With these changes and the very convincing sets in this room, even the actors are afraid to stay in the room for more than a few minutes! On a surprise visit just two days after the room was completed Greg Hale one of the producers from the Blair Witch Project went through the attraction and gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to the new room. Greg stated that he was " Very Flattered" by the Effects Teams efforts. The suspenseful atmosphere of this room is impossible to explain here, you must see it to appreciate it. 

During previous visits, the stairwell leading down to the massive Queen Alien animation were just painted black. Now this whole area has been transformed into a ‘Geigeresque’ themed world, where you are greeted by various partially consumed body parts dripping with green ooze! I have heard that walls have ears, but these have whole bodies! Doug playfully describes the new theming in this area as "alien throw-up." Pleased with the final product, Doug wants everyone to see it, but is worried that the added lighting to show off the walls may take away from the show. 

So where's Trevor? Trevor Thompson, former General Manager and Current Co-Owner of Skull Kingdom has begun a new venture, which can also get your adrenaline pumping. He has taken the reins of the Skycoaster and Skyventure attractions located near Skull Kingdom. Skycoaster is part of an ever growing genre of very tall fast rides. Up to 3 people get harnessed into what is essentially a giant swing. Hoisted by crane to the apex of the drop by an airplane cable, (which can hold up to two full grown African elephants), and then released to free-fall. The Skyventure will blow you away, literally! Known as a vertical wind tunnel, this skydiving simulator uses a large fan positioned in the bottom of a room sized tube, and when brought up to speed, provides enough air speed to allow the properly positioned human body to hover in the room. It is like skydiving without need of a plane or a parachute. 

Doug and his crew are constantly striving to improve the Skull Kingdom experience, by adding rooms, changing the props and re-theming scenes. Plans are in place for a gigantic clown to be added as a finish to the Circus section, and many more surprises and changes are now being conceived. The continuing commitment of improving the quality of the attraction is a credit to the Management and Effects Crew of Skull Kingdom. Look forward to additional Kingdom updates in the future, for what truly is ‘a never ending story!’ 

Jeff Vinciguerra is a Haunt Enthusiast and owner of The Hallowed Ground Cemetery yard haunt in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He can be reached at 954-524-9478 or by E-mail at Mumafied1@aol.com or visit his web page at http://community.webtv.net/TriviaNut/WelcomeFellow