Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride - Unearthing the Facts
"Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride" is an enclosed roller coaster attraction found at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Florida, and Universal Studios Singapore. Based on the blockbuster "Mummy" film franchise, this ride combines thrilling coaster elements with immersive dark ride experiences, plunging riders into a world of ancient curses, warrior mummies, and hidden treasures.
Origins and Development
In 2002, Universal Parks & Resorts embarked on a project to create a dark ride inspired by the popular "Mummy" movie franchise. This led to the closure of two classic attractions to make room for the new experience. Kongfrontation at Universal Studios Florida closed its doors on September 8, 2002, and E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios Hollywood ceased operation on March 14, 2003. Premier Rides, a leader in theme park ride design and manufacturing, was responsible for developing the ride equipment and technology. Jim Seay, President of Premier Rides, expressed his excitement about the project, noting that it incorporated numerous innovative concepts and advancements.
The first "Revenge of the Mummy" ride opened at Universal Studios Florida on May 21, 2004. In December 2008, Resorts World Sentosa announced the construction of a "Revenge of the Mummy" ride at Universal Studios Singapore, which opened on March 18, 2010.
Technical Specifications
The Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster utilizes linear induction motors (LIMs) to launch riders from a complete standstill to a maximum speed of 45 mph (72 km/h) in mere seconds. The Florida and Singapore locations share the same track layout, while each location offers a unique virtual experience. The ride's track is approximately 2,200 feet (670 meters) long and features banked turns up to 80 degrees and a 50-degree angle of descent.
- Height Restriction: 48 inches
- Ride Duration: Approximately 2 minutes
- Maximum Speed: 45 mph (72 km/h)
- Track Length: 2,200 feet (670 meters)
Ride Experience at Universal Studios Hollywood
Located in the Lower Lot, the Hollywood version replaced the E.T. Adventure attraction. The queue is set in 1944, providing riders with a backstory about Imhotep and the ride's narrative.
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Queue Experience
As guests enter the building, they encounter a corridor with air blasts triggered every 10 to 15 seconds. Further inside, the Book of the Dead is on display, along with a peep hole offering a glimpse of a mummified man surrounded by scarab beetles. The queue culminates in an abandoned archaeological dig representing Imhotep's burial chamber, complete with a mirror displaying a pictogram of Imhotep and another depicting guests being chased by his mummy army.
Main Ride
The ride begins with mine cars entering a dark tomb illuminated by green and red lights. A mummy comes to life, hissing at riders, while Warden Gad Hassan warns, "Run for your lives! The curse is real! Imhotep lives!" The mine car then moves into a treasure room filled with golden light and hieroglyphs. Imhotep appears, tempting riders to "Serve me and savor the riches of eternal life." As the room turns dark green, Imhotep utters, "And join us in eternal death." The car enters a grand gallery where an animatronic Imhotep recites a curse, "Akum ra, akum de," before proclaiming, "Now your souls belong to me… FOREVER!" The gallery collapses, and the car launches into darkness, capturing the ride photo. The ride continues for 56 seconds in darkness, featuring banked turns and small drops, with images of mummy warriors and Imhotep illuminated by ultraviolet lighting. The car then launches backwards into the underworld, accompanied by Imhotep's laughter. A turntable rotates the car to face forward, and Imhotep appears as a projected image, screaming "NOOOOO!" before vanishing. A wall lifts, revealing a strobe light.
Differences from Florida Version
Despite sharing the same name and creative direction, the Hollywood version is a truncated version of the Florida ride due to space constraints. Some argue that the coaster portion of the Hollywood ride is better than the Florida version, but the ending has been criticized as nonsensical.
Ride Experience at Universal Studios Florida
The Revenge of the Mummy ride at Universal Studios Florida is housed in the former Kongfrontation building.
Queue Experience
The queue takes guests through the Museum of Antiquities, where they encounter props, molds, and concept drawings from a fictional Mummy film sequel. A video plays, explaining the making of the original Mummy film and the alleged curse that plagued the cast and crew.
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Main Ride
As the ride begins, the mine carts enter Imhotep's tomb, where a partly mummified Reggie warns riders about the curse. Imhotep appears and attempts to tempt riders with riches. Soldier mummies appear, and Imhotep utters an Egyptian curse. The cart launches backwards as scarab beetles appear. Imhotep warns, "Not even the medjai can save you now. There is no escape. Your end shall be my beginning. Behold your fate." The cart stops, and a ride attendant is attacked by Imhotep. The cart then drops 39 feet (12 meters) and speeds along a winding course until diverted by a medjai symbol. Brendan Fraser appears on a screen, but Imhotep offers him coffee, ending the ride.
Homages to Kongfrontation
Several homages to the former Kongfrontation attraction can be found within Revenge of the Mummy, including a golden statue of King Kong and props in the "Sahara Traders" gift shop.
Ride Experience at Universal Studios Singapore
The Revenge of the Mummy ride at Universal Studios Singapore is nearly identical to the Florida version but features a different storyline, new sounds and effects, and a new ending where Imhotep is sealed inside his tomb.
Queue Experience
Unlike the Orlando version, guests directly enter an Egyptian tomb. The inner queue areas feature props from The Mummy films and wall paintings of Imhotep's life as a high priest.
Main Ride
As the car turns, riders see Evelyn's supervisor trapped on a table, with Imhotep holding the Book of the Dead. The supervisor instructs the riders to "Find the Book of the Living and kill Imhotep!" The vehicle moves into a room filled with treasure, and Imhotep appears, tempting riders. The vehicle then moves into another room and suddenly stops, causing scarab beetles to appear. Then, the vehicle drops backwards and turns in a 180-degree circle. Imhotep warns, "You will never find the book. There is no escape. Your end shall be my beginning. Behold your fate!" The ride launches riders forward to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) while Imhotep shouts: "YOUR SOULS ARE MINE!!!"
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Safety and Accessibility
- Height Restriction: Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride.
- Personal Belongings: Items larger than a small purse are not permitted on the ride and must be stored in free lockers. Smaller items should be placed in the nets provided under the lap restraints.
Other Facts
A considerable amount of research into Egyptology was carried out at the British Museum to ensure that the theming of the Mummy’s tomb is as accurate as possible. In order to gauge the weight of the vehicle, and therefore how much launch force is required, the vehicle is actually timed during launch. There are a number of sensors that calculate the rate of increase of speed at the moment of launch. There are 200 strategically-placed speakers within the ride to blast you with 18,000 Watts of sound. Each individual ride vehicle is equipped with 22 surround sound speakers to ensure that the soundtrack is clearly heard by all riders.
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