Here is the new Universal Orlando press release on the Mummy attraction with a lot of technical details....for fun, I'll do a comparison after the press release to help provide a better idea of what all the numbers and words really mean, so check it out
Press Release:
REVENGE OF THE MUMMY - THE RIDE
UNWRAPPED AT
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
WHAT IT IS:
A first-of-its-kind psychological thrill ride, Revenge of The Mummy - The Ride taps into riders' primal fears through immersion in a total multi-sensory environment. Utilizing space-age robotics, sophisticated motion picture technology, state-of-the-art ride, audio, and special effects engineering, the ride plays upon common human phobias: fear of the dark, fear of insects, fear of speed, fear of heights, fear of evil spirits, and fear of death. Employing the same technology utilized in futuristic magnetic levitation trains, Revenge of The Mummy - The Ride marks a new evolution in roller coasters by fusing an electro-magnetic propulsion launch system with linear induction motor ride tracks.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT:
With a combined ten years in research and development, Revenge of The Mummy - The Ride is the first indoor ride in history to fuse state-of-the-art roller coaster technology with highly-themed dark ride environments and Hollywood special effects.
THE HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION:
Universal's attraction designers worked in close collaboration with the filmmakers and stars of the highly popular "Mummy" movies. This involvement includes: Stephen Sommers, director and writer of "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns;" Bob Ducsay, editor of "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns" and executive producer for "The Mummy Returns;" Brendan Fraser and Arnold Vosloo, stars of "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns;" Alan Silvestri, composer of the original score for "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns."
RIDE TRACK:
The revolutionary ride track features linear induction motors designed to propel the ride vehicles through 2,200 feet of curves, drops, and sweeping turns, containing seven near "zero G" moments. At one point, the vehicle falls 25 feet at a 50-degree angle, providing the sensation of falling straight down. The ride tracks, which are strategically filled with sand, are designed to minimize sound and create a noise-free ride ... except for the screams!
THE BACKWARDS CHALLENGE:
It is the only indoor roller coaster to employ forward and backward motion through the technique of track switching. During one particularly hair-raising moment in the ride, the ride vehicle will come to a halt, its way blocked by a dead-end wall, out of which will pour thousands of hungry scarabs, heading straight for the riders. Just in time, the vehicle actually switches tracks and slips backwards down a steep drop before being launched into a high-speed escape.
EGYPTIAN ARTIFACTS AND AUTHENTICITY:
Themed elements of the ride are the most elaborate ever created for a thrill ride experience. Universal Studios' ride producers traveled to London's British Museum and also worked with leading experts in Egyptology from the Oriental Institute of Chicago to assure the authenticity of the ride's shadowy, curse-ridden interior.
AUDIO SYSTEM:
Revenge of The Mummy - The Ride surrounds guests with more than 18,000 watts of sound from more than 200 speakers placed strategically throughout the attraction. Aboard each individual mine-car ride vehicle, guests are enveloped with sound from 22 speakers reverberating more than 350 watts of audio.
MINE CARE RIDE VEHICLES:
16 passengers will be secured into a mine care ride vehicle, with up to five vehicles navigating the ride track at one time. The roller coaster launch sends the vehicle climbing approximately 45 feet at a 25-degree slop in 1.5 seconds with acceleration forces in excess of 1G, which is roughly the same acceleration performance as a Porsche Carrera.
IMHOTEP'S MINION APPARITIONS:
(25) 30" X 20" black-light apparitions of Imhotep's ghostly minions are dispersed throughout the roller coaster portion of the attraction. The "lost soul" apparitions emerge from total darkness, and soar past, appearing to guests in flashing split-second blinding images. This unique after-burn effect is perceived on a near-subliminal level, helping to "sear" the haunting, ghostly images into guests' minds.
LENGTH OF RIDE:
2,200 feet of dual rail track making up a four-minute experience - the scariest ever experienced in an indoor roller coaster thrill ride.
RAPID SPEED:
The ride catapults guests using linear induction motors at rapid speeds up to 45 mph through virtual darkness. It is the first attraction to use linear induction technology to propel vehicles through a themed environment.
EFFECTS:
At 6'8" and 650 pounds, the ride contains a robotic animated figure of the Mummy that is the most realistic and fluid animated figure ever created. The ride places "Brain Fire" flames directly over guests' heads, the first time an attraction has ever created a true immersive flame effect, with temperatures at ceiling level exceeding 3,400 degrees Fahrenheit. A smoke curtain effect at the launch of the coaster consumes up to 2,500 gallons of liquid nitrogen per day.
SCENICS:
More than 60,000 pounds of gypsum was used to fabricate the "ancient" slabs of stone making up the walls throughout the Mummy's tomb. More than 3,000 sheets of gold foil were used to create the Mummy's gleaming treasure in the attractions - foil that is typically used as wrapping paper for hamburgers. The huge statue of Anubis hanging in the stairwell of the attraction building weighs one ton. Many of the hieroglyphics decorating the walls spell out real words and warnings to the visitors.
OPENING:
May 2004 at Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando
Ok, now for the comparions: [PLEASE NOTE: Mummy will feature a great number of extragavant ride scenes that truly have never been used with a coaster to such a degree, the comparisons below simply are comparing the "coaster and audio" aspects of the ride to other "coasters".]
(1)Mummy Ride track: 2, 200 feet.....RnRC ride track: 3,403 feet...Hulk ride track:3,800 feet
(2) Mummy audio system: 200 speakers throughout attraction with 18,000 watts of sound...RnRC audio system: 900 speakers throughout attraction with 32,000 watts of sound
(3) Mummy ride vehicle: 16 passengers with 22 speakers on board...RnRC ride vehicle: 24 passengers with 120 speakers on board
(4) Mummy ride length: about 4 minutes...RnRC ride length: about 1 min 10 sec...Hulk ride length: about 2 min 15 sec (although Mummy's track length is shorter than either RnRC and Hulk, it is a longer ride because the vehicle stops for several scenes to happen and overall it is a much slower ride..which is made up by extragavant show scenes that both RnRc and Hulk lack)
(5)Mummy maximum speed: 45MPH ...RnRC maximum speed: 60 (58?) MPH..Hulk maximum speed: 67 MPH (initial launch is only 40 MPH)....Everest max spped 50MPH
(6) Mummy drop: 25 feet at 50 degree angle....Splash Mountain max drop: 52.5 feet at 45 degree angle...Everest max drop: 80 feet (angle unknown)
(7)"only indoor roller coaster to employ forward and backward motion through the technique of track switching"...until Everest opens
Speculation comparisons
(8) Ride capacity: this would take some calculations, but here are "numbers" if someone would like to figure it out for me: Mummy: 80 guests at once are on the 4 min ride at the same time (5 vehicles holding 16 passengers)...Mission:Space: up to 160 guests are on the 4 min ride at the same time (40 pods with 4 passengers).
(9) Mummy's "Ghostly Minnions".... at 30" by 20", each is only 2.5 feet by 1.7 feet....to me, they seem incredibly small, no? Sounds like each (25 total) will be like RnRC's props: "cutouts" lite by blacklight.
Press Release:
REVENGE OF THE MUMMY - THE RIDE
UNWRAPPED AT
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
WHAT IT IS:
A first-of-its-kind psychological thrill ride, Revenge of The Mummy - The Ride taps into riders' primal fears through immersion in a total multi-sensory environment. Utilizing space-age robotics, sophisticated motion picture technology, state-of-the-art ride, audio, and special effects engineering, the ride plays upon common human phobias: fear of the dark, fear of insects, fear of speed, fear of heights, fear of evil spirits, and fear of death. Employing the same technology utilized in futuristic magnetic levitation trains, Revenge of The Mummy - The Ride marks a new evolution in roller coasters by fusing an electro-magnetic propulsion launch system with linear induction motor ride tracks.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT:
With a combined ten years in research and development, Revenge of The Mummy - The Ride is the first indoor ride in history to fuse state-of-the-art roller coaster technology with highly-themed dark ride environments and Hollywood special effects.
THE HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION:
Universal's attraction designers worked in close collaboration with the filmmakers and stars of the highly popular "Mummy" movies. This involvement includes: Stephen Sommers, director and writer of "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns;" Bob Ducsay, editor of "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns" and executive producer for "The Mummy Returns;" Brendan Fraser and Arnold Vosloo, stars of "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns;" Alan Silvestri, composer of the original score for "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns."
RIDE TRACK:
The revolutionary ride track features linear induction motors designed to propel the ride vehicles through 2,200 feet of curves, drops, and sweeping turns, containing seven near "zero G" moments. At one point, the vehicle falls 25 feet at a 50-degree angle, providing the sensation of falling straight down. The ride tracks, which are strategically filled with sand, are designed to minimize sound and create a noise-free ride ... except for the screams!
THE BACKWARDS CHALLENGE:
It is the only indoor roller coaster to employ forward and backward motion through the technique of track switching. During one particularly hair-raising moment in the ride, the ride vehicle will come to a halt, its way blocked by a dead-end wall, out of which will pour thousands of hungry scarabs, heading straight for the riders. Just in time, the vehicle actually switches tracks and slips backwards down a steep drop before being launched into a high-speed escape.
EGYPTIAN ARTIFACTS AND AUTHENTICITY:
Themed elements of the ride are the most elaborate ever created for a thrill ride experience. Universal Studios' ride producers traveled to London's British Museum and also worked with leading experts in Egyptology from the Oriental Institute of Chicago to assure the authenticity of the ride's shadowy, curse-ridden interior.
AUDIO SYSTEM:
Revenge of The Mummy - The Ride surrounds guests with more than 18,000 watts of sound from more than 200 speakers placed strategically throughout the attraction. Aboard each individual mine-car ride vehicle, guests are enveloped with sound from 22 speakers reverberating more than 350 watts of audio.
MINE CARE RIDE VEHICLES:
16 passengers will be secured into a mine care ride vehicle, with up to five vehicles navigating the ride track at one time. The roller coaster launch sends the vehicle climbing approximately 45 feet at a 25-degree slop in 1.5 seconds with acceleration forces in excess of 1G, which is roughly the same acceleration performance as a Porsche Carrera.
IMHOTEP'S MINION APPARITIONS:
(25) 30" X 20" black-light apparitions of Imhotep's ghostly minions are dispersed throughout the roller coaster portion of the attraction. The "lost soul" apparitions emerge from total darkness, and soar past, appearing to guests in flashing split-second blinding images. This unique after-burn effect is perceived on a near-subliminal level, helping to "sear" the haunting, ghostly images into guests' minds.
LENGTH OF RIDE:
2,200 feet of dual rail track making up a four-minute experience - the scariest ever experienced in an indoor roller coaster thrill ride.
RAPID SPEED:
The ride catapults guests using linear induction motors at rapid speeds up to 45 mph through virtual darkness. It is the first attraction to use linear induction technology to propel vehicles through a themed environment.
EFFECTS:
At 6'8" and 650 pounds, the ride contains a robotic animated figure of the Mummy that is the most realistic and fluid animated figure ever created. The ride places "Brain Fire" flames directly over guests' heads, the first time an attraction has ever created a true immersive flame effect, with temperatures at ceiling level exceeding 3,400 degrees Fahrenheit. A smoke curtain effect at the launch of the coaster consumes up to 2,500 gallons of liquid nitrogen per day.
SCENICS:
More than 60,000 pounds of gypsum was used to fabricate the "ancient" slabs of stone making up the walls throughout the Mummy's tomb. More than 3,000 sheets of gold foil were used to create the Mummy's gleaming treasure in the attractions - foil that is typically used as wrapping paper for hamburgers. The huge statue of Anubis hanging in the stairwell of the attraction building weighs one ton. Many of the hieroglyphics decorating the walls spell out real words and warnings to the visitors.
OPENING:
May 2004 at Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando
Ok, now for the comparions: [PLEASE NOTE: Mummy will feature a great number of extragavant ride scenes that truly have never been used with a coaster to such a degree, the comparisons below simply are comparing the "coaster and audio" aspects of the ride to other "coasters".]
(1)Mummy Ride track: 2, 200 feet.....RnRC ride track: 3,403 feet...Hulk ride track:3,800 feet
(2) Mummy audio system: 200 speakers throughout attraction with 18,000 watts of sound...RnRC audio system: 900 speakers throughout attraction with 32,000 watts of sound
(3) Mummy ride vehicle: 16 passengers with 22 speakers on board...RnRC ride vehicle: 24 passengers with 120 speakers on board
(4) Mummy ride length: about 4 minutes...RnRC ride length: about 1 min 10 sec...Hulk ride length: about 2 min 15 sec (although Mummy's track length is shorter than either RnRC and Hulk, it is a longer ride because the vehicle stops for several scenes to happen and overall it is a much slower ride..which is made up by extragavant show scenes that both RnRc and Hulk lack)
(5)Mummy maximum speed: 45MPH ...RnRC maximum speed: 60 (58?) MPH..Hulk maximum speed: 67 MPH (initial launch is only 40 MPH)....Everest max spped 50MPH
(6) Mummy drop: 25 feet at 50 degree angle....Splash Mountain max drop: 52.5 feet at 45 degree angle...Everest max drop: 80 feet (angle unknown)
(7)"only indoor roller coaster to employ forward and backward motion through the technique of track switching"...until Everest opens
Speculation comparisons
(8) Ride capacity: this would take some calculations, but here are "numbers" if someone would like to figure it out for me: Mummy: 80 guests at once are on the 4 min ride at the same time (5 vehicles holding 16 passengers)...Mission:Space: up to 160 guests are on the 4 min ride at the same time (40 pods with 4 passengers).
(9) Mummy's "Ghostly Minnions".... at 30" by 20", each is only 2.5 feet by 1.7 feet....to me, they seem incredibly small, no? Sounds like each (25 total) will be like RnRC's props: "cutouts" lite by blacklight.