Revenge of the Mummy Midcourse

The first time that I rode Revenge of the Mummy at USF, our car had a pretty extreme stop on the midcourse. The first half of the ride was amazing, then once we hit the upslope to the midcourse, I nearly had a heart attack--there was another car already on it. It seemed like the car that I was on stopped on a dime, and we came to rest literally about half a foot from the back of the car in front of us (it was easy to judge the distance--my group rode in the front seat). The car in front of us finished the fake ending sequence, then was sent on its way... that particular effect didn't work for us, but we were sent along a minute or two later without a ride stoppage of any type.

Since there wasn't any emergency stop or freak out by the employees, I maintain that the experience was part of the system. However, the odd part is that I've yet to come across anyone else who had the same experience. Has anyone seen the same thing happen? At the time it seemed like a risky stop, as there didn't appear to be any margin for error. Is anyone familiar with the type of braking used on that part of the ride?

*** Edited 2/4/2005 3:33:08 AM UTC by PhantomTails***

Well seeing as how you saw the end of someone else's fake ending, I'd say that's not right (but safe just the same). I'm not sure how the timing could get to be that off though considering the time in the beetle slot machine room, which obviously only accommodates one car and therefore forces spacing.

I think you got out of sequence The brakes are designed to stop you before you hit the car in front I have seen the car in front pulling out while we pulled in Have not been that close Yet. Supposedly they weigh the car to mantain proper spacing (like the dragons do to time the near misses) But I have heard they can have a lot of cars on at the same time(if you are there on a busy day) I think i read they have 16-18 cars I don't know how many blocks they have set up .But normally they have 8-10 cars in load/unload so it is my guess that 8-10 cars on the course at any time.

P.S. The fire takes a certain amount of time to reset A few times I have rode it the fire did not light and the window did not explode.

I don't see much reason to weigh a car, since the only critical place for speed would be the top of the launch to limit airtime. You can measure the speed before you get to the top and adjust. Let's count blocks...

The two load stations
Entry curve and mummy intern
Treasure room
Beetle slot machine
Launch/first half
Fake ending (which obviously has two blocks)
Second half
Stand-by (I assume several blocks here)
Exit platform

That means there could be as many as seven cars on the course not including the stations at any given time.

I've found that the timing on that ride is extremely tempremental. I spent a whole day riding it on my visit last June. For the most part my rides went without a hitch. Although several times I got stopped in the beetle room, once there was no animation in the turntable room, once we cought the second half of the turntable room's animation. I was in both positions in the false station, although the animation ran everytime a car came in. I also got stopped on the final brake run several times (BTW, there is room for at least 4 cars there). There were also several rides where it paused for a second or two after the false station, or the beetle room, which was slightly annoying since IMHO seeing a black screen completely ruined the effect.

I remember once, during the "Technical Rehersal" a car was in front of us, but it had just started going down the drop.

However, with the large number of cars this ride operates, some hiccups are to be expected.

Leaving only a 1/2 foot gap between those blocks is pretty radical. Experiencing that would be awesome I think! I would say consider yourself lucky to be in the front row for that.

Here are several articles about the mummy ride

http://www.designnews.com/article/CA486926.html

has info about the brakes

and this one has some cool photo's

http://www.dafe.org/attractions/darkrides/mummyflorida/mummyflorida.htm

the first one talks about the weight of the cars maybe I was wrong about weighing them.

I swear to god with the double station I saw 10 cars on that course at least in Florida. It sounds amazing I know but still, at least 10 cars.

Well, Keith every ride you get stopped very quickly right next to a wall. It scared the crap out of me on the first tseveral times I rode it. Though I would guess that for most of the ride there isn't that much force needed to stop the car. It really only moves fast for a while after each launch. Also I could have sworn that there was way more cars than 8. It seemed like anywhere that I looked there was a car. I would venture to say that there is less than 20 secondes between each car...at most.

Kyle, I think the most that you could have possibly seen in the station is 8.

I've had it happen to me. It actually happened on my first ride through during technical rehearsals. So yes, while it isn't normal, it can and does happen safely.

The Mummy can run 12 "trains" simultaneously, but they only run 11 due to blocking/set reload issues.

And that's that.

JC

PS, the fake station does have two blocks and when the ride is E-stopped, the second car will stop *hella*fast at the beginning of the fake station

That makes sense, Joe, running both load stations and stacking one at exit.

Hella fast definitely describes it! Thanks for the information.

Phantom Tails, if you are reading this, I want you to know that I rode Mummy, but instead of getting off and enjoying the rest of my day here at USF, the Mummy took my soul, and I'm in hell now.

One of the things I really want to give "props" for is the loading of the trains....USF typically *spends* an extra employee or two loading the trains, but they end up PUMPING people thru that ride with spectacular capacity...

Unfortunately, even my *hopes* for the USH version aren't up to the standards set by MY Mummy...but it won't stop me from at least giving it a shot...;)

Im still in awe over that big countdown timer that they have over the loading stations on MiB...wow, they put it so bluntly. Hurry your ass up and sit down...NOW!