Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The NBC Universal Experience
What it is
Interactive walk-through exhibit.
Scope and scale
Diversion.
When to go
Anytime.
Duration of tour
15-40 minutes.
Probable waiting time
None.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
This exhibit features authentic props and costumes from
many of Universal's most famous films—
Gladiator, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jurassic
Park, E.T., The Sting, Psycho, and Coraline,
just to name a few. Cinephiles will love it.
Recently added highlights include artifacts from the Oscar-winning musical
Les Misér-
ables
and the time-traveling DeLorean used in the
Back to the Future
trilogy.
TOURING TIPS
Never crowded—visit after you've experienced all of rides.
Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride
What it is
High-tech dark ride.
Scope and scale
Super-headliner.
When to go
The first hour
the park is open or after 4 p.m.
Special comments
Must be 48" to ride.
Switching-off
option
provided.
Duration of ride
About 2 minutes.
Loading speed
Slow.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
It's kind of hard to wrap your mind around the actual at-
traction, but it pretty much lives up to the Universal press release, though the press release
is generally incomprehensible. Here, quoting that press release, are some of the things you
can look forward to: “authentic Egyptian catacombs; high-velocity show immersion sys-
tem [we think this has something to do with very fast baptism]; magnet-propulsion launch
wave system; and canopic jars containing grisly remains.”
Of course the art of the press release is to create allure and excitement without ac-
tually spilling the beans. Actually, Revenge of the Mummy is an indoor dark ride based
on the
Mummy
flicks, where guests fight off “deadly curses and vengeful creatures” while
flying through Egyptian tombs and other spooky places on a high-tech roller coaster.
The queuing area serves to establish the story line: you're in a group touring a
1944 archeological dig of an Egyptian tomb when evil Imhotep decides to make another
comeback. The theming includes authentic hieroglyphics as the queue makes its way to
the loading area, where you board a somewhat clunky, jeep-looking vehicle. The ride
begins as a slow, elaborate dark ride passing through various chambers, including one
where golden treasures are offered in exchange for your soul. Suddenly the aforemen-
tioned “magnet-propulsion launch wave system” comes in. In more ordinary language,
