Universal Studios Florida's Revenge of the Mummy: New York
Universal Studios Hollywood's Revenge of the Mummy: Lower Lot
The differences? Universal Florida's Revenge of the Mummy opened in May 2004, in the old Kongfrontation building on New York street. Set amidst the filming of the fictional "Revenge of the Mummy" sequel to 1999's The Mummy and 2001's The Mummy Returns, the ride features an elaborate pre-show narrative starring Brendan Fraser, star of The Mummy films. The Hollywood version opened a month later in the old E.T. soundstage on the park's Lower Lot. Ironically, the Hollywood version skips the Fraser narrative "wrap" around the ride, despite the fact that the Hollywood park, unlike its Orlando sibling, actually is a working daily film studio.
On both versions of the ride, you are tempted by the evil Imhotep with a room filled with treasure before mummy soldiers attack to claim your souls for all eternity. In the Hollywood version, you launch then into the roller coaster portion of the ride, which is interrupted in the middle by the scarab attack before you plunge backward into the darkness. In Florida, you move first to the scarab beetle attack, then your car drops and turns around before launching into the coaster portion of the ride.
In Hollywood, you encounter Imhotep one final time before the curse is broken with fog and fire and you return to the living. In Florida, well, let's just say you get to see Imhotep a couple more times. Perhaps that's the biggest difference between the two rides. The Orlando version might be a bit longer, and include the Fraser overlay. But in Hollywood you know that Imhotep is defeated. In Orlando? You're not so sure...
Feel free to further break down the match-up in the comments.
Other Showdown winners:
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
Another example would be Rock N' Roller Coaster. I've seen a video of an identical outdoor version of this ride, and it seems... meh. Put it inside, give it the Aerosmith overlay and the on-board soundtrack, throw up some fun and funky black light scenery and voila! Instant crowd-pleaser.