How intense are MIB, Mummy and Spiderman?

[SusanDK]

DH and I have visited Universal/IOA many times over the past 15 years. We like Jaws, Terminator, the Horror Makeup show, Dudley Do-right, Popeye, Jurrasic Park, lots of other stuff, but we are not keen on thrill rides.

Many of the newer rides have the typical warnings about being intense so we avoid them all. However, from reading these boards, I'm wanting to get a little more adventurous and courageous if some of the rides aren't as bad as the warnings indicate.

For example, I recently read someone compare MIB to Buzz at MK. Is MIB really no more intense than Buzz? Any other comparisons? We steered clear from MIB due to the posted warnings.

How about Spiderman? Several people post about how awesome this ride is, but we haven't dared try it. Can someone fill me in on how intense it is and what it consists of? What about Mummy?

Just to give examples, we love the above rides I mentioned, plus love rides like Splash Mountain at MK. We tried ToT at MGM once and said that was enough, and even found (don't laugh) the Cat in the Hat to spin us a little more than we liked. I didn't even really like that Unicorn coaster at IOA or Thunder Mtn at MK. We wouldn't dream of going near Hulk, Dueling Dragons or Dr. Doom except to watch and take pictures. And we hate any of the BTTF-type rides (Star Tours, Body Wars, etc.) -- to many jolts and whiplash effect. Nor have we ever tried RnR or Space Mountain at WDW.

Given the above background, would MIB, Mummy or Spiderman be appropriate for us.

We just bought the annual passes with second year free, so I do want to enjoy more of the attractions.

Thanks,
Susan

 

[gschmerl]

MIB is not bad at all. If somone opposite you "hits" your car, you will spin a bit.
Spiderman is GREAT. The effects are visual. In reality your car is not moving much at all. If it gets to you just shut your eyes or take off your 3D glasses.
Mummy is also great. No really BIG drops--no inversions. There is a short, quick backward portion, but nothing I would consider to be a big deal. Of course I love Hulk and the Dragons so maybe I'm not the best one to respond!!

 

[flortlebap]

MIB isn't intense at all. Although I didn't see much of it, we seemed to spend most of the time spinning around not being able to see anything or do much...

Spiderman is slightly more intense, but not scary in any real way. My SIL won't ride because it would make her feel ill - if you're claustrophobic I'd say it's possibly a no no, although the effects are pretty good and they make you feel like you're much more out in the open than say on Mission Space at Epcot. I've only ridden it the once on our last trip, but I can't wait to do it again, it really is a fantastic ride.

Basically you're in a simulator - the front is open, but the sides close in on you. You then travel around a track with screens in front of you and showing a 3D show with the help of your 3d glasses. It is amazing, you feel like you're really jumping off buildings!! Very, very cool indeed. Can get a bit loud, though, and some of the visual effects may be scary. The technology is similar to that at Dinosaur in AK, twinned with a 3d show.

The mummy is the most intense ride there, I'd say it was on a par with Tower of Terror, although obviously a totally different type of ride. The visual effects are stunning, but at the end of the day, it is still a roller coaster. It propels you at speed around some parts of the track, sometimes you go backwards, there are a few dips and twists and turns, but nothing too heavy as far as coasters go. The effects are great, though, so worth a ride!

I'd do all 3 and I'm not a huge thrill ride fan. The Hulk scares the whatsits out of me, and Duelling Dragons is even worse!!

 

[flortlebap]

BTW it was me who compared it to Buzz.

It's not scary - Disney's version is just a bit more lovely and fluffy!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Susan, you do a lot more thrill rides than I can handle, and I can do MIB and and Spidey with no trouble at all. I haven't gone on Mummy, but I might try ... still not sure, tho. When a ride makes me ill, I'm ill for a few days. I just don't know if it's worth the risk while on vacation.

Spidey is really a cool ride. It's not a simulator like Star Wars or BTTF. Those rides leave me dizzy for days even if I shut my eyes. The car on Spidey is like a large Haunted Mansion car. For anything too much, you can shut your eyes. It's also very smooth. No bumps and bruises when you get off.

MIB is really awesome, too. The wait in line is almost as cool as the ride. This is one ride I do not use any FOTL for. There is a little spinning. I've been on it hundreds of times, and the most I've spun is maybe a dozen times (not all at one time, either ... spin once or twice, shoot more aliens, spin a couple times, shoot more aliens, etc.). I cannot handle the Teacups over at WDW, either. Just make sure you get your gun out and shoot the other car -- make them spin, so they can't shoot you.

 

[aztecgoods]

MIB and Spider Man are real tame in my opinion. Like someone else said it is the equivalent of the Haunted Mansion doom buggies in a way, just slow moving cars. MIB does spin the car around a few times, but not near enough to make you dizzy or anything, I actually only remember spinning around maybe twice or something, no big deal at all. Spider Man in my opinion is even more tame, at the end you are supposed to be falling but it is all just on screen, you are not actually moving much at all so all you would have to do is close your eyes for about 30 seconds, no big deal at all.

Now the Mummy to me is still tame, but it is a little more intense than the other 2. However, if you can do space mountain, should be no problem, there are no large drops really at all, its not very tall. The only intense part of it is it does shoot you up a lift at one point going about 50 mph or so. So it does get a little fast. Its not intense to me at all, but I really do think you could handle it judging by whatever else you have done. IT is certainly no Hulk, DD or the Doom Drop at all, those I could legitimately classify as a little intense. Also, all 3 of these rides are in the top 5 rides of all times for any park probably so by no means should you skip these rides, these are all MUST DO rides at U.

 

[horseshowmom]

I don't think you'll have a problem with MiB (except for the possibility of spinning) or Spiderman. They would both be a shame to miss.

The Mummy is a mild roller coaster, and the effects are great.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I don't think you'll have a problem with MiB (except for the possibility of spinning) or Spiderman. They would both be a shame to miss.

The Mummy is a mild roller coaster, and the effects are great.

Thats what I was thinking also! I could see the Mummy possibly being too intense but Spiderman and MIB should not be missed! Have a go at them, you can always skip it next time if you dont care for them.

 

[SusanDK]

Thanks, everyone, that helps a lot. I'm up for MiB and maybe even Spidey next week. Maybe not quite ready for Mummy.

flortlebap - We wouldn't dream of going near Mission Space!

PlutoLuvr - We won't go on the TeaCups either. LOL! Like I said, we thought Cat in the Hat was too rough (spins and jolts).

aztecgoods - We haven't tried Space Mountain (but love Splash). I almost tried it once about 10 years ago. My husband was not interested at all, but agreed to wait for me. The queue was over an hour, however, so I said forget it and never got up the courage again.

Looking forward to being there next week and I'll be sure to report back (won't be home until early October).

Susan

 

[F-L-A]

While I certainly don't consider either of them intense, you probably won't enjoy Spider-Man or MIB if you thought Cat in the Hat was rough. That's one of Universal's tamest rides. MIB's vehicles move pretty much the same way as CitH's, with sudden outbursts of spinning at several points. Spider-Man uses a motion-base simulator vehicle. It never leaves ground level, but it will bump you around some.

Mummy would be out of the question.

 

[CJN]

Ah, a fellow rider wannabe who has issues.

Susan, your original post could have been written by me! You and hubby seem to ride and skip the exact same ones I do. I can't stand the motionsickness - it's like self-induced flu that can take a full day or longer to kick. On our first trip to Universal my sister and bro-in-law, who have a pretty good idea of what I can tolerate, test-rode MIB, Cat in the Hat and Spiderman before I dared go near them. Each time they came out loving the ride but shaking their heads "no" to me since they don't enjoy me sick either.

I really do hope you report back. People try to be encouraging sometimes by saying "oh, just try it once and see what you think", and I appreciate that, but it's hard to convey how a quickly a day can be ruined by making the wrong decision. Please post here when you get back. My next trip is in Jan/Feb and I'd love, love, love to hear your opinion.

 

[Dislifer]

you are much more brave than I. We did MIB and Spiderman but I didn't have the nerve to do the Mummy. I heard I really missed a great ride. MIB is totally fine. Spiderman a little scary but from what you said you liked...you will be able to handle this with no problem. If I ever go back I really want to go on the Mummy...people tell me that it is awesome...and not too scary either.

 

[horseshowmom]

Ah, a fellow rider wannabe who has issues.

Susan, your original post could have been written by me! You and hubby seem to ride and skip the exact same ones I do. I can't stand the motionsickness - it's like self-induced flu that can take a full day or longer to kick. On our first trip to Universal my sister and bro-in-law, who have a pretty good idea of what I can tolerate, test-rode MIB, Cat in the Hat and Spiderman before I dared go near them. Each time they came out loving the ride but shaking their heads "no" to me since they don't enjoy me sick either.

I really do hope you report back. People try to be encouraging sometimes by saying "oh, just try it once and see what you think", and I appreciate that, but it's hard to convey how a quickly a day can be ruined by making the wrong decision. Please post here when you get back. My next trip is in Jan/Feb and I'd love, love, love to hear your opinion.

Have you tried motion sickness pills? I know someone who had the same problem, but as long as he took a pill ahead of time, he was fine. I don't know if it would work for you, but it definitely did for him (I mean he could ride anything after that but for sure not without the pills).

 

[aztecgoods]

Have you tried motion sickness pills? I know someone who had the same problem, but as long as he took a pill ahead of time, he was fine. I don't know if it would work for you, but it definitely did for him (I mean he could ride anything after that but for sure not without the pills).

Thats a good tip, I didn't think of that, my girlfriend will probably need those.

 

[CJN]

Have you tried motion sickness pills? I know someone who had the same problem, but as long as he took a pill ahead of time, he was fine. I don't know if it would work for you, but it definitely did for him (I mean he could ride anything after that but for sure not without the pills).

Yep. Pills, patches, gizmos - I've tried most everything, many of which also have a side effect or interact with other prescription meds, leaving me to decide whether walking through a themepark drowsy (or worse) is worth getting on a particular ride. The most effective thing I've found is the electronic wristband (take THAT Mythbusters! ) which gets me through an airline flight just fine. However, since I've not yet been on a plane which does as many spins as MIB I don't know how well it will work for rides. Gonna find out in February!

 

[ChrisFL]

I did a reply to a thread before about MIB and its spinning, I was wrong once, but I think I have the sequence.

There are about 5 places you can spin on MIB, the first 3 are over quickly, you spin 2-3 times and thats it, there's another chance to spin a few times depending on what happens when shooting things (wont give it away) and at the end it does spin around 5-6 times.

Overall I dont think its too bad but I've never had any motion sickness issues before.

 

[JulyGirl]

The spins in MIB are more intense than Buzz. In Buzz you can control your spinning. In MIB, you will spin quite a bit if the players opposite you are any good. However, the spinning is not like Tea Cup spinning. My boyfriend gets motion sickness and had not trouble at all on MIB. It's my favorite ride at ANY park.

 

[dancegrl1093]

well, don't do the mummy. i am slightly more ride tolerant than you (big thunder, cat in the hat, and flying unicorn are my friends!!!!!!! BTTF is my BFF!!!!!)............... the motion isn't that bad, but the visuals and sounds scared the h-e-double toothpicks out of me..................... if you don't like roller coasters, the mummy shouldn't even be an option for you. mib is fine, the turns aren't as sharp as the cat in the hat, and the better your aim, the less you spin (even if mib isn't your thing, you gotta try it once cause it's GREAT!!!!) spiderman is a DO-NOT-MISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's a great ride, but you may be aggitated on it............. however, i'd say it's worth the risk. to help you make your decision, i reccomend the following videos:

http://www.universalorlando.com/usf_attr_mummy.html- the mummy directly from the park's website
http://www.universalorlando.com/usf_attr_mib.html- MIB directly from the park's website
http://www.universalorlando.com/ioa_attr_spiderman.html- spiderman directly from the park's website
http://www.nogodforme.com/ioapovs2005.htm- there are various videos of the mummy and spiderman on here, so i did not choose to post the link to just one, but the whole website


let me know what you decide!!!

wait, i just tried the first three and they all lead to the same place............ i think..............

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Just wanted to let the OP know I went on Mummy ... pretty scary, but I'd go again. I do not do most coasters (Thunder Mountain is as intense as I can go). The first half of the ride is wonderful, no spins, no simulators ... just a nice little ride with cool music. Then it becomes a "mild" coaster. Two drops that I can recall, neither being very intense. Splash Mountain and the Jurassic Park ride are way scarier as far as drops. The speed thing at one point reminded me of Test Track over at Epcot. But you are on a coaster.

I would say it's a combination of Thunder Mountain, Dinosaur and Test Track with really cool Universal effects. Not one I could go on over and over, but one I will do again as long as I'm in good shape (no back/neck trouble and not hungover from the previous night's festivities).

 

[SusanDK]

Just an update -- we made it to Universal one afternoon this week, but I still haven't had a chance to try any of the three rides. We didn't arrive until mid-afternoon and did quite a few attractions. At 5.45 pm we got a bit of a shock when one of the staff told us the park was closing in 15 minutes!

I hadn't checked the schedule and never expected closing to be so early. We have the two-year annual passes now and get over here three times a year for a couple of weeks each time, so I will get my chance.

Just to give people an idea of what kind of a ride chicken my husband is, when we went to Shrek 4D, he insisted on the stationary seats. It's not that we get normal motion sickness for those who mentioned it (he's been sailing since age 3 and does not get sea sick), but we don't like rough jolting, spinning or whiplash effects. And I don't like intense speed or heights.

But I will eventually try MIB and Spiderman, I'm sure. Maybe still not Mummy. Although I don't consider Splash or Jurassic the least bit scary, both are great fun to me. I haven't tried Test Track yet but hope to do that this trip as well. I can't remember if I've ever ridden Dinosaur. For some reason I think I did, years ago, but just don't remember it.

Susan