On top of the lower attendance, BGT typically has their rides go down once a year for maintenance, while most of Universal's are always open.
Rides don't age in years. They age in hours/cycles.
Joker's Jinx opened in 1999, so has been operating for 20 years. Now, Six Flags America is a seasonal park, and typical opens 3 days a week between Easter and Memorial Day, 7 days a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and three days a week in October. I did an extremely rough calculation based on those things and figure the park is open about 170 days a year. For the sake of math, I'm going roughly say the park is open 10 hours a day, so the Joker's Jinx runs 1,700 hours a year.
Over 20 years, based on those calculations, Joker's Jinx is 34,000 hours old.
Now, Mummy opened in May 2004, it's been running over 15 years. Big difference is, apart from refurbs (which it rarely gets), park closures and break downs, it's running every day. But, for the sake of argument (and easy math), let's knock a year off it's total "age" and (to account for the aughts), I'll say it only ran 9 hours a day.
9 hours a day * 365 days a year * 14 years = 45,990 hours old.
So, even though Jinx is old by opening date, these conceptual calculations show Mummy has almost 11,000 hours of more tear. It would take Jinx 7 more years (based on how it operates) to get to the same wear level.
But, let's extend this thought experiment. Let's say Mummy closes in 2025 without a refurb (so, 5 more years), and the park now runs it 10 hours a day.
10 hours * 365 * 5 years = 18,250 hours. That puts it at 64,240 hours of approximate run time before closure.
Based on Six Flags seasonal operations, it would take Joker's Jinx another 17 years to get the same amount of total run time.
So, a ride at Universal that last twenty years can last thirty-five to forty years in a seasonal park. That's why they operate on a different time frame. For reference, Hulk was replaced at approximately 45,000 hours. Dragons closed at over 50,000 hours.
One of the big differences between Disney and Universal is that Disney will take down their signature rides for a few months for refurbishments. That extends their lifetimes. Universal can rarely afford to do that.
Attendance is irrelevant. If a train is running x number an hours a day (And remember, during peak Busch is open longer than Universal). the train goes out. Empty or full. (And there are six more B&M's that opened the same year as Hulk too). Dragons suffered from stress from not operating the way it was designed. But never figured out Hulk's issue. (And I swear they didn't replace the trains, just the bodies. It's rougher than ever).They ride them really really hard.
attendance at IOA vs. any non-Florida Park with a B&M isn’t even comparable in any way, shape or form. Universal also has the money where other companies are squeezed for cash.
Attendance is irrelevant. If a train is running x number an hours a day (And remember, during peak Busch is open longer than Universal). the train goes out. Empty or full. (And there are six more B&M's that opened the same year as Hulk too). Dragons suffered from stress from not operating the way it was designed. But never figured out Hulk's issue. (And I swear they didn't replace the trains, just the bodies. It's rougher than ever).
Could we please get on topic #IMNOMODERATOR
This is on-topic, though indirectly, because we're discussing the ins and outs of a coaster's lifespan - and some are using examples in their arguments of the Mummy either staying or going.
Probably the best comparison for Hulk would be Rock n Roller Coaster. Both opened in 99, probably have a similar number of throughput but one is indoor and one is outdoor.
What about Big Thunder? Its not been torn down and rebuilt. And that tracks closer to Mummy's type.Probably the best comparison for Hulk would be Rock n Roller Coaster. Both opened in 99, probably have a similar number of throughput but one is indoor and one is outdoor.
Disney does stop-gap refurbs to extend the lifespans of their coasters.What about Big Thunder? Its not been torn down and rebuilt. And that tracks closer to Mummy's type.
What about Big Thunder? Its not been torn down and rebuilt. And that tracks closer to Mummy's type.
Really hope it happens!Rix Flix just put up a new video stating that he believes Mummy will go down in 2020 for an extended updated. His guess is 6 months long and starting around September if they’re following the Hulk model.
Space Mtn. will be hard to retrack, it is an Arrow coaster. S&S bought the remains of Arrow, but they don't make Arrow replacement track. When Space Mtn. does get some major attention, it will probably get a brand new Mack coaster.
Haha. With a vertical launch.RMC raptor track would be sweet.
Ha, and a spinning ride vehi... oh wait, wrong coaster.Haha. With a vertical launch.
Disney does stop-gap refurbs to extend the lifespans of their coasters.
Both Big Thunder and especially Space Mountain need track replacements. The Matterhorn at DL also needs a full replacement after many stop gaps.
Disney is weird to compare to bc they like to push things that need to be done off instead of getting it done. Look at how they treat the monorail, too. It’s systemic for them.
Matterhorn and WDW space have needed it for at least a decade, if not multiple in Matterhorn’s case.Everybody keeps talking about what ride needs retracked like it happens all the time. It’s incredibly rare. Universal has done it once, for the first time in their history. Disneyland space mountain got a new track in what, 2004 or so? To my knowledge, Matterhorn never has. And that’s over 60 years old.
Am I missing the frequency of “retracking” that we’re acting like it happens all the time?
The Mummy is indoors and cannot be compared to a coaster from another manufacturer; especially an outdoor coaster. The Mummy is its own animal.