There’s an arms race going on in Orlando between two entertainment superpowers — and this week, one side unveiled its latest secret weapon.

The Revenge of the Mummy, billed as the most technically advanced ride ever, opened its doors to the public at Universal Studios last Thursday. It’s a blockbuster, and it promises to give Universal’s bigger neighbour, Walt Disney World, a real ride for its money when it comes to attracting thrill- seekers this summer.

This is just the latest salvo in a contest of theme-park one-upmanship that has been running since the late 1990s. Each time one park has launched a headline-grabbing ride, the other has responded with its own, yet more breath-taking attraction.

Of course, all this is great news for visitors, who have found the excitement, realism and sheer entertainment value on offer in Orlando has reached previously undreamt-of levels. But in the welter of hype, claim and counterclaim, it’s all becoming a little confusing for us mere mortals. What really are the must-do rides? What sort of experience can you expect on them? And what exactly do they do? So, as the great rides arms race hots up, here’s our guide to the big guns — with Universal’s latest first.

REVENGE OF THE MUMMY

Which park? Universal Studios.

When was it launched? Three days ago.

What’s it like? Set in the mock-horror world of the blockbuster Mummy movies, it offers a new level of technology and thrills. Beginning as an alleged tour of the film studio for the next instalment of the Mummy series, it soon gives way to a secret archeological dig into the realm of the evil necromancer Imhotep.

It’s as you’re boarding the ride vehicle — when Imhotep springs to life — that what promised to be a standard ghost ride transforms into something altogether more dynamic.

With a swoop and a backwards roll, the ride now becomes a desperate roller-coaster bid to escape the clutches of the mummified one. The use of an all-new drive mechanism means the Universal designers can stop and start the vehicles in a variety of startling ways, including a wonderfully clever false ending that gives way to another terrifying brush with Imhotep.

At barely four minutes long, the ride is probably about a minute short of ideal, but the combination of in-your-face audio-animatronics (the ram-paging Imhotep who threatens the vehicle early on is truly astonishing), the breathtaking coaster section and innovative special effects makes for a ride high on excitement and fun.

The ultimate test is whether you want to ride it again and again. After four straight turns of daring the curse, I felt I was starting to get to grips with it. But only starting.

The thrill factor: 8/10

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