Originally Posted By barboy2 ///Wait...the ToT in TDS was 200 mil!?/// And worth every yen and then some----the attraction is that damn good. Potter world seems to be a steal at $200 million. And we'll see about Carsland out in California for $300 million.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer 230? It certainly looks it. And it was worth it...it's kicking Disney in the behind right now on the level of quality and themeing!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer And though Tokyo's ToT is beautiful....Shouldn't the cost be less for something already built 4 times!?
Originally Posted By skinnerbox If I'm not mistaken (leemac would definitely know about this), I believe a hefty chunk of that cost came from reinforcing the ground/harbor landfill which ToT resides on. ToT is a massively heavy show building for its small footprint. I believe some serious engineering work was done in order for that weight to be supported appropriately. Is the story true or false, leemac?
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///And though Tokyo's ToT is beautiful....Shouldn't the cost be less for something already built 4 times!?/// Just for the record Hightower was the 3rd one built, not the 4th. And to answer your question "No", because of the "buying power" of the US dollar against the yen. Remember a cup of coffee in Ginza(a district in the Tokyo area) could be $11. Just about everything under the sun is way more costly in Tokyo compared to the same items in the USA(except for something like noodles in a cup and admission into the Disney parks)----- especially labor, taxis and medical services. (I've even heard about some paying the equivalent of $15,000 for one girl for an evening.) Go get an alcoholic drink in Shinjuku(another district in the Tokyo area)and see what it costs compared a bar in the USA. Hightower Hotel was a steal at $200 million. And the story, architecture, props and details are vastly different than the other 3 Tower of Terrors.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yes, you cannot compare to other markets. Just like ToT in Paris cost nearly twice as much as DCA due to the local building codes requiring the use of concrete in all structures, as well as labour and tax fees all being much higher as well.
Originally Posted By dshyates Here is a great pic of the Dragon AA: <a href="http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae195/wwohp/055.jpg" target="_blank">http://i971.photobucket.com/al.../055.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmm, looks cheap like a Rain Forest Cafe AA. Compare it to this one, one of my favorite if not my favorite AA produced by Disney <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tequilas-secrets.com/images/07_Photos/copy%2520of%2520IMG_1467_2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tequilas-secrets.com/%3F2007/12/01/496-la-taniere-du-dragon-disneyland-paris&usg=__bFqaLfflTDZVo3IdGm4B7RBYByU=&h=385&w=500&sz=77&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=SoLwQvdLHtZSXM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddragon%2Bat%2BDLP%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ACAW_en___GB339%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D504%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=264&vpy=187&dur=4503&hovh=197&hovw=256&tx=131&ty=108&ei=mvOaTMv_INClOKWsmO0M&oei=mvOaTMv_INClOKWsmO0M&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0" target="_blank">http://www.google.co.uk/imgres...,r:8,s:0</a>
Originally Posted By leemac <If I'm not mistaken (leemac would definitely know about this), I believe a hefty chunk of that cost came from reinforcing the ground/harbor landfill which ToT resides on. >> A lot of it is that construction costs are high, period, in Japan - but you do have strict building regulations especially post-Kobe. One of the biggest costs though was the external structure - adding that level of ornamentation (particularly a hodgepodge of different architectural styles) requires a lot of technical expertise and the mouldings are very expensive. Couple that will the level of propping inside the show building and the fact that the elevator system isn't an Otis replica (so no economies of scale) and you get an expensive attraction. Arguably one that hasn't served TDS too well either.
Originally Posted By leemac That's a tough one. It is popular enough if it was a regular attraction but considering the level of investment it is a failure - it had little impact on attendance. It is often a walk-on. Why? The core TDR market just aren't into "thrills" - it isn't why they come to the parks. Adding both Raging Spirits and ToT may have increased the thrill quotient but it isn't why guests come to the parks.
Originally Posted By u k fan That's interesting and seems quite opposite to European theme park sensibilities!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm, I would say my tastes are more like the Japanese, except for I doubt it as I don't do Kawaii
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub So is WDW the most popular location for the Tower? It seems a FP is necessary whenever I have visited.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub ...hit post too fast...and is the Tower in DCA a "cost" disappointment also?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Hmmm, looks cheap like a Rain Forest Cafe AA. Compare it to this one, one of my favorite if not my favorite AA produced by Disney>> Doesn't look like that at all in preson. He's great, especially when he's trying to barbecue you with fire.
