Originally Posted By Admin This topic is for discussion of the sneak peek of Tower of Terror. If you want to debate other issues please move it to a new topic. Thanks.
Originally Posted By pheneix >>>You're trying to tell Phoenix that his opinion is wrong, if for no other reason, than it just differs from yours.<<< He also jumped the shark and admitted in doing so. As far as I'm concerned the slate is clean.
Originally Posted By Kimmy Kay <sure it's a lot shorter than the original> It is NOT a lot shorter than the original. I didn't even notice the difference. <sure it's less immersive than the original,> No it isn't...in fact, as I said in my review it is alot more like a Twilight Zone episode and it completely immerses you when it should. <you're just looking at TV screens instead of actually being immersed in a room> Uh, what are you talking about here? The 5D room? The room that shows the tracks and the cheesy objects (see I can be negative too)? The mirror is NOT a T.V. screen. It is a large mirror in a hotel hall with a sofa table under it that has some neat things on it. I like the martini glass, nice touch. <sure there aren't as much props and gags in DCA's version than in Florida's>\ You have GOT to be kidding me. There are Many Many more. The boiler room alone must have more. The chalk outline "gag" (to use your term), the voices, the groan, the furnace face with the tear, the radio with the static voices, the "gags" in the library that allude to Twilight Zone episodes. Holy Moly, I rode it 16 times and I still don't think I saw or "got" them all. <sure the illusion of boarding a real elevator is totally destroyed by the exit hallways> Haha, after 16 times I didn't even notice that. But now that you mention it...that's right we did go through a short little area before getting on the elevator. Didn't destroy anything for me though...service elevators can be set up alot differently that regular elevators. <sure the queue has been cut in half and there's no barrier between the TOT and the rest of Hollywood> Not upset with that fact at all...and I mention why in my review. <but despite all those obvious shortcomings, it's suppose to be better than MGM's? > What shortcomings?...I just stated otherwise. I can't believe I just took the time to post that. Tangaroa is a tricky one.
Originally Posted By Admin This topic is for discussion of the sneak peek of Tower of Terror. If you want to debate other issues please move it to a new topic. Thanks.
Originally Posted By arstogas >>>I have never seen anything beyond rumors that on message boards that a "cave" room was going to be used. Maybe at one point during the planning phase an Imagineer said "wouldn't it be cool if..." and somehow that got out, but its not like it was ever *really* planned and/or announced officially and then when riding it we found out it was cut.<<< >>>The reason I said "apparent" budget cuts above is because folks still want to use that as the reason TOT does not have the 5D room and two seperate shafts for the show scenes and the drops. If that is the case, then from that point of view the credit goes to the Imagineers. However, I have always kind of believed in the back of my head that the replacement with the mirror scene and the new version's layout had less to do with budgets than Imagineer's desires for what they wanted to "improve" upon in DCA.<<< Okay, you're a little bit wrong and a little bit right. CAVE technology WAS designed and planned for DCA's Tower. It was not just a "wouldn't it be neat if..." thing that was thrown out there. However, there is a process to this. And there comes a point where you look at a design and say "can we accomplish this with a hammer instead of an automatic nail gun?" and the cave lock-up design - which would have been more or less a six-wall projection set up that connects to the edges of the elevator cab opening - was replaced with the mirror sequence, which apparently was every bit as effective with anyone who didn't know any better. What would have been gained with the Cave effect? Well, again, it has to really work in complete darkness, and over time, if the projection screens lose calibration, (and you know how things get in a theme park) the "seams" start to show (in this effect, the seams - at every 90 degree angle - would show quite literally). And with the effect they've designed, you have one plane - one unified effect - that has to be maintained. It's more cost effective, and apparently (as I've not seen anything yet but the ride video from REMAINSEATED.COM) quite successful with guests. My guess? The next big e-ticket will incorporate the CAVE technology that was abandoned for Tower's, but it will be more of the focal point of the attraction, rather than one supporting scene. Given that this WAS a supporting effect of an already strong show, and given that they have to budget maintenance in for these attractions when they are budgeted for implementation, it's no wonder it got the axe early.
Originally Posted By Jim Disney I hate to say it... but what a bunch of cry babies... seriously... wow. My opinion: yes, it's short... but that's what happens when you get rid of a bunch of plastic figures and a "whatever" show scene. Do people really seem that wowed by the fact that they're moving... from most observation shots... no, not really at all actually. But again, it's a case of a bunch of people who don't really know... but what they do know is that yes, the attraction isn't on a hill... strike 1, Disney didn't build a whole street leading up to it... so it's infinitely less special than Florida's in their minds... strike 2, and last... they haven't been on it and are basing their opinions of it on heresay from internet rumors that've been skewed by negative views of anything in DCA or poorly shot videos... strike 3. Hence the reason I've given up even trying with most people on Disney boards... they don't understand reason or anything but rumors. It used to be frustrating, but now after a while away from it; it's comical. But it's still nice to see people like Kim and Doug trying to inject some sort of logical thought with these people. JD <a href="http://www.westcoaster.net" target="_blank">http://www.westcoaster.net</a>
Originally Posted By arstogas ^^^And my evaluation of the shattered mirror effect being effective - is based on what I've seen of the videos featured in sneak peeks like the one on Laughingplace. Ahem. ;-)
Originally Posted By tangaroa >But it's still nice to see people like >Kim and Doug trying to inject some >sort of logical thought with these >people. There is no logic. It's all based on bias and opinions. That's all.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Opinions aren't wrong - that's the problem here." Ding! Wrong again. Opinions most certainly can be wrong, if not downright illogical, particularly if they are not formed using credible information, careful research and proper evidence. A perfect example is the statement that DCA's ToT is a "cheap clone" of the original when all evidence says that it is neither cheap nor a clone.
Originally Posted By dresswhites on topic here. I think from the pictures the Tower of Terror looks very well done. To my eyes, it doesn't look cheap or terrible. It looks like it will be a nice attraction that will people will have fun on.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt DCA's daily attendance is so FUBAR'd by the AP crowd that the only measureable impact that the ride will probably have is in length of stay and food and merch sales. Hey, Pheneix, you probably don't know this since you live in Florida, but ToT is being marketed VERY heavily outside of the L.A. area. I live in the Bay Area (about 400 miles from Disneyland) and there are ToT billboards, flyers, bus shelter signs, radio ads and t.v. spots all over San Francisco - much more so than when DCA opened. Someone else mentioned that a marketing blitz hit Sacramento last week too. Put this together with the national TV. broadcast of the ToT float at the Rose Parade and the nationally televised spot on Regis and Kelly earlier this year and it becomes pretty clear that this attraction is being targeted to non-AP holding people outside of Southern California.
Originally Posted By doombuggy "it's a cheap clone" "the que aint as good" "theres no 5d room" blah blah blah. it's built, done and going to open as is. For those that think WDW's is going to be better when not even been on DCA's yet then don't ride it. Keeps the lines shorter for those of us that don't give a hoot. The WDW tower can dance a happy little jig and do a cart wheel The fact is the west coast has finily got a tower. Take your petty nit picking somewhere eles.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Tang, I love you and all man, but I have to agree all the negatives here about a ride that seems to be getting glowing reviews thus far is only showing your bias to this park and the Disney Co. in general. If you at least can say all this AFTER riding maybe, but you have seem to already made a conclusion when pretty much everyone else who has RODE it is saying to the contrary. ,,,,,And a lot of these people aren't all DCA fans or "apologists" either. Seriously, the built-in bias would look less so if you weren't so vocal over a ride you haven't even rode for yourself yet. I mean, it's called an OPEN-MIND!!!
Originally Posted By pheneix >>>it's a case of a bunch of people who don't really know...<<< You know, theme park attractions live or die because of how people "who don't really know" feel about them. Chances are, Tower really won't have a problem living off of those people, but was it really in Disney's best interest to try and rebuild lost consumer confidence* by improving on a decade old formula? >>>Disney didn't build a whole street leading up to it...<<< They didn't really need to either. What they needed to do was create a surrounding area that carried out the theme effectively. Like I said before, it takes nothing away from what happens inside the building, but once you step out it is like letting the air out of a balloon. >>>There is no logic.<<< That's right. We are the Borg, resistance is futile, or whatever. I'm high on gator-boogers tonight.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Phenix, Maybe you too ought to check my post #93....right above yours. I think you can benefit from it as well .
Originally Posted By socalguy Regarding post #86 since that seems to sum up the reaction to the negative posts in this thread, and does so with a sense of superiority that I've seen so many times before. I'm looking forward to riding the attraction this week. I'm very excited to have ToT in California and I know it will be a hit for most people. However, when one brings a clone of the most successful Florida attraction to California, there are bound to be comparisons. What if I ride but think it's too short? What if I actually like the 5th dimension room and think that our new mirror effect doesn't cut it? What if I see the difference between a hill and no hill. What if I come out thinking that a longer street would be nice, and that what is shown on what seemed to be a decent video is pretty accurate to the ride experience? What if I post about it? Am I now a crybaby because i didn't agree with what Jim Disney or Doug or many other fans of the ride have experienced? Hardly...at least not on this discussion board anyway. I'm not looking to be sheltered from negative opinions on LP. So far Tangaroa has made a pretty good stand for why he thinks the way he thinks. It's ruffled a few feathers, but who cares? When it all comes down to it, it's just a ride and we're all just posting on a website about Disney. No big deal. If I happen to like most of the ride, but find faults with it, I'll post about it. No matter how many people agree or disagree, or what the ramifications of that may be, I'm still going to post about it. I can't wait to ride our Tower, but I was a big fan of the 5th dimension room when I went through it a number of years ago. It added depth to the attraction, not to mention time to the ride cycle and a very cool ride effect that really made the attraction something different. It sounds like we don't dare stand by an opinion that says that our Tower isn't all that it could be. I'm sorry if you think that those who have ruffled your feathers are crybabies, but can't a discussion just be a discussion? Does everyone have to agree with what you would like them to think? And if they don't, do they have to be called names?
Originally Posted By socalguy Before I call it quits for the night... In Florida, one thing I loved about the exterior queue was the area music being played nearby in addition to sound effects being piped out of the drop area of the ride. It really helped set the story for what was to come. Has anyone noticed this in our version? If music *is* being played in the exterior queue, is it at the Tower only, or can guests hear is as their passing through the gates (or sooner)?
Originally Posted By arstogas A great plus would have been to create a throughway between TOWER's plaza and A BUG'S LAND, via a passage that could swing shut/over/closed/whatever whenever they needed passage for a parade. It could have been designed any number of ways, and would have made traversing the park a lot more interesting. I suspect it'll be done in the future, but for now, it's a shame that this great new attraction almost exists within its own tiny "twilight zone" of DCA...
Originally Posted By Kimmy Kay The music backons you as far back as the hyperion area (if you have good hearing). You will definitely hear it at the gates. As far as discussion. I am all for that. Having a discussion is great. The thing I have a problem with are people reviewing the ride and then making conclusive statements about it without even experiencing it. Tangaroa said opinions can't be wrong. But that isn't true. If you state your opinion like a fact ie: "That woman's hair is blue"...when, in fact, her hair ISN'T blue, then that is an incorrect FACT...NOT an opinion. Some of the things said in this thread were said like they were facts. I am noting the second paragraph of post #73 in particular. I mean how would you like it if I said, "You are green and have 3 eyeballs and live under a rock"... and then follow that with, "well that is my opinion and opinions aren't wrong"? That makes no sense and is a rather weak way of backing up a statement. I apologize for coming back and posting after this thread got 2 warnings from Admin...but I had to make a few more points since these new posts...sorry. On Topic...I love the sneak peek! Great job LP!
