Originally Posted By SpaceScreamin socalguy: Yep, there is exterior music in the outdoor portion of the queue. However, all you hear from the drop shafts at DCA are screams. In addition to the screams that you hear at WDW, the show effect sound that sounds like eeeeeEEEEEEEE! (sorry, I can't descibe that sound effect better than that) is not present at DCA.
Originally Posted By berol "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 read an old thread today on that and was thinking instead of parades sneaking across back there, just open up the route to foot traffic and have the parade start back by tower/flik's and still run it down that now-public route. But a walkway to bugs would be a lot more convenient. I guess they could do both.
Originally Posted By Disneyman55 Awesome update! I have never been to TOT at Florida (last time I was there it was down for rehab or something), so I have no idea what the interior there in Florida is like, but this LOOKS AWESOME. Now I want to ride it so bad I can't see straight. I look at this pictures and I begin to drool in expectation. Even as I type, my socks are getting soggy. Side note: I am going to be in DCA on the 24th of April. Is this a cast preview day? And if it is, is there some cast member on these boards who would be willing to claim me as a family member? And yes, I will resort to bribery and other various and sundry means to gain access to this ride. If I could, after seeing these pictures, I would drive up there today and bribe my way in. Alas, I cannot, so I will suffer here in misery, staring at these incredible pictures.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Perhaps we could get people to notify about possible "sneak preview/soft open" days for this attraction. I will start a thread for everyone to check into.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Excellent update and photos! I want one of those little Tower statues already! And I can't wait to see all those details in person.
Originally Posted By lemisfan Okay, i would like to add my two cents in here. I have been on florida's tower and i talked to many people who also went on florida's tower who also went on DCA's tower with me, and they felt the same way as i did, that dca's tower is much more themed and the ride experiance is better! We agreed that we liked the mirror effect better than the room were you move forward at disney worlds tower. and that was from everyone i talked to and i went on the ride quite a bit on friday and talked to many people including the CMs working that ride and most people i talked to that day felt the same way, Wow! a room were you move forward! big whoopee! they did nto care for that illusion and liked what we got alot better!
Originally Posted By Jim Disney socalguy wrote: >>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?<< Nah, I save that for real cry-babies and ego cases. It's all good. Not everyone's going to agree... you're right. But I see so many things being posted that seem so far off track that it's surprising... almost as if it's a search to find something wrong with something that is really truly good. That's all. No ruffled feathers, just curiosity about the negativity. The attraction (at least in my biased opinion) did turn out to be just great! 5 bazillion rides (I haven't kept count) later, it's still very fun and definitely does have a heck of a re-ride factor. So I'm very hopeful that this one will be a decent hit... maybe not Indy sized hit, but close. I just hope they market things right! JD <a href="http://www.westcoaster.net" target="_blank">http://www.westcoaster.net</a>
Originally Posted By treelo I have ridden it, and it's pretty darn terrific. I agree with others though, that the surrounding area just doesn't fit w/ the "old Hollywood" TOT theme. If Hollywood Pictures Backlot had a revamp to look a bit more like Sunset Blvd., we'd be in business. Even if the street seemed to start contemporary and fade back into the past, so that by the time you reach the Hyperion Theatre, it looked as if you were in 1940's Hollywood, it would help Tower's theming so much. And this really is going to be the pinnacle of the park for awhile. The attraction itself is more cohesive in it's story than the Florida counterpart. Although I miss that "5th Dimension" from WDW, it never really played well with the story. This one makes much more sense. From the moment the ride starts, you can't breathe. It unfolds itself really, really well. I still wish there was one more floor to visit, just to lengthen the ride a bit. It is extremely short. But when those drops come, they come fast and furiously. The boiler room theming is phenomenal. I wish more of the cue was in the lobby as well, just to heighten the sense of atmosphere before going into the library. And if I have one major beef against the attraction, it's this: once you step into the library, it appears to be raining outside. But after being in the California sunshine just a moment ago, it doesn't fit. If it started to rain once the tv clicked on, it would change the atmosphere entirely. Disney, HOLD THE RAIN!! All in all, it's not a disappointment, and those who have ridden the WDW counterpart, give this one a second ride before you come to a decision. i enjoyed it 10x more the 2nd time around.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice I understand folks wanting the theming in surrounding areas to be better, but doesn't ToT take place in current times and not the '30s/'40s? It's an old building that was hit by lightning and many years later came back to 'life,' right?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I have a question on the bi-level boiler room. Since there are two libraries, does one lead to the upper level, and the other to the lower? Can you pick and choose which boiler room you go to, or are you directed where to go? Can you see both levels from upper and/or lower level? Finally, I heard a while back that in one of the shafts, the order of the show scenes was reversed. True? Which shaft is it?
Originally Posted By Kimmy Kay Exactly right Alice. Even the pre-show in the library says, "The Time is now". It is an old abandoned building that sits in Hollywood. Therefore buildings, soundstages, theatres and the like could have been built up around it for years. There it has stood holding the secret entrance into the Twilight Zone and it beckons those who dare to explore with it's eerie music.
Originally Posted By Kimmy Kay Dabob - Yes, it depends on the Library they put you in for that determines what queue you enter...upstairs or downstairs. The Left Library (the one that has the painting of the woman outside of it) goes upstairs. The right Library (with the painting of the man) is downstairs. They direct you, but I think if you asked nicely they may accomodate your preference if you were willing to wait. You cannot see all of the both levels. When upstairs you can see parts of the downstairs level, but when you are downstairs you see very little of the upstairs queue....other than the catwalks and the people in line. There are different things to experience in both queues. The show scene isn't reversed but whether you ascend or descend after the mirror effect is reversed. I forget which shaft it was. I think the first one.
Originally Posted By JeffG Another important point regarding the two levels is that there are a significant number of stairs to climb if you go through the left-hand library while there are none if you go through the right-hand library. This could be a very important point for those with disabilities, particularly non-apparent ones. -Jeff
Originally Posted By Kimmy Kay Good point Jeff. It is true that there are two flights of stairs to climb. However, I would imagine on very busy days you won't be climbing them all at once. You will more than likely be standing and waiting on them. Still, without a wait it is quite a climb for older folks, those with bad knees, ankles...whatever may be the case.
Originally Posted By JeffG >> "It is true that there are two flights of stairs to climb. However, I would imagine on very busy days you won't be climbing them all at once. You will more than likely be standing and waiting on them. Still, without a wait it is quite a climb for older folks, those with bad knees, ankles...whatever may be the case." << I'd actually be more concerned about the fairly steep flight of stairs that have to be climbed down to exit the ride when loading/unloading from the upper level. My wife has a mobility-reducing disability and often, for balance reasons, finds going down stairs to be somewhat more difficult than climbing them. This would likely be compounded somewhat by the somewhat disorienting nature of the ride itself. Fortunately, I pre-screened the ride yesterday before my wife came along on the second ride. On my first ride, I had navigated all the stairs and already knew to direct her towards the other library on that next ride. On a plus note, the ride itself is so smooth and well-designed that she was able to ride it without any real trouble. The only other bit of advice I'd pass on to those with disabilities (particularly ones relating to the lower back) is to bring a jacket, sweatshirt or something to place behind you for a bit of extra padding, since the seats are fairly hard. She did find that to be a definite help. -Jeff
