Originally Posted By Doobie This topic is for discussion of the April 30 article: Walt Disney World's Tower of Terror at <a href="News-ID508250.asp" target="_blank">http://LaughingPlace.com/News-ID508250.asp</a>.
Originally Posted By kennect What a great pic essay on this attraction...Even with all of the details I find myself running past them without really thinking about them....Next time I am there I will slow down a bit when approaching the ride...But I do have one question...Did they have to build up the land for the Tower attraction there? And if they did is that possibly one reason that WDW got the hill/walkup approach to the building?
Originally Posted By Sir_Clinksalot An observation from someone who has yet to ride either ToT, and just basing this opinion off of the pictures ... The Florida version looks so much more menacing than the DCA version ... the outside queue line looks so much more intricate. Leading up to the "Hotel" it actually looks like a Hotel. It doesn't look like it was just stuck there. DCA's on the other hand doesn't give me that impression. (I have actually seen the DCA version, just not ridden it). I would have never beleived that DCA's version was a Hotel. It's just kind of "there". So I guess my observation is just regarding the outside area and placement of the rides.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I shall be the judge of which TOT is better/nicer/scarier once I take my pludge in DCA at the end of June..
Originally Posted By Mickeys Gal I have a question. Does the Florida version have the room with the mirror where they turn you all zappy?
Originally Posted By BrigmanMT 2 no that neat effect is a California Adventure original. I have a question for my fellow Disneyland fans. I saw this( <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/News-PID508250-508263.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/N ews-PID508250-508263.asp</a> ) in WDW over Spring Break and was debating with my friend whether it could possibly be the old pirate fountain from the Disneyland Queue before the rehab that changed the chasing scene. He said no and I said yes. For you WDW fans, has this fountain been there since 1994? I think Disneyland's new fountain and plaque was put in for its 25 anniversery which would be (1967, carry the 1) 1992. The plaque may have also been placed for the 30th anniversery. I'm drawing a blank on what it says specifically. Anyways, does anyone know if that fountain is the same one that donned the wall at the base of the steps leading to the Pirates of the Carribean entrance at Disneyland?
Originally Posted By wdwfiend97 Has anyone heard a rumor about a new ride sequence in the future where on the last drop, the vehicle will be taken to the top of the shaft, and rotate to where guests are facing down the shaft and dropped face first down the shaft? I remember reading it on more than one site...
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "I think Disneyland's new fountain and plaque was put in for its 25 anniversery which would be (1967, carry the 1) 1992." Um...Disneyland opened in 1955, not 1967. Unless you are talking about POTC, in which case you yould be correct. That whole area was redone around that time, not for its 25th aniversayt, but to accomodate the crowds for Fantasmic! better. It might have been romoved in part of the jostling around of that time, but I doubt that they would have added it to TOT.
Originally Posted By leeharrell >>Has anyone heard a rumor about a new ride sequence in the future where on the last drop, the vehicle will be taken to the top of the shaft, and rotate to where guests are facing down the shaft and dropped face first down the shaft? I remember reading it on more than one site...<< Not gonna happen. The ride system won't do that.
Originally Posted By socalguy When I first heard that Tower was coming to California, I was so excited. These pictures are what I remeber Tower to be like...a massive, gloomy hotel with the perfect queue which sets the entire tone of a scary and spooky ride. Ours just never did that for me. It's short, cartoony, and not at all "terrorizing". California has a few rides which have overall experiences which are far superior than Florida - such as our Pirates. However, I think it's painfully clear that you guys have the better Tower hands down. One might argue that our ride portion is comparable (I would disagree), but you have that awesome queue and the overall "look" of the building which adds so much. Enjoy your Tower. You all have a gem out there.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "It's short, cartoony, and not at all "terrorizing"." The one in WDW is taller, since part of the drop shaft in DCA was able to go underground. "...but you have that awesome queue and the overall "look" of the building which adds so much." The WDW queue had more lead up, since it is winding through overgrown gardens to get there, but DCA's is more logical, as it is just on the edge of the street. Overall, if DCA's building was put over WDW's ride, I think it would be perfect.
Originally Posted By socalguy >>but DCA's is more logical, as it is just on the edge of the street.<< This is true. >>Overall, if DCA's building was put over WDW's ride, I think it would be perfect.<< If there was a way to put our entrance on the street, as it is now, but not foresake a long, winding queue through the overgrown and spooky garden (maybe to the side of the building) I think we would have ourselves more of a hit than we currently do.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The garden also looks too Florida-ish. I don't know of anywhere in California that has those kinds of palnts. The California plants are tropical as well, but a different kind of tropical, not quite so jungley. If I understand you right, you think that WDW's version would be better if it was just on the edge of the street? That is an interesting view. I think I would have to agree with that, since it makes it feel more natural than the hike from the street to get to the lobby, not to mention the rooms of the hotel. It may just be a personal preference, but I like the style of DCA's over WDW's. I think I like it better because it looks like it was a normal building to start with, where WDW's just has a creepy look to it. Another thing I noticed about WDW's is there is no lower part of the hotel sticking out infront of the drop shaft. When the lightning struck it, was the whole section of the hotel taken out and the front mysteriously moved back to where the rest of the building was? The way it looks right now, there would have been room for one or two rooms max on each lovel. No real hotel would ever look like that.
Originally Posted By BrigmanMT 2 To fit in the garden the Imagineers merely had to make it look like something collapsed over the front entrance to the lobby. What if one of the big "O"'s from the word Hollywood on the hotel sign actually was thrown off during the storm and knocked loose part of the roof on the way down. Guests walk past the scene and see the bent up "O" that appears to have been driven into the ground by the fall. Admist the rubble of the crumbling entrance lies crushed roof tiles both here and throughout the front garden and the large indention on the roof of the front structure gives each guest the sudden vision of the incredible impact that must have caused all of this destruction. The doors behind the "O" would remain open during operating hours so guest get a quick glimpse of the elaborate lobby before they are directed to enter the lobby through the side door by way of the the hotels arborteum or walking trail. You take the winding route around with the added fog and the creepy tunes accented by the occasional screams beckoning you into the belly of the tower. The plant plaques and signs directing you to the bungallows, pool, and tennis courts are scattered about. (Alright you have to admit that the construction of this garden could still be accomplished along the sides of the DCA tower. The rest of the stuff I mentioned like the "O" is just icing on the cake. Anyways the rest of these ideas are just things I wanted to get down somewhere. Except for that second to last paragraph. It is also something that the tower in the California Adventure could have benefited from. Its not too late.) Guests approach and enter the lobby through the maintainence entrance. You actually first enter a small laundry room before arriving in the lobby. This would be in line with all of the other maintainence areas present in the California Tower. The lobby remains the same. I rather enjoyed the interesting blends of Asian and Spanish influence. (On both of my California rides I went to the right library and found a lot of asian ornamentation admist the shelfs. I wonder if the left had more Spanish items.) One minor change would be the replacement of the owl sculpture. It is now that of the California Condor. An even freakier looking and more interesting creature that serves as both a mark of the time and a reference to the California State bird. Guest are then directed by a bellhop to either the library or the other room. (Why are they both libraries? And why are they libraries to begin with? Books are not important to the story of the attraction.) One side could remain the library and the other becomes the abandoned Health spa or Gym room. Imagine the rusting dumbells on one side of the room and a cobweb laden "one of those old vibrating fat things" on the other, like you can see the daughter use in the Carousel of Progress. The TV looks the same but sits admist the many sporting trophies on a shelf most likely donated from local schools and programs that the hotel's owners and frequent patrons sponsered. You examine some of the Pollo section and see many black and white photos of Hollywood stars. You start to say, "Hey isn't that guy on the horse Walt Di..." when the flash of lightning and the sudden sound of a downpour coincide with the illumination of the 50's television in the otherwise 1920's to 1939 themed room. The familiar voice of one Mr. Rod Serling chimes in... What if the other library was replaced with a Hunting lounge or game room? California Bird and mammal species could be taxidermied and could line the walls. The little light in the room glistens off the plastic eyes as all the creatures seem to follow your every move. You think they saw that quail's beak move and head in closer to examine it when the lightning strike and sudden downpour begins. For the boiler room I would just have a few minor adjustments, but the only one that is truly neccesary for a complete tower experience is something in there that tells the guests they are not safe. Of course the obligatory hiss and plumes of steam from pipes would add a lot, and although probably out of the question an occasional blech of flame from the mouth of that beastly boiler would keep guests on their toes. Anywho back to that neccessary item. Those sparking motors that dim the lights in Florida. They are wonderful. I would make a minor adjustment here and there. What if only the top level had those motors while on the bottom level each shaft's entrance wall is lined by a panel of stagnant dials. Maybe one could have a steam whistle or something. The other one can vibrate a lot and sound more clunky. And the first would have an erie lighting effect. (My first trip took place on the bottom level center door. I fully expected the large panel of dials to break out spinning and lighting up at the end of the previous guests rides. They looked very operable. To my surprise they did nothing and the only visual kinetics in this were the little dials telling waiting folks what level the elevator is currently on. Too bad. A missed oppertunity. My dad is not a big Disney Fan but he was there with me and he was the one that pointed out the lack of the motors. We had ridden the tower in Florida earlier in the month. Once he said that their absence became very noticable to me. They would make more sense to have here then in Florida because the time spent on your number and infront of the shaft doors is much longer. And I mean long! The California Hollywood Tower Hotel really needed that extra bit of show. What a mistake to leave a similar effect out.) Sorry for my rant and long winded off topic post, but again, I just wanted to get all of this down somewhere and since the garden was mentioned I thought this would be as good a place as any. I apologize.
Originally Posted By Skully Socalguy, you gave me new love for our ToT over here on the East. Thanks man
