Originally Posted By FerretAfros Yesterday, I was flipping through an Imagineering book that I have, and there was a model of TDS. I thought that I had the book before the park opened, so I wanted to check how accruate the model was. Pretty much everything is right on it. There is a building in the general vacinity of the Aquasphere that is not there, but there is also TOT. What I thought was really strange about it was there is no sign of Raging Spirits. Also, it is the MGM version of the ride, not the edited DCA version. It is in the exact same spot, and even shows the little bathroom building next door. I checked the copyright date on the book, and it says 1996. I was just really surprised that they looked that far foreward when they were planning the park to know that it would be there, 10 years after the model, and 4 years after the park opened.
Originally Posted By SuperDry Hasn't the giant propeller in the square in front of the SS Columbia had a plaque that refers to the backstory of ToT since park opening? It would appear that they do plan ahead for such things.
Originally Posted By Britain I think that Fab once said that the thing that really sold OLC on the DisneySea concept was Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers which was supposed to be the big attraction in the American Waterfront section. Funny that as soon as OLC gives Disney the go-ahead to really develop the park, Dick Tracy gets the axe and Tower gets put in, only to be built much later.
Originally Posted By wangaroa Gotsta say foos, Krimestoppahs warnt no show-stoppin' sellin' pint. Fly Oh-El-See Big Willies wanted they entiah speer-yence, not just same yellah hat wearin' gangstah-hater. Dis "fab" lady be some monstah hangah-onnah, ain't no insidah. Towah ben in dang pipe fo' years, yo. Ain't no diggity it just no gettin' ready to open. Dis whack, y'all. Wangsta out.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney The first time I EVER saw and heard anything about TDS, TOT was there along side Indy, 20,000 leagues, JTTCOTE and all the others there today at opening. I remember TOT getting the axe from opening day was 1. They felt budget wise it was a little too much (yes, its TRUE!! I know even the grand OLC has to say Stop! somewhere ) and 2. They felt they simply had enough big rides for the initial years (which I agree with, maybe need more rides yes, but in terms of E-tickets, clearly enough, it was the C and D tickets they seem to need more of).
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Perhaps TDS had enough e-ticket attractions overall on opening day, but I sure felt like American Waterfront was sorely lacking, since it only has the Big City Vehicles, the Electric Railway, and the Transit Steamer line... and the Steamers aren't really a part of that port. If it weren't for the Encore and Sail Away shows, there'd almost be no reason to go there.
Originally Posted By Mr X Sure there is, Russ. Kitchen Beat performs there! As do the Dockside Porters, the Staten Island Ragtime Band, the Jump Rope Kids, and most of their foreign performers. A REALLY good zone for entertainment, if you are looking for it! Also, it serves as TDS "Special Event Central"...with ticket lines running down through Cape Cod at the moment for all their Christmas shows (two of them in that area alone!). Christ, there's more Christmas in that one LAND than that lame Hong Kong park has in the whole park! DisneySea rules!!! Oh, and ToT was NEVER intended for phase one. I've known THAT since 1998, when I first saw the conceptual drawings in Orlando which had ToT included, but marked as "for future expansion". That was NO secret, kids.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<Oh, and ToT was NEVER intended for phase one.>> Man, are you sure? I remember back in '99 when I first heard about the park and TOT was touted in the original press releases. Yeah, I KNOW press releases change, look what they did for HKDL, they lost 10 attractions and an entire LAND from that first one . Anyway, that's what I remembered, but I won't pretend to completely rely on my memory from a press release 6 years ago (especially at my age ). (WOW, you REALLY hate HKDL, don't you Mr. X....and people say *I'm* hard on that park . Seriously though dude, until you been there, you really can't make such a big judgement on the place ;D)
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<A REALLY good zone for entertainment, if you are looking for it!>> All that's sounds wonderful. I did recall enjoying some good street entertainment there, but I could say that about all of TDS, not just the American Waterfront. I still felt like that port was lacking for attractions, and if i went today, I still would... so ToT will be a welcome addition in my book.
Originally Posted By Mr X Yeah, you're right WD. I should be quiet about that crappy little park. I'm sure YOU know MUCH better, since you've been there and enjoyed how awsome it is right? So, are you saying that any opinions of mine are WRONG here? Just curious???? About the press releases...never saw them. I'm sure plans change and all that, so I have no idea why what I saw in 98 looked like a different phase...BUT the concept art made the tower look like it was BEHIND the volcano too...so it's weird to see it off in the corner now...
Originally Posted By Mr X Yeah, Russ, you are most certainly correct about the WaterFront lacking in attractions! No doubts there!
Originally Posted By Mr X Come ON, WorldDIsney, you have been to DISNEYSEA for God's sake!! Do I need to forward you CHRISTMAS VIDEOS, and pictures of the awsome Christmas stuff, and call you and remind you about how Disney CAN make a great park when they want too!!!!???? TELL EVERYONE HOW AWFUL HONG KONG DISNEYLAND IS!!!!
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Woah, slow down there. I *agree* with you. I'm just saying I can speak from experience.....and you can't ;D. That's all. Also Trekkus, you're 100% right about American Waterfront, there isn't a hell of a lot to do there, but you know something crazy? It's my FAVORITE Port in the entire place. The area has no real rides to speak of, but yet, THAT'S the place I like to spend most of my time in the park. That's a TRUE testament of Disney imageneering at its best, the place doesn't have many attractions, but yet it still draws you in just by the pure theming of it all. I just wish I could say the same about DCA and HKDL.....because, well, I can't .
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I agree, the theming is over-the-top. It must be if people ask, "Is that a real ship?"
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< They felt budget wise it was a little too much (yes, its TRUE!! I know even the grand OLC has to say Stop! somewhere ) >>> At least they made a wise decision and decided to leave stuff out, rather than keep everything but reduce the budget so that a lot of stuff turned out looking cheap, as happened at DCA. I think the way HKDL turned out (low attraction count due to cost control, but everything that's there done properly) learned its lesson from DCA. Perhaps OLC had been wiser than Disney and knew this in the late 90's as TDS was being planned.
