Originally Posted By Dabob2 < I feel Dca has a far superior version to WDW.> I'm with you, dave. The separate shafts in Fla. just totally ruin the flow and pacing for me. You have to slot in place, get checked and re-checked and re-checked (necessary for safety, I get it. But it ruins the flow) - and THEN you drop. It just takes you out of the experience knowing you're doing these safety checks. DCA's is just a smoother, giddier, experience that flows so much better. I used to agree with ArtchMig about the boiler room, but on my last visit they had toned the lighting way down, and it was much better. And the sound design in DCA's boiler room was always better. The entering and leaving through the same hallway doesn't bother me, because when you're loading, you can't really suspend disbelief anyway. You can't "really" think you're getting in a service elevator - what service elevator in the world consists of nothing but bench seats with seat belts? In both cases you're quite obviously getting on a ride vehicle, so the illusion of any sort of real service elevator isn't there to begin with. But when the ride portion begins... THAT'S when I'd like to be able to suspend disbelief for as long as the ride lasts, and that's possible at DCA; at WDW it isn't because of that clunky fitting in the second shaft stuff.
Originally Posted By partyhare To the OP, lovesplashmt, try TOT. Since you have gone on Splash Mt., the actual thrills on TOT are not extrememly different. If you don't like it, at least you will know. As for the other the sub-discussion, I really like DCA's TOT, but I think WDW's is better. WDW's version builds the story from the outside to the inside, getting more and more intense as you progress. DCA's story totally breaks when in the boiler room the service elevator doors open - to a hallway you have to cross to get to the elevator? At that moment it is a ride and not an immersive attraction. Sometimes seeing people exiting the ride too in that hallway? That totally ruins the magic and disrupts the theme and environment. I really like DCA's mirror effect, but I think the 5th dimension supports the story in that you are really leaving the normal elevator into something truly paranormal - you can see and feel that. DCA's the mirror effect doesn't match your own senses since you still see everyone and didn't leave the elevator shaft. And ending in the same hallway is no match for how WDW's ends IMO. I recommend everyone try both, and enjoy both for their uniqueness.
Originally Posted By lovesplashmt Thanks to all who have posted in response to my question. I am an annual passholder so everytime I go to California Adventure and see ToT I tend to psyche myself out of doing it. I am going to Disneyland sometime in April so if I do go on it I will report on how it was. Oh and by the way, I love California Screamin and the hills, though they scare me too.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove lovesplashmt, please, just try it once. I'm the biggest baby you could ever meet. Every time I get on ToT, I get that uh-oh feeling, but once it gets going, you can't help but feel exhilarated. And, as stated earlier, it goes by quickly and to me, it's MUCH (read: light-years)less scarier than the Sunwheel of Death. I rode the Maliboomer right after the SoD, and it was a piece of cake compared to SoD. Interestingly, the Maliboomer gave my 82nd Airborne vet husband a rush, but not ToT. It's a case of "to each his own", I guess. But please, just ride it once, if only to be brave and write all about it in your trip report. If you can do Screamin'...if you can do Splash (the drop scares the wits out of me)...you can do this. I promise.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>DCA's story totally breaks when in the boiler room the service elevator doors open - to a hallway you have to cross to get to the elevator?<<< see, I don't get where this is a problem. I stay in many hotels, and many of them has elevators across a hall way. I don't have a problem with this at all. I was actually a little bored on ToT in WDW last time, waiting for everything to take effect. This was never the case at DCA. It's just as we'll that I prefer the DCA version as it is the one we now have at our home resort in Paris. And to the original poster, there is no way I will do Maliboomer or Sun Wheel of Death, but I love ToT.
Originally Posted By irishfan >>see, I don't get where this is a problem. I stay in many hotels, and many of them has elevators across a hall way.<< But to get to cross that hallway, do you have to first go through a pair of elevator doors?
Originally Posted By irishfan ^^ Not sure if that makes sense, my issue, and it's the only one regarding DCA's tower is, having an elevator door open to a corridor is just plain wrong.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I did both TOT and Star Tours today, and for the first time, Star Tours did give me minor effects. I was in the front near the end, so I wasn't looking straight at the screen, so I think that may have messed with things a little. But it did still feel like it was just a little off at times. But TOT was very smooth and a generally nice ride.
Originally Posted By ArchtMig >>>I used to agree with ArtchMig about the boiler room, but on my last visit they had toned the lighting way down, and it was much better. And the sound design in DCA's boiler room was always better.<<< I'll go on it next time and see if I can tell if there is an improvement in the lighting. I do think that the distant voices in DCA's boiler room are an improvement, but I think that it didn't make up for the overly bright and cartoony lighting. I also think the air conditioning is cranked up way too high in the DCA boiler room. I don't know whether it's just because it is in Florida, but that one seemed more steamy and boilery-roomy like.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove lovesplashmt, here's a spoiler for you, if you'd like to take a "test ride" <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=tBU34JteTQs&feature=related" target="_blank">http://youtube.com/watch?v=tBU 34JteTQs&feature=related</a>
Originally Posted By Zwitek <<< I've never caught air on tower of terror? Is this because I'm fat? {seriously} >>> There is a way for you to catch air on ToT, but it doesn't have to do with your weight. It takes some practice though. 1) Don't hold on to anything. Fold your arms across your chest. 2) Keep your feet away from the seat, completely unobstructed, and your legs off of the seatback in front of you. 3) Rest gently on the balls of your feet during the pre-show. 4) As you begin to "wave" lift your feet slightly off the floor. 5) Don't put your feet down. 6) Hang ten!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think a lot of it has to do with having seatbelts, which keep you pretty cozy in your seat. The original in Florida has a nice big lap bar, allowing for plenty of air time. With the more personalized belts, you can hardly get an inch in the air. As for size, it makes no difference. Everything falls with the same acceleration, no matter how heavy (a feather and a bowling ball in a vacuum-no air resistance-would take the exact same ammount of time to fall). Given that TOT actually PULLS you down, rather than just letting you fall means that everybody will be getting some air, even if there isn't much wiggle room to appreciate it.
Originally Posted By crazycroc So, Mr. Wizard-Afros, my fatness would contribute to my lack of air time...But...not because of my weight, but because of my size? No wiggle room between this gut and the seatbelt, baby!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I guess. But you would have that same problem unless your lap was shorter than the height to the bottom of where the seatbelt naturally holds itself between the two sides, which is about 3-4 inches above the seat. So they basically made it next to impossible (unless your legs are smaller than most people's arms) to get any air time on the ride. I'm pretty skinny and never get off the seat completely, and I'm pretty sure it's because of the seatbelt. It would be so much more fun if they just let us all float around the elevator without any restraints at all...imagine the on-ride pictures! I'd buy it every time!
