Where Tower of Terror(and the like) went wrong

Originally Posted By danyoung

And how would the Imagineers accomplish this? Would they use a projection, which would look like a projection unless you're wearing 3D glasses? Should they have built a gigantic bubble to contain this effect, built onto the side of the big tower like some kind of tacky bubble? I have nothing against your idea - it sounds kinda cool. But how could it have been done in the real world?

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

OK, here is my idea. While I don't agree that the opening on the outside world is out of theme, as it is explained pretty well in the video in the library. I don't believe it is as spectacular as an enclosed show scene replicating the same concept could be. They could make a 2 story show scene similar to the one story hall scene except that instead of the hall it could be a a view out over a city at night and since its fake they could make it look as high as the stratosphere if they wanted. Throw in lightening and LOUD thunder, shake the cage before the drop. I don't mind the randomizer, but I DO think that all should start with a really fast trip to the top with the show scene then BIG drop then randomize it. I really don't like the ups and downs before the door opening at the top scene. Even with the park view you get now.

 

Originally Posted By kennect

OH Inspector, We love you to even if won't go listen to Grace!

What I don't get...This is my general opinion on everything said above is what is the complaint with this attraction...Disney sort of took two elements and combined them into one...First, a certain small portion of a dark ride...Secondly, a major free fall style drop whatever attraction and combined the two...Sure there are lot of things that could of been done differently...It actually could be that amazing ride that is shown in one of their books about imagineering that would have made it so very different than it is...For me, the ride works well as it is...I almost want to ask should the drop in Splash Mountain be enclosed? Why should we be forced to see an overview of the MK while doing the drop?

My only comment really on this is rather OT...I am a huge fan of dark rides and I hope to see Disney still continue to build such in the future...And I mean truly traiditonal ones not the current phase that have you shooting at targets, etc....I just wish that WDW had all of the ones that DL does...For me, it the MK did, that would be a small slice of heaven....

 

Originally Posted By dshyates

kennect, with your love of Dark Rides, 2010/2011 should be a good year for you. Disney, with the little mermaid, is geting back to old school dark rides.

And Universal has one of the most ambitious old school dark rides ever built under construction right now in The Wizarding World of Harry potter.

Its a good time for old school dark rides.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

I think it works just fine the way it is. I feel it is a true classic in the Disney sense, and Walt would have been extremely proud of it. When the doors open it gives you a glimpse of the world you are fixing to be taken from. ToT is an A+ ride in everyway.

 

Originally Posted By partyhare

I think TOT opening to the outside fits the story. Remember the main hotel elevator shaft is not functional since the accident. We walk into the lobby and see the "Out of Order" sign and the elevators doors tilted a bit. We go into the back of the hotel and take the service elevators. We enter the Twilight Zone and see weird things, but the twist is we end up in the main elevator shaft as we come back towards reality and the cursed tragedy is repeated! The opening to the outside is the cue that we are at the front of the building on the haunted shaft and can't do anything about it but scream.

The one thing about that I don't like...it gets really humid inside when you get to the front shaft, so you can tell you are exposed to the outside vs. the air-conditioned Twilight Zone.

 

Originally Posted By FerretAfros

I don't like how the Hollywood Tower Hotel sign is placed over a portion of the area that was supposedly broken off by the storm. If the building was blown into the Twilight Zone, why did the sign not go with it, but instead get replaced over the section that used to be the building.

I believe the preshow video also shows the part of the building that disappears is facing directly into the spots where the doors open, with minimal space for a hallway on the side (at least that's how it is at DCA). If that part of the building was taken off, how did guests get to the rest of the building? They take the normal elevators up, and are stuck out there because the service elevators take up the entire width of the connecting area. Not at all practical. And why is the service elevator at the end of the hallway (as seen in the scenes in the ride)? I would think they would try to hide it in some out of the way location, but I guess that wouldn't make for nearly as much fun on the ride.

The DCA version seemed to fix the issue with the sign, which is my main complaint about the WDW verision (especially since the one drop shaft gets obstructed views at the top because of it). Both have the issues of the placement of the elevators within the actual hotel, as they just don't make sense, but I can forgive them for that because a realistic placement wouldn't make for a very interesting attraction, now would it?

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

***And how do you reconcile the abrupt change from a dark environment to daylight without story explanation?***

Easy..anything can happen in the Twilight Zone.

 

Originally Posted By kennect

dshyates, For me dark rides truly rule way above and beyond any of the newer thrill type rides...But as I know tastes change and I am in a minority versus a majority...My favorite dark ride of all time wasn't at Disney...It was in Panama City, Fl....Now gone never to be enjoyed again...

 

Originally Posted By kennect

Ah X, You are so right...In the Twilight Zone anything can happen...End of discussion!!