Tower of Terror

[CrystalSkull]

I heard this one as I got off Tower as a guest...

"That ride sucked. It didn't even have a loop."

WTF?!

-Mark 8)

[imissRBT]

my mom and i were both cms...and my mom's cousin along with the brattiest child in the workd were coming to visit so we decided to sign them in for a few days. anyway the child was terrified of everything and my mom wont tolerate that so we made him go on soarin...and after that he would ask us before EVERY ride if there was a loop...yes including pirates and mansion.....what's the big deal with loops anyway?
Jenn

[IndyBob]

splash is scheduled for a rehab in 2006 and they are installing a loop at the end of Drop 5! That will be awesome.

[imissRBT]

NO WAY! that does sound rather interesting.......me i haven't ridden tower yet since i've spent the last year in texas but i can't WAIT to in a little less than 3 weeks now and believe me i know i will love it and not care if there isn't a loop.

[reivaX]

splash is scheduled for a rehab in 2006 and they are installing a loop at the end of Drop 5! That will be awesome.
wow are you serious? that doesn't sound feasible with the restraints and the size of the "boats." if they could pull that of, oh man it would be awesome! :D

[Cloud Buster]

I think he's being facetious...

[kutisusie]

guess what? I heard from a guest once that space mtn. at DL has a loop. I told them that I thought they were mistaken. This was because I was a loading Cast Member and had helped open the ride just an hour before, and there was no loop. THe guest actually got mad at me and said I was lying. Apprently, I don't know what loop look like...

[Latasian731]

guess what? I heard from a guest once that space mtn. at DL has a loop. I told them that I thought they were mistaken. This was because I was a loading Cats Member and had helped open the ride just an hour before, and there was no loop. THe guest actually got mad at me and said I was lying. Apprently, I don't know what loop look like...

I love how guests believe that we lie about certain things like this. Do they work here or do we? C'mon now give us the benefit of the doubt, some of us know a little thing or two about the park and where we work.

[BuzzLightBeer]

So, what does everyone think of the Tower of Terror. I can say for myself that I wasn't very impressed. For such a big building, the ride does very little. I also couldn't get over the fact that the video that you watch before the ride looked like it was filmed yesterday. I mean come on, add some old grainy filters or something....stupid digital video. Enough of my rant though, what do you guys think?

[TheManator]

People complain that they can see the parking lot from the top of TOT. They act like WDI has to move the parking lot just for them.

[BuzzLightBeer]

Oh and they should...

[CujoSR]

So, what does everyone think of the Tower of Terror. I can say for myself that I wasn't very impressed. For such a big building, the ride does very little. I also couldn't get over the fact that the video that you watch before the ride looked like it was filmed yesterday. I mean come on, add some old grainy filters or something....stupid digital video. Enough of my rant though, what do you guys think?Buzz read my review here. (http://www.stupidguesttricks.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=668) Were right on track.

[VonSeegs]

splash is scheduled for a rehab in 2006 and they are installing a loop at the end of Drop 5! That will be awesome.

You're so tarded! (And I mean that with all the love in the world.)

[Latasian731]

splash is scheduled for a rehab in 2006 and they are installing a loop at the end of Drop 5! That will be awesome.

You're so tarded! (And I mean that with all the love in the world.)

LOL! :lol:

[PrncssCinderAlly]

i really like tower. I have taken family and friends on it and not a bad comment has come from any of them except that maybe it was too short... but i have also had friends that say if it was any longer then they would have felt like they were going to get sick. I think its perfect. Good pre show, good ride... i like it.

[TowerTimmy]

Psh, that's dumb. From ours (WDW) you can see the Cast cafeteria and office buildings backstage. I had a teen girl on there once and when she got off she was like "that's it? OMG that was stupid it was like 2 seconds" ... she's the only person I've ever heard complain about the ride.

[lady ulrike]

Psh, that's dumb. From ours (WDW) you can see the Cast cafeteria and office buildings backstage. I had a teen girl on there once and when she got off she was like "that's it? OMG that was stupid it was like 2 seconds" ... she's the only person I've ever heard complain about the ride.

You have to remember though the one one in Disneyland is shorter than the one at Disney World

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

The one in WDW goes off track out of the shaft, too!! I heard they are making the one in DCA longer with more drops.

[GeminiAngel]

The one in WDW goes off track out of the shaft, too!! I heard they are making the one in DCA longer with more drops.
They aren't making the one in DCA. its been open for over a year.

[Alyssa3467]

The one in WDW goes off track out of the shaft, too!! I heard they are making the one in DCA longer with more drops.
They aren't making the one in DCA. its been open for over a year.

I think he meant that they were changing the drop profile and/or adding/changing effects to it.

[smart1hermione]

Yeah, usually WDW takes rides from DLR and improves them (double seating on Splash, anyone?). But this time, it's the other way around. DCA's improved ToT. Really little things, like height and the track's different, I've heard.

I love that line! Once you get inside. It's entertaining like Indy's! I've heard about the design of the lobby area, how they tried to find and replicate as many authentic artifacts as possible. Dream job!

[GuestJockey]

Yeah, usually WDW takes rides from DLR and improves them (double seating on Splash, anyone?). But this time, it's the other way around. DCA's improved ToT. Really little things, like height and the track's different, I've heard.

I love that line! Once you get inside. It's entertaining like Indy's! I've heard about the design of the lobby area, how they tried to find and replicate as many authentic artifacts as possible. Dream job!

I've been working on a new tour and I got the show info guides from WDI on TOT. MAN are they cool! They list EVERY Twilight Zone reference in the queue and all sorts of stuff that I'd never catch on my own. I think the TOT queue has surpassed Indy IMHO as far as neato stuff in the queue

[hobie16]

I think the TOT queue has surpassed Indy IMHO as far as neato stuff in the queue
Years ago we were first in line for the opening of Indy for the day. A CM lead the thundering herd so there would be no running. Along the way he reached behind a pillar to hit a button which caused a rock to drop down from the ceiling.

Does that still exist?

[Mad Maxx]

Years ago we were first in line for the opening of Indy for the day. A CM lead the thundering herd so there would be no running. Along the way he reached behind a pillar to hit a button which caused a rock to drop down from the ceiling.

Does that still exist?

Only thing that sounds close to that is the bamboo pole in the spike room. Thats still there working on and off...

[smart1hermione]

Years ago we were first in line for the opening of Indy for the day. A CM lead the thundering herd so there would be no running. Along the way he reached behind a pillar to hit a button which caused a rock to drop down from the ceiling.

Does that still exist?

Uhm... Kind of.

In the line, there's a section that looks like unstable rocks that are supported by bamboo. On a timer, the rocks will tumble, I think. There's also a section with the infamous indy shrinking ceiling spear room. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I try to never wait in line at Indy. 15 minute wait or bust. It just seems as though the ride breaks down whenever I put a good 45 minutes or more into the wait.

[felinefan]

I was never really into the Twilight Zone when I was a kid; the only episode I remember watching all the way through was the one that had William Shatner in it, I think it was called Terror at 35,000 Feet. It's the one where Shatner plays a mentally unstable man being transported on a commercial airliner with his wife, and he keeps seeing this creature on the wing, tearing at the wing structure. Everytime Shatner tries to tell his wife or the stewardess, the creature floats off the wing. Finally, Shatner manages to break the window and try to get the creature off the wing so it won't remove the wing of the plane. He ends up getting taken off the plane in a straitjacket, but how to explain the damage to the wing?

To anyone's knowledge, were any of these stories based on actual events of any kind, or totally fiction? Obviously the one I described was fiction, but I know some fiction is based on a retelling of actual events. I was especially wondering about the one Tower of Terror is based on.

[smart1hermione]

I think most of the Tower of Terror plots were just short stories... But we all know fiction has some basis in fact.

Fun Fact: ToT isn't based directly on the Twilight Zone episode, it's based on the Disney TV movie based on the Twilight Zone episode. Starring Steve Gutenburg, no less.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/9/96/250px-Tower_of_Terror_DVD.JPG

[EpcotFan]

Fun Fact: ToT isn't based directly on the Twilight Zone episode, it's based on the Disney TV movie based on the Twilight Zone episode. Starring Steve Gutenburg, no less.

Its a fun little film. It looks like they must have filmed parts of it a the attraction in WDW. I've always wondered if they did the filming before the attraction opened? There are exterior parts where it looks like it was filmed before some queue elements were added.

[smart1hermione]

Its a fun little film. It looks like they must have filmed parts of it a the attraction in WDW. I've always wondered if they did the filming before the attraction opened? There are exterior parts where it looks like it was filmed before some queue elements were added.


I could have sworn that the ride was made after the movie, but the ride's been in Orlando since 1994 and the movie came out in 1997. Weird.

I want to go to Tokyo DisneySea for their version... Check it out:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Tokyo_DisneySea_Tower_of_Terror.jpg/200px-Tokyo_DisneySea_Tower_of_Terror.jpg

[Randy B]

I could have sworn that the ride was made after the movie, but the ride's been in Orlando since 1994 and the movie came out in 1997. Weird.

That's the way I remember it. The attraction was in operation and popular well before the movie was written and shot. And yes they did shoot some of the scenes at the WDW ToT exterior. I remember being in the parks shortly after they did the shoots and hearing from some friends about it. Many of the exterior shots were night shots and were done after the park closed for the day. I believe they also shot some of the "at home" shots on some of the exteriors on Residential street (rip).

BTW the movie was poor, but not as bad as the Country Bears movie. Those two movies almost made it impossible to convince the bean counters to even try Pirates. Of course, the poor income from the Haunted Mansion movie just before Pirates didn't help any. (and just to keep my collection complete I DO have all of these movies in my DVD collection.)

Randy

[smart1hermione]

Tower of Terror was my favorite movie when I was 8.

Country bears and haunted mansion... I'm still curious as to why? Then again, I was like that with Pirates, but JD made that movie. So all is right in the world.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I was never really into the Twilight Zone when I was a kid; the only episode I remember watching all the way through was the one that had William Shatner in it, I think it was called Terror at 35,000 Feet. It's the one where Shatner plays a mentally unstable man being transported on a commercial airliner with his wife, and he keeps seeing this creature on the wing, tearing at the wing structure. Everytime Shatner tries to tell his wife or the stewardess, the creature floats off the wing. Finally, Shatner manages to break the window and try to get the creature off the wing so it won't remove the wing of the plane. He ends up getting taken off the plane in a straitjacket, but how to explain the damage to the wing?

To anyone's knowledge, were any of these stories based on actual events of any kind, or totally fiction? Obviously the one I described was fiction, but I know some fiction is based on a retelling of actual events. I was especially wondering about the one Tower of Terror is based on.

??? Its not fiction, Gremlins exist!! (And not the kind from the dumb movies)

Didn't you see the Bugs Bunny cartoon that was making light of them? They started showing up during WWII, and the Germain pilots named them!!

Thats why modern jets have those little round bumps all over, they can't get a suction cup grip on the plane that way!!

[Shorty82]

I think most of the Tower of Terror plots were just short stories... But we all know fiction has some basis in fact.

Fun Fact: ToT isn't based directly on the Twilight Zone episode, it's based on the Disney TV movie based on the Twilight Zone episode. Starring Steve Gutenburg, no less.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/9/96/250px-Tower_of_Terror_DVD.JPG

Actually, there was never a Twilight Zone Episode about an elevator of any kind. The clip seen in the preshow was made by combining scenes from the series, creating new scenes, and using a VERY good voice actor.

[Theme Park Where]

The movie was made as a promotional element / tie in to the ride. It was one of the first rides made into movie tie ins.

[DisneyMom]

??? Its not fiction, Gremlins exist!! (And not the kind from the dumb movies)

Didn't you see the Bugs Bunny cartoon that was making light of them? They started showing up during WWII, and the Germain pilots named them!!

Thats why modern jets have those little round bumps all over, they can't get a suction cup grip on the plane that way!!


Do You see the Gremlins before or after the RUM?;)

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Do You see the Gremlins before or after the RUM?;)

Yes.

[Amphigorey]

Actually, there was never a Twilight Zone Episode about an elevator of any kind. The clip seen in the preshow was made by combining scenes from the series, creating new scenes, and using a VERY good voice actor.

Yep. The bit where Rod says "This, as you may recognize, is a maintenance service elevator" is from an episode where he says "This, as you may recognize, is a map of the United States." Whoever edited that clip was very good at their jobs.

[CMGUY89]

Yep. The bit where Rod says "This, as you may recognize, is a maintenance service elevator" is from an episode where he says "This, as you may recognize, is a map of the United States." Whoever edited that clip was very good at their jobs.
Actually the entire line was re-dubbed by the actor you did his voice. They just used the video from that scene.

[Ottar]

the new ToT at Disneyland paris is getting rave reviews here in Europe.. I can't wait to go there and ride it myself! The photos I've seen of the interior are simply amazing!

[smart1hermione]

Oh me too! I saw the premiere of ToT at Euro Disney on YouTube. I never knew a projector could do that. :D

[Ottar]

Their new projectionists from Effets de Facade are amazing! Its the same guys who did Whishes over here.
Now if they would only put that kinda money into rehabs or fireworks... ;)

[smart1hermione]

Their new projectionists from Effets de Facade are amazing! Its the same guys who did Whishes over here.
Now if they would only put that kinda money into rehabs or fireworks... ;)

I <3 the fireworks! I hope DL keeps them longer. But they're gonna have to do something about that line, "fifty years ago.."

[mechurchlady]

Their new projectionists from Effets de Facade are amazing! Its the same guys who did Whishes over here.
Now if they would only put that kinda money into rehabs or fireworks... ;)

They paint over the rust and cover the wood rot, saves money, lol and is cheaper.

[felinefan]

Sounds like the kind of maintenece they did at Knott's. Isn't that the reason for that incident with the sailing ship Columbia a few years ago?

[smart1hermione]

Sounds like the kind of maintenece they did at Knott's. Isn't that the reason for that incident with the sailing ship Columbia a few years ago?

If you mean the one that happened on christmas eve... It was because they used a nylon rope instead of a... non-nylon rope. It stretched and built momentum to rip from the dock. I might be mistaken though.

[EeyoresButterfly]

The Columbia was a combination of factors:

1.) The Columbia came into the dock too fast.

2.) The rope was nylon instead of hemp. Greater elasticity means a higher breaking point. Had it been a hemp rope, the rope probably would have broken. Since the nylon rope had a higher breaking point the rope tore the cleat loose.

3.) Improper training: the assistant manager who was putting the rope around the cleat did so at an improper time, attempting to use the cleat to brake the ship. The cleat is only meant to moor it, thus the forces applied were improper.

4.) Improper maintenance on the cleat. The cleat was not properly maintained making it more vulnerable to such an incident.

[hobie16]

The rope was nylon instead of hemp. Greater elasticity means a higher breaking point. Had it been a hemp rope, the rope probably would have broken. Since the nylon rope had a higher breaking point the rope tore the cleat loose.
A sailing subject!!

There are basically two types of line used on a boat. Them that stretches and them that don't. Running rigging (halyards, sheets, etc.) uses non-stretch and is usually made out of synthetic material. The best non-stretch is Dyneema and is usually wrapped in a polyester cover to avoid abrasions.

Anchor and mooring line is always stretchy to absorb shocks caused by wakes from other boats, wind and wave action. It can be made of either hemp or a synthetic material. It is also woven very loosely which makes it easy to splice.

http://www.animatedknots.com/splice/index.php

[Freak]

Whoever mentioned painting over rusty stuff and rotten wood...that'd be the culprit for what made the Timber Mountain Log Ride collapse over at Knott's....Boy..what a day that was...seeing all those people being carted off in wheelchairs & stretchers, some of the guests' faces were nothing but blood.

As for the topic at hand....They ever install the "Random Tower" program/profile on DCA's ToT?

[smart1hermione]

As for the topic at hand....They ever install the "Random Tower" program/profile on DCA's ToT?

Yeah, Samantha Brown said that on the Travel Channel. Every time you ride, there's a different combo of drops.

[felinefan]

You mean Log Ride finally bit it? When did that happen, and why wasn't it in the news? (Oh, yeah, right, management must've bribed them. Duh.) I bet management was handing out the hush money with a pitchfork. I better go over to Themeparkinsider and check them.

[Freak]

That's good to hear that Tower finally got its random profile. While its original profile was nice, it was hardly exciting after say....four or five rides.

As for the Log Ride.....There was a post on it in the OC Register. Happened around March of 07. Here's the OC Register article (if it's still there).

Log Ride Ceiling Collapse (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/buenapark/article_1698385.php)

[lady ulrike]

DCA's Tower does not have a random drop sequence as far as I know. Samantha Brown was probably talking about the one in Florida when she said it's a different ride every time.

[Freak]

Oh lame, I was hoping they went through with the DCA Random Profile. Someone told me that it was going to go in sometime after 2006...guess they were kind of right.

[felinefan]

That's good to hear that Tower finally got its random profile. While its original profile was nice, it was hardly exciting after say....four or five rides.

As for the Log Ride.....There was a post on it in the OC Register. Happened around March of 07. Here's the OC Register article (if it's still there).

Log Ride Ceiling Collapse (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/buenapark/article_1698385.php)


Oh, the way you were describing the guests coming out covered in blood, I thought the whole shebang came down completely. Anyone notice who they pointed out that a new ride was opening in the same article? That is just sick. If the ride had collapsed, killing or maiming everybody in it, do you think they'd say, oh, by the way, there's another ride opening.... Knowing Knott's, they would.