[Chat] The Future of Tower of Terror?

[KevRus]

With the opening of the new DCA (TSMM, TLM, Cars Land, BVS), DCA's Tower of Terror is beginning to - in my opinion - appear as nothing more than a sad reminder of administration's quick and cheap attempts at drawing more people to the park. Every time I ride it, I can't help but feel like I just rode a long-winded D-Ticket.

All ToT bashing aside (Overall, I do enjoy it! I swear! )), I'm wondering what the future holds for the attraction. The mirror effect never seems to work quite right (or it never seems clear enough) in any of the shafts, and the attraction has remained relatively unchanged since its opening back in '04. I'm worried that as DCA continues to improve and expand, ToT will begin to appear even more "on the cheap." Back in '04, most accepted ToT for what it was considering the lackluster quality of everything else in the park, but now we have some actual quality elsewhere!

I think some ToT improvements (and hopefully not just random drop sequences, because to be honest, some of the possible sequences in the original Tower right now are pretty boring, and DCA's is at least really fun and thrilling) are necessary in the future - perhaps along with Hollywood Land additions/improvements? I'm all for area improvements as well! Bring back the Storytelling, add more foliage, expand the outdoor queue, anything to bring ToT up to speed with the rest of DCA's E-Tickets. What do you all think?

[Juni]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

I think updating TOT other than possibly plusing the queue would be a waste considering everything else that needs to be done. The ride is fun, it provides a thrill and drop rides are incredibly popular.

I think it's fine the way it is.

[Seawolf]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

It would be awesome if they added additional detailing on the exterior building/queue and enhanced the on-board ride, possibly with random dropping and updated effects. I think the level of detailing should be on par with Tokyo Disney Sea's version.

[BuzzedLightyear]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

Tower is DCA's second most immersive ride behind RSR. I LOVE the details in the boiler room, and it fits perfectly with the theme. It's not Florida, but I love it all the same. The 5th dimension was always the weakest part of Florida for me, and I love the surprise drop at DCA as opposed to the locking in and then dropping in Fl.. I would love for them to drop the TV theme and go with the Japanese storyline though. It seems more appropriate for the new DCA setting.

---------- Post added 06-21-2012 at 01:40 PM ----------

Also the lines have been crazy long since Cars Land opened.

[Princess Victoria]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

...anything to bring ToT up to speed with the rest of DCA's E-Tickets. What do you all think?

E-tickets like Soarin', California Screamin', Radiator Springs Racers, Grizzly River Run, and Midway Mania? I think Tower of Terror ranks quite highly among that group as far as theme and quality go. If anything, I think the rumored randomized drops would be cool, but I can't really think of much else they can do other than make the outdoor queue interactive on some level.

[StevenW]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

I felt the opening sequence after your boarded wasn't right. They projected the Twilight Zone spiral on the front door, but you can barely see it because it is projected against the painted brown door. It was also very quick so there was no chance of a strong narrative to be given. They should fix the scene to be longer and with a stronger introduction with new special effects that made it seem like you already went somewhere else. In addition, this room can have a stronger ending as well.

[Seawolf]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

but I can't really think of much else they can do other than make the outdoor queue interactive on some level.

There is plenty more they could do but it all takes money.

[BuzzedLightyear]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

That style is very East Coast though. It's Ornate, but the mission style is more simplistic. I like the look of ours for where it is.

[Seawolf]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

That style is very East Coast though. It's Ornate, but the mission style is more simplistic. I like the look of ours for where it is.

I used it as an example of the attention to detail, I'm not saying to copy their style. The California look chosen for DCA could be taken much further.

[Wren]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

To be honest, I think its pretty clever how they fit the existing ToT with the remake of Hollywood Land and BVS with the references to the hotel, being a stop on the trolley line and the in cabbin adds. It actually fits in more than ever now.

[JerrodDRagon]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

I mean...yeah with a lot money I guess they could make it look nice...but I like it just the way it looks now.....maybe more on board effects would be nice and something down for Halloween....but besides that i think it fits pretty great

[Uncle Bob]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

This would be about my 100th choice to spend money on in DCA. Sure, it could be better, but there's still lot of parts of the park that absolutely must be better, i.e. they still suck.

[KevRus]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

E-tickets like Soarin', California Screamin', Radiator Springs Racers, Grizzly River Run, and Midway Mania?

Someone made a great post a few days back about what exactly defines an E-Ticket, and they defined an E-Ticket as being an attraction where - essentially - the Imagineers went "all out" and spared no expenses. I don't think ToT fits that bill, but you're right - going by that same definition many of those attractions would not fit the bill either. Perhaps I should rephrase - I'm worried ToT is going to feel more and more inferior as more and more quality attractions are added to DCA.

Yes, ToT is popular, and thus "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." My question is more wishful thinking than anything, as I agree there are many other problems in DCA that deserve more immediate attention. But in the long-term, ToT was built on the cheap, and I'm wondering if it is going to need some sprucing up down the line.

I don't hate our Tower. I just don't like that the big effect (the mirror effect) they presented as a selling point was so underwhelming compared to the 5th Dimension (despite its technical problems), and now it doesn't even work. The attraction essentially has one effect nowadays: the hallway scene. Yes, I like the boiler room, but I don't like how all of the lighting is entirely exposed on the ceiling. Obviously, that's something that probably can't be fixed, not to mention it's nitpicking. But the show scenes certainly can be!

[BlAcKoUt510]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

I love Tower.

I think if you compare it to others, it doesn't look as great.
But if you think about it, DCA's still is a pretty amazing ride. It's cheaper than some others but I still don't see it as cheap.


A new story wouldn't hurt though if they were ever to update it. But nothing gets me as excited as when you see the elevator fall in the showroom then you fall right after. Always gets me.

[dfan07]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

In my opinion, ToT is the best attraction in DCA after RSR. It complements the Red Car and BVS quite well. It really doesn't need much work aside from a coat of paint.

[Uncle Bob]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

Someone made a great post a few days back about what exactly defines an E-Ticket, and they defined an E-Ticket as being an attraction where - essentially - the Imagineers went "all out" and spared no expenses. I don't think ToT fits that bill, but you're right - going by that same definition many of those attractions would not fit the bill either. Perhaps I should rephrase - I'm worried ToT is going to feel more and more inferior as more and more quality attractions are added to DCA.

Yes, ToT is popular, and thus "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." My question is more wishful thinking than anything, as I agree there are many other problems in DCA that deserve more immediate attention. But in the long-term, ToT was built on the cheap, and I'm wondering if it is going to need some sprucing up down the line.

I don't hate our Tower. I just don't like that the big effect (the mirror effect) they presented as a selling point was so underwhelming compared to the 5th Dimension (despite its technical problems), and now it doesn't even work. The attraction essentially has one effect nowadays: the hallway scene. Yes, I like the boiler room, but I don't like how all of the lighting is entirely exposed on the ceiling. Obviously, that's something that probably can't be fixed, not to mention it's nitpicking. But the show scenes certainly can be!

That post wasn't great, it was ignorance from someone who's obsessed with characters, who would turn DLR into nothing but a collection of randomly placed "Disney" themes with no sense of rhyme or reason. This definition of E-ticket is absurd, there is never a ride ever built where the Imagineers get to go all out, so then there are no E-tickets by that definition.

[ArchimedesWhatWhat]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

I wish they would repair the "destroyed" part ont he outside and just make it look like an old hotel. And I think it would be even more awesome to add a second ride to it. There could be two lines through the lobby, one to the elevators, and one down a long hall (which would take you back stage of the tower into a show building) and have a different ride back there still themed to Tower of Terror and Twilight Zone. Maybe a small dark ride (haunted mansion like) that takes you through rooms of the hotel.

[BuzzedLightyear]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

Tower cost around $200 million - hardly built on the cheap. The mirror effect has always worked for me.

[Uncle Bob]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

Tower cost around $200 million - hardly built on the cheap. The mirror effect has always worked for me.

What? No way it cost 200 million. Do you have a source? I think it was significantly under $100 million.

[AlexLoup]

Re: The Future of Tower of Terror?

Tower cost around $200 million - hardly built on the cheap. The mirror effect has always worked for me.

The last few times I rode it it worked as well, and that is my favorite part of the ride, and I am not the only one in my group if friends who think that.