A look at the Tower of Terror refurbishment

[thelookingglass]

Tower has a lot of issues with visuals, and especially audio. Credit to the Bellhops, they do call them in and a lot of the time visuals are mostly fixed. I notified the unload CM this year that Bravos corridor wall projector was out and they took the whole shaft 101 and called in maintainence there and then. At first he was surprised, and admitted Charlie had been having `issues` for the past few days. Audio however is something that could and should be perfect. It seems it is being mostly left as a `make do`, both level and sync wise.

It seems to happen so frequently though - almost every time I ride (I visit frequently), so it seems a proper refurbishment of the actual ride is needed as well. Also its a shame that it seems the bellhops have no way of knowing when most of the effects break.

Roger that on the audio. Almost everytime I'm on the thing, the audio is out of sync with the hallway scene. As the five ghosts disappear, the orchestra is still playing a jarring chord that SHOULD play AS they disappear. It seemed to be a little better this summer on hmm...was it Charlie and Delta? I dont' remember.

Yeah, I notice this on certain lifts, too. Along with other things, such as barely being able to hear Rod Serling, the speakers hissing and popping, or the last time I rode where there was almost no sound at all in the 5th dimension scene. I get the impression that the ride is in terrible shape.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I'm glad to see all this refurb work- Main Street and now Tower. WDW's 40th is around the corner. The parks need the TLC so the press can present WDW looking as good as they remember at opening! :ROFLOL:

 

[DisneyLeo18]

I don't think the sign has been completely turned off since opening. I only rode it for my first time in 2004, and I have seen it although not every time I visit. It's kind of like catching the queue when all the misters are onB

Below is a picture i tried to take of the sign changing. I believe when it finished lighting up it says "Tower of Terror".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44631611@N06/5268993112/

Sorry I'm not too savvy with posting pictures

 

[wdwmagic]

I don't think the sign has been completely turned off since opening. I only rode it for my first time in 2004, and I have seen it although not every time I visit. It's kind of like catching the queue when all the misters are onB

Below is a picture i tried to take of the sign changing. I believe when it finished lighting up it says "Tower of Terror".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44631611@N06/5268993112/

Sorry I'm not too savvy with posting pictures

I believe they are talking above about the spark generator that is on the huge sign on the actual hotel. It was only operational for a very short time before being permanently deactivated.

 

[DisneyLeo18]

I believe they are talking above about the spark generator that is on the huge sign on the actual hotel. It was only operational for a very short time before being permanently deactivated.

Ah I see. Well makes sense I didn't know what they were talking about because I've never seen that. :lol:

Thank you for the clarification! :wave:

 

[thelookingglass]

I believe they are talking above about the spark generator that is on the huge sign on the actual hotel. It was only operational for a very short time before being permanently deactivated.

Yep, this effect definitely still works. If you stand there and watch for a few moments it will fully light up to say "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror"

Although, it can be hard to see until the evening.

 

[rpk4444]

Anyone else think this is really bad show?

Not at all.

Speaking selfishly, I'm glad that they are doing it now because when I'm down in May it will look great.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Not at all.

Speaking selfishly, I'm glad that they are doing it now because when I'm down in May it will look great.

Maybe. Some have suggested this refurb may take many months (up into Summer 2011). It looks like major work.

Speaking selfishly, I'm happy they are doing this so the Tower will continue looking very menacing during future visits.

 

[marni1971]

I believe they are talking above about the spark generator that is on the huge sign on the actual hotel. It was only operational for a very short time before being permanently deactivated.

Yep, we were. If I recall there were 4 (ish) generators that would produce a few real, physical sparks at set times (or by manual overide). A combination of calls to 911 from guests and RCFDs concern about wayward sparks had the system shut down.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Its a shame, too, because the REAL sparks were awesome looking.

Also, here is a photo of TOT from 1994:

Its incredible just how much detail has faded away!

I am happy they are refurbishing the outside. Heres hoping that, eventually, they fix up the inside, too.

 

[wdwmagic]

Yep, we were. If I recall there were 4 (ish) generators that would produce a few real, physical sparks at set times (or by manual overide). A combination of calls to 911 from guests and RCFDs concern about wayward sparks had the system shut down.

Martin, any idea when it was last in use? I'm thinking it may not even have made it to the official opening, but I don't have any concrete info on it.

I have seen some promo footage of it in use, but I cant seem to track it down now.

 

[thelookingglass]

I know it was definitely in use until at least 1996 or 1997.

 

[anonDisney]

Here is a picture of it, from the Disney Theme Parks blog.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Here is a picture of it, from the Disney Theme Parks blog.

that's from the opening at WDS Paris (or DCA--I believe it's WDS, though)...and those are fireworks, not sparks.

 

[WDITrent]

Yeah... that was a few years ago at the grand opening of a completely different tower, and those are fireworks, not a permanent effect.

 

[marni1971]

Martin, any idea when it was last in use? I'm thinking it may not even have made it to the official opening, but I don't have any concrete info on it.

I have seen some promo footage of it in use, but I cant seem to track it down now.

I`m trying to chase it up. I wasn`t aware they made it past 1994.

Here is a picture of it, from the Disney Theme Parks blog.

As others said, that is the part of the opening celebration of Paris or DL. More likely DL since Paris had upwards rockets and just minor squibs on the facade.

 

[cymbaldiva]

It is certainly not bad show to see an attraction being cared for. Furthermore, I think scaffolding on an old, abandoned, and recently re-opened hotel is thematically appropriate, don't you?

Well, yes ~ it is bad show. I've seen worse, and I'm glad the attraction isn't totally down, but it bad show. Of course so are non-working effects....I'm thinking Disney is having a bit of a problem with routine maintenance and "the show" lately....

Oh, and the hotel isn't re-opened; it's abandoned.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Well, yes ~ it is bad show. I've seen worse, and I'm glad the attraction isn't totally down, but it bad show. Of course so are non-working effects....I'm thinking Disney is having a bit of a problem with routine maintenance and "the show" lately....

Oh, and the hotel isn't re-opened; it's abandoned.

an abandoned hotel with bellhops? My understanding is the bellhops are not dead, so why are they there?

 

[marni1971]

an abandoned hotel with bellhops? My understanding is the bellhops are not dead, so why are they there?

Technically, the Bellhops are between 1939 and present day. Trapped in time if you like. They don`t quite understand why, hence the sometimes distant expressions.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Technically, the Bellhops are between 1939 and present day. Trapped in time if you like. They don`t quite understand why, hence the sometimes distant expressions.

This is correct - they are supposed to be the same hotel staff that was there in 1939. They have not aged, but they are aware that time has passed. So they are not dead, but they are there due to supernatural means.

Whether or not the bellhop you get portrays this correctly is another story, however.