AP Tower of Terror Events Reports Here

[RU42]

Well, I just got back from DCA and have had the chance to ride the Tower of Terror. I thought it would be good to start a thread for all of us to post our stories.

EVENT DETAILS:
You need to sign up online and then bring your AP at least. I was not asked for my confirmation sheet. I would say bring it just in case your name is not on their big printout.

I walked into and out of Hollywood and Dine within minutes. Very well done.

The ride opened at 11:00. They were holding people back till 10:50. At that time the line stretched to Disney Playhouse. But by 11:15 there was no line what-so-ever.

Disney did a great job here not overloading everything.

I met up with Paul. His time was 11:00 and mine was 12:00. At about 11:25 you could literally walk into the ride. I asked a CM if I could go in and she said sure.

THE RIDE:
Pictures will start appearing on alt.binaries.multimedia.disney this afternoon. I might post a couple here in my photo album.

SIDE BY SIDE WITH ToT/MGM
Much debate has been had on DCA vs MGM. Here are my humble opinions.

OUTSIDE:
MGM by far. There is nothing to the one in DCA.

INSIDE:
We were wisked by so quickly I couldn't see most of the lobby. It seemed nice - but unless there was something I missed, the MGM is better.

TV PREVIEW:
No difference

BROILER ROOM:
DCA wins here. I do not remember as much detail in the one at MGM as there is here at DCA.

SPECIAL EFFECTS:
I think DCA wins here too, but not by much.

THE RIDE:
Excellent. Can't really pick a winner here. It was a blast! teh only thing DCA is missing is traveling down the hall. Yea, I missed that but it didn't ruin the ride at all.

EXIT:
Dumps you into a shop - what else.

So - there is my tale of the ride. It is a blast, excellent addition to DCA. 9 days until it is open to the public. I can't wait.

RU

 

[paulcmartens]

I'm over in the news section...oops!

Because I'm an attention hog!

Man was that hot out there or what Dave?

Ride good. WDW better in my opinion. Its close though isn't.

Its hard.

Just hard.

Photos:
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater18.html

Videos: (RU4's will kick A)


http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater18.html
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater19.html
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater20.html

 

[RU42]

Hot is an understatement. It was 101 when I left the park at 12:30pm. Sorching!

Great Pics!

Video :lookaroun what video :lookaroun oh, the outside and queue video, that one. :lol:

RU

 

[paulcmartens]

OH right...I was implying the exterior video ...and interior of the hotel...not the ride...no video or photography allowed there!

 

[xfkirsten]

Hi! Just got back!!! Posted my thoughts on DCA vs WDW in the other thread, so I'll leave those details out of here.

I got there about 1 or so, and headed into DCA. Hung around with tigggrl and CalDisney for awhile until our 2 pm time, then went to check in. No one at all at the entrance! I walked right into the queue area.

First thing that struck me, especially on a day like today - the exterior queue has NO fans or misters or anything like that in that whole switchback area next to the building. That's gonna be awful to wait in this summer.

Got inside pretty quickly, and into the A/C. Wooo! Of course, just as I got to the library doors, the attraction went down, and it was a 20-min wait or so before we went into the video room. I ended up on the lower level of the boiler room... and can I just say that boiler that looked like a face was really creepy? It really weirded me out.

LOVED the ride itself. The sequence really caught me off guard - I was dropped when I really did not expect it! A++++ in my book there!

Overall, I call DCA and WDW even. I really can't decide which is better.

My own photos are up at http://xfkirsten.fotopic.net

And it was 101?! Seriously? It felt like 85 or so to me. And I was wearing jeans. Maybe I just deal with heat really well. :lol:

-Kirsten

 

[paulcmartens]

I thought it was awfully hot. Now, that was at noon, quarter after...maybe things cooled down by 2? I doubt it...maybe hotter....or maybe you've suffered worse in Florida!

I want to ride the ride again. Badly and see how it is.

Maybe its just because I got 'broken' into at WDW...got the carp scared out of me, that this second time around wasn't as bad. Because the ride was really slick.

hmm...maybe it is a tough call.

P.

 

[DisneyCP2000]

I managed to get a ride during cast previews. I was pretty darn lucky to get on.

Here's my take. It's a great attraction but there are some things that I didn't like too much.

1) The elevator shaft. It totally killed the visuals when you stand on your number, then the elevator door opens and then you you see an additional hallway then another elevator door. It just doesn't make sense.

2) I'm also a big fan of the car driving itself across the building. I think that's one of the best parts of the WDW attraction.

As for the pluses to the Calfornia attraction
1) The first stop up on the elevator. The mirror effect.
2) The Boiler Room. very different!

In all I prefer the WDW version still but I'm sure there's still plenty of potential in the Cal Adventure one.

 

[stranger]

I was at the AP preview yesterday and I loved the ride. I've never been on the WDW version, so I never went in with any expectations. I guess that's an advantage for me.
I had no idea what was happening and the falls were very unexpected. All-in-all two big thumbs up from me, but this ride still won't pull me in to DCA.

 

[LadyDarling]

I have one word to describe this attraction. AGAIN! I loved it.
As much as dislike comparisons between WDW and DLR (I believe in appericating a thing for what it is, not if it is better or worse than something else) there were quiet a few differences. The special effect involving disappearing guests was WONDERFUL. I'm not worried about no misters or fans in line. Are there misters in line at any Disneyland attraction? It will get hot, but much of the line is shaded. I look forward to it being open for a few more years to truely get that "aged" look that it appeared to be lacking in a few places. The attention to detail in the bioler room was great (and I think there is a hidden Mickey in those paint cans!) . The "face" on the boiler was definately creepy! But the ride itself was fun and not truly frightening (unless you're afraid of drops).
Good job Disney!

 

[xfkirsten]

There is a big section of the queue that's really not shaded, though. It was closed off before - not enough crowds from the AP holders to open it. It's right next to the building, on your left as you go in - lots of switchbacks. I'm sure that wilil be filled this summer. At first glance it seems shaded, but that shade is VERY patchy.

-Kirsten