DCA's Tower of Terror...What a DISAPPOINTMENT!!

CHAPPS

Account Suspended
Original Poster
They really went cheap on this attraction in my opinion. Here they had an opportunity to improve on 10-year old technology and effects and true to form lately, they cut corners. I don't see this ride helping DCA at all. I think Universal's Mummy is going to blow it away!
 

LadyDarling

New Member
Well, I think you're in the minority there. I've always loved this ride and the "dissappearing act" was great! The drop sequence was great as well.

Then again... I'm biased! :lol: I'm a Disney fan, not a universal fan. :D I thought it was just the right blend of fun and fright. :)

Now all I have to do is talk my friend who is scared of elevators into it!:lol:
 

xfkirsten

New Member
I personally have to disagree. I didn't feel like they went cheap on me, but everyone has their own take.

Out of curiosity, what corners did you feel like they cut that made the attraction lesss enjoyable?

-Kirsten
 

RU42

New Member
Here is an interesting side note. The ToT is programmed with a set drop sequence right now. But the programming can be changed at any time. At least the ride has a built in change.

There is a nice write up in the OC Register today talking about the ride.

The only spot I am disapponited in with the ride is the outside queue area being basically non-themed. But that doesn't have anything to do with technology. As far as the ride itself goes, I think it was great and very enjoyable.

RU
 

CHAPPS

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Original Poster
Originally posted by xfkirsten
Out of curiosity, what corners did you feel like they cut that made the attraction lesss enjoyable?

For one thing, the grounds around the Tower in Florida really help to build the excitement. It just makes it seem so real, I marvel at it every time. Along with the entrance lobby, it is just so well themed in Florida that it seems noticeably cheap that it's virtually nonexistent at the California version. It makes it seem like the focus is more on the ride itself and that's a shame. I realize the ride is the "main attraction", but the story is lacking without all the great themeing.

On the ride itself, it didn't bother me that they took out the fifth dimension section, but they didn't really replace it with anything equally cool. Based on what I'd read, I expected the ghost effect to really be impressive and it wasn't.

I'm not saying it's a terrible attraction. I'm sure it will seem great for anyone who has not experienced the Florida version. I just thought that after 10 years, they'd really be able to push the envelope, especially since DCA kind of needs a lot of help right now.
 

xfkirsten

New Member
I agree with you on the outdoor queue. The lobby I could go either way. However, I think the boiler room part of the queue is way better at DCA... very creepy, and some nifty hidden secrets if you are paying attention. ;) Actually, someone explained the queue to me, and it does make sense in a way. I was told that it's SUPPOSED to feel normal as you are outside, and then as you progress through the queue and gets more and more eerie. Makes sense, but I do like the Florida outdoor queue better anyways.

I was never impressed with the horizontal movement, so I wasn't really bothered by the loss of it either. But I did think the mirror effect was a cool idea. But even havinig been on Florida's ToT dozens of times, I think I call them even. But that's just me. :)

-Kirsten
 

LadyDarling

New Member
Agreed

Kristin-
If I were to break out the scales, I would agree with you! :) I love them both. I think the outside also is a little different for a reason. They aren't supposed to be clones of each other and this one, having more SouthWestern architecture - there isn't much landscaping with southwestern architecture.
Either way, you can bet you'll see me in line more than once!
 

paulcmartens

Account Suspended
I think its hard to compare...but you can. You can say: hey...things were cut out, not enough money spent...which is true...but then how fair is it to compare? You'd have to compare the exact same budgets etc. Which there isn't.

And you could po-po that and say, well, its crappy, because they spent less on that...and you might be right...but oh well.

ANYWAY...anyone waiting for TDS's TOT? Wonder how that will turn out. $195 million projected budget. No Twilight Zone theme though. That might be cool.

I've been on that TOT many a time (DCA's). And its fun to watch other people's reactions now.

I think they did the best with what they could. But i can understand people wanting to compair...I just am not so convinced anymore that its fair (i did this a lot when the ride first opened). Not quite sure that was nice.
 

CHAPPS

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Original Poster
Originally posted by paulcmartens
I think its hard to compare...but you can. You can say: hey...things were cut out, not enough money spent...which is true...but then how fair is it to compare? You'd have to compare the exact same budgets etc. Which there isn't.

And you could po-po that and say, well, its crappy, because they spent less on that...and you might be right...but oh well.

ANYWAY...anyone waiting for TDS's TOT? Wonder how that will turn out. $195 million projected budget. No Twilight Zone theme though. That might be cool.

I've been on that TOT many a time (DCA's). And its fun to watch other people's reactions now.

I think they did the best with what they could. But i can understand people wanting to compair...I just am not so convinced anymore that its fair (i did this a lot when the ride first opened). Not quite sure that was nice.

Well, like most guests, I don't really know anything about budgets and "what they had to work with", etc. All I know is what I personally experienced, and I was disappointed.
 

paulcmartens

Account Suspended
well, it should have been obvious there was a lesser budget!! :)

I guess I just know who's in charge...and he's got a different skill set than Walt had or the people before him and I didn't expect a lavish creative attraction.

Oh well.

P.
 

cherrynegra

Well-Known Member
I wasn't able to ride ToT at DCA on my last trip, but I have to say I was not impressed with the hotel in its location and the theming on the outside of the hotel. The ToT at MGM is definitely more imposing on the hill surrounded by the neglected gardens. Hope to ride it in June for an opinion on the inner ride.
 

CHAPPS

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Original Poster
Originally posted by paulcmartens
well, it should have been obvious there was a lesser budget!! :)

I guess I just know who's in charge...and he's got a different skill set than Walt had or the people before him and I didn't expect a lavish creative attraction.

Oh well.

P.

What I'm saying, though, is that I don't think the average guest visits an attraction and says, "I'm sure they had a small budget, but they did what they could with what they had to work with, so I'll let that influence my opinion." The average guest simply knows whether or not he/she was entertained and got value for their price of admission.
 

CHAPPS

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Original Poster
Originally posted by paulcmartens
I would agree.

The average guest (if I'm reading you correctly) won't be as pleased.

Well I think the average guest won't be as impressed by this version if they've experienced the Florida version. If they haven't experienced it, then they have nothing to compare it to and so they might be impressed still. But I guess I'm speaking for myself as well as for the average guest. I mean, even though I'm aware that this Tower was built on less of a budget, it doesn't change the fact that I'm still disappointed. I guess I don't really factor in the cause or the reason behind it. I just care that I'm not being entertained or impressed as much as I'd like to be.
 

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
While I think that I am going to go ride the better Tower in 13 days at MGM, I still think most people will love your Tower at DCA. It should be a great success, but I don't see it ending all of DCA's problems.
 

surfsupdon

Well-Known Member
I'll agree that it appears corners may have been cut in ground maintenance, themeing, and outdoor queueing. It's many switchbacks, that look unnecessarily close to the main walkways, with nothing really blocking or making separate.

That's the opinion I derived from watching video clips, as I have not been there in person.
 

Merlin

Account Suspended
Still looking forward to experiencing the new ToT. It's a shame to hear that the themeing in the queue is not as elaborate. That's a huge part of what makes the Florida version so great. Still, I'm actually glad to hear it's not an exact carbon copy of the Florida version. And if they were going to omit anything, I'm glad it's the 5th Dimension scene. That's the only part of the attraction that I've ever really considered kind of a letdown. So much potential, I keep hoping they'll go back and do something neat with that section.
 

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