Guardians Tower announcement Saturday in SD ...

[andre85]

This is a rare instance of Anaheim getting the short end of the stick.

CA's always looked far too cartoonish to me with its blue and purple lighting; it never felt like a boiler room. And it lacks the chains too by each shaft

There is a reason why the newer ToT's dropped (hah!) the fifth dimension scene. Like you say, it is an ineffective scene that merely detracts. As with movies, or DL into WDW's Pirates, common wisdom is to edit out that which detracts from the pace and story.

What is this nonsense? It was dropped for cost and space reasons.

The mirror scene in DCA's is completely out of place, looks cheesy, throws off the pacing, and results in a ride that's far shorter (besides that, there are multiple other reasons why DCA's is clearly inferior)

 

[Disone]

My question is, would Disney even be touching ToT if they did not have plans to basically transform Hollywood Land into a Marvel area? I'm assuming the answer is probably no, but then again, Disney loves making stupid decisions and I can see them going with this idea, whether there were plans to mesh the land or not.

That makes me wonder..... They spent so much money on the dca street car... which was done for thematic reasons and not as an actual draw to bring people into the park. You never saw Billboards and tv commercials advertising the red car street car at DCA 2.0. You might have seen the streetcar but it was not advertised as an attraction that you must come to California Adventure to do.

I have always applaud that they put that much effort into the theme environment of the new DCA. But are we now going to have that red car passing by a Guardians of the Galaxy outpost/spaceport/headquarters?
And taking the trolley further down Mr.Chappies nieghborhood... if Hollywood Boulevard becomes Marvelland, how does that connect to Los Angeles in the 1920s via a red car street car?

Very anxious/intetested to see how all this plays out.

 

[dm11]

I've never gone to ToT and will never go to its GotG incarnation (if it ever happens at WDW). I just can't force myself to go onto a drop ride. And yes, I do realize it is not just that and it is awesome and all that ... But at the end of the day it is still also a drop ride.

Even though I have no standing here (ride mechanism itself being out of my comfort thrill zone), this really seems like a bad idea. I am fine with overlays when you have a stale or deficient ride and overlay improves it but doing it with perfectly good ride is just wasteful. I guess I am one of the minority here who thinks that FEA is actually a BIG improvement over Maelstrom, and I do look forward to GotG replacing Energy (even though I actually like that ride, I have to admit it is dated). But none of that stands with ToT - perfectly fine the way it is, and the money spent on its overlay could have been used for a brand new experience. Or two. The bottom line is that the park with this overlay will be the same quality as before (or slightly worse, or in best case slightly better), while leaving it as is and building a new ride would absolutely improve the park's lineup.

 

[Pam Hates Penguins]

Of course...Mess with California.....Keep Florida original. It's been this way a lot.

 

[Pam Hates Penguins]

I hope they get booed for the Tower overlay announcement...

With the votes in my Save Tower of Terror thread, I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

 

[flynnibus]

As I've said before... I have visions of how the super hero stuff could be worked into the attraction... And by not thinking about what they took away... There is a chance of something decent coming out of it. So I'm not crying bloody murder over this..

Dca's ToT isn't some untouchable and if they fix some of the elements like its greet presence and general surroundings by plugging it into expansion plans for that corner of the part I'll wait to see the whole plan.

But that all rides on actually changing the ride story and scenery full bore. If this goes lazy... I will be very sad

The part I can't get my head around at all is how this or a marvel land fits the dca connecting theme of California

 

[Pam Hates Penguins]

The part I can't get my head around at all is how this or a marvel land fits the dca connecting theme of California

Or Star Wars Land at Disneyland.

 

[flynnibus]

Or Star Wars Land at Disneyland.

There is no reason it can't work there except those who are upset over a land being about a property vs the original themed lands.

That is an argument against change where as this topic is different because the park doesn't juat have tradition... But supposedly an interwoven purpose and fit for the lands around a central, spoken, spine... California

 

[GiveMeTheMusic]

Was told today that exterior work on TOT at DCA will begin ASAP, and before the ride itself actually stops operating (which I was told won't be until November 1 at the earliest so that the attraction can operate during HalloweenTime). We'll see how much detail we get tomorrow and if my orange birdie was right!

 

[Californian Elitist]

That makes me wonder..... They spent so much money on the dca street car... which was done for thematic reasons and not as an actual draw to bring people into the park. You never saw Billboards and tv commercials advertising the red car street car at DCA 2.0. You might have seen the streetcar but it was not advertised as an attraction that you must come to California Adventure to do.

I have always applaud that they put that much effort into the theme environment of the new DCA. But are we now going to have that red car passing by a Guardians of the Galaxy outpost/spaceport/headquarters?
And taking the trolley future down Mr.Chappies nieghborhood... if Hollywood Boulevard becomes Marvelland, how does that connect to Los Angeles in the 1920s via a red car street car?

Very anxious/intetested to see how all this plays out.

I think there are rumors of a Captain America attraction going in, which will be themed to the 1930's/1940's. If that goes in, it will help. Monsters has the worst place-making in my opinion. That will always be worse than the trolley passing by a GotG attraction.

 

[Pam Hates Penguins]

Was told today that exterior work on TOT at DCA will begin ASAP, and before the ride itself actually stops operating (which I was told won't be until November 1 at the earliest so that the attraction can operate during HalloweenTime). We'll see how much detail we get tomorrow and if my orange birdie was right!

oh no.... I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it .....

 

[the-reason14]

Age has nothing to do with it. The Tower of Terror is one of the best examples of what happens when a bunch of little parts come together to tell a cohesive story. From the moment you enter the park, the tower is creating a build-up in story. It reaches into the sky of Hollywood and it submerges us deeper into the feeling of being in a time and place. We walk down the street and see the tower looming as we are drawn closer and closer until we find ourselves inside. The Twilight Zone was known for creepy and unusual and the hotel is no different. The story of those five passengers is so intriguing that it almost make it seem like this was meant to be an episode in the show.

I don't really care of people haven't watched The Twlight Zone a day in their life, the story works. Listen to people ride and how they love to echo the classic words and phrases used by Rod Serling. Splash Mountain has never had any issue gathering a fan base with almost no young person seeing the movie it's based on. People who want to see this happen do not understand the workings of theme and why the tower plays such a crucial role. Those who champion this change are just IP brand advocates who drool and praise Disney when they lavish whatever piece of crap achievement they give them. It's disgusting and they are the reason Disney continues to get away with it.

This!! And if anything the ride will inspire people too young to remember seeing the show, to actually research and watch the show. I know that's what I did.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Many regulars mention DL ToT never has the waits as that in DHS. Could be you know, its just not that popular - especially in a heavily local/annual pass market with many competitors. I don't know. Do you?

DHS ToT often had short waits as well... until Fastpass+.

 

[180º]

Well its a shame you've predetermined what the ride will be and have closed your mind off. A GALAXY is quite a large place and the ride needn't be confined to the movie, part or future. Star Tours is composed of scenes that aren't in the movies. Maybe we'll be surprised. Maybe not.

What we don't have is inside data. Many regulars mention DL ToT never has the waits as that in DHS. Could be you know, its just not that popular - especially in a heavily local/annual pass market with many competitors. I don't know. Do you?

I've made my mind up, but I'm open to being proved wrong. I doubt it, but we'll see!

 

[Mike S]

While I agree this overlay will pale in comparison to a new ride built from scratch, my assumption is that the completed Marvel Land planned for DCA will surpass WDW's lone Guardians ride. At least if they build it, and do it right.

The real question for comparisons to Florida is if it'll surpass MSHI as WDW isn't being restricted by cheapness or laziness of management* but by a legally binding contract of what they're able to do. Spider-Man is going to be a tough one, and if that Avengers rumor from @marni1971 turns out to be true? I don't see it happening. Not with Captain America and Guardians of the Tower.

*The Epcot/UoE decision notwithstanding.

There is a reason why the newer ToT's dropped (hah!) the fifth dimension scene. Like you say, it is an ineffective scene that merely detracts. As with movies, or DL into WDW's Pirates, common wisdom is to edit out that which detracts from the pace and story.

Are you trying to say that the extra scenes in Disneyland's PotC are detracting? I rode it twice last year. That couldn't be further from the truth.

The part I can't get my head around at all is how this or a marvel land fits the dca connecting theme of California

Tony Stark lives in Malibu?

This!! And if anything the ride will inspire people too young to remember seeing the show, to actually research and watch the show. I know that's what I did.

Me too.

 

[DznyRktekt]

I've never gone to ToT and will never go to its GotG incarnation (if it ever happens at WDW). I just can't force myself to go onto a drop ride. And yes, I do realize it is not just that and it is awesome and all that ... But at the end of the day it is still also a drop ride.

Even though I have no standing here (ride mechanism itself being out of my comfort thrill zone), this really seems like a bad idea. I am fine with overlays when you have a stale or deficient ride and overlay improves it but doing it with perfectly good ride is just wasteful. I guess I am one of the minority here who thinks that FEA is actually a BIG improvement over Maelstrom, and I do look forward to GotG replacing Energy (even though I actually like that ride, I have to admit it is dated). But none of that stands with ToT - perfectly fine the way it is, and the money spent on its overlay could have been used for a brand new experience. Or two. The bottom line is that the park with this overlay will be the same quality as before (or slightly worse, or in best case slightly better), while leaving it as is and building a new ride would absolutely improve the park's lineup.

Just a thought, but Tower of Terror can be enjoyed by those not comfortable with the drop by standing in the queue, experiencing the preshow, and exiting before loading the elevator. If you haven't done it is worth a look around.

 

[P_Radden]

I absolutely love the ToT. It is my favorite attraction Imagineering has ever pulled off. It's amazing in every last little detail... BUT as I've gotten older, I've somehow developed a weird and random fear of heights. The last time we rode ToT in March of this year, I psyched myself out big time and was really freaking out when it dropped (5 times). It would be awesome if they offered a line where you could ride it but it does not drop... Or at least drops softer. The pre-show in the library with the film and lightning, the boiler room, the show scenes before the drop are all amazing and absolutely some of the best work WDI has ever done... I Just want the option of experiencing all of that without being slammed to the ground 5 times (although it's so freaking fun and s with you because you don't know when it will stop) ... I know I'm turning into a "fuddy-duddy" but still, I want another option to enjoy the attraction without feeling like I'm being poked with thousands of needles due to suspense and anxiousness

 

[MOXOMUMD]

@WDW1974 or anybody else who might now. Will there be a live stream available? Im gonna take a shot of tequilia every time they use the words "innovative" and "immersive" during the announcement. Not sure if the human body is capable of withstanding that type of bombardment of liquor though. Ill have some magical cupcakes standing by to soak up the booze

Ouch! My condolences in advance of your extreme hangover.

 

[VJ]

It would be awesome if they offered a line where you could ride it but it does not drop... Or at least drops softer.

"Everyone into the elevator!" *30 seconds of silence* "Alright, everyone out! Hope you enjoyed the ride!"

I'm sorry, but that's how I'm imagining a no-drop Tower of Terror and it's making me laugh.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I absolutely love the ToT. It is my favorite attraction Imagineering has ever pulled off. It's amazing in every last little detail... BUT as I've gotten older, I've somehow developed a weird and random fear of heights. The last time we rode ToT in March of this year, I psyched myself out big time and was really freaking out when it dropped (5 times). It would be awesome if they offered a line where you could ride it but it does not drop... Or at least drops softer. The pre-show in the library with the film and lightning, the boiler room, the show scenes before the drop are all amazing and absolutely some of the best work WDI has ever done... I Just want the option of experiencing all of that without being slammed to the ground 5 times (although it's so freaking fun and ****s with you because you don't know when it will stop) ... I know I'm turning into a "fuddy-duddy" but still, I want another option to enjoy the attraction without feeling like I'm being poked with thousands of needles due to suspense and anxiousness

That's called a YouTube video.