"Hollywood Tower Hotel" lighting?

[Model3 McQueen]

When nightfall hits DHS, The Hollywood Tower Hotel sign lights up with one "O" out and the letter "D" flickering. At the ex-ToT at Disneyland (god rest its soul) , the "O" was still out but the "W" was the light that flickered.

That being said, in California I could've SWORN I saw a completely weird, random pattern once or twice. On the DLRR at Main Street Station waiting to depart, I vaguely remember seeing the entire sign light up super bright and then dim back to the traditional pattern. There was also once where the lighting dimmed off for a sec, the entire sign flickered, and then went back to its normal pattern. In both situations I wasn't paying attention to it until the flickering caught my eye.

Did anyone else experience that? Does the sign at DHS ever do anything similar??

EDIT: I'm curious to know if this is a hidden feature, or simply a lighting glitch that occurs every once in awhile.

 

[TwilightZone]

My guess is that it could have been a glitch of some sort, maybe caused by budget cuts. DCA'S did/does seem more budget cutty than the other tots.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

My guess is that it could have been a glitch of some sort, maybe caused by budget cuts. DCA'S did/does seem more budget cutty than the other tots.

Maybe haha It was as eerie as it was fitting. I almost thought it was sort of a hidden feature set to go off every hour or something like that.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

First and last bump. So I'm going to guess it wasn't a normal occurrence at DCA, and the one at DHS doesn't randomly do that.

 

[crxbrett]

After reading your post McQueen, this actually sounded vaguely familiar to me. I also think I may have seen this same light surge pattern at least once or twice in the last couple of years it was open and didn't think much of it until reading your post.

LOL Now I am determined to scour through hours of YT videos to find the answer! I was going to ask my gal if she remembers since she drives down Harbor right past the tower every single night for work, but she's the first one to admit that she can't remember what she ate the night before!

 

[crxbrett]

Been looking over videos, this isn't the effect you are talking about McQueen, is it? Go to 0:20 and 1:05 to see the effect.

TOT - DCA nighttime

 

[Tom Morrow]

Don't know about former DCA ToT, but the O on the DHS tower is not equipped with any lighting, so it can't light up. Occasionally I remember seeing the word "The" or "Hotel" flicker, but I definitely haven't seen that since the sign was refurbished with LED instead of neon in 2014-ish.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

After reading your post McQueen, this actually sounded vaguely familiar to me. I also think I may have seen this same light surge pattern at least once or twice in the last couple of years it was open and didn't think much of it until reading your post.

LOL Now I am determined to scour through hours of YT videos to find the answer! I was going to ask my gal if she remembers since she drives down Harbor right past the tower every single night for work, but she's the first one to admit that she can't remember what she ate the night before!

THANK YOU!! I thought I was dreaming or making stuff up there for a bit hahaha. It's always when we're not paying attention, will we catch something weird right

Been looking over videos, this isn't the effect you are talking about McQueen, is it? Go to 0:20 and 1:05 to see the effect.

TOT - DCA nighttime

That's it!!! At the 23 - 24 second mark, notice how the "LLY" is dim / out, the letter "D" flashes, and "Hotel" is flickering as well. (though i'm not sure if that was just the camera not capturing the lighting correctly)

I haven't seen that off-pattern specifically, but that's exactly what I mean! Is that on purpose or is that a system malfunction? Looks like it only lasted for a few seconds if that.

Don't know about former DCA ToT, but the O on the DHS tower is not equipped with any lighting, so it can't light up. Occasionally I remember seeing the word "The" or "Hotel" flicker, but I definitely haven't seen that since the sign was refurbished with LED instead of neon in 2014-ish.

Interesting - thanks for your input. So that sounds like bad lighting over a purposefully done pattern switch.

 

[crxbrett]

THANK YOU!! I thought I was dreaming or making stuff up there for a bit hahaha. It's always when we're not paying attention, will we catch something weird right



That's it!!! At the 23 - 24 second mark, notice how the "LLY" is dim / out, the letter "D" flashes, and "Hotel" is flickering as well. (though i'm not sure if that was just the camera not capturing the lighting correctly)

I haven't seen that off-pattern specifically, but that's exactly what I mean! Is that on purpose or is that a system malfunction? Looks like it only lasted for a few seconds if that.

I think it had to be intentional or programmed to do that, right? I know I saw it at least a few times and am thinking it was not a malfunction since we all saw it on different occasions and it is on that video. I guess Disney did a really good job of making it look like the lights were freaking out and going out! Hahaha

 

[dieboy]

Its the tower of terror .!.!.! the lighting on the signage is 99.9% status quo. There is a random algorithm built into the lighting program I believe that changes it up once every so often (barely often enough for regular visitors to notice).

I noticed this the first few years it was open, and again a few years ago. I look for it each time, but rarely see it. Its like that dang green flash i've been chasing for ever now ..

 

[Model3 McQueen]

I think it had to be intentional or programmed to do that, right? I know I saw it at least a few times and am thinking it was not a malfunction since we all saw it on different occasions and it is on that video. I guess Disney did a really good job of making it look like the lights were freaking out and going out! Hahaha

Its the tower of terror .!.!.! the lighting on the signage is 99.9% status quo. There is a random algorithm built into the lighting program I believe that changes it up once every so often (barely often enough for regular visitors to notice).

I noticed this the first few years it was open, and again a few years ago. I look for it each time, but rarely see it. Its like that dang green flash i've been chasing for ever now ..

I just love how Disney puts in the tiniest details in their best attractions to add to the authenticity of that attraction.

Who would've thought of putting in a random light algorithm like that?? Any idea how often it's set to go off? Every 1-2 hours for a duration of a few seconds or something?

 

[AndyS2992]

I liked it when the sign at DHS used to spark, obvious fire hazard to the foliage below so they stopped that effect I believe.

 

[dieboy]

I just love how Disney puts in the tiniest details in their best attractions to add to the authenticity of that attraction.

Who would've thought of putting in a random light algorithm like that?? Any idea how often it's set to go off? Every 1-2 hours for a duration of a few seconds or something?

I look. Each and every time. I've spent some time staring at it. Not to sound insane, but I think this is a rare occasion thing. I have seen it exactly twice, and i stopped counting the times I've visited years ago.

Its the twilight zone ride, so everything's a mystery per say. I took it as an extension of their entrance sign, except a bit more special. And also as mentioned, the attention to detail, from meaningful to meaningless that go into presentation (or used to, but that's another debate).

Best guess, is its a rare thing, and odds of it not happening at all for nights on end is high.

It may not even be an algorithm. It could just be a preset they add on occasion, signage lighting like that is well .. fully programmable. I have no idea, but its sure neat when it happens.

 

[crxbrett]

I just love how Disney puts in the tiniest details in their best attractions to add to the authenticity of that attraction.

Who would've thought of putting in a random light algorithm like that?? Any idea how often it's set to go off? Every 1-2 hours for a duration of a few seconds or something?

Agreed! I think is one of those little tiny details that really makes Disney who they are, sets them apart from the rest and what makes them so special. I think three of my favorite little details, which happen to all be in Disneyland - are the flickering candle light that 'walks' around in the upstairs windows of the Haunted Mansion, the Evil Queen periodically opening the curtains above Snow White looking over FL and Figaro sleeping above the walkways next to a bird cage in the Fantasy Court area.

I also always loved the 'thunderstorm' and wolf howls outside of the MK's Haunted Mansion. Do they still even do that?

 

[Model3 McQueen]

I liked it when the sign at DHS used to spark, obvious fire hazard to the foliage below so they stopped that effect I believe.

It used to spark!?!? I've never heard that! Are there any pictures or vids of this?

I look. Each and every time. I've spent some time staring at it. Not to sound insane, but I think this is a rare occasion thing. I have seen it exactly twice, and i stopped counting the times I've visited years ago.

Its the twilight zone ride, so everything's a mystery per say. I took it as an extension of their entrance sign, except a bit more special. And also as mentioned, the attention to detail, from meaningful to meaningless that go into presentation (or used to, but that's another debate).

Best guess, is its a rare thing, and odds of it not happening at all for nights on end is high.

It may not even be an algorithm. It could just be a preset they add on occasion, signage lighting like that is well .. fully programmable. I have no idea, but its sure neat when it happens.

I think i've only seen it twice at DL too and i'm there twice a year. I was hoping there'd be some time pattern behind it, like every 2 or 3 hours or something. That'd be an interesting choice to have it as a preset where someone could activate it. Maybe it ties in to when something occurs at the attraction?

Agreed! I think is one of those little tiny details that really makes Disney who they are, sets them apart from the rest and what makes them so special. I think three of my favorite little details, which happen to all be in Disneyland - are the flickering candle light that 'walks' around in the upstairs windows of the Haunted Mansion, the Evil Queen periodically opening the curtains above Snow White looking over FL and Figaro sleeping above the walkways next to a bird cage in the Fantasy Court area.

I also always loved the 'thunderstorm' and wolf howls outside of the MK's Haunted Mansion. Do they still even do that?

See that too I never really thought about! The flickering candle light at the HM hahaha I never knew what that was!

 

[MisterPenguin]

If you slow down the video of the blinking lights you can "read" the order of letters blinking. It says,

WOW HOLD THE HOT TROLLEY

Turns out the building is just hitting on the trolley.

 

[TwilightZone]

If you slow down the video of the blinking lights you can "read" the order of letters blinking. It says,

WOW HOLD THE HOT TROLLEY

Turns out the building is just hitting on the trolley.

It's like super mario galaxy games sparkling letters
The first game was: UR MR. GAY

The second was: YA I M R U or U R MILY depending on how you looked at it

 

[Model3 McQueen]

If you slow down the video of the blinking lights you can "read" the order of letters blinking. It says,

WOW HOLD THE HOT TROLLEY

Turns out the building is just hitting on the trolley.

It's like super mario galaxy games sparkling letters
The first game was: UR MR. GAY

The second was: YA I M R U or U R MILY depending on how you looked at it

oh man that's hilarious

Now i'm wondering if the imagineers put in a message via morse code with the flashing patterns on ToT. Or maybe I don't want to know.