The ORIGINAL Tower of Terror

jonnyc

jonnyc

Well-Known Member
Maybe your memory has some explanation. You unlock this memory with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone.





Sorry, couldn't resist!
 
hokielutz

hokielutz

Well-Known Member
TubaGeek said:
I know that, I've already said that I know it didn't actually happen. I'm just wondering if there's a reason I remember it happening that anyone could explain.
I certainly don't think it's true just because I remember it that way.
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Maybe the fear of riding it the first time, and seeing the expanse of the park.... gave you that feeling of being over the park....

So fear and first impressions gave you a false memory.

Maybe Figment was in your car at the time.....
 
Tom Morrow

Tom Morrow

Well-Known Member
DisneyYorkian74 said:
Does ToT actually drop the entire 13 stories as advertised?
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The height of the drop shaft really is a little over 130 feet, which is equal to 13 stories.
Jaytrod said:
I have been riding it from the opening. In the earlier days it would stop for a moment at the top with the elevator doors open, but it never moved forward out of the elevator shaft or anything like that. I think maybe it seems so different now because it doesn't have the pause anymore before the drop, and the elevator doesn't seem to go as high up as it used to. I remember when the doors opened the "cart" would be square with the elevator doors. It doesn't seem that way anymore. Now the cart just goes high enough to get a quick peak outside.
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Well, no. The picture is, and always has been taken at the very top of the drop shaft. How else would you get your picture taken? Every drop sequence pauses at the very top, and gives you a good view at least twice.
 
unkadug

unkadug

Follower of "Saget"The Cult
Victor said:
You mean the part where the elevator would move forward over the park, then fly over Epcot, followed by a quick spin by MK, before returning to the Studios for the final drop?

I wonder why they got rid of that. I really did like it.
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Oh, so you were there when David Copperfield used to levitate the elevators too? That was so much fun! :lol:
 
disneyliv85

disneyliv85

New Member
That ride is scary enough (but I love it!) so if it were to hover out of the building or something that would be very frightening! Perhaps a good effect but that seems rather dangerous. I do wish they would stop you at the top for a little big longer than they do now and then drop you all the way down (but still with the random sequence). Probably my favorite ride at WDW!
 
WDW_Emily

WDW_Emily

Well-Known Member
i went on back in the early 2000's and the ride did move forward when a window opened however not like out of the building just tilted a tad forward then dropped.
 
WDITrent

WDITrent

Active Member
DisneyYorkian74 said:
Does ToT actually drop the entire 13 stories as advertised?

I like the random drop sequences, but it sucks if you get stuck with a sequence where the first drop feels like you've only fallen 10 feet.

I'd much rather the first drop be the most intense and actually drop the entire 13 stories.
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Actually, it is an eleven story drop.

jonnyc said:
Maybe your memory has some explanation. You unlock this memory with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension - a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into the Twilight Zone.





Sorry, couldn't resist!
Click to expand...
Very true. Or, I have another theory. To the OP, could you have possibly been confused by this part of the preshow video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgAgIkaCNUk (watch at 1:02. Even though this uses the DCA tower, the sequence is the same)
 
Texas84

Texas84

Well-Known Member
My parents swear this happened to them on their first ride. I agree that it was most likely the imagination taking over as the door opens for you to see the entire park. I did not get that sensation on my first ride but it sure scared the beejeezus out of me!
 
Tom Morrow

Tom Morrow

Well-Known Member
CrazyEm said:
i went on back in the early 2000's and the ride did move forward when a window opened however not like out of the building just tilted a tad forward then dropped.
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Um... again, no, it has never done this.
WDITrent said:
Actually, it is an eleven story drop.
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No, the building is actually 11 floors, but the highest point you go is a little over 130 feet, which IS equal to 13 stories.
 
WDITrent

WDITrent

Active Member
Tom Morrow said:
Um... again, no, it has never done this.

No, the building is actually 11 floors, but the highest point you go is a little over 130 feet, which IS equal to 13 stories.
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Ah, that does make sense. Eleven floors, thirteen stories.

Also, CrazyEm could have been referring to the moment the elevator doors open and you enter the drop shaft.
 
WDITrent

WDITrent

Active Member
^Oh, I missed that part. To CrazyEm, perhaps you would take a look at this post I made in another thread? :)

Me said:
I always wondered why people thought the elevator hovered above the park, when
1) It's impossible because, as marni stated, the AGVs won't allow it
2) It's totally against the story
3) It was never advertised that way
4) It is impossible because part of the Hollywood Tower Hotel sign is in the way
5) It would take the position of the Main elevator (story-wise)
6) No one has any evidence of this
8) Disney never planned it that way
9) There is no mechanism
10) When you looked at the outside of the building, isn't it kind of obvious, since all the elevators stay in the elevator shaft?
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Tom

Tom

Beta Return
I rode very soon after it had opened. It was QUITE a thrill. I'm afraid of heights and falling and elevators and all that lame stuff - so it was intense for me.

I can see how someone would develop their own illusion that the elevator was "out, over the park" in those days. Never before in the world has anyone ridden in an elevator with doors that opened to the outside wall of a building.

So, your mind couldn't comprehend this new scenario, and together with fear your mind just created this giant illusion of falling out of the building and floating over the park.

It was definitely a unique experience for me back then. You shoot upward from floor 5 and all of a sudden the doors open and you can see the entire park, then you freefall 130'. Nothing your brain can comprehend because it's never happened before in your life.

Of course, today, it's only a mild thrill to me. I'm not a fan of the current random drop sequences, because there's only 1 that gives you the full 130' experience anymore. It's just so depressing to fall 5 or 6 floors ever at one time. :cry:
 
EpcoTim

EpcoTim

Well-Known Member
Tom Morrow said:
A story is generally ten feet and doesn't necessarily refer to the floors in the building.
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Depends where your from and what your local code is.

Story defined as:

"The vertical distance from top to top of two successive tiers of beams or finished floor surfaces; and, for the topmost story, from the top of the floor finish to the top of the ceiling joists, or, where there is not a ceiling, to the top of the roof rafters. (Prince William County, Va.)"

"That portion of a building, other than a basement, included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling above the floor of such story. (Ford County, Kans.)"

"That portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level directly above a usable or unused under-floor space is more than six feet above grade as defined herein for more than 50 percent of the total perimeter or is more than 12 feet above grade as defined herein at any point, such as usable or unused under-floor space shall be considered as a story. (Mora, Minn.)"
 

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