The ORIGINAL Tower of Terror

[surfsupdon]

Remember after the 5th Dimension floor, before you dropped as soon as the doors opened up, you saw the back wall of an elevator shaft (it was illuminated in a purple light). Then your car dropped and rose to the top for its final drop.

 

[the-reason14]

Ok, I have a question about the original ToT. And I hope this doesn't add to the problem here lol. When it first open, what was the 5th dimension scene like? Did you still move forward, and did the Rod Serling sound a like guy still say, "You are about to discover what lies beyond the 5th dimension...bla bla..etc." I ask because now, you go in and you either drop or shoot up. Back then, knowing that it was only one drop, did you go into the drop shaft, hear him say what he says now, then slowly go up? And after going up, the doors opening to see the outside of the park then dropping and the ride being over? Thats what I would think it would be like, but I never rode it in its first incarnation so I wouldn't know.

I also remember people here saying they would make it feel like either the cables snapped and you dropped, or that lightning struck the hotel again and then you drop.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Since we're debunking ToT myths, I have one I've always wondered. The Unofficial Guide talks about a letter they received from a guest about the random drop sequences, detailing a time when they were on the ride that they dropped a couple of times, then went down and the doors opened as if the ride was over. Suddenly, the doors swung shut and they went back up again. You can read about it on page 658 of the 2009 edition.

Did this ever actually happen, or is the family from Toronto remembering something that never took place?

 

[Rob562]

Since we're debunking ToT myths, I have one I've always wondered. The Unofficial Guide talks about a letter they received from a guest about the random drop sequences, detailing a time when they were on the ride that they dropped a couple of times, then went down and the doors opened as if the ride was over. Suddenly, the doors swung shut and they went back up again. You can read about it on page 658 of the 2009 edition.

Did this ever actually happen, or is the family from Toronto remembering something that never took place?

Not doors (especially as the doors at the unload level are *behind* you...), but they're probably thinking of the drop sequence with the "fake" ending.

It's the one where people who've been on the attraction before might get faked out a bit, because a video does start to play on the screen at the bottom of the shaft. But it's not the usual ending video. It's one with the ghosts. The car bounces and shudders a few times, and then it shoots up to the top for one last up-and-down. Then you finally see the normal ending video.

Not sure where they got the "doors" from, though.

-Rob

 

[Vernonpush]

Not doors (especially as the doors at the unload level are *behind* you...), but they're probably thinking of the drop sequence with the "fake" ending.

It's the one where people who've been on the attraction before might get faked out a bit, because a video does start to play on the screen at the bottom of the shaft. But it's not the usual ending video. It's one with the ghosts. The car bounces and shudders a few times, and then it shoots up to the top for one last up-and-down. Then you finally see the normal ending video.

Not sure where they got the "doors" from, though.

-Rob

I've had that one a couple of times. It's great!

 

[disneyliv85]

^^^^ I've never had that happen! Didn't even know it existed! Now I must ride it over and over until I see it lol

 

[Slipknot]

Since we're debunking ToT myths, I have one I've always wondered. The Unofficial Guide talks about a letter they received from a guest about the random drop sequences, detailing a time when they were on the ride that they dropped a couple of times, then went down and the doors opened as if the ride was over. Suddenly, the doors swung shut and they went back up again. You can read about it on page 658 of the 2009 edition.

Did this ever actually happen, or is the family from Toronto remembering something that never took place?

5th Dimension is the same as when it opened. When you entered the drop shaft, you dropped from 5th dimension floor and then shot up to the top with a fake-out drop then the full drop.

 

[Disneyfan2000]

When did they switch from lap bar to seat belts? i was watching the Disney Imagineer's Travel channel episode and when they did the tower part. the riders had a lap bar. When was the switch?:shrug:

 

[themerebear6453]

is there anyone that knows of all the drop sequences? actually I'll just google it but it would be interesting to add to this thread. Anyways. I never went on the original ride because when it first opened I was a huge sissy. I wouldn't go in the haunted mansion let alone tower of terror. It was actually all the fault of Alien Encounter. I read about it on the way over in a guide book and since I have a huge weird alien fear I got all paranoid and wouldn't go on anything. Yep. My parents sure didn't enjoy my company much that year. Which is really weird because now I'm the biggest thrill junky I know.

 

[Tom Morrow]

is there anyone that knows of all the drop sequences?

I posted this in another thread, but here it is again:

If you ride it enough, you'll be able to identify the sequence by the first two moves:

Profile 1: the sequence from "Fear Every Drop" - down first, followed by up with no pause

Profile 2: up first, then down, includes image of the five ghosts on screen at bottom

Profile 3: down first, then down again. includes a shattering window on screen at bottom

Profile 4: up first, then up again (most bellhops consider this one the best)

And there you have it. The sequence you get is chosen randomly by a computer.

 

[marni1971]

Something like this:

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showpost.php?p=3407655&postcount=51

 

[jonnyc]

I've had that one a couple of times. It's great!

The fake-out is my of my faves.

 

[PBarton]

So how did the change from a single drop to the random multiple drop affect the hourly capacity?

Surely each ride must take much longer to complete thus reducing overall capacity?

 

[marni1971]

So how did the change from a single drop to the random multiple drop affect the hourly capacity?

Surely each ride must take much longer to complete thus reducing overall capacity?

Drop shaft time was extended, but across all 4 profiles, so THO may have dropped a little (or not if it was taken up elsewhere) but each profile takes the same ammount of time.

 

[Tom Morrow]

There are some slight errors in that chart, but overall its still very impressive. Who made it?

 

[ttalovebug]

When did they switch from lap bar to seat belts? i was watching the Disney Imagineer's Travel channel episode and when they did the tower part. the riders had a lap bar. When was the switch?:shrug:

Yes, does anyone know this? I feel like there were lap bars the first time I went on.

 

[Tom]

Yes, does anyone know this? I feel like there were lap bars the first time I went on.

I'm going to guess that Tom Morrow knows the real answer......

I do indeed remember the initial days with lap bars. The back row (6), center seat was directly in line with the aisle. It was the only seat with a seatbelt in those days.

I had the fortune (or misfortune) of getting that seat on my first ride on ToT ever. Looking around and seeing everyone else with nice cozy lap bars to hold on to made me really nervous about having a tiny little belt across my lap. It was nerve racking to say the least!

 

[daliseurat]

Here's the deal. When you get to the 5th dimension room, you DO move forward for a bit until you enter the drop shaft. Once the vehicle is secured in place, you used to rocket up and then drop. Now you rocket up and down randomly. The OP probably confused the forward movement in the 5th dimension with actually going out the doors. I remember rocketing up, having the doors open for a view and THEN dropping. But it all happened within the shaft.

 

[Vernonpush]

When did they switch from lap bar to seat belts? i was watching the Disney Imagineer's Travel channel episode and when they did the tower part. the riders had a lap bar. When was the switch?:shrug:

Yes, does anyone know this? I feel like there were lap bars the first time I went on.

I'm going to guess that Tom Morrow knows the real answer......

I do indeed remember the initial days with lap bars. The back row (6), center seat was directly in line with the aisle. It was the only seat with a seatbelt in those days.

I had the fortune (or misfortune) of getting that seat on my first ride on ToT ever. Looking around and seeing everyone else with nice cozy lap bars to hold on to made me really nervous about having a tiny little belt across my lap. It was nerve racking to say the least!

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=13154&highlight=tower+terror+lap+bars

It looks like lap bars were being removed in 2002.

 

[disneyliv85]

I could've swore in 2003 there were lapbars because that was the first time I rode it and when I rode it again in 2004 it was just the seat belts and I was so shocked. Perhaps I am mistaken