Well, this is news since I just got off of TOT during the Annual pass previews with RU42 at DCA.
And since my throat is sore from yelling/screaming...I'd say the ride get's a thumbs up.
That said, there are obvious differences:
1) you can tell they spent less on the ride. The cue, the interior of the hotel isn't as large. The outside area isn't so hot (although today it was 102).
2) they hydraulics mechanisms are smoother than WDW TOT I'll give you that. And the ride seemed long enough.
3) Boiler room is two stories
4) Seatbelts are neat. You don't push in, you just touch them like a button and they come undone. Spiffy!
O.k. here's one interesting factoid. The Boiler Room is two stories, but you arrive on the main floor. So, everything is at ground level. You have the option of going to the second floor (RU42 and I were allocated to the far left shaft - the middle one wasn't loading).
O.k so, the loading is done top, bottom, top bottom. In other words, while you are loading, the other floor is using the shaft for the vertical elements of the show. Once its done, you start and pull back into the shaft and use the vertical elements of the show (aside from that there are no horizontal elements to the show - you move in and out of the bay)
So its great, although it takes a while for you to get into your vehicle, once you have access to it...you have a nice long time to get settled in you don't feel rushed at all (incidentally, the door opens, however there is a hallway between the outerdoor in the boilerroom and the elevator itself, that's the exit hallway. Not really themed, which was a bummer, but oh well.
O.k. so you are in the car, and its all theatrically lit and pull back to see the door and wall become a starfield (1st of two)....then the rest is a blur...you have to ride it for yourself.
In my opinion WDW TOT is better in all respects except ride mechanics (its old?)...DCA is really superior in smootheness and quietness (like when you latch in to the vertical shaft for vertical movement).
Yes, there is a scene which WDW does not have...a mirror effect where you become the ghost (seriously, wave your arms, they turn blue and electrified)...but the lack of the horizontal movement midway the ride starts to grate on you when the disappearing hosts beckon you to follow them, because you can't...you won't move horizontally towards them (they should have changed this, like the ghosts should have walked towards you and you escape by jumping upwards.
The program I rode caught me by surprise, so that was good. But over everything, I would have to say (Besides the mechanics) WDW is better.
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/PhotoAlbum17.html
Some pics...and the movies:
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater18.html
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater19.html
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater20.html
And since my throat is sore from yelling/screaming...I'd say the ride get's a thumbs up.
That said, there are obvious differences:
1) you can tell they spent less on the ride. The cue, the interior of the hotel isn't as large. The outside area isn't so hot (although today it was 102).
2) they hydraulics mechanisms are smoother than WDW TOT I'll give you that. And the ride seemed long enough.
3) Boiler room is two stories
4) Seatbelts are neat. You don't push in, you just touch them like a button and they come undone. Spiffy!
O.k. here's one interesting factoid. The Boiler Room is two stories, but you arrive on the main floor. So, everything is at ground level. You have the option of going to the second floor (RU42 and I were allocated to the far left shaft - the middle one wasn't loading).
O.k so, the loading is done top, bottom, top bottom. In other words, while you are loading, the other floor is using the shaft for the vertical elements of the show. Once its done, you start and pull back into the shaft and use the vertical elements of the show (aside from that there are no horizontal elements to the show - you move in and out of the bay)
So its great, although it takes a while for you to get into your vehicle, once you have access to it...you have a nice long time to get settled in you don't feel rushed at all (incidentally, the door opens, however there is a hallway between the outerdoor in the boilerroom and the elevator itself, that's the exit hallway. Not really themed, which was a bummer, but oh well.
O.k. so you are in the car, and its all theatrically lit and pull back to see the door and wall become a starfield (1st of two)....then the rest is a blur...you have to ride it for yourself.
In my opinion WDW TOT is better in all respects except ride mechanics (its old?)...DCA is really superior in smootheness and quietness (like when you latch in to the vertical shaft for vertical movement).
Yes, there is a scene which WDW does not have...a mirror effect where you become the ghost (seriously, wave your arms, they turn blue and electrified)...but the lack of the horizontal movement midway the ride starts to grate on you when the disappearing hosts beckon you to follow them, because you can't...you won't move horizontally towards them (they should have changed this, like the ghosts should have walked towards you and you escape by jumping upwards.
The program I rode caught me by surprise, so that was good. But over everything, I would have to say (Besides the mechanics) WDW is better.
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/PhotoAlbum17.html
Some pics...and the movies:
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater18.html
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater19.html
http://homepage.mac.com/paulcmartens/iMovieTheater20.html
