TOT: Disneyland Walt Disney World Comparison (SPOILERS)

[ToTBellHop]

I'll add my vote for a better voice recording in the MGM Tower of Terror. I also prefer our lines to theirs.

You are the passengers on a most uncommon elevator, about to take the strangest journey of your lives. Your destination: unknown. But, this much is clear: a reservation has been made in your name for an extended stay...

Wave goodbye to the world you know...for you have just entered the Twilight Zone.

What happened here to dim the lights of Hollywood's brightest showplace is about to unfold once again...

One stormy night long ago, five people stepped through the door of an elevator and into a nightmare. That door is opening once again, but this time, it's opening for you.

The next time you check into a deserted hotel on the dark side of Hollywood, make sure you know just what kind of vacancy you are filling...or you may find yourself a permanent resident of the Twilight Zone.

I just find our version much more eloquent. "You are the passengers on a most-uncommon elevator about to ascend into your very own episode of the Twilight Zone" just sounds cooler. And "you are about to discover what lies beyond the fifth dimension, beyond the deepest, darkest corner of the imagination...in the Tower of Terror" is just plain creepy. I will give you that the flow of DCA's ride is better, though--it is kewl how the elevator doors open before you even reach the show scenes--much more seamless. Finally, our view from the drop shafts beat their's, hands down. As much as I like seeing Disneyland and the mountains off in the distance, I prefer not looking at the backside of buildings, and the top of a noticeably unthemed Animation building. And I've always thought it was bad to get a clear view of another Theme Park from the one you are in...really detracts from the theming when you can see the Matterhorn from your vantage point in "Hollywood".

To DCA's benefit, the echo in the impersonator's voice during the "One stormy night long ago" dialogue is VERY creepy, their sfx do rock (even if the ride is very short), and their drop sequence rocks. I especially like the drop where the elevator doors don't open--gotta be a lot of fun at night. I like the music prior to the drops in the MGM Tower, better, though. Regardless, it is clear that DCA got a fantastic ride, far better than any of us expected, and I am pleased that it is not nearly a clone of our ride. It will be extremely popular, to be sure.

 

[paulcmartens]

I'm sorry, but where are you getting your info from? (not from a personal experience I gather because what you wrote out there I heard myself this morning on the actual attraction).

Wow...another armchair attraction rider. I'm amazed at how people feel free to spout opinions on an attraction without riding it, or even being near it.

Just because I saw a 45 minute video on Space Mountain Paris doesn't mean I go around saying how kewl the ride is! My gawd...ride it first so your opinion can be informed by reality, not a t.v./computer screen. :brick:

:brick:

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Originally posted by paulcmartens
I'm sorry, but where are you getting your info from? (not from a personal experience I gather because what you wrote out there I heard myself this morning on the actual attraction).

Wow...another armchair attraction rider. I'm amazed at how people feel free to spout opinions on an attraction without riding it, or even being near it.

Just because I saw a 45 minute video on Space Mountain Paris doesn't mean I go around saying how kewl the ride is! My gawd...ride it first so your opinion can be informed by reality, not a t.v./computer screen. :brick:

:brick:

I'm sorry, I said I would back down but I won't! Man, will you please BE QUIET! You're totally obsessed over nothing! Some of us think the narration sounds different! No one ever mentioned ride quality, fear factor or anything we can't judge! Some of us just think the voice is somewhat different. I think you need a time-out 'cause it seems you can't control your temper on this issue! You want my opinion of the ride itself? IMO it's AMAZING! The narration is just different from what I could hear so PLEASE control yourself! Oh, and BTW, I CAN say DLP's SM is amazing just from a video because it's MY opinion which I'm entitled to!

BTW, if I was to tell you I'm NOT a 15 year old teenager would you show a BIT more respect? I also doubt the fact you're 91 years old! People your age are much more mature! :brick:

 

[imagineer99]

What are the odds of them adding the mirror effect to WDW's?

That would be so awesome...

After the fifth dimension part it would be amazing to see lightening strike and then see yourself turn into a ghost before you ascend for the drop sequence.

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Originally posted by imagineer99
What are the odds of them adding the mirror effect to WDW's?

That would be so awesome...

After the fifth dimension part it would be amazing to see lightening strike and then see yourself turn into a ghost before you ascend for the drop sequence.

I thought of that too! That would be amazing! (Then again I can't really say since I've only seen a video):hammer: :brick:

I think Lee once said major changes are on there way to Tower! :slurp:

 

[paulcmartens]

DCA Fastpass: Superior/Inferior?

Also, what's up with the half wait time/gate to enter on the 29th? Anybody ever get this in another attraction? Might have been discussed on another thread...sorry.

 

[xfkirsten]

Weird... the only thing i can think of is that maybe the FastPass times stopped at 5 anyways? So it'd be like the end of the night on any other attraction, when they get down to the last few FPs and the windows are much shorter.

-Kirsten

 

[paulcmartens]

Huh...

Well, the park I think did close at 6...maybe it was 5.

Aren't they pretty? I like the color.

 

[markmansion]

Hi, first off I'm new here. Just found out about this place after spending some time on VF, am glad to see one out there dedicated to WDW.

Now on the subject of "Rod Sterling" in the preshow movie clip, I just thought you would all want to check this out, seeing as it is from WDWMagic, I don't know how anyone missed this.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/tower_robertrhine_interview.html

:animwink:

 

[Maryssa*]

wow a bunch of revived threads today!
although this brings up something i've been dying to find out about!

I've only been on the DCA tower ride once. So I didnt have enough time to check the library to see if they had a "To Serve Man" book on any of the shelves... Now the book in WDW's library seemed to have disappeared a while back, so I had been wondering if they maybe moved it to the DCA one?

Why did they take it out of WDW's library? That was my favorite touch in the whole ride!

 

[MouseGoddess]

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

I DEFINATELY agree that TOT at WDW is better. At DL I had to climb stairs to get to the loading area, and with my asthma, that started the whole thing off bad. Then, my seatbelt didn't get tightened enough and so I floated a good three inches off my seat with each drop, then got SLAMMED when the car would suddenly start back UP! My lower back hurt for weeks after. I prefer the padded bar at WDW.
All in all, I didn't like this TOT and if it had been the first one I'd ridden, I would never go on it again. But since I love the TOT at WDW, I'll wait till I go there to ride. I was SOOO disappointed..........

 

[darthjohnny]

I think the WDW ride version is better, but the outside building façade looks cooler in Disneyland.

 

[steve2wdw]

DL TOT misses the boat in the queue. WDW's long walk thru the overgrown gardens sets the stage perfectly. Felt that DL's TOT lobby was too clean and bright. WDW's is downright filthy. Gotta love it. DL's boiler room felt too "cartoony" and big while WDW's is almost claustrophobic, darker and creepier. Didn't like the exit hallway you have to walk through to get to your elevator car at DL. It ruined the experience leading up to the ride. As for the actual ride, WDW's lost it's padded bars to seatbelts. I thought this would ruin the air time, but I think it made it better, especially with nothing to really hold on to. DL has the extra mirror effect, but prefer WDW's horizontal movement. I'm always affraid the drop elevator won't be waiting for the travelling cabin, and we'll tip over and fall into the drop shaft. Think of that next time you ride the WDW version and it'll definately make the trip a little scarier. I'll take WDW's over DL's, but I'd be happy to have either one up here in Maine.