Tower of Terror better at DCA... uggghh!?

[tomm4004]

it's not fair to compare a park over a decade old to one that just past the terrible twos.

I can only speak in general terms since I haven't visited DCA, but I think that if they're going to charge full park prices then you should get a full park. They cut Beastly out of AK but still saw fit to charge the whole enchilada at the gate (I think that's a mixed metaphor!) I have been to Walt Disney Studios Paris and that is a bad show of giant proportions. At least they let us into DLP at 5pm!

As for MGM, I'm not sure it is a better park now. Yes, TZTOT is a fantastic attraction and RnRC is very good but look at what the park has lost - Monster Sound Show and Superstar TV, both of which I enjoyed. Animation tour decimated, and Backstage tour stripped. Beauty and the Beast has run on far too long. Hunchback theatre gone. I'm not sure about the enduring appeal of some of the other attractions. And there's still nothing to see at MGM. The New York streets? That's good for two minutes of diversion. Not like the other parks which have walking-around appeal. Even the entrance hub and main street are small and overly crowded.

The intrigue of having been a working studio, that you might actually see some filming, has been lost. The park only has a handful of attractions. The guide lists 16 but this includes Walt's exhibit, and the Academy. That's not much for a 15-year-old park -or a new one for that matter. After riding the four or five major attractions, we find ourselves heading to another park. Of all the parks in WDW, MGM needs the most help. It's lost its heart.

 

[imagineer boy]

Originally posted by PeterAlt
If you read this thread....

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18410&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

...they're saying that DCA's version will be better!

I, for one can not accept this... I mean they (DL) keep getting better versions of our rides (with Splash Mountain the exception). Who do they (the Disney Co.) think we (WDW) are, second class?

If this is true that DCA's Tower will have better effects than ours, will they AT LEAST update ours again and add them?????

IMO, Disneyland right now deserves the best because of all of its sufferings under the Pressler/Harriss years. Besides, what's wrong with DL getting the best? Its a Disney park too you know.

 

[andre85]

Originally posted by tomm4004
I can only speak in general terms since I haven't visited DCA, but I think that if they're going to charge full park prices then you should get a full park.

I visited DCA a mere year after it opened and definitely felt I got my money’s worth. There’s a lot do to there. Trust me when I say it's no Disney Studios in paris.

 

[paulcmartens]

drove past...

Drove past TOT at night for first time (Disneyland)...

Edward Grimly voice:
I must say, that is a very sexy building.
________________________________

Truth be told, I got very excited...when I visited WDW and saw TOT for the first time at night back last January; I was very impressed with the color choice...now seeing the TOT disneyland, well folks, it looked down right exciting. Do any of your letters buzz in and out? Like its about to go out?

can't wait.

 

[johnvree]

Originally posted by JackSkellington
DCA has been trying so hard ever since it opened to be the best park in CA. At the opening stretch tickets were 50 bucks. I mean come on now, that is a bit much for three rides.

Yeah, especially when they are Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids.

 

[johnvree]

Originally posted by tomm4004
Tokyo Disney Sea had a budget of over $2 billion - and it shows! Walt Disney Studios Paris had a budget of about $300 million - and it shows! Tokyo's Pooh ride had a budget of $100 million - and it shows!

Scary that they built the entire Paris park on a budget of 3 Tokyo Pooh rides.
Is that possible?

 

[Lores]

No problem! Let DL to have a better Tower of Terror. I hope one day MGM will have a better Indiana Jones than the one in California. The show is great, but is not funny after seeing it two or three times. The californian Indiana ride has a lot more life. Or, why not having both?

"Countdown To Extintion" (I use what I think was a lot better name) is supposed to be designed like Indiana, but it's not as much fun.

Someone wrote that MGM needs help, 'cause its becoming a half a day park. Maybe a Indiana Jones ride like the one in California but a lot more modern would help.

 

[grandmath]

Originally posted by johnvree
Scary that they built the entire Paris park on a budget of 3 Tokyo Pooh rides.
Is that possible?

In fact WDS in paris had a budget of 600 million EUR, ie 720 million $.

DCA has been trying so hard ever since it opened to be the best park in CA. At the opening stretch tickets were 50 bucks. I mean come on now, that is a bit much for three rides.

Yeah, especially when they are Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids.

I think he was thinking California Screamin, Grizzly River Run and Soarin over California.

 

[marni1971]

$720 million for WDS Paris? Where did the money go? Eisners bank account?

Wasn`t it nearer $600m? Even then, it looks like a park opened with half that amount.

 

[Lennyg512]

It is just a ride. No need to complain.

 

[paulcmartens]

If TOT DCA is has been made on the cheap, then one can expect it not to be as great as a ride. I don't even know why there is an argument with that. A cheap a$$ effect doesn't compensate for a 5D experience, I don't care how good it is. Even if you throw that new effect, it doesn't compensate for the complexity and ingenuity (read: breaks down often) of the 5d scene. I mean crawling across the floor horizontally? Who thought that up! Brilliant!

I don't know why they couldn't have just copied the TOT WDW and made improvements (Marni, this made sense) with the problems in the 5D scene and improve on the connection technology (wifi or something).

Although I'm excited as all get out that we've got a new attraction, and I can't wait at all to ride it, I'm pretty much setting myself up for a less than WDW TOT experience.

Time will tell once TDLR has completed their TOT. Probably then all of us DL'ers and WDW'er will complain and want to head over there, that's my guess, and solely based on OLC's history of spending more money.

I don't know how people can think that spending less money on a E ticket is going to get you a better attraction (ahem Firefly 725).

Again, I'm going off an assumption about the budget that a Glendale Imagineer gave me two years ago.

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Originally posted by tomm4004
Tokyo Disney Sea had a budget of over $2 billion - and it shows! Walt Disney Studios Paris had a budget of about $300 million - and it shows! Tokyo's Pooh ride had a budget of $100 million - and it shows!

TDS cost a tiny bit more. Around 4 1/2 BILLION dollars. All from the OLC. WDSP cost around 500 million but doesn't really show because AK cost 800 million and look at how it shows! Disney is being pathetic and looses money while the OLC takes risks and brings in profits big time! I wish I lived near TDL!

WOW I just thought of something!!! Imagine DLP and TDS together in one resort! A dream come true!!! :king:

 

[paulcmartens]

is Paris really that good?

DisneyFan...is Paris really that good? I've heard rave reviews of TDS...but is Tokyo Disneyland not so hot as compared to Paris Disneyland?

 

[xfkirsten]

Originally posted by paulcmartens
If TOT DCA is has been made on the cheap, then one can expect it not to be as great as a ride. I don't even know why there is an argument with that. A cheap a$$ effect doesn't compensate for a 5D experience, I don't care how good it is. Even if you throw that new effect, it doesn't compensate for the complexity and ingenuity (read: breaks down often) of the 5d scene. I mean crawling across the floor horizontally? Who thought that up! Brilliant!

I don't know why they couldn't have just copied the TOT WDW and made improvements (Marni, this made sense) with the problems in the 5D scene and improve on the connection technology (wifi or something).

Although I'm excited as all get out that we've got a new attraction, and I can't wait at all to ride it, I'm pretty much setting myself up for a less than WDW TOT experience.

Time will tell once TDLR has completed their TOT. Probably then all of us DL'ers and WDW'er will complain and want to head over there, that's my guess, and solely based on OLC's history of spending more money.

I don't know how people can think that spending less money on a E ticket is going to get you a better attraction (ahem Firefly 725).

Again, I'm going off an assumption about the budget that a Glendale Imagineer gave me two years ago.

Personally, I'm glad they didn't just copy WDW's version! I don't know about y'all, but I'd rather have a different experince riding it at DCA rather than just another exact carbon copy.

As for going into it with a negative attitude...well, that's the kind of attitude that really disgusts me. To make any kind of judgement like that before going on it for yourself just seems silly to me.

-Kirsten

 

[paulcmartens]

you're up late...

Whoah negative? I didn't use the word 'disgust'...

I'm just not setting my hopes up, I'm not judging the thing...I'm just thinking it will be o.k. for what it is! Calm down!

I just was in San Diego this evening...top of the hyatt...I love that city.

 

[Bill]

I stayed there once. Just make sure you take a visit to the Hotel Del Cornado, the inspiration for the outside of the Grand Floridian.

 

[paulcmartens]

been there...well aware...

Been there a couple of times, thought about it, head over there with the top down...buuut...it was night, 62 degrees...not exactly a great idea...stayed at Hyatt to look around... since the trip was just spontaneous (was there for 'bout half an hour, 40 minutes) thought I'd reserve that hotel for another visit

(I think GF is nicer...I mean, planned better...there are rooms adjacent to the Del that are hideous and so out of place )...but the redo downstairs is quite nice...hit and miss over there.

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Re: is Paris really that good?

Originally posted by paulcmartens
DisneyFan...is Paris really that good? I've heard rave reviews of TDS...but is Tokyo Disneyland not so hot as compared to Paris Disneyland?

DLP is the most updated hi tech MK as of now. 12 years ago when it opened it was one of the most up-to-date technologicaly advanced parks. It is the biggest MK of them all, it's castle is based off the real Sleeping Beauty movie and Discoveryland is the concept WDI always wanted for Tommorrowland. Fantasyland is much better themed, and Adventureland has recieved a new face for it's theming. It's an arabic theme mixed with an exploration jungle! DLP is considered the most beautiful Kingdom! TDL a little dated. It's only advantage is its age. It has grown over a long peroid of time! So in my book DLP is much better than TDL. (Plus, DLP has the animatronic sword duel in POTC) :animwink:

 

[paulcmartens]

hmmm...maybe my wife an I have to make a trip to Paris! and then TDR with TOT opens. Yay! I can dream.

Plus, so that's where that fight was from...I saw a clip of it, but didn't know it was in existence at pirates, and not a test run of AA tech.

 

[tomm4004]

DisneyFan...is Paris really that good? I've heard rave reviews of TDS...but is Tokyo Disneyland not so hot as compared to Paris Disneyland?

DLP is a beautifully detailed park. Frontierland and Adventureland can be indulged in for hours without taking in an attraction. Just walk around.

The versions of the attractions they have are terrific (including Gerard Depardieu in Timekeeper!), but they are lacking Jungle Cruise and Splash Mountain, and have a completely lame Indy coaster - which now goes backwards for half the fun.

Unfortunately, they haven't added anything new lately and the entire quality of the experience (especially in food service) dropped a bit between my 1997 and 2002 visits. Still, if this park had JC, Splash and the DL Indy, and maybe TDL Pooh, it would blow everything else away. It even has arcades running on both sides of Main Street!