Rumor Tower of Terror to gain new theme?

[Tom Morrow]

Absoutely.
Most of the story elements that make the ride memorable (the half-disappearing building, the lightning, the ghosts, the golden age of Hollywood backdrop, etc.) are unique to the ride and owe nothing to the television show.

I could totally see their removing the Twighlight Zone elements in a way that preserves, or even strengthens the rest of the attention. Replace the current TV preshow in the library with a newsreel on a small projector about the lightning incident, maybe have it end with a simulated film burn-through and a small smoke effect. Replace the Twilight Zone theme with more ghostly, re-echoing 1930s music, maybe Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again"? A generic starfield could work for the current Fifth Dimension, or maybe something a little different using mapped projection showing the bricks of the building coming apart right in front of the guests' eyes.

With a bit of care, a non-IP version of the ride could be superior to the original.

Exactly. I'm not a huge fan of projection-mapping, but the Fifth Dimension scene is ripe for being gutted and redesigned for a far more immersive scene enhanced by projection-mapping effects.

What do we lose by removing The Twilight Zone IP but retaining the story?
- The pre-show would have to be redone
- The narration and musical cues would have to be redone
- The corridor scene could remain the same but the floating window animation would have to be changed.
- The entire fifth dimension scene would have to be redone. IMO this is a huge plus because it could be an enhancement to the story and not just "hey, remember those floating items from the intro?"

Other than that, the only things left to remove are the handful of easter eggs from the show.

 

[smile]

Yes, you're so much more enlightened than those plebs that enjoy a ride that your fanboyism tells you to hate.

I know many die-hard Tower of Terror fans that were sure they would hate it until they actually rode it and ended up loving it.

yes, the ride is entertaining, and, dare i say, fun...
it succeeds in allowing one to turn off their brain and enjoy it - could have been far worse.

doesn't change the truth and what i wrote about it

 

[msg7]

Exactly. I'm not a huge fan of projection-mapping, but the Fifth Dimension scene is ripe for being gutted and redesigned for a far more immersive scene enhanced by projection-mapping effects.

What do we lose by removing The Twilight Zone IP but retaining the story?
- The pre-show would have to be redone
- The narration and musical cues would have to be redone
- The corridor scene could remain the same but the floating window animation would have to be changed.
- The entire fifth dimension scene would have to be redone. IMO this is a huge plus because it could be an enhancement to the story and not just "hey, remember those floating items from the intro?"

Other than that, the only things left to remove are the handful of easter eggs from the show.

I'm intrigued by your idea of using projection mapping for effects in the 5th dimension.

Does anyone have any ideas on effects they can create with projection mapping in the 5th dimension?

 

[Tom Morrow]

apologies, mr rohde

yes, the ride is entertaining, and, dare i say, fun...
it succeeds in allowing one to turn off their brain and enjoy it - could have been far worse.

vs. Tower of Terror, which requires one to have a high intellect to enjoy apparently?

 

[Tom Morrow]

I'm intrigued by your idea of using projection mapping for effects in the 5th dimension.

Does anyone have any ideas on effects they can create with projection mapping in the 5th dimension?

Like Bairstow suggested, have the room disappear and/or re-appear as you travel through it. Or alternate between appearing abandoned and dilapidated to "alive" in it's prime, further playing up the rifts in time.

 

[marni1971]

I'm intrigued by your idea of using projection mapping for effects in the 5th dimension.

Does anyone have any ideas on effects they can create with projection mapping in the 5th dimension?

More realistically change the current cross fade from current day to the 5th dimension?

 

[Haymarket2008]

Removing the Twilight Zone references doesn't mean they have to alter the story completely. It pretty much works just fine on it's own.

Also, you're entitled to your opinion, but Mission: Breakout is one of the best received rides in recent times.

I'd absolutely prefer them to either keep TZ or just remove the references (if they have to) and keep it as is. But what I meant, in response to the previous post, was that if I had to make a decision between Guardians and something new I would go with something new.
As for the reception of Mission: Breakout, I think people will feel differently in a few years once the "shine" wears off.

 

[Bairstow]

I'd absolutely prefer them to either keep TZ or just remove the references (if they have to) and keep it as is. But what I meant, in response to the previous post, was that if I had to make a decision between Guardians and something new I would go with something new.
As for the reception of Mission: Breakout, I think people will feel differently in a few years once the "shine" wears off.

Maybe, but so far Disney has done a commendable job at keeping Guardians Tower fresh already. There was a seasonal Halloween alternative show ready to go, and they've made good on their promise to periodically swap out the animated props in the queue.

 

[Tom Morrow]

As for the reception of Mission: Breakout, I think people will feel differently in a few years once the "shine" wears off.

I don't think they will though. The fact that so many people were prepared to hate it and ended up loving it says a lot. I admit I am fully expecting to hate Fast & Furious: Supercharged at USF, so it's gonna have to be really good to sway my opinion.

 

[Haymarket2008]

Maybe, but so far Disney has done a commendable job at keeping Guardians Tower fresh already. There was a seasonal Halloween alternative show ready to go, and they've made good on their promise to periodically swap out the animated props in the queue.

I'll definitely hand that one to Disney. If only they put that money into things that need it.

 

[No Name]

A theme park is more than the sum of its parts. For a company all about synergy, they seem blind to that big one.

 

[smile]

vs. Tower of Terror, which requires one to have a high intellect to enjoy apparently?

no, and bubble-gum pop serves a purpose as well...
i fear for it's longevity - an extension of how i feel about said ip, tbh.

slapdash overlay mandates becoming the norm becuz peeps luv em! can be dangerous for the ol' integrity and can negatively impact brand and diminish longterm success- ask any major label musical artist of merit

also consider that joe and his team were writing to audience -
- treating bubble-gum pop subject matter (ie. no brain required) with a bubble-gum pop attraction... not too far removed from his strained explanations of chester/hester

that having been said, i don't blame the designers (even/especially joe); execution is admirable (considering), and which is why i've always referred to m:b as lemonade from lemons.

and i may not have flowered my initial post to your liking, but that doesn't invalidate my perspective...
m:b is low brain power sugar fluff whose relevance is already ticking away faster because it's saying nothing/doing nothing - in park with far too much of that as it is.

heaping praise because it's currently popular is to look at it the same way shortsighted quarter-to-quarter bean counters do.

 

[msg7]

Does anyone know if the first shaft is equipped to drop the AGV also? If Disney did ever re-design the ride I think this would be a good idea to have a smaller drop sequence in the beginning and the finale at the end.

 

[Tom Morrow]

no, and bubble-gum pop serves a purpose as well...
i fear for it's longevity - an extension of how i feel about said ip, tbh.

slapdash overlay mandates becoming the norm becuz peeps luv em! can be dangerous for the ol' integrity and can negatively impact brand and diminish longterm success- ask any major label musical artist of merit

also consider that joe and his team were writing to audience -
- treating bubble-gum pop subject matter (ie. no brain required) with a bubble-gum pop attraction... not too far removed from his strained explanations of chester/hester

that having been said, i don't blame the designers (even/especially joe); execution is admirable (considering), and which is why i've always referred to m:b as lemonade from lemons.

and i may not have flowered my initial post to your liking, but that doesn't invalidate my perspective...
m:b is low brain power sugar fluff whose relevance is already ticking away faster because it's saying nothing/doing nothing - in park with far too much of that as it is.

heaping praise because it's currently popular is to look at it the same way shortsighted quarter-to-quarter bean counters do.

There were people who complained about the original Tower of Terror, saying it's just a big and flashy thrill with no substance and they would have rather had a long, immersive dark ride.

Enjoying Tower of Terror does not require any more "brains" than enjoying M:B. You are not a superior intellect compared to the unwashed mashes for preferring Tower of Terror to M:B.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Does anyone know if the first shaft is equipped to drop the AGV also? If Disney did ever re-design the ride I think this would be a good idea to have a smaller drop sequence in the beginning and the finale at the end.

Having seen the motors in person, no, I don't believe so, because the load shaft motors are less than half the size of the drop motors.

 

[smile]

You are not a superior intellect compared to the unwashed mashes for preferring Tower of Terror to M:B.

what are you projecting that you need to keep going back to that?

 

[Tom Morrow]

what are you projecting that you need to keep going back to that?

Your whole argument is "M:B is a dumb attraction for dumb people to enjoy. Smart people can enjoy it if they turn off their brains."

 

[msg7]

Having seen the motors in person, no, I don't believe so, because the load shaft motors are less than half the size of the drop motors.

The drop shaft motors may be larger because more cable needs to be wrapped around them since the shafts are taller.

 

[marni1971]

Does anyone know if the first shaft is equipped to drop the AGV also? If Disney did ever re-design the ride I think this would be a good idea to have a smaller drop sequence in the beginning and the finale at the end.

They are not.

 

[smile]

Your whole argument is "M:B is a dumb attraction for dumb people to enjoy. Smart people can enjoy it if they turn off their brains."

attempted, rather poorly, apparently, to clarify and broaden that scope.

nothing inherently wrong with occasional bubble-gum for anybody, as i feel was intention - until it becomes standard practice, which should worry us all..
- who cares, just throw some flash at 'em veers scarily into six flags territory, a representation of style over substance answering only one true story question: how do we incorporate this ip into this tower?

m:b is a gross example of ip (whichever one, doesn't matter, totally interchangeable) mandate shoehorning if there ever was one, and an approach not worth encouraging.

personally, i'm also quite puzzled how someone who obviously appreciates practical effects and the intricacies of story/background as you seem to be, can be content with a mix tape, incoherent cgi, and a backstory so irrelevant -
... or is it best not to think of such things and just enjoy the show?