DisneySea_Fan

Yup. TDS's is pretty much the exact same ride system as DCA's and DSP's, just with a different "paint job." --Robb "But it's a really REALLY good paint job!" Alvey True, but its preshow and theming are far superior to the other versions. Its drop sequence is definitely the tamest, but I always felt that was due to the restraining seatbelts they have. But all that could be changed in the future, with reprogramming of the drop sequences to possibly a more intense and random version.

Great trip report, guys! I've been following the whole way, and what a treat it has been. Simply lovely pictures and commentary all the way round. I've been lucky enough to ride all 3 versions of Tower of Terror so far (looking forward to ride the one in Paris soon), and I agree with you on most accounts. DisneySea's is by far the most well themed and elaborate, while MGM (oops, I mean Hollywood Studios) has (arguably) the best ride portion (only because of the random drop profile for me though). Though I've never been a big fan of the 5th Dimension Room, which I felt was lackluster. I prefer the Mirror Effects to tell you the truth, as the 5th Dimension Room (while impressive for its horizontal movement) is reminiscent of rolling through a darkly lit basement/shopping center. But as far as overall experience (which I feel every Disney fan takes into account), I think DisneySea's is far and away the most immersive and breathtaking.

I love Journey to the Center of the Earth. I'm still drooling over it since my visit about 2 months ago. I was so impressed by it that it instantly got a spot as #1 on my list of best theme park attractions.

Trying to use actual backstage areas against MGM's version. Nice. You pretty much lost any credibility right there. I honestly thought it was, as I haven't been to Orlando in 10 years. Anyways, I agree that it could've been better themed but what can you do? I don't see a point in continuing this argument, as Tower of Terror is not even my favorite ride.

True. There are rides that are 100% themed everywhere though like Journey to the Center of the Earth. There's not one corner where detail has been spared. In fact, I would put it as Disney's most elaborate/themed attraction yet. Journey to the Center of the Earth truly is a Disney masterpiece. Sorry for going off topic. Journey to the Center of the Earth's post show area; just as detailed as the area in the queue and ride. Journey to the Center of the Earth spares no expense when it comes to theming! Journey to the Center of the Earth's post show area; just as detailed as the area in the queue and ride. Journey to the Center of the Earth spares no expense when it comes to theming!

Why does it matter anyways? It's a very short stretch of path that leads you to an excellently themed post show area. Post ride hallway Post ride hallway Post ride hallway Post ride hallway Post ride hallway

Ok, well I hope you're right because that's not what I see in this photo: http://www.toms-net.com/DeepDisney/img/060822tot/tot20060822totz.htm Granted, the ride isn't open yet, and that might not even be a picture of the "hallway." Whatever, I really don't care that much about a stupid hallway considering that TDS's version is going to kick so much ass over DCA's anyway simply by the fact that when you exit the the un-themed hallway, you'll be at TDS! --Robb Have you seen the video from www.jtcent.com? It shows you a pretty good idea of what the hallway looks like, though it might be a bit more colorful in real life. From what I hear, it's quite nice and fitting of the theme. Even in that picture, there are small details around you. I'll try to do some screenshots.

Oh I see. I was just trying to make a point about how MGM's still has unthemed areas visible to guests. If you have any pictures of that hallway, I would be happy to see them. Anyways, TDS's is just as themed as MGM's hallway. It's certainly not unthemed by any means and keeps you immersed in the hotel environment. By the way, their post show merchandise area looks really well themed. It's supposed to be a sauna/pool coverted into a shop, and has murals painted on the walls.

And even MGM's ToT has a unthemed hallway, except it's even worse than DCA's. This hallway is no match for TDS's themed corridor post ride

It's supposed to be themed to a "hotel employee" only area hence the bareness of it all. Without the flash of the camera, it would hardly be visible. Besides...even that hallway is more themed than DCA's. It has banners and signs decorated on the walls. The plain walls and doors are NOT visible when you walk down. People are getting way too worked up about this hallway. Upon entering the elevators, the lights are very dark. I couldn't even see it when I rode DCA's had I not used my flash. It does not take away from the ride at all. Really? Rode it just recently and it was as bright as can be. I can't tell you how many times people have tried to convince me that the DCA "Hallway" is themed to an "employee area" etc, and my response is always "Yeah, it looks like a boring old backstage employee area that was overlooked, and that descriptor is just the excuse they are using." Seriously, it looks like crap compared to when you walk off the Florida version of the ride and you still feel like you are in the basement area, not some un-themed hallway. Those photos of the TDS version look no different than DCA. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the "hallway" makes or breaks the actual ride, it's just one area though where you totally lose the depth of the theming, and that kind of sucks. --Robb The TDS version is not unthemed like DCA's. This one is no doubt themed to a backstage area. It's supposed to lead you from the renovated bathhouse to the service elavators, so think of it as a secret path. There are simple details to keep you immersed in the environment. Like I said before, there are banners and signs from the tour plastered on the walls and little details on each individual door. I saw one that said Wine Cellar and one that said Cold Storage. Nothing is unthemed in TDS's hallway, the details are simple enough to keep you entertained. A nice break from the phenomenally detailed interior of the hotel.

It's supposed to be themed to a "hotel employee" only area hence the bareness of it all. Without the flash of the camera, it would hardly be visible. Besides...even that hallway is more themed than DCA's. It has banners and signs decorated on the walls. The plain walls and doors are NOT visible when you walk down. People are getting way too worked up about this hallway. Upon entering the elevators, the lights are very dark. I couldn't even see it when I rode DCA's had I not used my flash. It does not take away from the ride at all.

Best restaurant- Magellan's at Tokyo DisneySea

I think the 5D hallway effect is highly overrated. With the older ride system you knew that you were loaded into the drop shaft, you just didn't know how far you were going to drop. The second advantage is that without self proplelled ride vehicles, there is less to go wrong. With the removal of the motors and computers to drive the cars a lot of weight was also taken off of the reducing the wear on the acutual elevator mechanisms I've been on both the WDW and DCA version of the Tower, and although I liked the 5th Dimension room at WDW, it really made no sense to the ride and it definitely mucked up the storyline. To me it felt like the the Twilight Zone was just thrown in there and thats all just for the sake of it being the Twilight Zone. To me the DCA version flows much much better and if you try to follow the storyline through the ride, the DCA version definitely works better (not perfectly, mind you, but better than WDW's). And I love the mirror scene at DCA! Another thing that irked me about the WDW version was the ghost scene where the window drops at the end of the long hallway instead of the ghosts inside their elevator that you see at DCA. I feel that scene in the DCA version is perfectly done, and the window at the end of the hallway at WDW just seems weird and as if the Imagineers were just trying to make more references to the Twilight Zone when all you really need to carry the Twilight Zone theme is the great narration (that is perfectly done by the Rod Serling sound-a-like) And the DCA version doesn't have that much of a lower loading capacity "California has two cabins per shaft. While one car is loading, another car is experiencing the ride. That's why the cabins have some limited horizontal movement; one car moves a few feet out of the shaft into the loading and unloading areas thereby allowing the other car to move vertically in the shaft. This also explains why, unlike Florida's single boarding floor, the California version loads on two levels."

Which Indy is better?

So you think Tower of Terror is the best Disney ride? I rode it a few years ago and thought it was great, but I liked Indy better. But then, I hear people say that Journey is better than Indy so what is the best Disney ride? Most people I've asked and actually been to all Disney parks say it is Journey but I find that hard to believe.