MickeyD

This sounds more palatable, thanks @ShaneW and welcome to Parkz 😃

Fair enough @djrappa I was probably a bit out of line suggesting cost cutting was at play. Like any business, it has always got to be a factor and MW is no exception. Naturally the best indication is physical evidence of improvements etc once the Attraction has returned to service? Village have already stated that they need to make some savings outside of the already allocated Capex in light of areas of the Company that are underperforming. I would hazard a guess that closing a ride and performing maintenance versus operating it is a big part of any Park's budget strategies. The issue can be further complicated by a continueing need to reinvest in older attractions (like Arkham having just one train) At the end of the day, it is the Customer experience that is the biggest issue here. Fewer attractions operating means less time spent inside, fewer dollars turned over and more dissatisfied Customers that will also tell their friends.

Thanks as always @Theme Park Girl, another great job from the Super-talented folks at the Costume Department !

^ 'Granny'? - can't say I have ever seen the old bat?😆

That's the thing.. for some reason it is just so left-field that it probably would work. An amazing Coaster that is immediately recognisable on a multitude of levels.. least of all it's title. I really hope it will be WW. Especially now that the film is set to be a smash hit. I won't lose sleep if not, just hope it isn't to be a missed opportunity

Yeah.. better stick with Suicide Squad instead then huh? Or maybe something like Bizarro, a theme that nobody has heard of? Meh.

Really @Santa07? I'm so glad to know that you do

It would be a shame if MW didn't take advantage of the WW hype that is about to descend. 97% critic positive on Rotten Tomatoes, I'm at least feeling releaved that DC have FINALLY achieved a Masterpiece to challenge Marvel.

Surfrider arrived at the same time as Super

I get the feeling this ride was thrown in as a 'freebie' to sweeten the deal when Superman was purchased. Someone here will know for sure I expect.

So aside of the Winter Holidays, SE will be going down from the 5th of June for about 3.5 months? It's worth noting that WWF, GL and SDSC all have down times scheduled over this period. You could be unlucky enough to time a visit with 3 major attractions down😑 This seems like obvious cost cutting and does nothing for the Park's image and the Guest experience. I fail to undersrand how that is something of increasing lesser importance to a company like VTP. Not off to a good start Mr Kirby😑

The sheer magnitude of this ride is what sells it to the GP - even those who will never ride and happily watch others are bound to get a kick out of it. As much as I love having a great 'Show' and Theme, I am willing to accept this time around it will only extend about as far as snazzy looking trains and a hot pink track.

B R I L L I A N T ! ! ! ! Hey, let's face it.. . Ain't gunna happen😣 Mind you, the very O U T R A G E O U S N E S S of a Priscilla themed Hypercoaster could possibly be the most utterly PERFECT one ever for a forward thinking Aussie Park like Movie World to consider.. never say never pencil it in I say!

well I guess it's all but official then? Lol, thanks @themagician. Pretty sure you weren't formally on the Wonder band wagon, why now the change of Heart? PS:- I know I am old but what is fldical?

^this! @djrappaI'm thinking about the old ServoDrive belt-driven speakers that existed in the former Memphis Belle (stage3) at Movie Magic? When I ride Superman, there is a scene with the Lockers shaking along with intense vibrations that remind me of the Speakers in the old Movie Magic show.. Knowing how much our Parks love to recycle, as well as nod the past, can I ask if they are in fact the same old ones?

EXIT... STAGE LEFT😆

Here you go!! http://www.industrytap.com/engineering-disneys-tower-of-terror-ride/5209

The original effect featured Sparker units. The first one of 5 supposedly caused by the 'bang' of the old Miner's shot gun, a power box would swing open revealling the sparks in front of the Projector on the right side, followed by another to the left, back again on the right, left and finally one in the Lift2 turntable room which also had atmospheric smoke (fog juice), an expanding barrel effect and an air cannon that blasted smoke from behind riders as the doors opened : "What y'all still doing here? God damn it! Look what you made me do! She's gunna Blow! Get out! Out now I tell ya!! GO ON, GET! GET!" As exciting as all this sounded, the effect was actually pretty meh and seldom worked in it's entirety. By the time the fire happened, 3 of the units had already been decommissioned. Since then we have seen such huge advancements with lighting and projectors. Effects that will last and last, aren't massively expensive, won't fault out every two seconds and won't be potentially hazardous. For these reasons I hope oneday soon we will get to see the WWF finale the ride has always needed, never had.

Thanks so much for sharing this @Coaster Hipster, the themeing and details of this place is off the charts - a bucket list MUST for Theme Park Enthusiasts😃

Where does the Golf ball go @Reanimated35?? lol

Is the re-branding of the VIPMagic pass logo a clue? I see orange with that Purple colour.. Could that be the colour of the Train? So grey supports, orchidy-pinky-purple track and bright orange trains? What theme could THAT be??

Still..

Mike Celestino from Inside The Magic has provided the most detailed review of the new ride yet (about 16 minutes long). Over 2 days of Media previews he had the opportunity to stay on the ride and experience all sequence variations, taking 17 rides in total... LUCKY HIM! Like myself, his first experience of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was decades earlier in Florida, years before DCA even existed. The Florida ToT remains in the top 5 experiences of all time for many Theme Park fans. Enter the California version of the ride and since then it has been compared by many as the brawny, shorter and all round inferior little brother to the Original. Despite this, Disney has long defended it as the benchmark model in terms of versatile design and capabilities, spawning versions for Paris and Tokyo since. In this case I think it's important to see what the right fit is for each version of the ride. For the Florida version, it will always be perfect as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and could only be enhanced with effects that compliment the eerie and unique nature of the ride. To me, the SoCal version has always fallen short in the eyes of it's big brother. It is quite a different experience and in it's TZ format, never had the chance to show off it's mad skills. As GOTG it can finally step out of it's big brother's shadow and come into it's own as something that is totally unique for West Coast Disney. It's not really an issue of losing appeal in 10 years time because they have already proven just how versatile this version of the ride's system can be. I agree with the ill felt sentiment that Disney is moving away from the 'generic' themes of the past (space mountain, haunted mansion etc) and that there is a genuine risk by going overboard with specific IPs of today (Guardians/Pandora). So long as they keep up on the quality of the experience, I can forgive Disney for a need to evolve using their current core brands (Marvel/Star Wars).

Dusty at Miceage has just reviewed the new ride and I found it well worth the read if anyone is interested. I pasted the summary below: Is this attraction perfect? No. But the attempts to dazzle with props, lighting and special effects goes a very long way in hiding the flaws. And the ride itself is high energy with fun music, beautiful digital animation, and a new set of drop sequences which will help keep guests engaged and wanting to return. The story is a simple one. The Guardians are trapped in cages by the Collector. Rocket has escaped and needs our help to free his friends. What could go wrong? Is this attraction better than Tower of Terror? That’s very hard for me to say, and I’m going to need to let some of the dazzle of this shiny new object wear off a bit before making a decision. But, whether it is better or not, it is fun. I REALLY enjoyed myself. They’ve managed to create an experience which is similar to the previous ride but with more energy, solid storytelling, and is relevant to a younger generation than the Twilight Zone. The ride opens to the public today and Disney is planning for epic lines (I heard they are prepared for 6 to 7 hour waits) OUCH!

There are some great videos on line showing off the ride's drive engines at the top of the tower. I am just really looking forward to experiencing the capabilities it has always had, until now not fully explored. It's a fascinating piece of engineering and having been on the original Twilight Zone one numerous times before I am really looking forward to the opportunity of falling in love with the ride all over again. Rocket looks incredible!