Leekak Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 I have been on Tower of terror many times and it is still a top ride. When I ride it now I look around trying to figure out how the whole thing works. I have a few questions about it's operation: How many cars per shaft? What takes you up the first stages? How it runs across the top floor (can see the rails etc) to the drop? I have heard its actually a push down rather then a drop? Any peeps got an insight? ADMIN EDIT: Fixed spelling and formatting issues. Continue to use excessive amounts of punctuation like you did in the title and the post, and your posting privileges will be taken away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Here are some pictures.. Ohhhh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leekak Posted April 8, 2005 Author Share Posted April 8, 2005 Great pictures Thank you. Would still like information on its operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Eber Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 How many cars per shaft? What takes you up the first stages? How it runs across the top floor (can see the rails etc) to the drop? I have heard its actually a push down rather then a drop? Any peeps got an insight? I've only been on the ride maybe half a dozen times, same as DCA's TOT. So my knowledge is limited, but I can answer a few questions. Last question first: you aren't pushed down, you are pulled down. The cables jerk you down so you get more than just a free fall. (Oh joy). Not quite sure what you mean by 'moving across the top floor' the top floors are only shaft space. You get pulled up to the top floor from what, the 5th floor of which is what the images above show you. Unlike DCA, there are two drop zones. But in the basement, there are 4 loading bays which (in the above shown sequence) converge into two different 5th dimension scenes. Both the loading bay and the drop shafts contain moving cages which the elevator slides in an out of. These elevators are prob. not battery operated but get their power from those 'tracks' you see in the picture? Just guessing. The cars communicate wirelessly to a computer which runs the operation. This has been problematic in the past. Don't know if the issue is resolved yet. Does this help? Killing the magic, Jose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leekak Posted April 8, 2005 Author Share Posted April 8, 2005 Yes thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socalMAN123 Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 I can answer of all of your questions about the DCA ToT, but not MGM's. How many cars per shaft?: There is two cars per shaft, one loading, the other dropping. What takes you up the first stages?: There is a track that runs along the side of the elevator that runs electricity through it to push the elevators up. How does it run across the top floor: This question only pertains to the Florida version. I have heard it is rather pushed down than dropped: Actually, it is pulled down by cables hooked to the bottom of the elevator. This cannot be true for the Florida version because the Florida moves around (kind of like Freefall @ SFMM) instead of just going up and down. Any peeps got an insight?: If you need anything known, I have a friend who was an electrician for the DCA version who will be willing to answer any of your questions. Hope I was of use to you! ---Brent 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenshinmac Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 I honestly doubt that they are pulled down period. It would be hard to control comparitively. But the ride does accelerate you faster than gravity would. I guess honestly it is really hard for me to even guess how they did it as the ToT rides are one of the most unique drop rides anywhere. No other drop ride accelerates you as far as I know. (Although I guess technically that doesn't make it a drop ride but more of a fall ride or something... But it really doesn't fit in the mould of a drop ride as it doesn't simply drop the ride carriage.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Eber Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 Please read the official Imagineering book by Disney and 'Designing Disney theme Parks' a more academic book by non- disney employees. The car is pulled down kids... Jose "it helps if you do your research" Eber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Eber Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 This cannot be true for the Florida version because the Florida moves around (kind of like Freefall @ SFMM) instead of just going up and down. its called a caaaaaaage... both parks have them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Eber Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 I honestly doubt that they are pulled down period. It would be hard to control comparitively. don't get me started here...do you have a mechanical engineering degree? Structural? ARRGH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maliboomer Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 Trying to put it in understandable language... Your car puts on a little harness when its time to drop to pull it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Eber Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 Trying to put it in understandable language...Your car puts on a little harness when its time to drop to pull it down. That's actually not a bad analogy...the car is able to freely slip in and out of said harness. The difference between DCA and MGM is that at MGM the car has a 'self propelled' ability, whereas at DCA its just pushed and pulled into that (single) harness. MGM would have two. Load area and drop shaft. DCA one harness only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leekak Posted April 9, 2005 Author Share Posted April 9, 2005 Think I started something here. Keep it up Guys the more information the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jose Eber Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 You can always go to Tower Of Terror.com Read the books I recommended. They have some very interesting 'official' info on the ride. Lot of crap/misguided info out there. I'm not sure I'm even %100, maybe 95% right in what I've said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 This was always one of my favorite pics of Tower of Terror: And this is a great article: http://eeyoreandhs.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/the-tech-of-the-tower-of-terror/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GwaziBSRider1 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 ^ That's an amazing picture, Robb. Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) This is one ride where I've always been curious about the schematic/logistics of the ride. Edited November 1, 2014 by larrygator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Thanks for sharing! Finally know how it works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 That is a great diagram. I've always wondered about the layout too. So how does bad tower differ? Is there only one set of shafts since it never goes into the 4th dimension? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDipper 80 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 From what I understand with the non-WDW towers, there's just the three shafts, but each one has two separate cars that operate independently in each shaft. When it's loaded, the car backs up into the shaft (like an Intamin 1st-gen tower) and then is taken through the ride sequence. After the drops, the car moves forward out of the shaft as the other car backs into it and begins the ride sequence again. I think the load areas for each shaft are stacked vertically on top of each other inside a two-story boiler room instead of next to each other, but I haven't been on any of the Bad Towers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glucky11801 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Thanks for all the information, guys. I have always wondered about the technology behind this great ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianparkfan Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Thanks so much for starting this thread. Never been on TOT, but the ride looks very interesting. In regards to the ride not having a true free fall, how would people who've been on the ride describe the airtime? Would it be similar to what you feel on the S&S turbo drops? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterer22 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I probably stared at that diagram for 20 minutes... it's incredible how this ride works. I've always wanted to know how my favorite Disney ride functions. Thanks for this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarlaKoaster Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 TOT is such a great dark ride. It's like theatre, where there is so much going on behind the scenes that you are totally unaware of, but it's all about 'the show'. That diagram is so fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canobie Coaster Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 From what I understand with the non-WDW towers, there's just the three shafts, but each one has two separate cars that operate independently in each shaft. When it's loaded, the car backs up into the shaft (like an Intamin 1st-gen tower) and then is taken through the ride sequence. After the drops, the car moves forward out of the shaft as the other car backs into it and begins the ride sequence again. I think the load areas for each shaft are stacked vertically on top of each other inside a two-story boiler room instead of next to each other, but I haven't been on any of the Bad Towers. I rode the DCA one this summer. The entire "ride" portion takes place in the same shaft. There are 3 shafts and the loading areas are stacked on top of each other. While one car is in the shaft, the other is being loaded. Compared to the WDW one, it is bad, but it is still better than 99% of drop towers out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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