I remember the lap bars! I was sat between my parents, and remember the fear washing over me as the bar got to their laps, and stopped a good 3-4 inches ABOVE mine. I was gripping it for dear life!
@@ThemeParkRewind Here's what I noticed: 1. The drop sequences are not completely randomized; There are 4 drop sequences that the system will randomly choose from. 2. This isn't a mistake, but I'd like to add on that when the Tower had lap bars, there was an extra seat(22 seats total vs 21 seats now) on the back row that did have a seat belt compared to the rest of the seats. 3. The Paris version originally was just like the California version up until late 2019 with it's new update. This new version isn't randomized, there is a different storyline for each of the three drop shafts. 4. There are no speakers around the outside that play recorded screams. However, there is a speaker at the top of the drop shaft that one of the four drop sequences does have a few screams play out of, but that could only be heard up until 2020, as now the speaker is too quiet for you to hear it outside.
I rode Tower of Terror in August 1994, a few weeks after it opened. Back then the seats were one long bench with the lap bar around 6” above your legs. The benches were made of perforated metal. On the way down air rushed thru the perforations adding to the experience.
I remember the first time I rode this ride, around the 25th anniversary, and I was a kid. I got pulled from my seat and was holding onto the lap bar for dear life.
Fun fact: when imagineers approached Otis about a drop ride concept, they declined at first, saying “NO! We have spent our entire lives trying to make sure elevators NEVER drop like that!!!” 😎 Thankfully, they eventually agreed to help when they realized that Disney was all about safety first!
"On a stormy Halloween night in the late 1930's, Five unlucky souls stepped onboard an elevator and into a nightmare. That door is opening once again...only this time it''s opening for YOU!"
I can understand why they changed it. The way the ride is profiled and designed it is very safe so long as passengers are seated upright. The original lap bar wasn't intended to restrain you at all - they designed and profiled it so you'd experience airtime safely. The high lap bar was more for emotional support and to prevent people from standing up. But the moment someone stands up or climbs out of their seat, they're likely going to be thrown to the ground by the motion of the ride and get banged up. There's very low chance an unrestrained person would actually be thrown out of the elevator cage. I rode Tower with the lap bars and it was great - I was TERRIFIED the one time I got the jump-seat in the back middle which had no lap bar and just the seat belt. I didn't figure out until right before the 5th Dimension that there are grab bars to either side to hang onto!
Very cool! Did it feel more secure? I remember just the lap bar in 1999, so when we went back recently, I wanted to make sure my son would be safe and found out they had seatbelts for everyone! yay
Me too and a large man sat beside small me. The bar didn’t come anywhere near holding me in. I hung on with my hands when the car dropped because I was coming up from under the bar. I never went back.
I remember the lap bars! I was sat between my parents, and remember the fear washing over me as the bar got to their laps, and stopped a good 3-4 inches ABOVE mine. I was gripping it for dear life!
Yes! I remember the same thing. Terrified because it was nowhere close to my legs!
As someone who is a big nerd about Tower and knows a lot of technical info on the ride, I was disappointed to hear a lot of misconceptions in here.
Thanks for the feedback. Feel free to message me with what you're thinking.
@@ThemeParkRewind Here's what I noticed:
1. The drop sequences are not completely randomized; There are 4 drop sequences that the system will randomly choose from.
2. This isn't a mistake, but I'd like to add on that when the Tower had lap bars, there was an extra seat(22 seats total vs 21 seats now) on the back row that did have a seat belt compared to the rest of the seats.
3. The Paris version originally was just like the California version up until late 2019 with it's new update. This new version isn't randomized, there is a different storyline for each of the three drop shafts.
4. There are no speakers around the outside that play recorded screams. However, there is a speaker at the top of the drop shaft that one of the four drop sequences does have a few screams play out of, but that could only be heard up until 2020, as now the speaker is too quiet for you to hear it outside.
I rode Tower of Terror in August 1994, a few weeks after it opened. Back then the seats were one long bench with the lap bar around 6” above your legs. The benches were made of perforated metal. On the way down air rushed thru the perforations adding to the experience.
I rode the Tower in 2003 when it was dubbed "Tower Of Terror 4"
I remember the first time I rode this ride, around the 25th anniversary, and I was a kid. I got pulled from my seat and was holding onto the lap bar for dear life.
People think I’m crazy when I talk about the old lap bars! You got some great airtime, I do miss it.
Vince Price Theme rides sounds cool.
Definitely one of the best rides at Disney!
Fun fact: when imagineers approached Otis about a drop ride concept, they declined at first, saying “NO! We have spent our entire lives trying to make sure elevators NEVER drop like that!!!” 😎 Thankfully, they eventually agreed to help when they realized that Disney was all about safety first!
"On a stormy Halloween night in the late 1930's, Five unlucky souls stepped onboard an elevator and into a nightmare. That door is opening once again...only this time it''s opening for YOU!"
I can understand why they changed it. The way the ride is profiled and designed it is very safe so long as passengers are seated upright. The original lap bar wasn't intended to restrain you at all - they designed and profiled it so you'd experience airtime safely. The high lap bar was more for emotional support and to prevent people from standing up. But the moment someone stands up or climbs out of their seat, they're likely going to be thrown to the ground by the motion of the ride and get banged up. There's very low chance an unrestrained person would actually be thrown out of the elevator cage.
I rode Tower with the lap bars and it was great - I was TERRIFIED the one time I got the jump-seat in the back middle which had no lap bar and just the seat belt. I didn't figure out until right before the 5th Dimension that there are grab bars to either side to hang onto!
I was there the day they changed! Rode it in the morning with the lap bars, and later that day the seatbelts were installed.
Very cool! Did it feel more secure?
I remember just the lap bar in 1999, so when we went back recently, I wanted to make sure my son would be safe and found out they had seatbelts for everyone! yay
it was a big safty bar orginally I went on it then
Me too and a large man sat beside small me. The bar didn’t come anywhere near holding me in. I hung on with my hands when the car dropped because I was coming up from under the bar. I never went back.
Well, I've never been on the original Tower Of Terror, I find Guardians Of The Galaxy : Mission Breakout more appealing.