Question about Tower of Terror

pokesomi · 10-03-2009, 02:48 PM

Ok, i went to DCA on Thursday and the first ride i went on was the Tower of Terror. It was amazing. But i have a small question. While getting onto the Ride Vehicle, I noticed what looked like a track so to speak on the floor. now knowing that the Hollywood studios version is designed to move independently of a track, i am curious about the DCA version and also where they do the maintenance. Can the ride vehicles be moved away from the loading platform to allow for maintenance to work on the vehicles in the load and unload areas or do they go beyond the main ride shaft to an area behind the shaft for repairs? I am having a hard time figuring this out.

PeoplemoverMatt · 10-04-2009, 08:13 AM

I believe when maintenance work is done on the elevator, the individual shaft simply gets shut down from operations, leaving 5 left to potentially be operational.

But just for the record, the elevators in the DHS Tower do move on a track. It's actually pretty easy to spot in the beginning before the lights dim towards the middle & end of the crawl through Rod's attic (aka 5th dimension room).

Disney_Guy · 10-04-2009, 01:12 PM

Well when the ride first starts up, the elevator actually backs away from the front wall. I don't know if that's what you're talking about.

I also believe if the elevators ever need to be removed from the building for whatever reason, there's actually doors that open behind the bottom of the shaft that they could just slide out of.
I'm just understanding this from my own speculation, so don't take it for granted. I remember seeing a video about the making of ToT some time ago, and it showed these doors behind the building that they used to put the elevators in and install into the ride.

pokesomi · 10-04-2009, 01:19 PM

yes the backup from the loading platform. Is the car on a Platform that gets pushed into the shaft or does the car have wheels that can move the car back on its own.

PeoplemoverMatt · 10-04-2009, 01:20 PM

Every elevator has guide wheels. This is true for all four Towers in existence.

pokesomi · 10-24-2009, 03:20 AM

ok, so my next question is where do they perform the maintainence? in the specific load areas or behind the building?

Sesshomaru-sama · 10-24-2009, 09:55 AM

This really is an interesting topic. I find the loading/shaft to be quite an enigma. If you don't mind, I have a question I'd like to ask.

PeoplemoverMatt, you indicated that there are 6 elevator shafts are are used for the attraction in Disney's California Adventure. I never knew that because I always saw 3 side-by-side elevators opening at the top of the building, making me think that 2 elevator vehicles are used per shaft. Anybody care to make this any sense of this?

Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon,
Sesshomaru-sama

PeoplemoverMatt · 10-24-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

PeoplemoverMatt, you indicated that there are 6 elevator shafts are are used for the attraction in Disney's California Adventure. I never knew that because I always saw 3 side-by-side elevators opening at the top of the building, making me think that 2 elevator vehicles are used per shaft. Anybody care to make this any sense of this?

I didn't say 6 elevator shafts are used, but 6 elevators are used in maximum capacity conditions. You would be correct. 2 elevators share each shaft. While one is in the shaft, the other is in its loading area. Once the elevator is out of the shaft and tugged back into its loading area, the other one gets pushed back into the shaft & goes through the drop sequence. When it's done, they swap places again. Ideally, this alternating motion is constant throughout the day to maxmize rider throughput, though it's never quite as constant as ride-op's would like.

Conveniently, you can't see through the upper level's floor to see how ride sequence and load/unload alternates between the upper & lower loading areas. If guests could see this, it would become obvious how it works, but then some of the magic would be lost as well.

pokesomi · 11-17-2009, 02:16 PM

ok well i just had a talk with DLR and they told me that if a ride vehicle gets stuck or has a problem they shut down that particular shaft and that the vehicles are not self propelled. In fact the lady told me that she had gotten stuck on ToT and that they were able to move the vehicle at the top of the drop sequence to a postition that would allow for safe extrication of guests but that the vehicle did not move under its own power.

PeoplemoverMatt · 11-18-2009, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokesomi

ok well i just had a talk with DLR and they told me that if a ride vehicle gets stuck or has a problem they shut down that particular shaft and that the vehicles are not self propelled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeoplemoverMatt

I believe when maintenance work is done on the elevator, the individual shaft simply gets shut down from operations, leaving 5 left to potentially be operational.

But just for the record, the elevators in the DHS Tower do move on a track.

And you question me? LOL!

Sesshomaru-sama · 11-18-2009, 01:34 PM

Thank you for explaining it to me. I had a feeling 2 elevators are using only 1 shaft when I saw that elevator doors (loading/unloading area) are on top of each other.

Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon,
Sesshomaru-sama

10-03-2009, 02:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
pokesomi People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 27	Question about Tower of Terror Ok, i went to DCA on Thursday and the first ride i went on was the Tower of Terror. It was amazing. But i have a small question. While getting onto the Ride Vehicle, I noticed what looked like a track so to speak on the floor. now knowing that the Hollywood studios version is designed to move independently of a track, i am curious about the DCA version and also where they do the maintenance. Can the ride vehicles be moved away from the loading platform to allow for maintenance to work on the vehicles in the load and unload areas or do they go beyond the main ride shaft to an area behind the shaft for repairs? I am having a hard time figuring this out.
	Did you find this post helpful? Yes \| No

10-04-2009, 08:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
PeoplemoverMatt An Objective Perspective People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 4,745 Images: 18	I believe when maintenance work is done on the elevator, the individual shaft simply gets shut down from operations, leaving 5 left to potentially be operational. But just for the record, the elevators in the DHS Tower do move on a track. It's actually pretty easy to spot in the beginning before the lights dim towards the middle & end of the crawl through Rod's attic (aka 5th dimension room). __________________ "I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." -- Charles Augustus Lindberg "Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children." -- Walter Elias Disney "So are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him...so we too might walk in the newness of life." -- Romans 6:1-4
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10-04-2009, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Disney_Guy "Name's Guy, Disney_Guy." People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,410 Images: 13	Well when the ride first starts up, the elevator actually backs away from the front wall. I don't know if that's what you're talking about. I also believe if the elevators ever need to be removed from the building for whatever reason, there's actually doors that open behind the bottom of the shaft that they could just slide out of. I'm just understanding this from my own speculation, so don't take it for granted. I remember seeing a video about the making of ToT some time ago, and it showed these doors behind the building that they used to put the elevators in and install into the ride.
	Did you find this post helpful? Yes \| No

10-04-2009, 01:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
pokesomi People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 27	yes the backup from the loading platform. Is the car on a Platform that gets pushed into the shaft or does the car have wheels that can move the car back on its own.
	Did you find this post helpful? Yes \| No

10-04-2009, 01:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
PeoplemoverMatt An Objective Perspective People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 4,745 Images: 18	Every elevator has guide wheels. This is true for all four Towers in existence. __________________ "I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." -- Charles Augustus Lindberg "Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children." -- Walter Elias Disney "So are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him...so we too might walk in the newness of life." -- Romans 6:1-4
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10-24-2009, 03:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
pokesomi People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 27	ok, so my next question is where do they perform the maintainence? in the specific load areas or behind the building?
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10-24-2009, 09:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sesshomaru-sama VF's local demon People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Killeen, TX Posts: 1,463 Images: 5	This really is an interesting topic. I find the loading/shaft to be quite an enigma. If you don't mind, I have a question I'd like to ask. PeoplemoverMatt, you indicated that there are 6 elevator shafts are are used for the attraction in Disney's California Adventure. I never knew that because I always saw 3 side-by-side elevators opening at the top of the building, making me think that 2 elevator vehicles are used per shaft. Anybody care to make this any sense of this? Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon, Sesshomaru-sama __________________
	Did you find this post helpful? Yes \| No

11-17-2009, 02:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
pokesomi People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 27	ok well i just had a talk with DLR and they told me that if a ride vehicle gets stuck or has a problem they shut down that particular shaft and that the vehicles are not self propelled. In fact the lady told me that she had gotten stuck on ToT and that they were able to move the vehicle at the top of the drop sequence to a postition that would allow for safe extrication of guests but that the vehicle did not move under its own power.
	Did you find this post helpful? Yes \| No

11-18-2009, 01:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Sesshomaru-sama VF's local demon People who found this post helpful: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Killeen, TX Posts: 1,463 Images: 5	Thank you for explaining it to me. I had a feeling 2 elevators are using only 1 shaft when I saw that elevator doors (loading/unloading area) are on top of each other. Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon, Sesshomaru-sama __________________
	Did you find this post helpful? Yes \| No

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