As fans can see looking at the former Twilight Zone Tower Terror building in Disney California Adventure, the external transformation of the building is complete. And from walking through the building today, I can report that Disney has made no substantial changes to the building's construction on the inside. However, the decoration of the building will be completely different from its former theme, and most of those decorative changes are complete.
Guiding us through the building, Disney Imagineers described the story of the new attraction, which I've summarized in this quick video. (Now, we enter spoiler territory....)
Standing outside the The Collector's Fortress, as the tower is now known, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Director Danny Handke talked about how the gaudy appearance of the tower, with its many pipes running up and down the surface, helps set up the story that fans will discover inside.
"The organic matter that they mine on Knowhere flows through these pipes, which power the giant generator that keeps every cage [in the collection] locked and secured," Handke said. "So if the generator ever happens to go out, then that would be utter chaos, so that's a very important story point that we wanted to start telling at the exterior of the building."
The newest occupants of five of those sealed cages are the Guardians of the Galaxy, whom Taneleer Tivan (a.k.a. The Collector) has captured and brought to the edge of Disney California Adventure to show off to the people of Terra (i.e. Earth).
"You might notice some alien language throughout the facility," Handke said. "We have some mystery elements here that you can decipher that will help give you clues to other reasons why The Collector is here."
The Collector is holding the Guardians inside the top of the tower, suspended over an abyss — an isolated location that visitors to the tower can see only by riding a special gantry up to the tower's highest level.
But before we see the Guardians in their cells, The Collector has invited us to take a VIP tour past some of his other collectibles. "There's a ton of Easter eggs in there, and I think what's fun about it," said Dave Bushore, Vice President for Franchise Creative and Marketing for Marvel Studios. The more than 2,200 props in the building will include items not just from the Guardians franchise, but from other Marvel franchises, including Agents of SHIELD and Doctor Strange, as well as from the theme park world, he said.
Marvel creative talent worked closely with Walt Disney Imagineering in developing the attraction — some elements of which may find their way back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe at some point, the team teased.
"One of the fun things for us was having the ability to partner James [Gunn, the director of the Guardians films] with the parks teams on this original Guardians attraction," Bushore said. "James was heavily involved in dialogue, in working in bringing the cast in, and having them work with the parks team."
The original cast members from the Guardians films, including Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana, appear in original filmed sequences in the attraction, which will differ through multiple rides for visitors.
After meeting The Collector in his private office, visitors will move into a maintenance area of the Fortress to board the gantry that will take them up to see the Guardians. Instead of a slow journey up the tower, visitors will blast immediately to the top on Mission: Breakout!
And that's where it all goes terribly wrong. Rocket Raccoon has escaped and has a plan to blow up the Fortress' power generator. That will free the Guardians... but it also will plunge the tower into darkness and send our gantry plummeting back down to the ground.
As the emergency power tentatively kicks in, the ride will give you one of six different show segments, each with its own drop sequence and pop song accompaniment. We didn't get to see the sequences or go on the ride, but a prop board at the elevator entrance included an illustration of each of the six scenes, which were labeled: Escape, Abelisk Attack, Drak vs. Beast, Anti-gravity, Quill vs. Orloni, and Drones.
The pop songs that will play for the six different show scenes are:
In addition to those songs, throughout the building, visitors will hear an original underscore for the ride composed by Tyler Bates, who wrote the score for the Guardians films, said John Dennis, Executive Creative Director for Music at WDI. The audio experience continues even after visitors exit the gantry.
"As you get off the ride, you're going to hear some of those greatest hits moments from the Guardians soundtrack, but you're also going to hear some of the creatures that have set loose, running through the building," Dennis said.
Once through the hall following the gantry ride, you will exit the building through The Collector's warehouse.
"Since everything is in utter chaos, his cast members are selling all his stuff, all his collectibles on the site," Handke said, providing the best attempt at a thematic explanation for a post-ride gift shop I've ever heard.
"They're getting rid of everything. Everything must go. It doesn't matter anymore. The Collector is preoccupied with everything on the loose, saying 'Where are all my collectibles?' so while all that's happening in the hall, we're selling off all his good stuff."
The moment of the Guardians' escape is a moment of liberation for the cast members staffing the attraction, as well, who will be working with forced smiles as they toil under the oppressive control of their boss, The Collector.
"We've never done an attraction where we're working for the villains," Handke said. "They want to be good guys, that's why they are on with Rocket's plan. They think it's going to be hilarious when all the creatures are on the loose and The Collector is freaking out."
"They're sticking it to The Man. They have to work for this guy, but they don't like it."
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That statement of "no substantial changes" is a bit misleading for your readers. The OC register has a photo of the interior and the former hotel lobby looks very different;
http://www.ocregister.com/2017/04/25/new-guardians-of-the-galaxy-ride-at-disneyland-will-feature-music-from-the-movies/
The reason why Tarantino films or the GotG have such memorable soundtracks isn't about the playlist, its about context. Its not the song, its the moment in the film when a song is played. You cant just grab Bohemian Rhapsody and throw it onto a Suicide Squad fight scene. And you cant just take cool classic songs and throw it on an elevator ride and expect it to work. This will only make the ride age quicker.
I tried to overlook the Gaudy-ians of the Galaxy ride exterior. But now it seems the interior is where things are really going to be ugly.
I also found it interesting that Disney's done so much to promote re-riding this attraction... but also written a narrative that creates a definitive conclusion, seemingly making a repeat of the experience impossible. If the collection's gone, how can we turn around and see it again?
This is hardly unique in the theme park world, where the same thing goes terribly wrong indefinitely on almost every ride. But that conflict seems especially acute here. In my head canon, I'm going to call in another member of the MCU here and attribute this to GOTG: MB taking place inside one of Doctor Strange's infinite time loops.
Also, to 108.231.17.154, I consider those decorative changes. The location of walls, etc., has not changed.
I think the tower looks ugly in pictures. On a recent trip to DLR, however, it looked distinctive and interesting in person. Granted, more of the tower was under tarps around this point, but I was still surprised at how much better it looks in person than in pictures. If there's some kinetic energy around the ride when it opens, that would also make it more aesthetically interesting.
I think the storyline sounds interesting and fun. The drop sequences in the original tower were already fun but not too intense, and although I didn't really like the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, I will agree that it has the kind of lighthearted, fun, action vibe that could definitely work with the ride mechanism. As for the pop songs, I don't think they can really be judged until you really know exactly what the segments will entail; i think they could work really well or not at all.
Overall, I'm still cautious about this ride, but am becoming more excited about it as more details emerge.
"They're getting rid of everything. Everything must go" -
Where have I heard this line before? Maybe Disney will sell used cars in Carsland next?
"The moment of the Guardians' escape is a moment of liberation for the cast members staffing the attraction, as well, who will be working with forced smiles as they toil under the oppressive control of their boss, The Collector" -
How long until Disney's oppressed cast members are freed from Iger and Chapek?
"They're sticking it to The Man. They have to work for this guy, but they don't like it" -
Finally some truth. This must be how the Imagineers feel about working for Iger and Chapek.
I'll agree with Robert's assessment of the ToT storyline and reason why we are there in the first place. It misses the point of the Twilight Zone.
Now, you'll find fans for any attraction who would be upset if Disney closed their favorite ride. And people who are happy to see any change in the parks. But I think that if we were going from GOTG: MB to TZTOT (DCA version), fans would be complaining (rightly, IMHO) about the lazy storyline that didn't fit the TZ theme, about the loss of abundant Easter eggs in favor of a been-there, done-that Haunted Mansion-style interior, a single storyline and drop profile replacing the multiple versions, and even about a "boring" new facade.
Not to mention the complaints we did get at the DCA TOT's introduction that it was an abridged and inferior version of the Orlando original.
I've been arguing ever since the rumors of this project started emerging from WDI that GOTG could be a better fit for the tower than TZ was. After walking through the tower and seeing what WDI has planned, I'm now completely convinced of that.
Japan has the best story of this ride, with a beautiful exterior to boot.
When I asked if GOTG: MB would be officially part of Hollywood Land, Handke replied, "Yes, it is part of Hollywood Land. On opening day."
To me, that's as close to a confirmation from WDI as we are going to get at this point that GOTG: MB is eventually going to end up as one of the anchors of a new Marvel Land in DCA. Whether any part of Hollywood Land survives the development of Marvel Land remains to be seen.
If they did the reverse and put in an attraction that fit the theme of the park and the land, the majority would embrace it.
The painting is on the wall to watch this turn into Marvel Land, however this facade could have been executed better.
Now, how will GOTG: MB fit within the Marvel Land that Disney eventually will build around it? That, I have no idea. Frankly, I don't think WDI is entirely set on that yet, either.
I think they should get rid of A Bug's Land and use that and the undeveloped area behind the Tower and Cars for Marvel. Then they could turn Hollywood Land into a real Hollywood street, not a combination of a real street and the terriable old backlot theme leftover from opening day. They can't hide the tower, but maybe they could alter that side to blend better similar to how the part of Tower of Terror that is visible from Epcot was designed to blend into the Mococo Pavilion. I just hope one day it will link better than it does today.
While I agree with Robert about Tower of Terror's flaws, at least the outside looked much better than it does now. It was worth keeping just for the wonderful exterior Disney has failed at disguising. Now it just looks like the giant baby from Honey I Blew Up The Kid played with it then puked on it.
Joking aside, I am cautiously optimistic about this ride, but I am a little worried that Disney has created something that is popular because of the IP and not because of the ride quality. Tower of Terror was great not because of the Twilight Zone or because it had the world's best story, but was great because everything fit together so well. You didn't need to know anything about Twilight Zone to like it. This, however, sounds like it may not make sense to those who aren't fans of Guardians of the Galaxy, so I could see a lot of people leaving thinking it was a good thrill ride but a weak Disney attraction. I hope to be proven wrong, but I won't know until I ride.
It's not premature. It's done to take advantage of marketing for the new Guardians 2 movie coming out in less than a week.
The rest of the park can wait while Star Wars is still being worked on. I don't expect a Marvel makeover to happen until well after Star Wars Land is over.
I understand they want to tie it in with the release of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, but that is pretty short sighted in the grand scheme of things.
What I do not get is why the Tower of Terror was a bad ride that needed to be replaced. It was one of the most successful attractions ever created by Disney. In my mind, it hits classic status just like Pirates, the Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain.
Once again: Tiki Room Under New Management.
Only, thing. is how can we possibly survive, with the elevator plunging, to the ground. but, that bit of unrealism, is (really) true with every action movie, where the hero's would (realistically) have died. somewhere, in the movie.
Plus, the TOT at DCA always felt more like you were in a Twilight Zone episode while the TOT in DHS always felt like it was just themed to The Twilight Zone. Sure the exterior and interior were bigger, but that's because they had more space to play with.
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