Just heard from a reliable source (maintenance worker that very recently left) that Tower of Terror is most likely going to close because it can't be repaired anymore. 

- We know it's down for maintenance over the duration of the summer holidays which is extremely alarming.

- The ride has recently been going down more than usual meaning it is running very inconsistantly.

- They denied a refurbishement which the SFMM version received.

- The TOT 2 store has been holding a 40 percent off sale for at least 4 months now indicating they are looking to sell all remaining TOT merchandise.

My guess is that they are holding off on it's inevitable closing so that they can make the announcement of a new ride to soften the blow. Hopefully this doesn't happen as it's just going to make it harder for Dreamworld to be seen as making steps to win back guests. They need to replace it with something equally as ground breaking as TOT was at it's launch if anyone from the GP is going to be satisfied by this.

*This is still a rumour at this point and anything could happen, but it does seem more likely than ever.

Parkz has been saying for a while that it's not got long left. It looks a lot to me like it's being nursed through so they can make the inevitable closing date as far off as they can.

 

I've said it before, announce the date it's going to close so peiple can visit and have their last rides, and announce that on closing day plans for the future will be announced. Announce new coaster, point out that new coaster has a feature which renders tot2 obsolete, and start building hype for the future.

She'll be right. Some WD40 and she be like new.

 

Mark August 23rd in your diary. 

We’ll have a better idea of exactly what is happening then. 

Well it's looking as if the writing is on the wall. Well it has been that way for a while so I can't really say I'm surprised.

The best way DW can handle this is by announcing a closing date in advance and give the guests the opportunity to get their last rides in. Especially for a ride as iconic as TOT, its the least they could do. Then announce that new flashy coaster they have been planning in the same time frame to distract the guests from TOT's closure. I recall saying at one point TOT's closure could be a PR disaster waiting to happen. Here's hoping DW pulls their socks up and doesn't screw it up.

I wonder what might happen to GD as a result of this. Would they be able to rip down TOT while keeping the DW tower standing for GD to operate? Or maybe they'll close that too (*stares in Falcon's Fury conversion*)

Edited August 8, 20196 yr by Baconjack

I must make comment and say that over the past few times I have visited Dreamworld over the course of the last week, I have noticed no closures or delays of the ride which is extremely unusual for this attraction, in fact, I did not notice a single delay on any ride, whereas almost every visit there will be multiple delays across the board. Hell, I remember this attraction being closed more than it was open during 2017 and 2018.

On recent visits, TOT store has still been completely full of merch, with no customers, despite the sale being on. Most of the merch is extremely old, Big 9 thrill ride cups and shirts featuring Wipeout, etc etc.

Dreamworld has by far had one of their most flawless years in terms of maintenance in 2019, and I applaud them for that. Rides have been swiftly delt with, with no extended maintenance on thrill rides.

I would like to see them reducing open hours even further on TOT to suck out it's last juice until the next big ride. Even 11-2pm, it doesn't bother me. 

I guess this could be the last maintenance period for TOT and WWF ;(

All the big 9 shirts are extra large so they are trying to sell the remaining stock. The normal tower of terror hats have sold out and haven't been restocked but the bucket hat varriant is still avaliable so that probably why not many people are purchasing.

Edited August 9, 20196 yr by Gold Coast Amusement Force

10 hours ago, Baconjack said:

I wonder what might happen to GD as a result of this. Would they be able to rip down TOT while keeping the DW tower standing for GD to operate? Or maybe they'll close that too (*stares in Falcon's Fury conversion*)

Ideally, to combat the removal of Wipeout and ToT, they should announce a rollercoaster and announce a conversion of GD, starting 6 months or so after the Rollercoaster opens.

22 hours ago, joz said:

Parkz has been saying for a while that it's not got long left. It looks a lot to me like it's being nursed through so they can make the inevitable closing date as far off as they can.

 

I've said it before, announce the date it's going to close so peiple can visit and have their last rides, and announce that on closing day plans for the future will be announced. Announce new coaster, point out that new coaster has a feature which renders tot2 obsolete, and start building hype for the future.

My hope is that they learnt this with Wipeout and this is the plan moving forward for Tower of Terror and any other rides that are closing in the near future.

Also, I saw someone on Facebook mention that a supplier of a major part for Tower of Terror had closed down. Obviously that’s a rumour at this point but seems plausible.

I think some WD40 will fix the ride and will make it go higher on the tower. The parts are most likely seized so that should fix it . 

IF TOT were to be removed, how would you go about the continued operation of (what I'm assuming) is a perfectly operating giant drop? Is it as simple as removing the station and track (including that on the side of the tower) or are they a two for one package and can't operate without each other?

They are separate. GD was installed years after the tower of terror but was apart of the initial concept . One would assume during deconstruction of the tower track that the drop would need to be closed. At the very least for a change in signage on the pole . Or does the giant drop just get renamed the tower of terror !

They'd probably disconnect the power and leave it! The most we could expect is the track removed to the top of the curve but left on the tower. Would require some big machinery to remove the rest. 

It would be interesting to see how that area would be used in the future. Obviously MDMC covers most of the area, but the station area itself 

There isnt all that much space around the station area, but it could be used to plonk another ride in Dreamworks as that is right next door. New KFP flat perhaps?

Edited August 10, 20196 yr by Baconjack

I say get rid of It and get intamin to update/refit GD with the 4 side cars to save GD - if possible. 

TOT was never the same since they made it TOT2, the tunnel and the over shoulder restrains ruined that ride. (I know the tunnel was necessary for operating because of the rain difficulties)

Ie rain in electrical was a very common problem. Did also impact the ability to operate but I bet it was the electrical issues that finally forced the change .

Not sure if this person is a part of this forum. But ima post this here.  This may close some speculations. 

Yeah... because DW social media team have never told a lie... or not been in the loop... or deflected the truth... 

Well let’s hope this true and not a social media lie

40 minutes ago, zacsta_1997 said:

Well let’s hope this true and not a social media lie

Personally I hope they are lying through their teeth or inadequately informed. 

If the ride is going to be operating sporadically and even then still unreliable and sub-par, I’d rather it be gone and replaced by something new, exciting and actually rideable 

I’d rather it stays whether it is unreliable or not. 

I wouldn't.

I mean - its a great ride. Nothing beats going super fast. But here's my issue:

1. It cuts the park in half. ...And especially with the TOTII tunnel, it's not appealing to look at
2. It's noisy AF. It completely destroys the park atmosphere
3. Its unreliable. Constantly down for maintenance, but even when its up, you can't guarantee it'll be up all day
4. Its expensive. Each launch chews up SO much power to drive the car.
5. Its capacity is shit. 14 people, 30 second ride, 60+ second load time (if the staff are on their game) for 560pph max (and let's face it, it almost never goes that frequently)
6. It's old. The ride operated for 13.5 years before it was converted to ToTII. In it's second incarnation, it's about to hit a further 9 years. It's a 22.5 year old ride, and while groundbreaking (and record breaking) in 1997, technology has overtaken it - When SFMM upgraded to S:EFK a month after TOT, a new, modern, more efficient launch control system was installed. Dreamworld passed on the upgrade, and still operates with 1997 controls.
7. It's slow. For whatever reason (but rumored to be cost-cutting) the record breaking launch of 100mph is almost never reached today - the ride operates at a lower power, and never uses the top 30% of the tower, as it did in it's heyday.

These days, the only real reason for keeping it, especially with all of the currently present reliability issues, is sentimentality. And there's really no evidence that Dreamworld is sentimental - just take a look at the cinema steam train marketplace wipeout paddlesteamer traditional disney-esque main street facades... oh fuck it - they aren't sentimental.

47 minutes ago, AlexB said:

1. It cuts the park in half. ...And especially with the TOTII tunnel, it's not appealing to look at
2. It's noisy AF. It completely destroys the park atmosphere

I agree with everything you said except these two points.

Now it has the extended tunnel, I agree it cuts the park in half, previously with just a track I thought it was fine, no issues. The tower its self is obviously iconic. 

The noise is also super loud but I've always thought it made the atmosphere. I have strong memories as a kid wanting to be as close as possible to it when it launched and loved hearing it go and would always turn to watch as soon as I could. I've not been to dreamworld in a good 7 years but its still a strong good memory memory.