Guardians Theories and Feelings
The Orange County Register’s website posted an article this evening detailing some, if not most, of the story concepts and elements involved in Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission: Breakout! Referring to concept art currently available and the story we know so far, I will theorize what is to be expected and my feelings so far.
Starting out, the building’s layout is completely unchanged. Entering you will walk into the lobby…. Sorry, a display room of artifacts from various Marvel properties. The back wall where the grand fireplace was will be a television set that details the Collector’s most recent acquisitions (the Guardians of the Galaxy). Moving into the former libraries is where things get vague about aesthetic but detailed in story. I think it will be another set of display rooms with more prized artifacts and possessions. In here, Rocket Raccoon will communicate with you via an air duct about his plan to escape. This will likely utilize the former television sets that once depicted a stormy night long ago. Afterwords you will move into the basement/boiler room. No details about how different this room will be was discussed really, except that it will be more themed to the style and will have a security checkpoint. This actually throws up some red flags for me due to the sensitive nature of security checkpoints already. You have to enter at least one to get to the parks already, but now a second, fake, one just doesn’t sit well with me. If done carefully it can work, such as with Star Tours across the way, but the more adult aesthetic of Guardians makes me feel uneasy.
Boarding the elevator will be no different, although the elevator’s style will, of course, be changed, likely to resemble the display cases that the Guardians are trapped in as shown in the originally released concept art. Here’s where things get vague again. What we know is that you assist Rocket Raccoon with deactivating a generator. Where this happens is unknown but I have a theory. One show scene stands out as a perfect fit for this: The Mirror Scene. Having the electrical surge effect provided by fiber optics already set up, all that needs to be done is a coat of paint and a set up of control panels in front of the former mirror. Where the mirror once was will be a projection of a window viewing a generator room. Here, Rocket Raccoon will help disable the generator and send your elevator into a wild drop cycle.
So theory time. The loading will likely involve you boarding the display cases and being loaded into a service elevator. Where the security checkpoint occurs is unknown but they way the article phases it, it seems to occur here, likely as the elevator carriage its moving into the ride shaft. The hallway scene is confusing as what they will do with it. Likely it will be another display floor/room where the Guardians are actually on display. This would tie in with them actually being shown, as the line has very limited space to display them. This layout also seems to suggest that instead of Mirror Scene to Hallway Scene that Tower did, it will instead go Hallway Scene to Mirror Scene, similar to Tokyo’s Tower.
Now, cut parts. Originally, the idea apparently was to enclose the exterior elevator doors and project a starfield as though you had entered space. This was cut, according to rumors, due to California building codes restricting the addition and the building simply not being up to supporting it in the event of an earthquake. This change required a script change so the Guardians would point out Disneyland in the distance. Another apparently cut segment was the enclosing of the former garden line section. This likely would have extended the lobby/viewing section but due to budget, this was also cut.
Finally, my feelings on this. Tower is and was my favorite DCA attraction. I was angry and upset at the closure and ultimately decided that this year would be my final year as an annual passholder. Guardians does not interest me in the slightest and reflects a downward shift in the company in my eyes. The project seems forced and rushed, with elements being cut and a massive reuse of the layout and design of the attraction. Even Maelstrom’s change to Frozen had changes in the ride’s track and line. The confirmation that the attraction will still maintain the same capacity and ride time reflects the point that there is nothing gained and that this attraction will ultimately still break even with the building’s former occupant. It screams merchandise sales and movie tickets instead of theme park thrills and good story telling. Will the attraction be good? I don’t know. The building’s outside design pales massively in comparison to The Hollywood Tower Hotel, looking like a hodgepodge smash of “throw-gears-at-it-steampunk”, “stick-pipes-on-it-cyberpunk”, and what used to be a 1930’s pueblo deco hotel. I have joking commented that the color scheme resembles that of dry cat food and the overall futuristic industrial design severely takes away from the Californian theming of the park. Now, to be fair, this attraction could be highly successful, but a deep part of me desires failure. The blatant money grabbing from corporate Disney shows heavily in this project and does not resemble the heart and soul of the creative imaginations that should be in charge in the first place. I hold no grudge against the creative people involved and I willfully admit that what ever we get is the best that they could provide due to the circumstances, but for me it is nothing that I want to be a part of. Tower is my ride and will remain my ride forever.
Also, the Tower at DCA in Anaheim isn’t 199 feet tall as mentioned in the article. It’s 183 feet tall. WDW’s is 199 feet tall.
