10 Things You Didn't Know About The Tower Of Terror
Prepare to enter the Twilight Zone.
After its closure back in 1939 - on Halloween, obviously - the Hollywood Tower Hotel was allowed to fall into a state of ruin. That was until its re-opening in 1994, and since then it has witnessed millions of guests come through its doors, although not all of them will enjoy the experience.
I am, of course, talking about the Tower of Terror, one of the most-popular rides at Disney parks around the world, having first opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios (then known as Disney-MGM Studios) in Orlando over 20 years ago. Since then it has appeared in California, Tokyo, and Paris, and is one of the most renowned rides, from its impressive exterior to the frightening thrill that lies within.
The idea of the ride is that you are a guest at the hotel, which has just reopened its doors, but then lightning strikes and sends you into the fifth dimension. This takes place while you're in the elevator, and causes you to drop some 13 stories, screaming all the way, except when you get a brief pause for a photo and an unrivalled view of the rest of the park.
The hotel has delighted many and terrified even more, and this article will guide you through 10 things you may not have known about it. I hope you enjoy your stay.
10. The Twilight Zone
The full name of the ride, not that it's ever really used, is The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. That's because it is inspired by the 50s-60s TV series, with the idea being that this is a 'special' episode of the show, and Imagineers reportedly watched every episode of the original series twice.
In keeping with that, there are a lot of references to the show as you make your way through the hotel in order to take that ill-fated elevator trip. This includes the narration of Rod Serling, who created the show, although it is taken from the show rather than originally recorded, with the show-specific stuff done by an impersonator.
These include the rather terrifying Talky Tina doll in the lobby, a golden thimble in the display case outside the library (at California, anyway), a pair of broken glasses, and the book To Serve Man. There's many more besides these, and it's just another great example of the attention to detail you get in Disney parks.