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/* Attraction History */
{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
| land=[[Sunset Boulevard]]
| image=Towerofterror.jpg
| smaller=true
| caption='''The Hollywood Tower Hotel'''
| park=Hollywood Studios
| opened=July 22, 1994
| based_on=The Twilight Zone
| host= Rod Serling
| custom_label_1= FastPass Disney Genie +| custom_value_1= Yes (Group A)
}}
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is an attraction located on [[Sunset Boulevard]] in [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]].
==Attraction History==
The concept of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror actually began in Euro Disney <ref name= "tower"> https://web.archive.org/web/20120106171353/http://www.towerofterror.org/history/origin </ref>. In the late 1980's, Disney wanted to build a new attraction known as Geyser Mountain <ref name= "tower"/>. The attraction would have ended with a jet of water pushing the ride vehicle up and down a drop shaft <ref name= "tower"/>. Although the attraction was never built, the drop shaft concept was one that stuck in Imagineers mind.
While work on Euro Disney continued, Disney was also planning a massive expansion for at the Disney-MGM Studios. The new area would be known as [[Sunset Boulevard]], and it would feature new restaurants, stores and hopefully a new "E Ticket" attraction. Although initially Disney Imagineers pitched attractions such as Dick Tracy's Crime Stoppers and Toontown Trolley for Sunset Boulevard, none of the projects were green lit <ref name= "tower"/>. Then, in the fall of 1989, director and producer Mel Brooks met with Disney Imagineering. Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted Mel to produce his films at the Disney MGM Studios. Furthermore, creatomg creating a new attraction with the producer was something that appealed to both Imagineers and Brooks <ref name= "studios"> http://www.studioscentral.com/early-development-tower-terror </ref>. The original idea that Imagineers came up with was called "Castle Young Frankenstein" <ref name= "studios"/>. The proposed attraction would have featured a village with winding streets, all of which led to a castle. As Imagineers continued to brainstorm however, the attraction was changed to "Mel Brooks' Hollywood Hotel"<ref name= "studios"/>.[[Image:TOTCOncept.jpg|thumb|350px|Early Tower of Terror concept art]]The idea of a Hollywood hotel was one that had actually originated right around the time that the Studios opened <ref name= "studios"/>. Disney Imagineer Bob Weiss wanted to create a resort hotel that was based on the art deco Hollywood hotels of the 1930s<ref name= "studios"/>. Imagineer C. McNair Wilson then suggested that the hotel be the scene of a murder mystery, which guests could solve by investigating clues hidden around the hotel<ref name= "studios"/>. The hotel cast members, would be able to give guests small hints that would lead them to clues. If guests solved the case, they would be given a certificate for their efforts<ref name= "studios"/>. Eventually, the idea of the murder mystery in the hotel led Imagineers to consider re-theming half of the hotel as the Hollywood Horror Hotel<ref name= "studios"/>.
Although the murder angle of the story was eventually dropped, Imagineers liked the idea of guests trying to solve a mystery within the haunted hotel <ref name= "TOT"> https://web.archive.org/web/20120106171335/http://www.towerofterror.org/history/design </ref>. Disney decided that to enhance the attraction, it needed some kind of movie tie-in. Imagineers eventually agreed on the idea of theming the attraction after the Twilight Zone. The initial concept of the attraction, called for cast members who would dress up like various employees of the hotel. Each employee would seem a little unstable, (such as a bell boy who walked through the line asking if guests wanted to check any luggage) <ref name= "terror"> https://web.archive.org/web/20120106172759/http://www.towerofterror.org/history/early-development </ref>. Other enhancements to the queue, including an old man who would "come to life" and interact with guests, and an Audio Animatronic elevator repair man were eventually discarded <ref name= "terror"/>. Disney decided that the cast members would slow down the line too much, and park Operations was hesitant to assign more cast members to the attraction then was absolutely necessary <ref name= "terror"/>.
[[Image:RodSerling.jpg|thumb|300px|Rod Serling, the host of the Twilight Zone.]]
After deciding on the basic concept of the attraction, Imagineers began working on the plot. In order to tie in the attraction with the rest of the studios, it was decided that guests would be filming a "lost episode" of the Twilight Zone <ref name= "TOT"/>. Although Rod Serling, (the host of the Twilight Zone ) had passed away in 1975, Disney Imagineer's still wanted to include him in the attraction. To do this, Mark Silverman recorded an impersonation of Rod, which was synced with the introduction of a 1961 episode titled "It's a Good Life" <ref name= "secret"> http://towersecrets.com/tower-of-terror-rod-serling-intro-video/ </ref>. The background image was then replaced with images of the Tower of Terror, thus giving the attraction an "authentic" Twilight Zone introduction. As far as the layout of the attraction was concerned, it was decided that guests would enter the attraction on foot. Here, they would discover an abandoned hotel lobby, setting the mystery into motion <ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?s=Tower+of+Terror </ref>. Guests would then watch a preshow video, which would tell them the attraction's backstory <ref name= "Martin"/>. The attraction would then conclude with guests going into the haunted elevator (the drop shaft) and discovering what really happened in the hotel<ref name= "Martin"/>.
The most recent change to the Tower of Terror came in 2002, when the drop sequences became randomized by a computer <ref name= "Martin"/>. This allowed every ride on the Tower of Terror to be different and unique, meaning that guests could never be sure when they were going to drop<ref name= "Martin"/>.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* According to a plaque on the outside of the hotel, the Hollywood Tour Hotel was founded in 1917<ref name= "Jack"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/02/twilight_zone_tower_of_terror.html </ref>.
* The corridor where guests see the 1938 ghosts holds rooms 414-426<ref> http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/WDW/Studios/Secrets/TowerTerror.html </ref>.
* The music played throughout the ride is taken from various episodes of The Twilight Zone TV show. The score was arranged by Richard Bellis<ref> http://www.richardbellis.com/filmography.html </ref>. [[Image:ElevatorCertificate.jpg|thumb|300px|The inspection certificate found inside the elevator.]]* The inspection certificate inside the elevator is dated October 31, 1939 and signed by Cadwallader. Cadwallader is a character from the Twilight Zone television show that ended up being the devil <ref name= "trivia"> http://towersecrets.com/twilight-zone-references-in-the-tower-of-terror/ </ref>.
* The inspection elevator's certificate inside the elevator number is dated 10259 which is a reference to October 312, 1939 and signed by Cadwallader. Cadwallader is a character from 1959 (the date that the Twilight Zone television show that ended up being the devilpremiered) <ref name= "trivia"/>.
* The elevator's certificate number is 10259 which By the concierge desk, there is a reference to October 2, 1959 (the date that the Twilight Zone premieredthirteen diamond award from AAA <ref name= "Jack"/>.)
* By Imagineers set up the concierge deskmahjong game in the lobby, there is in a thirteen diamond award from AAAway that allowed players of the game to see that it was authentic <ref name= "Jack"/>.
* While Imagineers set up were looking through a furniture catalog from the mahjong game in the lobby1930's, in a way that allowed players of they decided to contact the game company to see that it if they were still in business. The company was authentic, and Disney used some of their furniture in the hotel <ref name= "Jack"/>.
* While Imagineers were looking through a furniture catalogue from The landscaping in the 1930hotel's, they decided to contact garden was influenced by the company to see if they were still in business. The company was, hills of Griffith and Disney used some of their furniture Elysian Parks in the hotelLos Angeles <ref name= "Jack"/>.
* The landscaping Disney Imagineers watched every episode of the Twilight Zone at least twice in order to capture its essence for the hotel's garden was influenced by the hills of Griffith and Elysian parks in Los Angelesattraction <ref name= "Jack"/>.
* Disney Imagineers watched every episode The clip of the Twilight Zone at least twice Rod Serling shown in order to capture its essence for the attractionpreshow was taken from an episode of the series titled "It's a Good Life" <ref name= "trivia"/>.
* The clip of Rod Serling shown in In the preshow was taken from an episode of the series titled Serling says, "ItTonight's story on The Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a Good Lifedifferent kind of introduction. This, as you may recognize, is a map of the United States”. Imagineers used the beginning of this phrase in the preshow <ref name= "trivia"/>.
* In the episode Serling says, "Tonight's story on The Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind Tower of introduction. This, as you may recognize, Terror is 199 ft tall due to the fact that FCC regulations require a map of the United States”. Imagineers used the beginning of this phrase in the preshowred flashing light to be placed on buildings that are at least 200 ft tall <ref name= "Jack"/>.
==References==