Changes
/* 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"/>. The 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 these ideas proved to be the most influential, Imagineers also came up with other ideas for the Hollywood Hotel. One idea would have featured Vincent Price narrating to guests the attraction as they guests took a "ghost tour" <ref name= "TOT"/>. Another suggestion was to create a comedic version of the [[Haunted Mansion]], featuring Mel Brooks and Young Frankenstein <ref name= "studios"/>. Finally, Imagineers Steve and Tim Kirk suggested a hotel/attraction hybrid that would have had guests be being driven from the Orlando International Airport in a 1930s station wagon <ref name= "studios"/>. Eventually, however Imagineers proposed working the theme of the Disney-MGM Studios into the attraction. They came up with a story that would feature a murder mystery and a dead director. It would be up to the guests (who were playing extras) to try and figure out who committed the crime.
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 guests 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"/>.
One problem that Imagineers had to overcome when designing the Tower of Terror was the fact that most drop rides usually involved guests laying on their backs. Disney felt that this may was not be the most family friendly option, and they attempted to find a new ride method<ref name= "Martin"/>. Partially based on the ride mechanism that was designed for Geyser Mountain, Disney developed a way to use multiple ride vehicles that would be able to both travel horizontally, and then drop vertically<ref name= "Martin"/>. The addition of multiple shafts also let Imagineers increase the capacity of the attraction<ref name= "Martin"/>.
With both the attraction plot and the ride mechanisms complete, construction on the Tower of Terror began in 1992<ref name= "Martin"/>. Imagineers soon ran into trouble however, when it was discovered that the initial site of the Tower of Terror actually sat on sinkhole<ref name= "Martin"/>. This setback required Disney to move the location of the attraction, albeit slightly. Although initially scheduled for a Finally, on July 422, 1994 opening, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (as well as the rest of Sunset Boulevard) opened on July 22, 1994to guests <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/st-tower.htm </ref>.
Since it's its opening in 1994, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has seen a significant amount of changes. In May of 1996, a second drop was added to the attraction<ref name= "Martin"/>. Besides the original thirteen-story drop, guests now also fell eight stories. During this refurbishment, the first photo that was taken of guests was also removed<ref name= "Martin"/>. The photo was originally taken early on in the attraction, and then used later used in the 5th Dimension scene<ref name= "Martin"/>. The idea was that guests would be able to seem see themselves in their ride vehicle as they entered the 5th Dimension<ref name= "Martin"/>. Unfortunately, the process was unreliable and in 1996 the effect was removed<ref name= "Martin"/>. Further additions came to the Tower in 1999, when a third drop was added to the attraction <ref name= "wdwmagic"> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-twilight-zone-tower-of-terror/news/25feb1999-tower-of-terror-fear-every-drop-profile-announced.htm </ref>. The update was known as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: Fear Every Drop! At this time, new lighting effects and music were added, and the lightning effect was updated <ref name= "wdwmagic"/>.
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"/>.
* 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>.
