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The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is an attraction located in [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]].
==Attraction History==
The concept of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror actually began in Euro Disney. In the late 1980's, Disney wanted to build a new attraction known as Geyser Mountain. The attraction would end with a jet of water pushing the ride vehicle up and down a drop shaft. Although the attraction was never built, the drop shaft concept was one that stuck in Imagineers mind.
The most recent change to the Tower of Terror came in 2002, when the drop sequences became randomized by a computer. 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.
==Attraction Plot==
===Queue===
The queue for the Tower of Terror begins as guests enter the Hotel's gate. Inside the grounds, guests wind through the overgrown gardens of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Along the way, they pass by signs (which point to the stables, tennis courts and swimming pools), crumbling statues and overgrown shrubbery.
After reaching the entrance to the hotel, guests enter a decaying lobby. The lobby is seemingly preserved, as guests can see a table set with tea ware and food, a copy of the Los Angeles Examiner (dated October 31, 1939), abandoned suitcases near the front desk and an unfinished game of Mahjong. The centerpiece of the lobby is an owl sculpture which is surrounded by a circle of dead flowers. Behind the front desk in the lobby, guests can see an elevator with broken doors which is out of order. After being informed that their rooms are not ready yet, guests are ushered into the library.
===Preshow===
Inside the Library, lightning strikes the hotel, shutting off all of the power except for a television which seems to be working by itself. As the TV turns on, the opening for the Twilight Zone television show begins to play. Rod Sterling tells guests that in Hollywood 1939, the Hollywood Tour Hotel was a star in its own right. As glamorous people enter the elevator, the tower is struck by lightning, causing the guests to vanish. Rod Sterling then shows guests the maintenance service elevator which is still working, and "waiting for you". He then tells guests that in tonight’s episode they are the stars in the Twilight Zone. Before the television turns off and guests are ushered into the boiler room, where they enter the service elevator.
===Actual Ride===
Once inside the elevator, Rod Sterling tells guests:
{{Quotation| "You are the passengers on a most uncommon elevator about to ascend into your very own episode of The Twilight Zone."}}
The elevator then begins rising for a moment before coming to a stop. Here, the doors open revealing a long corridor. At first, the only recognizable object in the corridor is a single window directly across from guests. Then, as a storm rages outside, the five ghosts of the dead 1938 guests (who were shown in the preshow) appear, telling guests to come and join them, before disappearing in a wave of electricity. After the ghosts vanish, the corridor fades away, turning into a field of stars (with the window still remaining). The window then morphs into a more ghastly looking window before shattering. After the window shatters, the elevator doors close and guests begin ascending again. Rod Sterling then informs guests:
{{Quotation| "One stormy night long ago, five people stepped through the door of an elevator and into a nightmare. That door is opening once again, and this time, it's opening for you."
As his narration ends, the elevator moves horizontally into the Fifth Dimension. Here, odd sights and sounds from the television shows opening can be seen. As guests travel through the Fifth Dimension, the Twilight Zone theme song plays. After guests reach the back of the scene, a star field opens in front of them (like an elevator door) as Sterling warns guests:
{{Quotation| "You are about to discover what lies beyond the Fifth Dimension, beyond the deepest, darkest corner of the imagination, in the Tower of Terror."
At this point, guests begin the drop sequence. Although the drops are now randomized, every ride includes one complete drop (from the top to the bottom of the tower) and one "fake drop". Also, at some point during the drop sequence, the elevator doors open in front of guests, allowing them to see the park from a height of 170 ft.
After dropping, guests reach the basement of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where they see a short clip which shows items from the show’s opening sequence, as well as Rod Sterling and the elevator passengers from 1939 falling into a vortex. Before they exit, Rod speaks to guests one more time:
{{A warm welcome back to those of you who made it, and a friendly word of warning; something you won't find in any guidebook. The next time you check into a deserted hotel on the dark side of Hollywood, make sure you know just what kind of vacancy you're filling. Or you may find yourself a permanent resident of... the Twilight Zone.}}
===Exit Path and Gift Shop===
After exiting the elevator, guests travel down along hallway, to what appears to be the "Lost and Found" of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Here, they can purchase ride photos which were taken in the drop shaft when the elevator doors opened (revealing the park). After passing by the lost and found, guests enter pass by a decrepit fountain and also the dining room of the hotel; The Sunset Room. Outside of the dining room, a menu which is dated October 31, 1939 can be found. Guests Then enter the gift shop which sells Twilight Z one and Hollywood Tower Hotel merchandise.
==References to the Twilight Zone==
Throughout the entire Tower of Terror attraction there are references, tie ins and tributes to the television show the Twilight Zone. For the best list of these references check out
http://www.towerofterror.org/secrets/twilight-zone-references
==Cast==
'''Rod Serling'''- Himself (Mark Silverman impersonated him for additional dialogue.
'''Bellhop''' Parviz Perry Vessali
'''Child Star'''- Lindsay Ridgeway
'''Nanny'''- Charlotte Helms
==Watch the Preshow==
To see the short film shown before guests enter the service elevator, click play below.
{{#ev:youtube|c2gufzmIPrg|420}}
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* According to a plaque on the outside of the hotel, * the Hollywood Tour Hotel was founded in 1917
* The corridor where guests see the 1938 ghosts, holds rooms 414-426
* The music played throughout the ride is taken from various episodes of the Twilight Zone TV show. The score was arranged by Richard Bellis.
* 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 who ended up being the devil.
* The elevator's certificate number is 10259 which is a reference to October 2, 1959 (the date that the Twilight Zone premiered.
* By the concierge desk, there is a thirteen diamond award from the AAA.
* Imaginners set up the mahjongg game in the lobby, in a way that allowed players of the game to see that it was authentic.
* While Imagineers were looking through a furniture catlouge from the 1930's, they decided to contact the comapny to see if they were still in busniuess. The company was, and Disney used some of their funiture in the hotel.
* The landscaping in the hotel's garden was influenced by the hills of Griffith and Elysian parks in Los Angeles.
* Disney Imagineers watched every episode of the Twilight Zone at least twice in order to capture it's essence for the attraction.
* The clip of Rod Serling shown in the preshow, was taken from an episode of the series titled "It's a Good Life".
* In the episode Serling says, "Tonight's story on The Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different 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.
==References==
