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The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

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/* Attraction History */
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is an attraction located in [[Fantasyland]]. {{Template:Infobox Disney ride|| land=[[Sunset Boulevard]]| image=PoohentranceTowerofterror.jpg| smaller=true| caption='''The entrance sign for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.Hollywood Tower Hotel'''| park= Magic Kingdom| land=FantasylandHollywood Studios | opened= June 15July 22, 19991994| vehicle_namesheight_requirement=Honeypot40| guests_per_vehiclebased_on=4The Twilight Zone | durationhost=3Rod Serling| custom_label_1= Based on| custom_value_1= Disney's Winnie the Pooh series| type=Dark Ride|custom_label_2= FastPass Genie +|custom_value_2custom_value_1= Yes
}}
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 Disney-MGM Studios. The idea of new area would be known as [[Sunset Boulevard]], and it would feature new restaurants, stores and hopefully a dark ride based on new "E Ticket" attraction. Although initially DisneyImagineers pitched attractions such as Dick Tracy's Winnie Crime Stoppers and Toontown Trolley for Sunset Boulevard, none of the Pooh franchise began projects were green lit <ref name= "tower"/>. Then, in the late 1970sfall of 1989, director and producer Mel Brooks met with Disney Imagineering. Following Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted Mel to produce his films at the popularity of the Winnie the Pooh moviesDisney MGM Studios. Furthermore, creating a new attraction with the producer was something that appealed to both Imagineers began 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 make plans for a Winnie castle. As Imagineers continued to brainstorm however, the Pooh attraction was changed to be added to Disneyland"Mel Brooks's FantasylandHollywood Hotel"<ref name= "studios"/>. Fantasyland [[Image:TOTCOncept.jpg|thumb|350px|Early Tower of Terror concept art]]The idea of a Hollywood hotel was going one that had actually originated right around the time that the Studios opened <ref name= "studios"/>. Disney Imagineer Bob Weiss wanted to go under create a significant renovation soon, and it resort hotel that was assumed based on the art deco Hollywood hotels of the 1930s<ref name= "studios"/>. Imagineer C. McNair Wilson then suggested that the Winnie hotel be the Pooh dark ride 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 added thenable to give guests small hints that would lead them to clues. When Disneyland's Fantasyland 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-opened in 1983 however, there was no Winnie theming half of the hotel as the Pooh ride presentHollywood Horror Hotel<ref name= "studios"/>.
Although these ideas proved to be the attraction was not builtmost influential, Imagineers also came up with other ideas for the Hollywood Hotel. One idea of a Winnie would have featured Vincent Price narrating the Pooh dark ride attraction as guests took a "ghost tour" <ref name= "TOT"/>. Another suggestion was not deadto create a comedic version of the [[Haunted Mansion]] featuring Mel Brooks and Young Frankenstein <ref name= "studios"/>. In 1988 Finally, Imagineers once again began making plans for Steve and Tim Kirk suggested a Disneyland Pooh ride. This time the hotel/attraction was going to be located in Disneyland's Toontown Fair. The new Winnie the Pooh rid hybrid that would have allowed had guests to travel through what were deemed being driven from the three best scenes in the movies Orlando International Airport in a spinable honeypot1930s station wagon <ref name= "studios"/>. Once again howeverEventually, however Imagineers proposed working the theme of the Disney-MGM Studios into the attraction never . They came up with a story that would feature a murder mystery and a dead director. It would be up to fruitionthe 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===Winnie "TOT"> https://web.archive.org/web/20120106171335/http://www.towerofterror.org/history/design </ref>. Disney decided that to enhance the Pooh Replaces Mrattraction, it needed some kind of movie tie-in. Toad 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"/>.
Seven years after the last attempt at a Winnie the Pooh dark ride, Imagineers once again pitched the idea[[Image:RodSerling. This timejpg|thumb|300px|Rod Serling, they wanted to build the attraction in Walt Disney World. Although Walt Disney World's Fantasyland had enough space to build the new attraction, it was eventually decided to replace the Mr. Toad's Wild Ride attraction. Despite Mr. Toad fan protests (as well as some bad publicity) Disney closed Mr. Toad's Wild Ride on September 7 1998. Mr. Toad's show building and ride structure were then reused, and on June 4 1999 The Many Adventures host of Winnie the Pooh officially openedTwilight Zone.]]
==Attraction Plot==The Many Adventures After deciding on the basic concept of Winnie the Pooh is a dark ride attraction , Imagineers began working on the plot. In order to tie in the attraction with the rest of the studios, it was decided that takes guests into would be filming a "lost episode" of the Twilight Zone <ref name= "TOT"/>. Although Rod Serling (the world host of the 100 Acre WoodsTwilight 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"/>.
 
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 was not family friendly, 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 actually sat on sinkhole<ref name= "Martin"/>. This setback required Disney to move the location of the attraction, albeit slightly. Finally, on July 22, 1994 the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened to guests <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/st-tower.htm </ref>.
 
Since 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 later used in the 5th Dimension scene <ref name= "Martin"/>. The idea was that guests would be able to 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"/>.
 
==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.
The Many Adventures of Winnie After reaching the Pooh's queue, is themed entrance to be chapter one of the story that hotel, guests are about to entera decaying lobby. Pages from a Winnie the Pooh bookThe lobby is seemingly preserved, tell as guests can see a story as they walk through the line. The queue begins table set with Winnie wondering what he will do today. A map tableware, food, a copy of the Hundred Acre Woods is presentLos Angeles Examiner (dated October 31, showing 1939), abandoned suitcases near the various places that Pooh (front desk, and guests) can goan unfinished game of mahjong. The Hundred Acre Woods begin with guests passing Pooh's house. His house centerpiece of the lobby is inside an owl sculpture which is surrounded by a large honey tree, and the words "Mrcircle of dead flowers. Sanders" can be read above Behind the front door. The attraction entrance sign actually hangs off of desk in the honey treelobby, marking the beginning guests can see an elevator with broken doors that is out of the attractionorder. As part of the attraction's new interactive queueAfter being informed that their rooms are not ready yet, guests can actually go are ushered into Pooh's house and see how the bear liveslibrary.
As guests continue on through queue===Preshow===Inside the Library, they pass both Eeyore's and Piglet's houselightning strikes the hotel, shutting off all of the power except for a television set which seems to be working by itself. Storybook pages outside As the homesTV turns on, give the opening for the Twilight Zone begins to play. Rod Serling tells guests that in Hollywood 1939, the Hollywood Tower Hotel was a little backgroundstar in its own right. As glamorous people enter the elevator, the tower is struck by lightning, causing the guests continue onto vanish. Rod Serling then shows guests the maintenance service elevator which is still working, they come upon Tigger's house and also his bouncing place"waiting for you". HereHe then informs guests that in tonight’s episode they are the stars of the Twilight Zone. Finally, the television turns off and guests can bounce on Tigger themed springs around a small areaare ushered into the boiler room, where they enter the service elevator. ===Actual Ride===Once inside the elevator, Rod Serling tells guests:
After passing Tigger's house, guests come to Rabbit's garden. Here, despite his best efforts, gophers {{Quotation| "You are tearing up the garden. The gophers pop up and down, interacting with guests. One section of the garden allows guests to stomp passengers on a button, which will knock the gophers back most uncommon elevator about to down ascend into their holes. Another part your very own episode of Rabbit's garden allows guests to spin giant sunflowers and beat (like a drum) various vegetablesThe Twilight Zone. After passing through Rabbit's garden, guests come upon the interactive "honey walls". The honey walls are large interactive touch screens, which allow guests to smear and draw in the honey.}}
At this point, guests finally come The elevator then begins rising for a moment before coming to the loading areaa stop. Here, another storybook page tells guests that chapter one is ending but chapter two will start soonthe doors open revealing a long corridor. As At first, the only recognizable object in the corridor is a single window directly across from guests board their honeypot ride vehicles. Then, as a storm rages outside, the pages five ghosts of chapter two line the back wall. At this pointdead 1939 guests (who were shown in the preshow) appear, inviting 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 enter morphs into a more ghastly looking window before shattering. After the story themselveswindow shatters, starting the attractionelevator doors close and guests begin ascending again.Rod Serling then informs guests:
===Main Attraction===[[Image:PoohtoadTowerghosts.jpg|330px|thumb|300px|The painting ghosts of Mr. Toad handing the deed over to Owldoomed guests from 1939.]]
As Chapter two begins{{Quotation| "One stormy night long ago, guests enter five people stepped through the Hundred Acre Woods on blustery day. Piglet and Gopher can be seen on riders’ left, being blown around in a garden. Next to them, Pooh is holding on to a balloon and using the wind to try door of an elevator and get into a beehivenightmare. Back on the ground Eeyore looks on, commenting that Pooh will never get the honey. Across the room, Rabbit can be seen lying in his garden, underneath a pile on unearthed carrots. Next to him That door is Kangaopening once again, who is desperately trying to hang on to Roo. Roo is up in the airand this time, holding on to the other end of a scarf. As Kanga pleads with him to hold on, Roo says: "Look mama, I'm a kite!". Riders then go through a door and into Owlit's houseopening for you."}}
As his narration ends, the elevator moves horizontally into the Fifth Dimension. Here, odd sights and sounds from the television show's 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 Serling warns guests:
Inside Owl's house{{Quotation| "You are about to discover what lies beyond the Fifth Dimension, everything has been disorganized by beyond the storm. On the right in the housedeepest, guests can see a picture darkest corner of J. Thaddeus Toad (Mr. Toad) handing over a deed to Owl. Another picture on the floor shows Moley (Mr. Toad's sidekick) and Winnie the Pooh together. Both of these pictures are subtle references to the fact that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride once was located imagination, in the current location Tower of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. After passing through Owl's house, guests enter the next scene through a sliding doorTerror."}}
In the next scene of the attractionAt this point, Tigger pops up across from riders. He invites them to "Come bounce with me!", as their honeypot vehicles guests begin to bouncethe drop sequence. As riders bounce around Although the roomdrops are now randomized, Tigger can be seen all over every ride includes one complete drop (from the room. In top to the background, bottom of the song tower) and one "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggersfake drop" can be heard. As guests enter Also, at some point during the next room (Pooh's house)drop sequence, they see Tigger pounced on top the elevator doors open in front of Pooh (who is wearing his pajamas). Tigger warns him to "watch out for Heffalumps and Woozles". He also tells Pooh that Heffalumps and Woozles will steal his honeyguests, so Pooh decides allowing them to stand guard (holding see the park from a gun). Despite his best efforts however, Pooh falls asleep and magically floats into the next roomheight of 170 ft.
As After dropping, guests follow him into reach the next roombasement of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where they enter see a bizarre room. All around themshort clip which shows items from the show’s opening sequence, Heffalumps and Woozles manically sing. Strange objects such as Woozles with jack-in-well as Rod Serling and the-box necks surrounded guests. One Woozle even seems to light the end of 1939 elevator passengers falling into a Heffalump on fire, causing a smoke ring to come out of the Heffalumps trunk hitting guestsvortex. After passing through a large hole in a Heffalump, guests can see room’s Before they exit. Before exiting however, the honeypots travel under "watering can" shaped Heffalumps, which transition them Rod speaks to the next scene.guests one more time:
[[Image:Honey.jpg{{Quotation|thumb|200px|Pooh"A warm welcome back to those of you who made it, happily eating his honey at 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 end 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 attractionTwilight Zone.]]"}}
The next scene takes place back in ===Exit Path and Gift Shop===After exiting the Hundred Acre Woodselevator, where guests travel down a large storm is brewing. Eeyorelong hallway, Roo, Rabbit, Owl, and Tigger all team up eventually reaching what appears to save Piglet from being washed down Floody Place Falls. On be the other side "Lost and Found" of the forestHollywood Tower Hotel. Here, Pooh they can be seen purchase ride photos which were taken in the drop shaft when the elevator doors opened (apparently stuckrevealing the park), trying to get into a beehive. After passing by the storm has endedlost and found, all guests pass by a decrepit fountain and then the dining room of the characters (except for Pooh) can be seen celebrating at Rabbit's househotel; The Sunset Room. A little further down Outside of the trackdining room, Pooh a menu which is dated October 31, 1939 can be seen happily eating honey inside a treefound. After passing Guests then enter a beaming Pooh, a storybook page reads "The End", gift shop which sells Twilight Zone and guests can disembark from their honeypot. After unloading, guests exit into the [[Hundred Acre Goods]] storeHollywood Tower Hotel merchandise.
==See References to the Attraction!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 most complete 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.) <ref name= "pal"/> '''Bellhop''' Parviz Perry Vessali <ref name= "pal"> http://www.disney-pal.com/California%20Adventure/twilight_zone_tower_of_terror_video_sound.htm AUTHORS NOTE: Although the credits are listed for the Disney's California Adventure version of the attraction, the same film is used in both attractions </ref> '''Child Star'''- Lindsay Ridgeway <ref> http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0725864/bio?ref_=nm_dyk_trv_sm#trivia </ref> '''Nanny'''- Charlotte Helms <ref name= "pal"/> ==Watch the Preshow==To see the short film shown before guests enter the service elevator, click play below. {{#ev:youtube|Nw6oJFmgvY4c2gufzmIPrg|420}}
==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 FastPass machines for The Many Adventures of Winnie corridor where guests see the Pooh, are located near Mickey's PhilharMagic1938 ghosts holds rooms 414-426 <ref> http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/WDW/Studios/Secrets/TowerTerror.html </ref>.
* A small carving The music played throughout the ride is taken from various episodes of a submarine can be found on a rafter in Pooh's houseThe Twilight Zone TV show. The submarine is a subtle tribute to the closed Fantasyland attraction score was arranged by Richard Bellis <ref> http://www.richardbellis.com/filmography.html </ref>. [[20,000 Leagues Under Image:ElevatorCertificate.jpg|thumb|300px|The inspection certificate found inside the Seaelevator.]]* 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 FastPass return clock for elevator's certificate number is 10259 which is a reference to October 2, 1959 (the Many Adventures of Winnie date that the Pooh features a small Pooh Twilight Zone premiered) <ref name= "Cuckootrivia"/>.
* Guests can smell honey as they exit The Many Adventures of Winnie By the Poohconcierge desk, there is a thirteen diamond award from AAA <ref name= "Jack"/>.
* Imagineers set up the mahjong game in the lobby, in a way that allowed players of the game to see that it was authentic <ref name==References=="Jack"/>.
http://disneyworld* While Imagineers were looking through a furniture catalog from the 1930's, they decided to contact the company to see if they were still in business.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/attractions/many-adventures-The company was, and Disney used some of-winnie-their furniture in the-poohhotel <ref name= "Jack"/>.
http:* The landscaping in the hotel's garden was influenced by the hills of Griffith and Elysian Parks in Los Angeles <ref name= "Jack"/>.  * Disney Imagineers watched every episode of the Twilight Zone at least twice in order to capture its essence for the attraction <ref name= "Jack"/www>.wdwinfo * The clip of Rod Serling shown in the preshow was taken from an episode of the series titled "It's a Good Life" <ref name= "trivia"/>.com * 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 <ref name= "trivia"/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom>. * The Tower of Terror is 199 ft tall due to the fact that FCC regulations require a red flashing light to be placed on buildings that are at least 200 ft tall <ref name= "Jack"/fan-pooh>.htm ==References==