20 years ago today, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror officially opened – and dropped – its doors at Disney’s MGM Studios, now, Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s the 20th anniversary of one of the creepiest and most iconic attractions at Walt Disney World, and that means it’s time for some fun facts.
Disney Parks Blog had some great info as well so let’s check even more out.
1.) For those not aware, the storyline inside the attraction is set back on Halloween of 1939.
2.) While the Tower of Terror was being built, it was actually struck by lightning in a bit of an ironic circumstance. This was actually confirmed on an old Disney Channel TV show called “Walt Disney World Inside Out.”
There is no video of that, but there is video of Tower of Terror being hit back in 2010.
4.) Rod Serling’s voice was not used for the Library video. It is actually that of voice actor Mark Silverman.
5.) A lot of research needed to be done so that the attraction was as close to the real television show as possible. Walt Disney Imagineers viewed 156 episodes of “The Twilight Zone” for inspiration when creating The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
6.) Tower of Terror does indeed stand 13 stories tall to give it that extra creepy feeling with the number that is usually considered unlucky.
7.) Over the years, the number of drops has changed time and time again. There was even a time when the attraction was given a “II” or “III” on its title on the sign outside of the park.
8.) Once you exit the Library and enter into the Boiler Room, there is a word board that has some announcements with letters missing. It’s been altered at times over the years and I’ve seen different phrases, but most of the time, it’s the same.
If you look at the bottom at the letters that have fallen, they usually spell out, “Evil Tower U R Doomed.”
9.) Something that a lot of guests don’t realize is that you aren’t actually just falling when riding Tower of Terror. The attraction is designed to pull you downward faster than the speed of gravity.
10.) Rod Serling introduces the attraction in a scene that was taken from an episode of the “Twilight Zone” called “It’s a Good Life.”
11.) A 1997 mad-for-television film called “Tower of Terror” was based on the attraction and storyline. It starred Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst.
12.) There are four elevators for you to ride in on the attraction, but two elevator shafts. The drop sequence for each elevator is randomly selected by a computer system.
13.) Upon going through the “blue room” while on the attraction, you’ll come across a swirling star field before starting your series of drops. At the very end of the swirl of stars, a tri-circle Hidden Mickey appears briefly. It can best be seen if you’re sitting on the right-hand side of the car.
14.) Inside the Library, there is another Mickey Mouse tribute. Look on a shelf for some sheet music for the song, “What! No Mickey Mouse?”
15.) A copy of “Four Pages of Hilarious Star Caricatures by Walt Disney” is featured in Photoplay Magazine on the lobby’s concierge desk.
16.) Inside the lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel is decorated with antiques and furniture that isn’t just fake or worthless. It was actually purchased at Los Angeles-area auction houses and as authentic as you can get.
17.) The Tower of Terror stands at a whopping 199 feet tall. Seems off that it is 199 feet and not 200, right? There’s a reason for that.
All buildings 200 feet or taller must have a flashing red light on top of it, according to the FAA. Disney didn’t want theming ruined so they put it at 199.
18.) There are 27,000 roof tiles on the building of Tower of Terror.
19.) A number of the sculptures seen in the lobby area of the Tower of Terror are by Auguste Moreau, who was a 19th century sculptor.
20.) There are now four Tower of Terror attractions at Disney Parks: Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Walt Disney World Resort), Disney California Adventure park (Disneyland Resort), Walt Disney Studios Park (Paris), and Tokyo DisneySea each have their own version.
