After more than three decades of weather and wear, the Hollywood Tower Hotel is getting a serious touch-up at Disney's Hollywood Studios. A lightning “scar,” now visible through the scaffolding, is the first major new detail to surface from a refurbishment that has been underway since the spring.
A Project Months in the Making
The first hint of change came in early 2026, when Walt Disney World Resort filed a construction permit application for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Crews began with portions of the outdoor queue, and once that maintenance was finished, protective scrim went up on decorative elements on the right side of the building above the gift shop.
Scaffolding arrived in early July, again starting above the gift shop. Over the following months, it crept across the building and up the 199-foot facade until it surrounded the Hollywood Tower Hotel sign. Fresh pink paint began to appear in patches, signaling that the whole building was being repainted and was waiting on the intentionally aged, worn finish the ride is famous for.
In mid-September, Disney took down some of the scaffolding above the gift shop. Evidence of construction has been slowly disappearing from the right side of the building, even as work at the top of the tower carries on.
A Piece of the Backstory Shows Up
On October 18, WDWNT visited Disney's Hollywood Studios and noticed a new detail beneath the scaffolding: a bright purple “scar” that stands in for the lightning strike from the attraction's backstory.
Dark purple shading surrounds bright white sections that pop against the pink facade. Near the top of the tower, the lightning damage turns a corner and heads toward a small circular window. There appears to be more purple-and-white detailing elsewhere on the building, though most of it is hidden behind the scaffolding.
Still Open for Riders
Even with all of the work going on outside, the scaffolding doesn't block the view from the windows of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The ride continues to operate normally, and Walt Disney World Resort hasn't announced any plans to close it in the near future.
Which ride facade should Walt Disney World Resort refurbish next? Share your ideas with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
