Disney Fanatic

13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

12. “I Can See My Castle!” Because the Tower of Terror would be visible from Epcot, Disney Imagineers designed the Tower to blend in with the style of the buildings in the Morocco pavilion, which sits directly behind it.  They did such a good job it’s hard to tell that it’s not part of that pavilion!  

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

11. “…Please Do Come Back and See Us Again.” Guests who would like to relive their Tower of Terror experience now have the option to see video from their ride!  In 2014, Tower of Terror became the first attraction to offer video to guests who purchase Memory Maker.  

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

10. “…Such Perfectly Beautiful Coats…” In order to achieve the authenticity that they wanted for the Tower of Terror theme, Disney spared no expense on the bellhop costumes that the Cast Members wear.  Evidently, each costume costs over $1,000 to produce, complete with greatcoat and pillbox hat.  

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

9. “Ka-Chow!” The backstory for the Tower of Terror begins on Halloween night, October 31, 1939.  A newspaper in the lobby, as well as a menu outside the dining room, both display this date.  A bellman, a young couple, a child actress, and her nanny enter the elevator, only to have it struck by lightning and fall to the ground floor.  The

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

8. “If It’s Not Baroque…” The lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, where the attraction is set, is full of actual antiques that were purchased instead of set pieces that were built.  It includes furniture that dates back to Renaissance times.  Photo credit www.flickr.com  

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

7. Submitted For Your Approval The video preshow and narration for the attraction include actual archive footage of Rod Serling from The Twilight Zone episode number 73, “It’s a Good Life”.  The narration begins with, “Tonight's story on the Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction.”  New audio

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

6. Gravity Falls? In order to give riders that free fall effect, the elevator is actually pulled down at a rate that is faster than the pull of gravity.  You may see riders around you holding coins to watch them float off their palms during the drop.  

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

5. A True Tower Reaching 199 feet high, Tower of Terror is the second tallest attraction at Walt Disney World Resort, behind only Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest which tops out half a foot higher at 199.5 feet.  Why not 200 feet?  Florida law would require a flashing red beacon for aircraft atop the attraction if it passed the two cen

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

4. “…A Most Uncommon Elevator” The lift system that Disney built for the attraction allowed the elevators, or “automated guided vehicles”, to move horizontally to enter the ride’s vertical shaft.  Additionally, they could go up and down at any point during the ride, allowing for variety in the guest experience as well as fake endings that

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13 Amazing Facts About Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror

3. You’ve Just Crossed Over Into… Twilight Zone was chosen to be the attraction’s theme due to it being an easy fit and the fact that Disney would not have to fight anyone over creative control, since Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling had died over 15 years earlier.  Imagineers watched all 156 episodes of the series for inspiration.  Phot

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