Name of attraction:
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Opening date:
June 22, 1994
Description:
The original Tower of Terror opened at the then Disney-MGM Studios in July 1994, and took almost 10 years to then open in May, 2004 at Disneyland’s Californian Adventure. The attraction takes place in the fictional Hollywood Tower Hotel. The story of the hotel includes being struck by lightning on October 31st 1939 and mysteriously transporting an entire elevator cart full of passengers to the Twilight Zone, causing an entire wing of the hotel to disappear. At 1999 feet tall, it is the second tallest attraction at Walt Disney World (behind Animal Kingdoms’ Expedition Everest at 199.5 feet). Regardless of the number of randomized drops and lifts during the ride, there is always one “faux drop” intended to startle passengers and one full drop through the entire tower. Due to this uniqueness, Walt Disney World’s slogan for the ride is”Never the Same Fear Twice”.
Length of attraction:
From the time you are seated, approximately 5 minutes.
Opinion or personal story about the attraction:
While I love coasters, I’ve never liked any ride with a drop, I don’t even like going over big bumps on the road! That was until I tried this. The first time I rode it in 2001 it still had the routine drop sequence, it has now changed to a random drop which is even better. It is both mine and my husbands favourite ride at Walt Disney Worls, from the theming of the line through the hotel, the Twilight Zone part to the actual drops. We think that the best time to ride is at night and on the back row, we usually ask to sit there even if it means waiting for the next elevator. We will try to go on it at least 3 times each day we visit so we ride front, middle and back rows. We are still on the look out for the ‘suicide seat’ which seems to be Disney legend. This is a seat in one of the elevators without a seat belt. Does it really exist? You’ll have to try the ride yourself to find out.
