Florida Guide > Disney Parks
Tower of Terror
At the end of Sunset Boulevard is the rundown Hollywood Tower Hotel; home to one of the premiere thrills rides at Hollywood Studios, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. At 199 feet tall it is the highest attraction at Disney.
The Tower of Terror sends guests plummeting again and again and again. The original ride had only one big drop. Then Engineers tested 33 versions before coming up with what they felt was the best and most thrilling attraction. Riders are currently launched to the top of the tower at breathtaking speed, and then dropped faster-than-free-fall to the bottom again and again. Now they advertise that you “Fear every drop! ”
When you stand outside the Tower of Terror, you can hear the screams and squeals of its passengers and can even watch the elevator doors open and see the guests dangling and screaming in mid-air before their next drop.
This is a Fastpass ride and as the queues are long during busy periods, I would definitely get one. If you obtain a Fastpass at the Tower, you can then easily walk over to ride the RockNRoller Coaster, which is close by whilst you wait for your Fastpass time.
The is a height requirement for this attraction of 40 inches.
This attraction is very dark and is probably not advisable for people with a fear of the dark or claustrophobia and definitely not for people with a fear of heights!
You will queue through the lobby of the dusty old Hollywood Tower Hotel and are taken into the Library to see a short film hosted by a man who created the old Twilight Zone television series. At the end of his story you are plunged into momentary darkness, then guided into the Hotel's boiler room, where you await your "elevator" to the 13th floor.
Just before you board the elevator for the ride, there is an exit for those who change their minds at the last minute. You just let a Cast Member know if you wish to exit at this point. Each time I have been on the ride some people have left. Having seen the advertising for this ride I always thought you stood up but was surprised that you are seated and restrained a seat belt.
You go aboard a rickety old elevator that glides through mysterious hotel passageways, and you see ghostly images of former guests! As the journey progresses, the elevator enters a pitch-black shaft. The elevator launches guests skyward unexpectedly and you are already screaming when just as suddenly, the cables 'snap' and electrical sparks shower as you plunge 13 stories. The first time I went on this ride it was at this point I decided if I got out of this alive I would never go on it again!
The elevator abruptly rises once more, with an unpredictable series of shorter drops and climbs. During one of these the doors of your elevator open to reveal the Disney Hollywood Studios parking lot 13 stories below you!
Eventually you are returned to a dimly lit rear hallway of the Hotel, where you exit the elevator safe at last.
The Tower Shops where you can buy Tower of Terror merchandise are located at the exit. You will have had a photograph taken during one of the drop sequences that you can buy for about $16 at the ride exit; most people seem to buy these.
Having pledged mid way through the ride that I would never go on it again I have to admit a couple of hours later I headed back to it!
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