General info
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Category
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TypeTower Ride
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StatusRethemed
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Opened5 May 2004
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Closed3 January 2017
Description
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is loosely based on the television series The Twilight Zone. The storyline of the ride is about the Hollywood Tower Hotel. In 1939 the hotel was struck by lightning, causing not only damage to the hotel building but also transporting a family in one of the elevators to the Twilight Zone. Guests are challenged to join a ride in the elevators of the deteriorated hotel and experience the Twilight Zone for themselves.
The attraction is a freefall ride which includes dark ride scenes on multiple floors in the building. Riders are offered a glimpse of the outside world when the doors of the elevator briefly open.
The high speed elevators of the original Tower of Terror attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios (Walt Disney World) were supplied by Otis Elevator Company. While it has not been confirmed, it is assumed that Otis also supplied the elevators for this installation.
History
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was the second installation of Disney's Tower of Terror attractions.
After the first verison in Disney's Hollywood Studios (Walt Disney World) in 1994, Walt Disney Imagineering created an adapted design for an installation at Walt Disney Studios (Disneyland Resort Paris) in 2007. The adapted design featured a similar theme but a simpler ride system, without the use of Automatic Guided Vehicles. However, the project in Paris was put on hold and the plans instead used for this installation in 2004. Eventually the installation at Walt Disney Studios was built in 2007 as an exact copy.
This simpler ride system was also used for the version in Tokyo DisneySea (Tokyo Disneyland Resort) in 2006, although the theme is different.
The attraction at DCA was rethemed to Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout! in 2017. So far, it is the only Tower of Terror-installation to be rethemed from its original theme.
Rethemed versions:
- Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (2004-2017)
- Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout! (2017-present)
Statistics
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Number of vehicles6 vehicles
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Seats (per vehicle/theatre)21 seats
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Ride duration2 minutes
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Maximum speed55 km/h
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Maximum height32 m