1958 saw the premiere of The Time Element a teleplay written by Rod Serling. The teleplay morphed into the phenomenon The Twilight Zone. In 1994 Disney decided to offer its guests the chance to experience the something
Picture if you will...
October 31st, 1939 five guests entered an elevator at the lavish Hollywood Tower Hotel; a young couple, an overworked bellhop, a young girl, and her nanny. They boarded, and started their trip to the Tip Top Club. Just as they were about to arrive at their floor, lightening struck the tower and sent them directly into...
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The Tower of Terror is quite possibly one of the most richly themed attractions in all of Walt Disney World. It stands 199 feet over Sunset Boulevard and can be seen from Morocco in Epcot's World Showcase. For this reason, the hotel has a Moroccan flair. Designers also chose 199 feet since at 200 feet, the FAA requires red beacons. Imagineers decided that having red beacons on the building would destroy any sense of reality they created.
The Tower of Terror has gone through numerous changes since it opened. Originally, it had one single drop. Eventually another drop was added and then a third. The current show today chooses a drop sequence at random from a computer program. An announcement made recently by Walt Disney Corporation stated that Tower will again this summer receive another overhaul, adding to the random bank of drops.
One of the biggest challenges to WDI (Walt Disney Imagineering) was how to put Rod Serling on the screen after he had died. Through a long process of interviews and auditions Mark Silverman was chosen to play the dead actor, not by WDI, but by Serling's wife.
Tower of Terror has a charm like no other attraction at Walt Disney World. While standing in queue which was designed to look like the gardens, an eerie mist rises from all around you. Music slowly wafts around the silent trees. A dried up water fountain is stained from the years of misuse. The lobby has been left untouched since that night in 1939. Dust covers everything.
A true Twilight Zone fan will notice little nods to the series everywhere. These nods will have to be left for me to point out when we (minus Cheryl) are actually on the attraction since there will be much more appreciation gained from them at that time.
I realize that you are not comfortable with heights but I know that you will appreciate this. Its a free-fall attraction but you are always enclosed. There is a second where you can look out and see the park, but it is partially blocked and I can tell you when we get to that part so you can close your eyes. I truly believe you would enjoy this.
Here is a commercial that aired in 2003 to get you excited for it.
"This is as you may recognize is a maintenance service elevator, still in operation, waiting for you. We invite you if you dare to step aboard because in tonight's episode you are that star... and this elevator travels directly to... The Twilight Zone."
If you need some coaxing, I will buy you a stuffed animal. :-)
THIS WEEK IN WDW HISTORY:
1845 - Florida becomes the 27th state.
1888 - The city of Marceline, Missouri is incorporated. This will be the future home of boyhood for Walt Disney.
1914 - Animator and Director Ward Kimball is born in Minnesota. He contributed to Fantasia, Pinochio, and Dumbo.
1976 - Walt Disney World welcomes it's 50-millionth guest, Susan Brummer.
1983 - The EPCOT attraction Journey into Imagination debuts. It will have an official opening later this week.
1999 - A third drop is added to the Tower of Terror.
1999 - Doug LIVE! opens in Disney-MGM studios.
1999 - Kail River Rapids and Maharajah Jungle Trek open in Animal Kingdom.
2003 - Tapestry of Dreams holds its final performance. (The descendant of Tapestry of Nations, quite possibly the best parade ever to be performed at a Disney park.)
2006 - Give Kids the World celebrates it's 20th anniversary. It is a non-profit organization for fulfilling the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses. Many Cast Members spend their only day off helping the organization.
2009 - Disney Cruise Line announces construction has started in Germany on two new ships the Dream and Fantasy.
2010 - The 17th Annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival beings. It will continue to show through May.
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