Happy Birthday, Tower of Terror! This weekend was this ride’s official anniversary.  So in it’s honor, here’s some fun facts you probably don’t already know.

• Background Story: It was Halloween night, October 31, 1939, when a freakish thunder and lightning storm descended on the Hollywood hills while the elite of the film community found sanctuary in the Hollywood Tower Hotel’s elegant lobby. Among those checking in that night were a handsome young couple accompanied by an older, over-worked bellman; and a child actress in blond curls and frilly dress with her stern governess. They were all last seen heading for the elevator. They stepped in, the doors closed, and seconds later the elevator, its passengers, and several sections of the upper stories of the hotel vanished.
• The Imagineers believed that linking the attraction with a recognizable movie or television show would help guests grasp the storyline more.  The Twilight Zone was selected and the Imagineers viewed all 156 episodes at least twice to make sure they captured the essence of the show in both the design of the structure and the story they would tell. However, the story they created was unique and never was part of the series.
• The building not only needed to be themed to Sunset boulevard, but also to match the Morocco Pavilion over in Epocot.  When crossing the bridge that leads from the Disney Traders Shop to Mexico, the hotel is clearly visible behind the Morocco Pavilion. So the Tower was given a slightly Moorish feel and painted a color that was not completely accurate for its era just so it would blend into the background when viewed from Epcot.
• The Imagineers made one mistake when designing the exterior of the building. The “Hollywood Tower Hotel” sign was placed too low on the structure. In fact, the sign would have been underneath the two wings that were destroyed when hit by lightning.
• The building is 199 feet tall as FAA requirements require that all structures 200 feet or more have a flashing red light on top. The Imagineers felt that this beacon would be distracting and opted to come in under this limit.
• The stone sentries at the entrance to the attraction are close replicas of the gates found at the entrance of Hollywood’s Beachwood Drive. In our case, they mark the beginning of the Sunset Hills Estates.
• To the left side of the lobby is a small table. On it we see a game a mahjong was in progress on that fateful Halloween night when disaster struck. The tiles are accurately placed so that guests who know the game will see that it is a faithful recreation. 
• Further along the same wall in the lobby is another table where a young couple was celebrating their engagement with a glass of champagne when lightning struck the hotel. Lipstick can be seen on one of the glasses and a diamond ring can be found on a white glove sitting on the table.
• Beside the concierge desk, also in the lobby, is a poster advertising the Tip Top Club located on the top floor of the hotel. The orchestra leader is Anthony Fremont. If you remember your Twilight Zone episodes, you might recollect a show titled “It’s a Good Life.” In this story, a young boy, named Anthony Fremont, could make people disappear into the cornfield.
• By the concierge desk in the hotel lobby, there is a 13-diamond award from AAA. In reality, the real AAA award system only goes up to 5 diamonds.
• The clip of Rod Serling that is shown in the library was taken from the Twilight Zone episode titled “It’s a Good Life.” However, the voice used is that of Mark Silverman. Mr. Serling’s widow made the final selection after the Imagineers narrowed down the field following hundreds of auditions.
• If you’re a hidden Mickey fanatic, pay close attention during the pre-show video.  The little girl is holding a Mickey plush right before she walks into the elevator. 
• Also, look for the famous silhouette of three circles along the balcony railing just before you enter the building and as a water stain on the wall in the boiler room.
• Artifacts are placed around the library that reflect different episodes on The Twilight Zone, such as the broken glasses, a robot, a trumpet, and many more.
• After being seated, If you look to the side of the car, outside the cage, you can see a “Permit to Operate” certificate dated October 31, 1939. The certificate was signed by Inspector Cadwallader. This is in reference to the Twilight Zone episode “Escape Clause” where Walter Bedeker (played by David Wayne) makes a deal with the devil — a gentleman who calls himself Mr. Cadwallader (played by Thomas Gomez). 
• In addition, the certificate also displays “STATE ID NUMBER 10259.” This is a nod to the date The Twilight Zone premiered on CBS, October 25, 1959
• The fifth dimension room was inspired in part by the “Little Girl Lost” episode of The Twilight Zone. In this show, the daughter of a young couple rolls under her bed and through the wall into another dimension.
• To accomplish a faster-than-gravity fall, the elevator car you are riding in actually enters a secondary elevator car located in the drop-shaft and locks into place.
• After your fall, you are dropped off in the basement of the building.  A large “B” can be seen painted on the inside of the elevator doors, signifying “Basement.” As the doors open, the “B” splits in half creating the number 13.
• More Twilight Zone props can also be found in this area, as well as by the picture viewing area.
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was struck by lightning during construction.

Happy Birthday, Tower of Terror! This weekend was this ride’s official anniversary.  So in it’s honor, here’s some fun facts you probably don’t already know.

• Background Story: It was Halloween night, October 31, 1939, when a freakish thunder and lightning storm descended on the Hollywood hills while the elite of the film community found sanctuary in the Hollywood Tower Hotel’s elegant lobby. Among those checking in that night were a handsome young couple accompanied by an older, over-worked bellman; and a child actress in blond curls and frilly dress with her stern governess. They were all last seen heading for the elevator. They stepped in, the doors closed, and seconds later the elevator, its passengers, and several sections of the upper stories of the hotel vanished.
• The Imagineers believed that linking the attraction with a recognizable movie or television show would help guests grasp the storyline more.  The Twilight Zone was selected and the Imagineers viewed all 156 episodes at least twice to make sure they captured the essence of the show in both the design of the structure and the story they would tell. However, the story they created was unique and never was part of the series.
• The building not only needed to be themed to Sunset boulevard, but also to match the Morocco Pavilion over in Epocot.  When crossing the bridge that leads from the Disney Traders Shop to Mexico, the hotel is clearly visible behind the Morocco Pavilion. So the Tower was given a slightly Moorish feel and painted a color that was not completely accurate for its era just so it would blend into the background when viewed from Epcot.
• The Imagineers made one mistake when designing the exterior of the building. The “Hollywood Tower Hotel” sign was placed too low on the structure. In fact, the sign would have been underneath the two wings that were destroyed when hit by lightning.
• The building is 199 feet tall as FAA requirements require that all structures 200 feet or more have a flashing red light on top. The Imagineers felt that this beacon would be distracting and opted to come in under this limit.
• The stone sentries at the entrance to the attraction are close replicas of the gates found at the entrance of Hollywood’s Beachwood Drive. In our case, they mark the beginning of the Sunset Hills Estates.
• To the left side of the lobby is a small table. On it we see a game a mahjong was in progress on that fateful Halloween night when disaster struck. The tiles are accurately placed so that guests who know the game will see that it is a faithful recreation. 
• Further along the same wall in the lobby is another table where a young couple was celebrating their engagement with a glass of champagne when lightning struck the hotel. Lipstick can be seen on one of the glasses and a diamond ring can be found on a white glove sitting on the table.
• Beside the concierge desk, also in the lobby, is a poster advertising the Tip Top Club located on the top floor of the hotel. The orchestra leader is Anthony Fremont. If you remember your Twilight Zone episodes, you might recollect a show titled “It’s a Good Life.” In this story, a young boy, named Anthony Fremont, could make people disappear into the cornfield.
• By the concierge desk in the hotel lobby, there is a 13-diamond award from AAA. In reality, the real AAA award system only goes up to 5 diamonds.
• The clip of Rod Serling that is shown in the library was taken from the Twilight Zone episode titled “It’s a Good Life.” However, the voice used is that of Mark Silverman. Mr. Serling’s widow made the final selection after the Imagineers narrowed down the field following hundreds of auditions.
• If you’re a hidden Mickey fanatic, pay close attention during the pre-show video.  The little girl is holding a Mickey plush right before she walks into the elevator. 
• Also, look for the famous silhouette of three circles along the balcony railing just before you enter the building and as a water stain on the wall in the boiler room.
• Artifacts are placed around the library that reflect different episodes on The Twilight Zone, such as the broken glasses, a robot, a trumpet, and many more.
• After being seated, If you look to the side of the car, outside the cage, you can see a “Permit to Operate” certificate dated October 31, 1939. The certificate was signed by Inspector Cadwallader. This is in reference to the Twilight Zone episode “Escape Clause” where Walter Bedeker (played by David Wayne) makes a deal with the devil — a gentleman who calls himself Mr. Cadwallader (played by Thomas Gomez). 
• In addition, the certificate also displays “STATE ID NUMBER 10259.” This is a nod to the date The Twilight Zone premiered on CBS, October 25, 1959
• The fifth dimension room was inspired in part by the “Little Girl Lost” episode of The Twilight Zone. In this show, the daughter of a young couple rolls under her bed and through the wall into another dimension.
• To accomplish a faster-than-gravity fall, the elevator car you are riding in actually enters a secondary elevator car located in the drop-shaft and locks into place.
• After your fall, you are dropped off in the basement of the building.  A large “B” can be seen painted on the inside of the elevator doors, signifying “Basement.” As the doors open, the “B” splits in half creating the number 13.
• More Twilight Zone props can also be found in this area, as well as by the picture viewing area.
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was struck by lightning during construction.