Ok here I go
K
Well the tower is 199 feet tall because the faa rules state that anything built over 200 feet must have red and white blinking lights. You drop a total of 185 feet each full drop (about 30 every partway drop) The tower is twlight zone themed (sp?) :brick:
um heres a review
Upon arriving at the Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida, your eyes are focused on one thing: the building that is towering above everything else, the building that dominates the skyline, the old building that appears to be decaying and structurally unsound, The Hollywood Tower Hotel. After parking your car, The Hollywood Tower Hotel seems to have your attention. You board a tram that transports you to the main gate of the Disney-MGM Studios. Once inside the park, you briskly walk down Hollywood Boulevard and take a right onto Sunset Boulevard, on which The Hollywood Tower Hotel resides at the end of the street. You are taken back to the 1930s and 1940s period with the aid of extremely detailed sights and some proverbial tunes of the time (Moonlight Serenade and In the Mood). Walking down Sunset Boulevard, you get your first quality inspection of the looming structure, beholding the rich details and uniqueness of it. You observe The Hollywood Tower Hotel sign near the top of the building, noticing the "Hollywood" part of it hangs crooked. Some of the letters flicker on and off, revealing the age and neglection of the 199 foot hotel. Now just outside of the attraction, you see a sign informing you of the wait time, restrictions, and FastPass option. You then make a right and see a sundry of benches for those who do not wish to experience the attraction. The path now divides. Straight ahead are more benches, and to the left is the daunting entrance with a Hollywood Tower Hotel sign welcoming you. After glancing at the sign for a moment, you notice there is something strange about it. Mysteriously, it seems that the words "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror" appear and disappear every so often. Looking away from the sign and into the once gated entrance, you see shrubbery and trees everywhere. You are then greeted by a bellhop who's raiment consists of maroon and black colored pants and shirt, covered by a coat with The Hollywood Tower Hotel logo on it, along with a bell cap. Dangling from the left side of the opened gates is an eviction notice from 1939. Continuing further into the densely planted, over-grown garden, you hear a variety of Big Band songs (Mood Indigo, Deep Purple, Can't Get Started, and We'll Meet Again) from the 1930s. The air begins to become foggy. Old, broken planters and directional signs are seen at various places around the garden walls. Rounding a corner to the right, you hear screams and thunder that seem to originate from inside The Hollywood Tower Hotel. Gazing up at the hotel through the foliage and mist, a startling discovery is made. It appears that the hotel is charred by lightning, and part of it seems to have vanished. Every so often you can see the doors on the hotel open and close as the elevator gets to the top, although something about the whole thing is out of the ordinary. These elevators look out of control, dropping suddenly and ascending quickly. Moving along, an old fountain comes into view. You can easily see the fountain used to be something special, a spectacular image to behold. But now it sits empty with dead vines growing above and around it. Examining the area to the left, you see graceful statues in the midst of all the over-grown plants. Nearing the hotel, you make a right. On the hotel itself is a sign that indicates the building was established in 1917. Proceeding to the left, you see the doors that lead inside the hotel and make another left to enter. It is apparent that this room is the lobby. You get an overwhelming feeling that this place used to be something unique. On the wall is a thirteen diamond award. Even the feeble minded get a sense of the elegance the place once had. Now, however, the place is covered with dust, giving it an unkempt look. It is also evident that something terrible must have taken place here. To the right you see concierge desk with luggage left on the floor beside it. Also near the desk is a poster that informed the hotel guests years ago that Anthony Fremont and his orchestra would be playing at the Tip Top Club. To the left are chairs and a table with a mahjongg game still waiting to be finished. Straight ahead, in front of a fireplace, are settees on an elegant rug with The Hollywood Tower Hotel logo on it. To the right of the settees is the front desk. You now take a right and come to a podium stationed by another bellhop. Directed by the bellhop to go to the library, you pass a directory, noticing it has been untouched for years by the letters that are missing in words. Now entering the library, you see books and artifacts lining the shelves. In the corner, positioned high on a shelf, sits a television. A bellhop enters the room with you, the doors shut, the lights go off, and the television turns on with a flash! On it, an eyeball, a crashing window, a door, and the equation E=MC^2 swirl with stars in the background. You start to feel a bit uncomfortable, recognizing that this is an episode of The Twilight Zone with that familiar music: do do do do do do do do. Rod Serling, the show's creator, then speaks.
"You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension. A dimension of sound. A dimension of sight. A dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into...The Twilight Zone!"
You now begin to squirm, feeling uneasy with your panic-stricken heart racing. Rod Serling continues to deliver his message.
"Hollywood, 1939. Amid the glitz and the glitter of a bustling, young movie town at the height of its golden age, The Hollywood Tower Hotel was a star in its own right; a beacon for the show business elite. Now, something is about to happen that will change all that. The time is now, on an evening very much like the one we have just witnessed. Tonight's story on The Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction. This, 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 the star. And this elevator travels directly to...The Twilight Zone!"
Flash! The television turns off and the light come back on. In the video, it shows a bellhop, two movie stars, a child star, and her governess boarding an elevator at the hotel in the middle of an enormous storm. As the elevator neared the top of the elevator shaft, lightning struck the hotel and the elevator dropped and ultimately disappeared along with part of the hotel. Now, you exit at the opposite end of the library. Walking into the narrow hallway, a boisterous rumbling sound emanates. Following the pathway, you realize that you are in the boiler room of the hotel. Huge equipment is everywhere. Continuing through the dark, intimidating room, you eventually come to the service elevator which does not look safe or normal at all. Here, a bellhop gives boarding instructions.
"Ladies and gentlemen, a warm and gracious welcome to The Hollywood Tower Hotel. In just a few moments, your elevator will arrive to take you to your rooms. When the elevator arrives, we will board one row at a time. On the elevator, we ask that there be no eating, drinking, smoking, videoing, or flash photography because we have several movie stars staying with us and they wish to have their privacy. Also, we ask that you hang on to any loose items that you might wish to keep such as hats, glasses, cameras, and small children."
You wonder what the heck this guy is talking about and what kind of elevator it is you are about to board. DING! The elevator arrives. The bellhop begins the boarding procedure. You are baffled as to why you have to sit down and have a lap bar or seat belt hold you in on this elevator. Once the lap bars and seat belt are securely locked, the bellhop speaks again.
"Are there any questions? No? Well, if you need anything, just scream. We hope you enjoy your stay here, and do feel free to 'drop' in again."
You do not have very long to feel alarmed. The doors close, the lights dim, and the elevator ascends quickly as Rod Serling speaks.
"You are the passengers on a most uncommon elevator about to ascend into your very own episode of... The Twilight Zone."
DING! The elevator eases to a stop and the doors eerily open. A hallway of rooms appear with a window at the end of it. A strange smell spreads through the elevator. ZAP! All of a sudden, in the middle of the vestibule, five human figures begin to materialize! You quickly realize that those five figures are the people that were on the elevator that fateful night back in 1939. The five people creepily beckon you to come with them. Air begins to circulate. ZAP! The five ghostly figures impetuously vanish. BOOM! FLASH! The lights go out and the hallway darkens. The whole corridor vanishes! Stars appear out of no where, even inside the elevator! The window at the end of the hallway begins to move forward towards the elevator. CRASH! The window breaks and you are left staring into the hall of stars. The doors close quickly and the elevator rapidly ascends. You hear Rod Serling speak again.
"One stormy night long ago, five people stepped through the door of an elevator and into a nightmare. That door is opening once again, and this time, it's opening for you."
DING! The elevator doors open and you are staring into darkness. The passageway slowly illuminates. SCREECH! The elevator slowly lurches forward out of the elevator shaft and into the passageway. A creepy feeling comes over you. The Twilight Zone music begins to play. There's no doubt about it...this place must be The Twilight Zone. Looking below and above the elevator, you see what seems to be like nothing. It appears that you are just spookily creeping along with nothing below or above you except space. On the sides of the elevator, warped objects begin to appear. You see the five ghostly figures again, a door, the formula E=MC^2, the crashing window, and a gigantic eyeball with a picture of you in the pupil of it. Up ahead is a wall of stars. As the elevator creeps closer, it begins to swirl into a vortex of stars. FLASH! The stars disappear and the wall splits. The elevator continues moving. The air becomes very hot and heavy. Rod Serling speaks again.
"You are about to discover what lies beyond the fifth dimension. Beyond the deepest, darkest corner of the imagination...in the Tower of Terror."
Thunder booms and lightning flashes. The elevator comes to a dead stop in complete darkness. Everything is still and quiet. SWOOSH! The elevator drops about six or seven stories at an astonishing rate. ZOOM! The elevator races to the top of The Hollywood Tower Hotel. DING! The doors open and reveal how high up the elevator ascended. The back of The Hollywood Tower Hotel sign is visible through the doors, somewhat blocking the view. SWOOSH! The elevator drops a few floors, but quickly climbs upward to the top again. FLASH! SWOOSH! The elevator drops the full thirteen stories at an incredibly amazing speed. ZOOM! The elevator ascends again, stopping about halfway up the Tower. BOOOOM! BOOM! FLASH! FLASH! The elevator shudders as thunder and lightning are right in front of your face! ZOOM! The elevator suddenly accelerates to the top of the Tower again and descends a few floors coming to a stop in one, fluid motion. SWOOSH! The elevator drops all the way to the bottom again, shaking and shuddering the whole way down! ZOOM! The elevator feverishly races to the top of the Tower again, more rapidly than ever. All in one motion, without stopping, the elevator speeds to the bottom of the Tower, shocking and thrilling you. The Twilight Zone music is heard as the elevator comes to a stop. Rod Serling appears on a screen right in front of the elevator with all of the Twilight Zone icons swirling around him. The elevator backs up and the doors close. You now realize that you are in the hotel basement. The dust-blanketed basement is full of old objects and artifacts. A slot machine sits in one corner, a silver spaceship hangs near the ceiling, and an old, spooky dummy sits in a chair in the other corner. Rod Serling speaks for a final time.
"A warm welcome back to those of you who made it, and a friendly word of warning; something you won't find in any guidebook. The next time you check into a deserted hotel on the dark side of Hollywood, make sure you know just what kind of vacancy you're filling...or you may find yourself a permanent resident of...The Twilight Zone."
The elevator stops in front of the doors. The doors open to reveal a bellhop. The lap bars and seat belts unhook and you exit the elevator. Not too far ahead, you see a pictures of yourself on the ride. After laughing and admiring the picture, you make a left followed by another left into the Tower Hotel Gifts shop, passing the Sunset Room. Lots of interesting and appealing hotel merchandise inhabits the shop. Exiting the gift shop, you find yourself in a courtyard-type area outside. An overwhelming feeling of excitement begins to overcome you after experiencing such a sensational attraction. Walking to the right past several benches, you find yourself back at the entrance to the attraction. An extraordinary feeling urges you to go back inside the once luxurious hotel and experience the attraction again and again and again and again
(from tower-of-terror.com)
Some Facts
Walt Disney Imagineers screened each of the 156 episodes of The Twilight Zone at least twice to capture the mood of the television series. Many episodes were screened three or four times and studied in regard to props, guest stars, settings, and music for inspiration, as well as to find the most representative quotes and characteristic phrases used by Serling in his role as host of the show.
Rod Serling's introduction to the attraction, as viewed in the Library, was taken in part from an episode of the series titled, "It's a Good Life." This episode told the story of a little boy who could use his mind to change things. Serling began the episode with the words, "Tonight's story on The Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction. This, as you may recognize, is a…" Imagineers completed that introduction with new dialogue customized for the attraction. For continuity, Serling's own voice was overdubbed by a sound-alike actor to blend with the newly-added narration.
The "fifth dimension" scene of the attraction was inspired in part by the "Little Girl Lost" episode of The Twilight Zone. In the episode, a little girl rolls under her bed and disappears into another dimension.
At 199 feet tall, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is the tallest theme park attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort. Building materials included 1,500 tons of steel; 145,800 cubic feet of concrete; and 27,000 roof tiles were used. The attraction opened on July 22, 1994 on Sunset Blvd.
One set of leather chairs is an authentic Renaissance antique. (Similar sets of these 17th century Portuguese renaissance chairs are in New York's Metropolitan Museum and London's Victoria and Albert Museum. ) Other chairs were from the exclusive Jonathan Club, a well-known Los Angeles landmark built in the 1920s. Numerous French bronzes are found throughout the hotel, some by the famous 19th century artist Moreau, whose work graced many of the best hotels of the period. Even some recreations of a famous American's own work can be found in the lobby. "Four Pages of Hilarious Star Caricatures by Walt Disney" is featured in Photoplay Magazine on the concierge desk.
When it opened, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was the fastest thrill attraction at any of the Disney theme parks. This was because the rate at which you drop is literally faster than the acceleration due to gravity.
Images of Mickey Mouse have been hidden throughout the attraction by mischievous Imagineers. During the entire show, for example, the little girl is holding a Mickey mouse doll. 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. Although probably not intentional, the bell for the elevator above Rod Serling's head in the Library film also bears a resemblance to those famous mouse ears. A reference to Mickey can also be seen in the sheet music in the Library which is a copy of actual music written in the 1930s.
Other Information About The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
The capacity per elevator is twenty two passengers.
On the gates at the entrance to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is an eviction notice from October 31, 1939. This has since been removed.
On the directory in The Hollywood Tower Hotel lobby, there is an anagram that spells "evil Tower U R doomed".
On The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, your picture is taken twice. The first time is right after the doors open for the Corridor Scene. This picture appears in the Fifth Dimension Scene in the pupil of the eyeball. (This has not worked properly for quite some time, and now a pre-selected picture is used.) The second time your picture is taken is in the drop shaft. The camera is hidden in The Hollywood Tower Hotel sign.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror elevators are pulled downward rather that just a freefall to give it an extra thrill. The G Force is 1.3.
The motors that are used in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror are three times more powerful than those that were used in the World Trade Center.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was struck by lightning during construction.
By the concierge desk in the hotel lobby, there is a 13-diamond award. In reality, it only goes up to 5.
The room numbers in the Corridor Scene are 414-426.
The footage in the library video in which Rod Serling appears was taken from the episode "It's a Good Life." In the episode, Rod says, "This, as you may recognize, is a map of the United States."
The Hollywood Tower Hotel was established in 1917.
The child actress in the library video and on the ride is Lindsay Ridgeway. The doll she is holding is one of the first Mickey Mouse dolls ever made, and it is the only Hidden Mickey that the design team has confirmed.
The luggage in the lobby is a complete set made from genuine alligator skin.
While looking through a 1930s furniture catalog, Imagineers decided to call the company to see if they were still in business. They were, and Walt Disney Imagineering had them reproduce two settees for the lobby.
It is said that Imagineers had mahjongg players set up the game in the lobby so guests who know how to play the game can see that it is authentic.
The top speed for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is said to be about 39mph.
The seating arrangement for the Alpha and Charlie parts of the attraction is as follows:
6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4 3 3 3
2 2 2 2 1 1 1
The seating arrangement for the Bravo and Delta parts of the attraction is as follows:
6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4 3 3 3
2 2 2 2 1 1 1
The loading arrangement for Alpha and Charlie is as follows:
Elevator Door
2 4 6 5
2 4 6 5 3 1
2 4 6 5 3 1
2 4 6 5 3 1
The loading arrangement for Bravo and Delta is as follows:
Elevator Door
5 6 4 2
1 3 5 6 4 2
1 3 5 6 4 2
1 3 5 6 4 2
This was brought to my attention by Steve. When you board the elevator, on the left side, outside of the elevator itself, is an inspection certificate that's dated Oct. 31, 1939, and signed by "Cadwallader". Cadwallader was a character in the sixth Twilight Zone episode "Escape Clause" who actually turned out to be the Devil himself. Something else I just remembered that is pretty substantial: the inspection certificate number is 10259, which is cool because The Twilight Zone's first episode ("Where Is Everybody") premiered on Oct. 2, 1959.
The props used in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror were collected at several different places ranging from auctions to junkyards.
The phone props in The Hollywood Tower Hotel aren't ordinary period phones. The phones do not have dials. In hotels, they had these all over the place, and you would be connected to the hotel operator whenever you picked it up.
The hotel has an extensive art collection that includes such things as marble busts, temple figures, shields, bowls, and candlesticks.
Some of the Imagineers that collected the props for the attraction are Show Set's Arden Ashley and Ken Gomes and Coordinations's Michelle Rodriguez.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has a forty inch height requirement.
The bank of infrared lights on the interior roof of the AGV (Autonomous Guided Vehicle) are specifically run off of battery power from the AGV itself. Their purpose is to illuminate the seating area of the AGV as it passes through the show scenes. It's interesting to note that there are still no on board cameras on the AGV's themselves, even at this late date. This is due to the fact that any signal transmitted from a camera to a recording device inside the building would work intermittently at best, thus the decision for static mounted cameras is still a sound one.
The drop profile has recently been changed again, but only slightly. The elevator is now lifted a bit higher during the part where the photo that is available to buy is taken. Also, the picture is taken as you are dropping now.
Here are the names of a few of the actors in the video: Bellhop - Parviz Perry Vessali; Child Star - Lindsay Ridgeway; Nanny - Charlotte Helms
The landscaping is meant to remind people of the chaparral-covered hills of Griffith and Elysian Parks located in Los Angeles, California.
The architecture of The Hollywood Tower Hotel was inspired by the revival styles that swept California in the early 20th century. The hotel is modeled after the style of such landmarks as the Mission Inn (Riverside, CA), the Chateau Marmont (Hollywood, CA), and the Biltmore Hotel (Downtown Los Angeles, CA).
Hundreds of people auditioned for the part of the Rod Serling sound-alike. Rod Serling's widow made the final selection after listening to an audio recording of the sound-alike.
In the Fifth Dimension scene on the Foxtrot side, the swirling stars form a Hidden Mickey just before they disappear. (From tower-of-terror.com)
Here ya go :sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: :wave:
). If you can point me in the right direction ASAP, that would be nice.
