News Walt Disney World's iconic Twilight Zone Tower of Terror billboard to be permanently removed

[maleficentfan]

On my drives from MCO to WDW, there are always two signs I look forward to seeing: the HUGE WDW sign as you enter property and the TOT sign. And I cry every time, not because I'm soft, but because, for me as well as many others, it's a sign we're home. Work is hell. Life is hell. Yet any time I spend at WDW is worth it because, even for a moment, I find myself wrapped up into the stories, the parks, the rides...and the problems of life fade away. It reminds us to breathe...that everything's going to be ok...even for a moment. And that's why I think so many people are so bummed about this being taken down, that Resort TV is going away...it's moments that bring magic to our lives...even for a moment. And that's why it's so disturbing to see so many people dismissing others feelings about even the little stuff. Because this is just the beginning, I fear, with Chapek at the helm.

 

[lewisc]

an emotional attachment to - like Yehaa Bob, Polynesian Aloha show, etc - that I can feel sad are/were gone because they meant so much to so many other people.

Bob Jackson has been back PO since December 2021

 

[mikejs78]

The dismissive as to the loss of these things is pretty egotistical too. There are tons of little things I never experienced and don’t have an emotional attachment to - like Yehaa Bob, Polynesian Aloha show, etc - that I can feel sad are/were gone because they meant so much to so many other people. “Boo hoo who cares about the loss of this sign/tv channel because it doesn’t matter to *me*” is a pretty juvenile and self-absorbed response and reaction to the loss of these things, especially when they are part of the overall nostalgic feel so many have to these parks.

I think this is where I am on this. I understand that some people are sad to see it go. I don't begrudge anyone for feeling that, or missing that, etc. Just as I was sad to see a number of things go/change over the years (Off Kilter, for example, or the EARful tower, or the Lights of Winter...). It's more the outrage that gets me. It's one thing to be disappointed, to miss something, etc., but why does every single thing have to be met with "Disney is going downhill! Death by 1000 cuts! It's the end of Disney as we know it!" Some people felt that way about the Mickey Wand or the BAH. Others were thrilled to get the original views of the park back.

So yeah, disappointment/sadness I get. Outrage, I don't.

 

[Hollywood 1939]

Can I have it?

I was looking at recent footage, I didn't realize how noisy it was. Something that squeaky can't be easy to maintain.

 

[Sw33tBl00d]

Walt Disney World's iconic Twilight Zone Tower of Terror billboard to be permanently removed

The promotional billboard for Tower of Terror has been on World Drive for decades.

www.wdwmagic.com

I am so sad about this. When my dad was alive, he took me to Disney world every year, and he would always take a video or picture in front of this with him and I. Another memory of him will be gone. Seeing this billboard brought out the kid in him.

 

[Kamikaze]

I think this is where I am on this. I understand that some people are sad to see it go. I don't begrudge anyone for feeling that, or missing that, etc. Just as I was sad to see a number of things go/change over the years (Off Kilter, for example, or the EARful tower, or the Lights of Winter...). It's more the outrage that gets me. It's one thing to be disappointed, to miss something, etc., but why does every single thing have to be met with "Disney is going downhill! Death by 1000 cuts! It's the end of Disney as we know it!" Some people felt that way about the Mickey Wand or the BAH. Others were thrilled to get the original views of the park back.

So yeah, disappointment/sadness I get. Outrage, I don't.

And thats why Disney ignores any outrage. Because literally every change is the end of the world.

This sign is cool and all, but its just a sign. It does not impact your ability to enjoy your vacation in any way.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I think this is where I am on this. I understand that some people are sad to see it go. I don't begrudge anyone for feeling that, or missing that, etc. Just as I was sad to see a number of things go/change over the years (Off Kilter, for example, or the EARful tower, or the Lights of Winter...). It's more the outrage that gets me. It's one thing to be disappointed, to miss something, etc., but why does every single thing have to be met with "Disney is going downhill! Death by 1000 cuts! It's the end of Disney as we know it!" Some people felt that way about the Mickey Wand or the BAH. Others were thrilled to get the original views of the park back.

So yeah, disappointment/sadness I get. Outrage, I don't.

The outrage is cumulative. Things add up. People aren’t suddenly bothered by this one thing out of the blue while everything else is going great.

 

[drizgirl]

You know, they said upkeep was getting too expensive. I don't know why they can't just add a strobe light and call it good. I hear that fools a lot of people.

 

[Kamikaze]

The outrage is cumulative. Things add up. People aren’t suddenly bothered by this one thing out of the blue while everything else is going great.

Thats BS and you know it. The outrage is literally every single thing. Usually even before it happens. There are plenty of things to be PO'd about. That doesn't mean every single thing that happens requires outrage and/or being upset.

 

[bhg469]

Thats BS and you know it. The outrage is literally every single thing. Usually even before it happens. There are plenty of things to be PO'd about. That doesn't mean every single thing that happens requires outrage and/or being upset.

Maybe if there were things going on to distract from the little bits of bad news, these minor things wouldn't get so much attention.

 

[Kamikaze]

Maybe if there were things going on to distract from the little bits of bad news, these minor things wouldn't get so much attention.

Even when they announce positive things, people find a way to be upset.

 

[themerebear6453]

It's weird how much this little touch made me enjoy my vacation. We always laughed at our silly joke of how those people have been falling for years. Sometimes we would say, "Won't somebody help them!?" I can hear my mom saying that to me as a kid. Disney is such a cheap product now for such a high cost. Universal is pulling all stops and Disney is hoping my nostalgia brings me back. I haven't quit going yet. I have a young daughter, and I do want to take her, but I'm sad she doesn't get to go to the Disney I did as a kid.

 

[themerebear6453]

I think this is where I am on this. I understand that some people are sad to see it go. I don't begrudge anyone for feeling that, or missing that, etc. Just as I was sad to see a number of things go/change over the years (Off Kilter, for example, or the EARful tower, or the Lights of Winter...). It's more the outrage that gets me. It's one thing to be disappointed, to miss something, etc., but why does every single thing have to be met with "Disney is going downhill! Death by 1000 cuts! It's the end of Disney as we know it!" Some people felt that way about the Mickey Wand or the BAH. Others were thrilled to get the original views of the park back.

So yeah, disappointment/sadness I get. Outrage, I don't.

It's just they're not replacing these cuts with anything good. Off Kilter still hurts. What even plays in that pavilion now?

 

[bhg469]

It's just they're not replacing these cuts with anything good. Off Kilter still hurts. What even plays in that pavilion now?

Some band that seems to me playing Shania Twain every time I walk by! Kidding, sort of, they are ok but off kilter was a real gem.

 

[themerebear6453]

I'm telling you, Universal is the place to be these days. I can't wait to eat at the Super Nintendo World Kinipio's Cafe when Epic Universe opens. I watched a video that explored the one in Japan - the decor AND the food looked amazing. And Volcano Bay is better than Blizzard Beach etc. any day of the week. Plus, there's Universal Monsters, How To Train Your Dragon, etc. coming up. I can't wait to see what Universal does with them.

With my daughter recently becoming huge into Dragons, I can't wait to take her to Universal to experience them at Diagon Alley and eventually How To Train Your Dragon. It will be a few more years before she is big enough for those rides, so Disney is currently only safe in the sense that it has Fantasyland where she can ride everything and we get more value.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

The difference here is that this is an actual loss. A tv channel in a hotel room isn't. But, I'm sure you'll start doing some mental gymnastics again to prove how it was part of the "quintessential Disney Experience"

Just shows how different things have different levels of importance to people, I’ve only seen this billboard a few times but the Info channel/Stacy channel have been a part of every single day we’ve spent at WDW. I’m not that bothered by this, beyond it being another Disney detail lost, but am still bummed we keep losing channels we started each day with. Neither is a huge deal but as someone said earlier it’s death by a thousand cuts.

Ya know, it's been so long since I've been there, I probably wouldn't even notice it's gone.

And ya know, first-timers aren't going to miss it, either.

I don’t think I’d notice either, and we were just there in November, if anything it would be that feeling of “wasn’t there something there before?” I wouldn’t remember what it was.

 

[Rodj]

It did

And not at the same time. The new motor put in on Echo side is only a refurbished motor. This motor still is not able to handle the original Tower4 profiles. Only a new built motor could handle them. This is why Disney modified the sequences to be less intense.

I keep thinking to my self that the state of the Tower is at its absolute worst and surely it will improve, just to be proven wrong a few months later. The audio system is very wonky right now, color projections are being projected in greyscale(such as the hallway scene window projection), and unsynchronized drop sequences. What more can get messed up at this point?

 

[JIMINYCR]

Its an item that I will remember as once being in that spot as I pass by. Over time its a minor thing that will be just a fleeting memory as so many innocuous things Disney has removed over the years. Being a billboard, I'm surprised it lasted this long. Driving by it may have been a 10 second view at the most and although cool to see it had no bearing on my trip, so having an empty spot there wont have any affect on me. It holds far less reasons for me to grieve over its going away than a favored attraction that gets torn down.
But it gives the Disney haters another thing to flame the site over.

 

[Anteater]

Can I have it?

I was looking at recent footage, I didn't realize how noisy it was. Something that squeaky can't be easy to maintain.

That's the sound of the people screaming. It might be a little be broken...

 

[G00fyDad]

I've been to WDW quite a few times and I could not even tell you where this thing is. I don't even remember seeing it or paying much attention to it if I did see it.