"Why Walt Disney World's Tower Of Terror Could Be In Trouble Because Of The New Twilight Zone"

[MisterPenguin]

If a website posts a whole article based on a guess of how a licensing contract is structured, then it's best never to visit that site again considering the lack of journalistic and editorial integrity.

I agree with @lazyboy97o, if the ToT gets rethemed, it'll have nothing to do with the contract license.

Remember how Spirit's original hair-on-fire report that all the ToTs that have TZ were going to be rethemed and everyone was reporting that Disney was losing the TZ license because it costs too much? How did that echo-chamber of a rumor pan out for DHS's ToT so far? DCA's ToT make-over had nothing to do with problems with the licensing agreement.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

There are a few key takeaways I have from reading all of your posts.

1. ToT was made to be outdated, which means it has an ability to stay relevant years to decades after its creation. Look at the game "Cuphead", which implements cartoon styles from the early 1900s in a modern video game; the first of its kind, and critically acclaimed. Look at the loving following ToT has. Even for a timeless classic, it doesn't matter. Case in point; Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones Adventure. Things get "plussed", but the attraction as a whole does not change. ToT does not need a re-skin.

2. The ToT movie (which I admit was really bad) used the hotel's story without ANY mention of the Twilight Zone. This could mean many things, but amid my thoughts A: Disney perhaps doesn't need CBS's permission to remove Twilight Zone from the story; B: CBS was lenient, regardless of motivation / there was a section in the contract that permitted this. Ultimately, this means ToT could, maybe keep the theme and just drop the Twilight Zone. But why should they? Disney has had this mutually beneficial contract with CBS since the Towers opening.

3. The Twilight Zone was already rebooted once, with Forest Whitaker as host. Nothing changed.

4. In light of $hapek wanting everything to be re-skinned at DCA, WDI has been much better at adding new attractions instead of re-theming (except for what, Ellen's Energy Adventure?) at WDW. And they have the space to do so. Why touch RnR and ToT? They're both popular and fan favorites. With the additions of TSL and SWL, I have a feeling DHS is going to be on the back-burner for awhile. Then when the time comes, I can think of many other things that need attention in the park.

5. The writer of the article should be ashamed for posting such nonsense, but i'm no better for sharing it so I apologize for the false alarm :O

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

That movie was lame as hell, and is rightly forgotten.

No, if you were to remove "Twilight Zone" altogether, we already have a perfect example at Tokyo DisneySEA.

Especially because the storyline of DisneySEA's Tower of Terror ties in to other Disney attractions, from Jungle Cruise to the late, great Adventurer's Club.

This wouldn't work as they want to keep the S.E.A. memebers singularity...Why would I want to know of how Hightower died twice in two different towers? They got other memebers or if they wanted to add more as they could see fit.

 

[Tom Morrow]

The story of the Hollywood Tower Hotel would work just fine without The Twilight Zone IP, and this video makes a compelling case as to why:

 

[marni1971]

When I was working at Disney one of my close friends was an Imagineer, who heard from one of his higher ups that they were going to basically gut DHS and make it into star wars, toy story and Monstropolis. This was before the plans were announced to the public and so far 2/3 of those came true. Also with the Guardians ride going in EPCOT it sounds more like a reality. Here's hoping he's correct

Possibly partly correct but not “gut” nor takeover.

The plans - should they happen to any capacity - wouldn’t affect Sunset Blvd nor Tower.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Disneyland made the mistake of gutting ToT. How in the world can you dislike a genuinely nice guy like Chris Pratt? Well...……….I don't, but his movie caused this transformation. WDW has a classic on its hands and WDW especially is all too trigger happy to change them when it isn't needed.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

My thoughts:

What if they re-themed it to a new age design of Twilight Zone with some Black Mirror scary aspects?

Then some adults will complain that it is too scary for their kids because most of those parents decided not to heed any warnings that it could scare young children.

It will then get the boot then re-boot of DCL's GoG.

Some people will be happy, some people will be very upset, and there will be a majority that just won't care.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Putting Jason Peele in Tower is as bad as the Jack Sparrows that have infected every version of the POTC. Just no.

As God as my witness, I will make sure that Jason Peele is never, ever appearing in DHS's ToT!!! Mark my words!!!!

 

[ObscurityPoint]

Doesn't anyone recall the Tv movie based on the ride.....?

It didn't have any reference to The Twilght Zone in this..They could easily keep the same story with out Rod Serling like this movie did...

THANK YOU for bringing this back. I’ve been constructing an article about it. Seems like the park attraction movie that nobody ever mentions or talks about. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing Tokyo DisneySea’s version or something like this coming in if we lost the Twilight Zone theming. Just keep the haunted hotel experience and give it a classic Disney twist. The only thing I would hate to see go is that incredible, chilling music.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Now again, second attempt to return you to Twilight Zone discussions.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Now someone please post something about Tower of Terror to re-rail this derailed thread, LOL.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Let's not get this thread banned please.

 

[Scrooged]

Let's not get this thread banned please.

My apologies..... let’s move back and take a breath and return to the Twilight Zone.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Let's not get this thread banned please.

Based on the content the OP quoted... it should be banned.

 

[Tom Morrow]

My thoughts:

What if they re-themed it to a new age design of Twilight Zone with some Black Mirror scary aspects?

The Black Mirror Tower of Terror

Newly installed SmartElevators connect to your personal smart devices to learn which floor you want to go to automatically. Unfortunately, this gives them access to your Big Data profile which also allows them to learn your biggest fears and forces you to confront them.

 

[Movielover]

Not sure if you've ridden it in the last several years, but I think in 2015 they took out the over the shoulder bars and replaced them with lap bars. This eliminates the head banging on the ride making it a lot more enjoyable. I frequent that park, and while The Beast still has my heart and my vote as one of the best coasters out there-certainly the best at King's Island- I do enjoy Flight of Fear.

They removed the over the shoulder restraints way before 2015. If I recall correctly it was 2001 but I need to check again with my sources. It is a much better ride after that happened. Fun fact the ride originally had 5 trains but when they renovated the restraints they only did it to 3 trains. When I worked there my job had me walking past the 2 old trains sitting in their graveyard. It was a unique thing to see.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Again pointing out that the TV Movie Plot can easily be done without the Twilight Zone element....

The Fifth Dimension sequence..You can go Pitch Black, Put creepy noises before the drop and Boom Free Fall to your hearts content..

 

[The Pho]

THANK YOU for bringing this back. I’ve been constructing an article about it. Seems like the park attraction movie that nobody ever mentions or talks about. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing Tokyo DisneySea’s version or something like this coming in if we lost the Twilight Zone theming. Just keep the haunted hotel experience and give it a classic Disney twist. The only thing I would hate to see go is that incredible, chilling music.

I don’t know, I think it’s talked about a little more than these two gems.

And I’d prefer they just destroy the tower physically than with a reskin. Disney is exceptionally poor at reimagining rides.

 

[Epcot_Imagineer]

Just to try and get some info about licensing, @marni1971 -- do you know anything about the Twilight Zone license agreement that you can share? I'm not looking for price specifics, more on how many years its active for, re-negotiating power for CBS? I figured if anyone would know it would be you.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Based on the content the OP quoted... it should be banned.

I'm conflicted as to rather or not I agree, for obvious reasons lol.