The story goes that on a dark and stormy night in October 1939, the Hollywood Hotel was the site of a major disaster when a lightening bolt hit the hotel causing much damage, and slipping the occupants of the elevator into a whole other dimension. Now, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror invites guests to drop in… if they dare!

Based on a “lost episode” of the classic Twilight Zone television series, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror looms ominously at the end of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot and is home to one of the premiere thrill rides at Disney’s California Adventure.

As guests wait in line, they are lead into the hotel lobby. Once there, a bellhop directs guests into one of two libraries, since there is an “Out of Service” sign on the elevator. Once the door closes and the lights dim, an old black and white television on the wall shows a short snippet of a Twilight Zone episode hosted by Rod Serling.

“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.”

With that, the back door of the library opens and guests are lead into the harsh industrial environment of the boiler room where the service elevator is beckoning to take guests on a daring journey. Finally, a bellhop will direct guests to their seats in the maintenance elevator that will take them to their room. As the elevator pulls back from the loading area and smoothly rises, the doors open revealing a huge mirror reflecting the occupants of the elevator. “Say goodbye to the real world.”

Although the ride is designed to feel like a freefall, the elevator is actually accelerated downward faster than the pull of gravity for extra thrills. As the elevator rises and falls in a series of unpredictable drops, this attraction is one that really lives up to its name.

Additional Trivia and Fun Facts:

* The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened on May 5, 2004.
* The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror stands at 183 feet tall making it the tallest attraction at the resort, as well as the tallest building in Anaheim.
* All the cast members wear a costume that resembles that of a 1930’s bellhop. At over $1,000 per uniform, it is the most expensive costume in the various theme parks.
* There are 3 elevator shafts with 2 elevators per shaft. Each large elevator is equipped with 6 rows of seats accommodating 21 passengers.
* In an effort to be true to the spirit of The Twilight Zone, Disney Imagineers reportedly watched every episode of the original television show at least twice. The attraction building is littered with references to Twilight Zone episodes.
* One referenced episode is “Little Girl Lost.” Chalk marks on the wall are in the same place they were in the episode when trying to find where the portal to find the girl was.
* In the lobby of the hotel on a dusty couch sits Talking Tina from the Twilight Zone episode “Living Doll”.
* An envelope with the name Rod Serling on it can be found in the library near the exit. Behind the envelope, there are books with random Twilight Zone episode titles on the spines.
* Many of the items in the queue and other areas of the attraction are from actual episodes of the original Twilight Zone series, such as a broken stopwatch, a dented thimble in the lobby, and a metal robot in the library.
* Many of the drop sequences feature assisted freefall, where the elevator is propelled downward at speeds faster than gravity, making you rise off your seat and giving you the sensation of weightlessness for a couple seconds.
* During the 2006 Halloween Time promotion, The Tower of Terror received decorations and minor enhancements. Items include Halloween decorations in the hotel lobby, items surrounding the exterior of the building and a selection of cast members in period costumes including a reporter, a janitor and a pair of 1930s Los Angeles citizens. There was also a story time with the janitor and reporter on selected nights.