Throughout its entire history, The Hollywood Tower Hotel was the only place to be. It was the definition of glamor and luxury for film, and radio stars as well as all members of the Hollywood elite. Then it all came to a screeching, grinding halt!
On October 31st, 1939, a thunder storm hung the tinsel on Tinsel Town child star. Meanwhile at the hotel five people boarded the main elevator to the 12th floor. This floor housed the well-known and exclusive Tip Top Club.
The people on board were child actress Sally Shine and her governess, Emeline Partridge. Also on board were singer, Carolyn Crosson and her fiancée, Gilbert London, and hotel bellhop,Dewey Todd. Then at 8:05pm lighting struck the building and destroyed an entire wing of the building.
It was this incredible force that also made its way to the passengers on board the elevator at the time. The elevator plummeted to the lobby while the fateful people aboard that elevator became ghosts; trapped into the hotel for all eternity. Now they are trapped and haunt the corridors of the hotel forever. Now the building is empty and overgrown; which makes it feel eerily similar to a tomb.
For those who may not know, this it is the story of the Disney Theme Parks attraction, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Rod Serling’s horrifying series, The Twilight Zone comes to life as people ride in a service elevator to witness what happened to the five people that rode the elevator that stormy night.
The ride starts out as guests are “checking in” but their rooms aren’t ready yet. Instead they are ushered into the library of the building. Once the doors are shut the television comes on to show a long-lost episode of The Twilight Zone, which shows the events of what happened at the hotel.
After that the guests move on to the basement of the hotel and find themselves at the maintenance service elevator. Guests then board the service elevator and ride up to a floor in which the ghosts appear. After they disappear the hallway darkens except for the window; which promptly turns into the window from The Twilight Zone introduction.
The doors of the elevator close and the elevator goes up to what is called “The Fifth Dimension”. Here guests experience the fifth dimension that Rod Serling always spoke of. After that guests are thrusted upward to the top floor and they get a view of the entire park before plummeting down through the hotel.
This continues for a some time and then the guests find themselves back in the basement. Guests then exit through the gift shop and leave the attraction. With one in every Disney theme park, The Tower of Terror is something you don’t want to miss.
But on January 3rd, 2017, The Tower of Terror in Disney’s California Adventure will be shutting its doors. People can venture inside for is being called “Late Check Out”, a limited time feature that allows thrill seekers to experience the drop sequence of the ride in total darkness. Soon that specific Tower of Terror will close to allow the ride to be converted into Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout.
Mission Breakout will feature that same type of ride structure as the Tower of Terror did, and will be using the same building. As stated in a YouTube video by Disney Executive, Joseph Rohode, the ride is going to be set in The Collector’s fortress, and the Guardians are captured. Though, Rocket has managed to escape and it’s up to you (the rider) to help him defeat The Collector.
It promises to be quite exciting and start a trend of new Marvel rides for Disney Parks. For now, The Tower of Terror at Disney’s California Adventure is the only one closing, but it is unclear if any other rides may be closing too.
For anyone looking for nostalgia of The Tower of Terror the Disneyland Paris version shares the same design as the one in Disney California Adventure. Also, the original Tower of Terror in Disney World is always going to be around.
Plus, there is a film of the same name is always available to
watch on YouTube or for purchase on Amazon. Unlike the ride though it does not
use any elements of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone.
2016 took so many stars but it seems as though before 2017 could even start it took one of the biggest stars of Disney theme parks.
man running in forestPhoto by 
