MGM Studio's Tower of Terror: Frightful, but Fun
Written: Sep 10 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great themeing, thrill ride seekers will LOVE!
Cons: Can have long lines, may be too scary for some
The Bottom Line: Fun thrill ride that doesn't disappoint- Disney has done it again!
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| BeastieGirl's Full Review: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror |
The first time my husband saw the Tower of Terror, he asked me, “What hotel is that?” I laughed, but had to admit later that the first time I saw it in a friend’s picture, I couldn’t figure out why she would want to take a picture of an old, rundown hotel. That’s what a great job Disney does of making the Tower of Terror as realistic as possible. Located in the MGM Studios theme park at Walt Disney World, the Tower of Terror is one of the more popular attractions.
When I brought my little sister to Disney World for the first time, she was too scared to go on it. I was too scared to go by myself, so it loomed before me as a very frightening attraction indeed. It wasn’t until my husband learned that the Tower of Terror was a free-fall type thrill ride and was determined to go on it with me that I finally faced my fear and found a really cool attraction.
The Tower of Terror is themed around the hit series, The Twilight Zone. Before entering the actual attraction, you are shown a quick video featuring Rod Sterling himself, detailing the story of a family who somehow entered a 5th dimension through an old Hollywood hotel elevator. The elevator is the ride up 13 stories, only to plunge into the unknown- several times! From far away, you can hear the screams of the riders and occasionally catch a glimpse of them as they are falling, but only for a split second- giving the Tower of Terror a bit more notoriety among park goers.
We happened to luck out the first time we went on the Tower of Terror and had virtually no wait (on a Thursday in January). The last time we went (a Saturday in August), there was a decent queue already formed of about 35 minutes or so. In peak season, the wait time can be upwards of 60 minutes. There is a FASTPASS for this ride, where you can get a ticket that will tell you a specific time frame to return and by-pass the long wait. They go fast, so get your FASTPASS early in the day!
The queue is mostly outside, only covered by thick vegetation, including creepy looking Live Oak trees laden with Spanish Moss, to give a more eerie feeling, in my opinion. Music playing softly in the background reminds me of the background music in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It’s very creepy and you’ll only get put more in the mood as you enter the hotel’s dusty and spooky lobby. Even though the Tower of Terror was first introduced only a short time ago in 1994, you would never know it. The folks at Disney have done a fantastic job creating very real effects- even the dried up water fountain at the hotel’s entrance looks like it has been abandoned for many, many years.
Once you make it through the queue and into the lobby, you’ll enter the hotel library where you’ll be given a brief background on the hotel’s haunting (the aforementioned Rod Sterling cameo). Then you’ll enter what appears to be the hotel’s boiler room with several different elevators awaiting brave guests. The elevators have 3 rows of seats, with seats in the back higher than those in the front, so everyone gets a good view. I’ve only sat in the front row, but I haven’t heard that any seat is better than another. Seatbelts will keep you in your seats and there are handles between each seat to grab onto (take note of these). Once the elevator doors close, you’ll very rapidly ascend to the 13th floor and the elevator will reopen its doors. Instead of free falling as you may expect, your elevator will move forward and leave its shaft as you enter… dun dun dun… the Twilight Zone. Briefly, you will get a fantastic view of MGM-Studios before plunging into darkness. You will stop without any jerking (thanks to modern hydraulics) and then you back up, only to fall back down. This happens several times, but every time is a scary surprise.
Before riding the Tower of Terror, I thought it was one big free-fall. Disney puts a delightful spin on that idea, but keeps it frightening all the same. I actually enjoyed the spontaneity of the ride and for anyone seeking a thrill, this is it. The timing of the falls is random, so even if you’ve just gone on this ride, going on it again will give you a different experience.
Sometime during the ride, a picture is taken that you can purchase in the gift shop upon exiting. I love how that works. There’s no other way out, so parents with children, I have no doubt you will not leave the Tower of Terror without spending at least $15. The pictures taken on the ride are pretty funny (after the fact!), and I find it’s usually hard to resist purchasing.
Aside from the ride itself, the queue experience is also quite haunting. Small children may not be so hip on hanging out in line, so if your child isn’t going on the ride, I would suggest keeping them out of the queue as well. There is a height requirement of at least 40 inches tall and of course, as the warnings suggest, those with health issues such as back/neck pain, heart conditions and pregnant women are advised not to ride. The Tower of Terror is a scary ride and I certainly would not recommend it to any young children (even if they are tall for their age).
I highly recommend this attraction to anyone who likes thrill rides. I thought the Tower of Terror would be too scary for me and although my heart felt like it was pumping a little harder than usual, it was a pretty good rush and definitely worth going on. One final recommendation would be to make sure you know where the handles are on the elevator (as I previously mentioned) and who you are sitting next to. The first time I went on the Tower of Terror, a single rider was sitting next to me and when we started to fall, I grabbed her (out of instinct!). The picture taken proves it, but I must admit, it was quite embarrassing to grab a complete stranger like that!
For other Disney World attractions, check out the following links:
Expedition Everest
It's Tough To Be a Bug
Epcot Canada
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Epcot Mexico
Test Track
Spaceship Earth
Pirates of the Caribbean
Country Bear Jamboree
Space Mountain
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Peter Pan's Flight
Carousel of Progress
Top Thrill Rides at Walt Disney World
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb
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