The Tower of Terror Is Still Open, but Disney World Doesn’t Want Guests To See It
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror remains fully operational at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, even as its exterior disappears entirely behind scaffolding in a construction project that’s been unfolding since early spring.
How the Project Began
Walt Disney World Resort first filed a construction permit for the attraction back in March. Actual work began in early May, focused initially on the outdoor queue area beneath the Hollywood Tower Hotel facade. Shortly after, Disney removed decorative flags near the gift shop and installed protective scrim over portions of the building, likely preparing those areas for the larger construction phase ahead.
Scaffolding first appeared on the building’s exterior in July, initially spotted above the gift shop. Over the following two months, that scaffolding steadily expanded across the front of the structure and climbed higher up the iconic Hollywood Tower Hotel facade.
A Fresh Coat of Paint Takes Shape
The construction appears focused primarily on repainting the building. As scaffolding has moved into new sections of the facade, guests have spotted patches of bright pink paint replacing the weathered, faded coat underneath. The process seems to involve laying down a pink base layer first, likely followed by additional layers designed to recreate the building’s signature aged, haunted look.
Just days ago, Disney Dining reported that scaffolding had reached the very top of the 199-foot-tall structure. That progress has now continued even further.
Construction Now Covers the Entire Hollywood Tower Hotel Facade
According to a WDWMagic report from September 15, scaffolding has since extended to the back of the building, completely enclosing the Hollywood Tower Hotel facade in construction materials. An image shared by the outlet on Facebook captures the building’s fully covered exterior.
Despite being almost entirely hidden from view, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror hasn’t skipped a single day of operation. Walt Disney World Resort has not announced any plans to close the ride, and the company still hasn’t confirmed when the exterior refurbishment is expected to finish.
Has the scaffolding on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror impacted your visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
