If you’ve walked down Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios lately, you’ve probably noticed that The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is looking a little different these days. The beloved drop tower, which has been part of the park since 1994 (five years after Hollywood Studios itself opened), is in the middle of an exterior refresh, and this week brought the most visible progress yet.
A Fan-Favorite Getting Some TLC
It’s no secret that Tower of Terror is one of the most requested rides at Walt Disney World. Even with newer, IP-driven attractions popping up around Hollywood Studios, this one still pulls a crowd, and its Lightning Lane return times are proof of that. So when scaffolding starts creeping up the sides of that iconic hotel facade, guests notice, and they ask questions.
What’s Changed This Week
According to a report from WDWNT, as of September 2, scaffolding has expanded to cover the corner section next to the tower shaft. Photos in that report show the majority of the facade above the ride’s sign now hidden behind scaffolding, and crews have added even more structure on the building’s right side.
At the same time, the gray repainting job on the balcony and chimney stack has picked up speed. Larger sections now show the new coat of paint compared to what fans were seeing just a few weeks ago.
Catching You Up: How Long Has This Been Going On?
This particular refurbishment isn’t new. It actually kicked off back in early May, starting quietly in the attraction’s outdoor queue. By the end of that month, the decorative flags near the gift shop exit had been taken down and replaced with a scrim while work continued out of sight.
Come early July, scaffolding made its first appearance on the tower’s upper exterior, rising along the far right side of the facade above the gift shop. Then in August, crews began repainting sections above the gift shop, which set the stage for the bigger scaffolding push and paint work we’re seeing now in September.
The Good News: The Ride Is Still Running
Here’s the part every Tower of Terror fan wants to know: none of this is affecting the ride itself. Disney has left gaps in the scaffolding right at the ride vehicle’s windows, so the views you get during your actual drop sequence haven’t changed one bit.
Planning a Trip? Here’s What to Expect
If Hollywood Studios is on your itinerary in the next few weeks, just be ready for a tower that looks a bit different from the postcards. There will be visible scaffolding and patches of gray paint across the upper facade and balcony area. But operationally, everything else should feel normal. Wait times, Lightning Lane availability, and the ride experience itself aren’t expected to change while this work continues.
Have you spotted the scaffolding on your last trip to Hollywood Studios? We’d love to hear what you think about Disney doing this kind of visible work while the parks stay open. Let us know in the comments!
