Tower of Terror Set Undergo Major Construction at Disney World This Year
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has joined the list of attractions with active construction paperwork at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Permit Points to Upcoming Work
A construction permit filed Tuesday morning with the Orange County Comptroller by Walt Disney World Resort’s Facility Asset Management team names MLC Theming as the contractor for general construction work at the Tower of Terror’s address on Theater of the Stars Drive. The filing is the first public indication that work is planned for the iconic drop ride in 2026.
MLC Theming’s website describes its work as “scenic painting and aging of structures, fabricating facades, carving rock work, and more” — a description that aligns with cosmetic and theming updates rather than mechanical overhauls. Walt Disney World Resort has used MLC Theming before, with the contractor previously credited on projects near Space Mountain and at The Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom Park.
Walt Disney World Resort has not issued any public statement about the Tower of Terror permit or the project’s specific details, which is standard procedure for minor refurbishments.
Ride Expected to Stay Open
The most reassuring detail for guests with upcoming Disney Park vacations: no closure is currently scheduled for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. That absence suggests the construction is cosmetic or structural, rather than anything that would require the ride to go offline. For now, the Hollywood Tower Hotel remains fully operational.
That could shift as the project develops, but Walt Disney World Resort guests have no reason to expect disruption based on what’s known today.
The Last of Its Kind in America
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the sole surviving version of the attraction in the United States. Disneyland Resort retired its iteration in 2017, converting it into Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Modified versions of the original ride continue operating at Disneyland Paris Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort, but Walt Disney World Resort remains the only one where American guests can experience it without a passport.
The permit news arrives as Sunset Boulevard is already deep into transformation. Immediately next door, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is being retooled into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, inspired by the Muppets Mayhem musical series. This project was announced after Walt Disney Imagineering confirmed that Muppets Courtyard and Muppet*Vision 3D would close permanently in 2025 to clear the way for a Monsters, Inc. (2001)-inspired land and roller coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Are you excited about the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster retheme at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Disney Dining would love to hear from you in the comments!
