Say Goodbye: Disney World Confirms End of Tower of Terror as We Know It
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is being transformed piece by piece. As of early August, the scaffolding that has been creeping across the Hollywood Tower Hotel facade all summer has now reached the most visible part of the building.
Scaffolding Reaches the Front of the Hotel
WDWNT reported last week that construction equipment had migrated to the front facade of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, marking a significant progression in a refurbishment project that began taking shape in early July.
The scaffolding has now climbed to the elevator shafts just below the iconic “Hollywood Tower Hotel” lettering — one of the most recognizable architectural details on any building at Walt Disney World Resort. For now, the construction equipment doesn’t block the view from the ride’s windows during the drop sequence, but its presence at the front of the building makes the scale of the project impossible to ignore.
Over by the gift shop — where the scaffolding first appeared weeks ago — crews have applied what appears to be a gray-and-white primer coat to the roof and the wall of the right faux balcony. A black tarp has been taped across decorative windows in that area, presumably to protect those elements from the painting work underway around them.
A Brighter Hotel Emerging
The repainting work accompanying the scaffolding’s progress across the facade is already revealing how the refurbishment is affecting the Hollywood Tower Hotel’s signature appearance. Sections of the building that have been freshly painted are visibly brighter and pinker than the aged, weathered look guests have known for decades. The intentionally distressed finish that gives the attraction its atmosphere hasn’t been applied to those sections yet, suggesting the aged treatment comes as a later step in the process.
The project builds on earlier work completed this summer. A Twilight Zone Tower of Terror queue refurbishment wrapped up in May, after which Disney removed decorative flags from above the gift shop and installed scrim across several facade elements.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror remains open throughout the construction. Walt Disney World Resort has not announced any plans to temporarily close the 32-year-old attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Have you noticed any other signs of construction at the Central Florida Disney parks? Disney Dining would love to hear from you in the comments!
