Multiple sources are reporting that The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, has resumed regular operation after “months of work” to the left elevator shaft of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Both elevator sides of the attraction are now running, but the sources report that Disney cast members have indicated that the right-side elevator shaft is expected to close at some point in the near future for similar work.
The Tower of Terror attraction opened in 1994 and uses a vast amount of technology to merge horizontal and vertical movement, which was reported by ELEVATOR WORLD founder William C. Sturgeon in 1996. He said that the gearless machines are “obviously” manufactured by Otis but indicated at the time that Otis could not mention their involvement in the project.
The “first-of-its-kind” attraction opened as part of the expansion of the (named at the time) Disney-MGM Studios with the addition of Sunset Boulevard. The attraction implements “a one-of-a-kind ride system where the ride vehicles would not only move up and down for the drops but also have the ability to leave their elevator shafts and move forward and back,” according to WDW Magazine. Originally, the attraction included one single drop for 13 stories, but a refurbishment changed this to a random drop sequence to always keep guests on their toes.
Tower of Terror is the second-tallest attraction in the Walt Disney World Resort, standing 199 ft. The tallest is Expedition: Everest at 199.5 ft.
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