Credit: Haydn Blackey, FlickrWalt Disney World Resort has removed even more scaffolding from the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction facade in the latest development in a refurbishment project that began in May. Here’s what to know before your next visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
A Months-Long Construction Project at Walt Disney World
The first whispers of construction on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction came in the early spring, when Walt Disney World Resort filed a construction permit for the haunted drop ride. In May, Disney refreshed portions of the outdoor queue. When that project was complete, protective scrim fabric was applied to decorative elements of the Hollywood Tower Hotel facade above the gift shop at the ride’s exit.
In July, the first scaffolding appeared in the same area on the right side of the building. Over the last several months, scaffolding has slowly wrapped around the front of the Hollywood Tower Hotel and crawled up, following the path of the elevator shafts until it reached the top of the nearly 200-foot-tall building.
As construction progressed, it became clear that Walt Disney World Resort was repainting the entire facade of the attraction. New patches of bright pink paint appeared, waiting to be given the intentionally-worn treatment that gives the structure its haunted, decrepit look.
The first scaffolding disappeared earlier this month, in the same spot above the gift shop where it first appeared. The paint job, while fresh, matched how the attraction has looked for decades, and suggested that Walt Disney World Resort didn’t plan to make the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror look much different than when it opened in 1994. Instead, Disney simply appears to be refreshing the building after years of weather, sun, and other elements had worn it down.
Now, more scaffolding has disappeared from the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Latest Update to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
On September 29, WDWNT reported that more scaffolding had been removed from the right side of the Hollywood Tower Hotel facade, above the gift shop and ride exit. Bright yellow squares visible in this area earlier this month have been painted over, giving it a seamless, worn-pink look.
As Walt Disney World Resort continues to refresh the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction, Disney Park guests can expect to see more scaffolding gradually disappear from the building. However, Disney has not confirmed when it expects the project to be complete.
Nevertheless, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction and its gift shop remain open, with no planned refurbishment or closure on Walt Disney World Resort’s operational calendar.
Which attraction should Walt Disney World Resort refurbish next? Share your ideas with Inside the Magic in the comments!
