I Rode Tower of Terror Alone

We arrived at park opening, like always, but it seemed more crowded than usual. The energy was different; the Storm Troopers standing on top of the entrance turnstiles, talking about the guests below, was a unique addition. It was the first Star Wars Weekend of the year, back when they still held that event at the Disney Hollywood Studios (it was Disney-MGM then).

As the park opened, the massive crowd went left towards the Star Wars “stuff.” There were early morning FastPasses for meet and greets and exclusive merchandise for sale. I told Connie I’d meet up with her later, and I went the other direction.

Right to the queue for the Tower of Terror.

This thrilling drop-ride is widely regarded as one of the best-themed rides in the history of amusement parks. Designed as an abandoned hotel from early Hollywood, the exterior is impressive. But it’s the details inside that fascinated me.

Based on the Rod Serling television show, The Twilight Zone, guests enter the gigantic show building into a dusty, dirty, cobweb filled lobby. There’s a guest register book, statues, sculptures, and era-appropriate architecture. There was no time to look around, though, because I walked right in and was ushered into one of the libraries. Alone.

Here’s where a Rod Serling impersonator appears on a black and white television, giving the backstory of the adventure on which we were about to embark.

The doors opened and I kept moving into the boiler room. See, the regular elevators are out of service, so we have to use the…

Related posts:

The peony blooms opened just days ago,. “Generosity and Surrender” is published by Lisa Steele-Maley.