Saturday, May 10, 2014

Ten Years of Terror: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror's Tenth Anniversar​y


By Beemerboyz803
On the night of Wednesday, April 5, 2004 (Cinco de Mayo), Hollywood Pictures Backlot at California Adventure was packed with guests, news vans, and more press. They were all there to witness a special event.
Nearly ten years before, on July 22, 1994, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a unique, thrilling, one-of-a-kind freefall attraction opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios, themed after CBS' popular series, The Twilight Zone. Riders would be transported from the regular human world into a lost episode of The Twilight Zone, where five people stepped into an elevator and never returned. The ride instantly gained popularity because it was Disney's Hollywood Studios' first major thrill ride.
For almost two years, from late 2002 to early 2004, a skeleton of sheathed steel scaffolding stood untouched, nestled in the corner of Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Finally, on April 5, 2004, anxious crowds gathered in the pathways of Hollywood Pictures Backlot to be some of the first riders on the park's new mammoth attraction. After a short speech by park personnel, the tower lit up in giant lights, and after a matter of seconds, fireworks exploded off of the top and on the building, celebrating the grand opening of a monumental ride. 
Today, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror still brings laughs, chills, terror, and spills to many guests every year who "drop in" for a surprise. Nothing new has really changed, but pipes were added on top of the opening doors of the tower that can be visible from Disneyland. It is one of the most popular attractions at California Adventure, generally getting wait times about an hour long. 
This past Monday, April 5 (Cinco de Mayo), California Adventure celebrated ten years of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. In July, Disney's Hollywood Studios will celebrate 20 years of their Tower of Terror. Congrats on ten years, and the best of luck for many more!!!
To watch the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opening ceremony from Disney's California Adventure, click here: 

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