In this post we give an overview of Tower of Terror, a thrill ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to Tower of Terror, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in depth. The Hollywood Studios Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Hollywood Studios.
And if you want to dive into more about the other rides at Hollywood Studios, we have guides to each:
Tower of Terror Basics
Tower of Terror is a thrill ride Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. Tower of Terror:
offers rider switch
is a tier 2 ride in Lightning Lane Multi Pass
does not have a single rider line
is about 4 minutes long
Disney warns that persons not in good health and expectant mothers should not ride. You’ll also want to think twice if you’re prone to motion sickness or claustrophobia.
If you’re visiting Hollywood Studios with small children, you’ll need to mind the 40 inch height requirement. The ride offers rider switch, but the only good options for small kids nearby are lunch and two shows—Unfairly Ever After and Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage.
Where is Tower of Terror located?
Tower of Terror is located at the end of Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios.
Entering the park, you’ll walk down Hollywood Boulevard to the first big intersection (Sunset Boulevard, where the Trolley Car Cafe Starbucks is located) and turn right, you can’t miss Tower of Terror at the end of the street. The entrance is to the right.
If you’re riding it first at rope drop, guests are sometimes held in a queue outside the ride, on Sunset Boulevard, before the ride begins operating.
How to Ride Tower of Terror
We recommend buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass for a day at Hollywood Studios. If you do that, Tower of Terror is one of the most popular tier 2 rides in the park, so you’ll hope to book it in advance.
If you don’t have Multi Pass but have Early Entry, Tower of Terror probably won’t make sense to start with because you’ll instead want to start with Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash. If you do start with Tower of Terror, it will probably make sense to head right next door to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster when you’re done.
Otherwise, as with Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, the big thing to know is that you’ll ideally ride it as part of a visit to the end of Sunset Boulevard, which includes all of:
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (ride)
Tower of Terror (ride)
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage (show)
Unfairly Ever After (show)
You usually won’t able to get through all four of these in one swoop, but you do not want to have to walk up and down Sunset Boulevard four times throughout the day. It’s not the longest walk, of course, but when it’s 90 degree and you’re trotting down pavement, every step counts.
This Elevator Goes Directly To…
Tower of Terror is one of the most intense rides at Walt Disney World. The ride is an elevator drop ride, though these is some story and dark ride elements to go along with the experience (i.e. you don’t just board, go straight up, and drop straight down). The elevator also uses a randomized sequence of drops to keep things interesting.
I’m a huge fan of Tower of Terror. I think the immersive experience is—somehow—underrated. While the scenery isn’t subtle, it’s easy to miss how in-character the Cast Members are. They’re not just eerie, they’re completely unaware of your trip to the Twilight Zone, and they play their roles perfectly.
The build up to the actual drop experience does a good job of building suspense, too. Is it too much? Maybe. When you’ve sat through a lobby, a library, and a boiler room, you very well might feel like it’s time to get on with it. But it’s a small criticism of an otherwise excellent ride.
The ride offers some of the best views possible, of course, but I won’t blame people for not noting that while they’re being, well, terrified. While my feelings on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster have changed for the years, I’m as big a fan of Tower of Terror as I ever have been. Even my 4-year old loves it (or claims to, at least).
The ride lasts about 4 minutes. You can view a video of it here.
Tower of Terror FAQ
How tall is Tower of Terror?
Tower of Terror is 199 feet tall, with a maximum drop of 130 feet.
Is Twilight Zone Tower of Terror a real Episode?
Despite appearances, Tower of Terror the ride is not based on a real episode of the show. The Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling makes a posthumous appearance in the pre-ride experience through the use of repurposed footage and a voice double.
Where can I watch the Tower of Terror movie?
As of this update, the Tower of Terror film (based on the ride) does not stream anywhere. You’d have to find a hard copy (VHS / DVD).
How fast does Tower of Terror drop?
The Tower of Terror drop reaches speeds up to 39 miles per hour. (source)
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Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
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