A new Resort development is coming to the Walt Disney World Resort. Situated on the north east side of Bay Lake, across from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, the new Disney’s Hollywood Tower Resort will open its doors on April 1, 2012, and will be based on the popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction.
“The idea for the new Resort came from asking our Guests what they really want from a new hotel,” said Disney Spokesperson Olof Lipra, ” and the recurring theme that kept on getting mentioned was a hotel based on one of our Theme Park attractions.” “And what better attraction to base it on than a ride that’s themed on a hotel!” Lipra added.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 1994 and guests have been dropping in ever since. Themed after an early 20th century hotel, guests enter through the lobby, then walk through the boiler room where they board an elevator. Once belted in, they enter the fifth dimension, and experience a series of drops which are never the same twice.
Artists's Impression
As in the attraction itself, the new Resort will be based on the elegant hotels of the 1930s.
“The scenes featured in the Tower of Terror attraction are full of dust and cobwebs,” explained Lipra, ” but we didn’t think all of that dust would attract many guests!” “Instead the hotel features will be based on those in the attraction, but without the dust and cobwebs.”
The 21st century will meet the 20th century in the rooms, with the elevator theme brought in so guests will have to press a button and wait for the elevator-style doors to open for access to the wardrobe.
When guests first switch on their in-room TV set – an LCD TV made to look like a 1930s set – they will be greeted by the opening sequence of Season 4 of The Twilight Zone, just as in the attraction pre-show, followed by an actor playing the part of Rod Serling who welcomes them to the hotel and wishes them a pleasant stay.
“The big question is, will guests want to use the elevators?” jokes Lipra. “All of the Resort’s elevators will be made to look like the inside of the attraction elevators, but they will function normally,” he explains, “all except one, which will take guests to a different floor to the one they’ve chosen, although there won’t be any sudden drops!”
The Twilight Restaurant will be Disney’s newest signature dining location, open for breakfast and dinner, and serving such delights as Supernatural Steak, and the Fear Every Drop Ice Cream Sundae. Guests will also be able to enjoy a cocktail in the Tower Library, or grab a quick snack from the Fifth Dimension Cafe.
The Tower Library (Artist's impression)
Guests who stay at the hotel will receive a front-of-the-line pass for Disney Hollywood Studios’ The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction for the length of their stay.
Reservations are expected to open on November 31, 2011.
