Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to all sorts of beloved attractions — even some high-intensity thrill rides. The team here at DFB just can’t seem to agree on whether or not this park is filled with must-do experiences or must-SKIPS.

The rides here definitely aren’t for everyone, and I’d be lying if I said I enjoy all of them. There’s one ride in particular that everyone seems to LOVE, but I won’t go near it. Like, as soon as I see it looming in the distance I start shakin’ in my boots. Yes, I’m talking about Tower of Terror. EEK. I HATE this ride. And it’s yet another thing that me and my coworker, Sara, just can’t agree on. Today, we’re here to go to BATTLE over this superspooky ride.

Like I said, this is my least favorite ride and I would go as far as saying that I hate it. I’ve been on it once and don’t have plans to ever go on it again. Sara, on the other hand, views it as a must-do! We’re going to talk about what makes this ride great, what makes it SCARY, and what to ride instead if you’re like me and a little too chicken. Let’s go!

If you’re unfamiliar with The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, it’s located on Sunset Boulevard and is themed to the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel. The ride’s story is based on The Twilight Zone. The ride starts off super off-putting, because as soon as you step inside, you’ll be greeted by a lobby that’s “frozen in time.” Plus, the Cast Members working here are just as spooky.

An old-timey TV set will turn on and Rod Sterling, host of The Twilight Zone, welcomes you to the journey. He shares that on a gloomy Halloween night in 1939, some hotel visitors were riding the elevator when a violent storm hit and lightning struck the building…and they were never seen again. The hotel closed down and has stood empty ever since.

Then, of course, you’ll enter an ELEVATOR and be forced to endure repeated drops in the elevator shaft. All the while, you’ll hear the sound of cables snapping and metal clanging overhead. For me, this sounds like my worst nightmare. For a lot of Disney fans, it’s exhilarating.

In our typical fashion, Sara will type in maroon, and I (Kayleigh) will type in dark blue so you know who’s who.

PRO Tower of Terror

It’s a classic.

I won’t lie to you — Tower of Terror is legitimately scary to me, too. Every time the elevator moves forward to the spot where it’ll start to drop, I’m sure that it’s the time when the cables will actually snap and I’ll legitimately fall to my untimely death (like the people in the pre-show story). But that’s also part of what makes it fun! 

I can’t not go on Tower of Terror when I visit. It’s iconic. In fact, it’s almost synonymous with Hollywood Studios to me! This is one of the few attractions in the park that really embraces the “Hollywood” vibes.

I mean, Carousel of Progress is a classic in Magic Kingdom, but do you go on THAT every time?!

…Good point. TBH, I only go on Carousel of Progress when I need a nap. 😂 I definitely canNOT nap on Tower of Terror.

Learn more about the rides and attractions in Hollywood Studios here.

The lore behind the ride is fun and spooky.

I will admit that I often find myself considering going through the queue just to experience the lore and then exiting last minute. However, as a former Cast Member, I get scared of being an inconvenience for other Cast Members. I can agree, though, that the lore is awesome. 

This ride is actually what got me into the Twilight Zone TV show — I love the theming that much! You’re right that even just the queue is practically an attraction in its own right. There are some cool Easter eggs to spot in the hotel lobby and library (where the pre-show takes place).

And don’t forget about the spooky legends associated with the ride too, like the fact that Cast Members say hello to Caesar the ventriloquist dummy (whom you can see in the exit room, right before you get off the ride) every day so that he doesn’t play tricks on the ride.  

Betcha didn’t know about all of these cool Easter eggs in Tower of Terror!

Ride FOMO is real. Who wants to wait while the rest of the group rides?

I do get FOMO when I’m visiting the parks with friends who enjoy the ride. However, I married someone who hates it the same way I do! If we’re with folks who want to ride, we hit up the shops and pin trading that are located on Sunset Boulevard. It’s a lot better than just waiting nearby. 

The only problem I could see with that is how limited the options are on Sunset Boulevard. If you’re chilling and waiting for your group, there aren’t a ton of options in the area for things you can do. You’ve just got a few gift shops, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (which is temporarily closed right now), and a couple of quick service restaurants that aren’t really at the top of my list as far as best eats in Hollywood Studios go. However, I definitely agree that there’s nothing wrong with splitting up when your group doesn’t agree on their top priorities! 

I 100% support your decision to stay off of the ride because there’s no reason to ruin your day by going on a ride that freaks you out! Don’t forget that if you have a kiddo who doesn’t want to ride, you can use the rider swap feature so that all the adults will still get to experience the attraction. Just talk to the Cast Members at the front of the ride about how that works!

But did you know about the Tower of Terror-themed COOKIE?

ANTI Tower of Terror

The line is always eons long.

This is a super popular ride, and the wait times reflect that. At any given point of the day, the wait time could be an hour or more. You could always utilize Genie+ (Disney’s skip the line service) or rope drop at this attraction, but to me, it’s just not worth the fear that this ride invokes in me. 

The wait time can definitely get up pretty high there! I usually use Genie+ when I visit because I almost always buy the service for Hollywood Studios when I go (since there are so many cool rides in this park), but if I don’t, then I’ll stop by later in the evening, just before the park closes. Tower of Terror is especially cool at night!

Oh, and another thing that a lot of folks are divided over are the MISTERS that can be found in the queue. Some folks find the mist refreshing, but I find that it makes me feel stickier. Also, it makes me look like a dandelion because of how much my hair frizzes up. BUT that’s neither here nor there.

Those misters do make the queue look extra spooky and mysterious. One time I took this pic of them and I’m still super proud of it:

And not because anyone asked, here’s another one from the same visit:

Cool, right??

This one tip could save you 5 HOURS of waiting in line.

Confined spaces in the dark.

What makes me start to feel nervous is the sensation that I’m being strapped into a metal box and it’s really dimly lit. You’ll step into the “elevator” and the seating is arranged kind of like a theater is — in rows. You’ll have an over-the-lap seatbelt and that’s it. 

It makes me feel very claustrophobic while not at all secure. It’s also when a lot of kids start to get nervous.

The Cast Members used to do this thing that made it even WORSE when they’d pretend they forgot to tell you something and would say like, “Oh, one more thing!” right as the doors closed. That TERRIFIED me as a kid the first time it happened. I haven’t noticed them doing it as much anymore, which I kinda miss. 

But yes, that’s a good point. If you get claustrophobic or just don’t like being closed in a small space in the dark, this is definitely not the ride for you.

These are the rides you should avoid if you get motion sickness.

STRAIGHT. DOWN. DROPS.

Roller coaster drops don’t bother me at all, but any time I’m on a tower-style ride with totally vertical drops (and launches upward) I cannot handle it. I get so scared! I hate that teeth-gritting, weightless sensation of a few seconds of free-falling. Nope, nope nope! 

Like I said before, I always experience that moment of unsurity when I hop on this ride because WHAT IF this is the time the cable actually snaps and the elevator just falls? I find it to be thrilling and fun, but I understand it’s not for everyone!

So where do you fall in this Disney World debate? Team Tower of Terror or “Heck no, I’ll wait outside”?

We’re at Disney World every single day, and we’re always here to bring you our BEST advice and tips based on things we’ve learned along the way. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney vacation planning tips and updates on all the latest Disney news!

Click here to read our FIGHT about value vs. deluxe hotels!

What do YOU think about Tower of Terror? Let us know in the comments!