The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: The Ultimate Thrill Ride

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is one of Walt Disney World's most experientially complete attractions. From the line to the ride to the end of the ride and even the gift shop on the way out, it's precisely themed all the way through. Because the subject matter of the ride is "Twilight Zone" themed, this means you're in for some seriously hair-raising chills.

You can find the ride on the right side of the park located directly next to the amphitheater used for, "Fantasmic". But once you enter the line, the illusion that you are on the grounds of a mysteriously abandoned hotel is very complete. If it weren't for all the tourists you're surrounded with, you would feel completely transported. It's eerie in a great way, in a way that is so different from any traditional haunted house. That's really what this ride is after all, a very intricate and one-of-a-kind haunted house.

The line is a beautiful and exciting sight, an elaborately built hotel in the style of old Hollywood glamour, complete with dilapidated gardens and dusty windows. But the real surprise comes when you enter the lobby and the mystery is deepened. It looks like people simple vanished on the very spots where they stood. In the middle of a card game, having some breakfast, all that's left in the elegant and beautiful room is covered in dust and aged.

Next, you move into the library, where you see a video that fills you in on the history of the hotel, especially one infamous night in 1939. This is a real treat for televisions geeks, because you start to have the feeling that you're in your very own episode of, "The Twilight Zone". After getting acquainted with the story of the hotel, you move into the boiler room to await your very special elevator. The boiler room is dark, scary, and makes you feel self-conscious. It's one of those rooms that makes you feel like anything could jump out at you at any moment. There's a true sense of uneasiness and impending doom as you wait for your elevator that you know is going to "malfunction".

As you board your elevator, without ruining any of the surprises, I will say that you'll be surprised. This doesn't just go up and then down. What happens is unlike any other ride or roller coaster, because you move on two different planes. Not just up and down, but also forward and back. There are elaborate and ghostly illusions, eerie imagery from the television show, and ultimately a temperature change in the air that lets you know you're about to experience the climactic thrills of the ride.

From this point on, you will experience unique thrills, because Disney Imagineers have programmed this ride to drop randomly. The elevator you are in could drop once, or it could drop four times. That unpredictability adds a lot of fun and adrenaline to the ride. Almost every other thrill ride follows a specific track and is the same every time, but not this ride.

At the end of the ride, you will find yourself surrounded by that familiar eerie environment once again. So when the ride is over, that vulnerable feeling doesn't quite end. The gift shop is filled with fun, "Twilight Zone" merchandise, and of course, there are the unforgettable ride photos that you get to see and purchase from your very own dropping elevator. The Tower of Terror is one of Disney's best rides ever. I highly recommend it, even for people who think they can't handle thrill rides. This one is a smooth ride, and scary in a different way that most people can actually handle. Don't miss it!