An exterior refurbishment is now underway at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, bringing visible scaffolding and construction coverings to one of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ most recognizable landmarks while the attraction continues operating for guests.
The work is most noticeable on the upper-right portion of the Hollywood Tower Hotel façade, where scaffolding has been installed across several levels of the building. Construction scrims also surround columns in the pre-lobby section of the queue, signaling that the project extends beyond a single isolated area of the exterior.
Despite the prominent equipment, the attraction remains open and is operating normally. There is currently no announced closure connected to the façade work, meaning guests can still enter the abandoned hotel, pass through its famously dust-covered lobby and board the elevator-style ride during the refurbishment.
Disney has not publicly detailed the full scope of the project or provided a completion date. Based on the visible activity, the work appears focused on exterior maintenance and scenic restoration rather than changes to the ride experience itself. No updates to the attraction’s storyline, effects or drop sequence have been announced.
The refurbishment follows a construction permit filed earlier in 2026 for work at the Tower of Terror. The permit listed Disney Facility Asset Management as the owner and MLC Theming as the contractor for general construction. MLC Theming has worked on themed and scenic projects for Disney, although the permit did not specify exactly which portions of the attraction would be addressed. Disney has not formally confirmed whether the current scaffolding is tied to that filing.
Maintaining the Tower of Terror’s exterior is especially important because the 199-foot structure serves as a visual centerpiece for Sunset Boulevard and can be seen from multiple areas around Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Its deliberately weathered design is part of the attraction’s story, presenting the fictional Hollywood Tower Hotel as a once-glamorous destination left abandoned after a mysterious incident on Halloween night in 1939.
That aged appearance still requires careful upkeep. Refurbishment teams must preserve the building’s distressed, period-specific look while repairing and refreshing surfaces exposed to Florida’s sun, heat, rain and humidity. Scaffolding and scrims can temporarily alter the view, but similar maintenance projects are a routine part of preserving large themed structures throughout Walt Disney World.
Tower of Terror opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in July 1994 and remains one of the park’s signature thrill rides. Inspired by the original Twilight Zone television series, the attraction combines a detailed hotel setting, a Rod Serling-led pre-show and randomized elevator drop sequences. Disney says the building’s architecture drew inspiration from Southern California landmarks including the Biltmore Hotel and the Mission Inn.
For visitors, the most immediate impact of the current project is visual. Portions of the façade and queue architecture may be obscured, and guests could encounter construction activity near the entrance. However, the ride’s continued operation allows Disney to complete the work without removing a major attraction from the park’s lineup.
Until Disney announces a timeline, the scaffolding may remain in place as crews move through the exterior refurbishment. The project should ultimately help preserve the carefully designed Hollywood Tower Hotel façade while keeping the Tower of Terror ready to welcome guests into the Fifth Dimension.