The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is looking very different at Disney's Hollywood Studios right now — and not because of anything the Twilight Zone has done.
The Hollywood Tower Hotel has anchored the end of Sunset Boulevard since July 1994, when it opened at what was then Disney-MGM Studios. Standing 199 feet tall, it's one of the park's most defining landmarks, especially following the removal of the Earffel Tower. Its faded pink exterior, exposed brickwork, and deliberately distressed details have made it one of the most recognizable sights in all of Walt Disney World — but right now, most of those details are hidden from view.
Almost Completely Covered in Scaffolding
As of September 11, the Hollywood Tower Hotel is almost completely wrapped in scaffolding as Disney pushes forward with a major exterior refurbishment. The latest photos from the park show scaffolding stretching across virtually the entire front of the building, from the lower portions all the way up to its highest sections.
The work actually began back in early May, starting around the attraction's outdoor queue. Later that month, flags near the gift shop exit were removed and scrims appeared over parts of the facade. Scaffolding then started going up above the gift shop in July.
By early August, the scaffolding had begun spreading across the front of the building, with crews spotted priming sections of the facade — including decorative friezes, railings, balconies, and portions of the roof. The project continued to grow throughout August, with scaffolding eventually reaching above the enormous Hollywood Tower Hotel sign and stretching to the top of the front facade.
By early September, scaffolding had begun wrapping around the right side of the tower shaft as well. Fresh gray paint was visible around a balcony and chimney stack, while other areas had already received refreshed pink paint. Protective coverings have also appeared across windows and other architectural details, suggesting crews are primarily repainting and refreshing the building's heavily themed exterior rather than making major structural changes.
The Ride Is Still Open
Despite the sheer scale of the work surrounding it, Tower of Terror remains open to guests. Disney has left gaps around the attraction's elevator windows, allowing riders to experience the drop sequence normally without scaffolding blocking the most important views from inside.
For those who may need a refresher: Tower of Terror sends guests inside an abandoned 1930s hotel before dropping them into the Twilight Zone aboard a service elevator. Its randomized drop sequence has been in place since 2002, and the attraction still retains its original Twilight Zone theme more than three decades after opening.
A Big Question Heading Into the Holiday Season
Disney has not publicly announced a completion date for the exterior refurbishment — and that's worth paying attention to, because the holiday season is fast approaching.
Every year, the Hollywood Tower Hotel plays a starring role during the holidays at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Sunset Seasons Greetings transforms the building after dark with colorful holiday projections, and Disney currently lists the experience as returning during the 2026 holiday season. With the enormous amount of scaffolding currently covering the facade, that signature Christmas visual would clearly be affected if the work isn't wrapped up in time.
Tower of Terror is also scheduled to operate during Disney Jollywood Nights, the separately ticketed Christmas event returning on select evenings from November 7, 2026, through January 5, 2027.
Disney has not stated that the refurbishment needs to be completed before the holiday festivities begin. Still, with less than two months until Jollywood Nights returns, the amount of scaffolding currently surrounding the hotel makes this a project well worth keeping an eye on.
Do you think Disney will have Tower of Terror fully uncovered before the Christmas season begins?