The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ Unveils New Covered Waiting Area

Starting today, fans of the iconic The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ can dive even deeper into the spooky yet glamorous world of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. From Monday, March 23, 2026, a brand-new covered outdoor waiting area opens at Disneyland® Paris. And it’s much more than just shelter from rain or blazing sun. The Imagineers have crafted a genuine storytelling gem that extends the attraction’s rich backstory and turns the wait itself into part of the adventure.

The Walt Disney Imagineering Paris team has named the space “The Patio” – once the terrace of the legendary Hollywood Tower Hotel. This was where glamorous high society gathered for cocktails, lounged on sun chairs, took a dip in the pool or enjoyed live music back in the 1930s. Everything fell into disrepair after the tragic events of October 31, 1939. The designers have brilliantly captured exactly that decay. Keen-eyed guests will spot hidden clues about the hotel’s former glory and mysterious fate scattered throughout the area.

The design blends seamlessly with the Pueblo Deco architecture of the attraction: oak timber frames, bronze-finish details with the hotel logo, a completely redesigned floor of natural stone, terracotta tiles and mosaics, slightly aged and cracked plaster, bronze guttering, warm Spanish Revival roof tiles and elegant onyx lanterns hanging from the ceiling. It all feels like it’s been there forever.

Things get especially atmospheric alongside the former swimming pool, which was drained and filled with concrete after the hotel closed. The original outline is still visible thanks to the mosaic border, faded depth markings and the “NO DIVING” sign. Three large palm trees and other exotic plants add authentic Californian flair. Little stories are hidden everywhere in the queue: ivy-covered overturned chairs, a table with a spilled cocktail, an embroidered bath towel bearing the hotel logo, a faded beige parasol, and as the standout piece, a broken statue of the god Pan – its upper half lying on the ground while its unsettling gaze seems to follow you. The walls feature weathered signs and old posters advertising a cocktail party that never took place.

The new covered queue doesn’t just offer far more comfort in any weather – it lets guests step straight into the eerie atmosphere of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ from the very first moment, thanks to clever lighting and detailed set design that suggests unseen presences all around. “This attraction has a richly developed universe,” says Sébastien Dhainaut, Lead Stage Design at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris. “So it was essential for us not only to respect the theme but to play with its codes and give it a whole new dimension – with plenty of details we hope will delight even the most observant guests.”

Timed perfectly with the park’s renaming to Disney Adventure World on March 29, 2026, this waiting area is set to become a real highlight for Tower of Terror fans. Anyone who has always loved discovering the hidden stories behind this attraction is going to be thrilled.