The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is practically overflowing with all kinds of artifacts and references to classic episodes of The Twilight Zone (1959). It's essentially a love letter to hardcore fans. To capture and replicate the very feel of the series, the developers supposedly watched every. single. episode. of the original series...twice.
General
- "Picture If You Will...", a phrase Rod Serling said throughout the series, is posted at the kiosk where guests can buy their on-ride photos.
- In all Twilight Zone versions of the ride, there's a plaque that states the elevator's last inspection. It states it was checked by Mr. Cadwallader, the devious dealer from the episode "Escape Clause", and its number is 10259, referencing the date October 2, 1959, the day the original Twilight Zone series premiered.
- The orientation pre-show shown in the libraries opens with the iconic season 4 Twilight Zone intro. Voice actor Mark Silverman provided the entire impersonation of Serling for the American versions of the ride. Archival footage of Rod Serling from the episode "It's a Good Life" was optically eluded and combined with that of the service elevator. A portion of Serling's narration from that same episode: "Tonight's story of The Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction. This as you may recognize is a..." continues with Silverman's audio "...maintenance service elevator, still in operation, waiting for you.". Originally, in the episode, Serling continues with "...map of the United States".
- In the photo gallery of the California version, there was a poster advertising "Anthony Fremont's Orchestra". Anthony Fremont is the young boy with god-like powers from the episode "It's a Good Life". The poster also appears in the lobby of the Florida version.
Disney's Hollywood Studios (Orlando)
- There is the book on a desk titled To Serve Man from the episode of the same name.
- On the concierge's desk is a note advising that Mr. and Mrs. Ransome are due to take Global Air Flight 33 from Los Angeles to New York the day following the lightning incident, before traveling to Southampton aboard the SS Lady Anne. The couple and ship are from the episode "Passage on the Lady Anne", and the flight is a reference to "The Odyssey of Flight 33."
- The trumpet from the episode "A Passage for Trumpet" can also be found there, and the Mystic Seer fortune telling machine from "Nick of Time" is on the top shelf.
- The boiler room displays the ventriloquist dummy "Caesar" from the episode "Caesar and Me".
- The flying saucer from the episode "The Invaders" hangs from the ceiling in the photo preview room and the eponymous characters of the same episode can be found on display in the library.
- As the elevator gets ready to unload at the end of the ride, the UFO from "Death Ship" and a slot machine from "The Fever" can be seen in one of the shafts.
Disney's California Adventure (Anaheim) - closed
- Towards the ride exit, there was a display window for "Willoughby Travel", a nod to the episode "A Stop at Willoughby". Said to be Serling's favorite season 1 episode.
- In the lobby, there was a door with the number 22 in brass above; a reference to the episode "Twenty-Two".
- Envelopes with the names Rod Serling and Victoria West were found in the libraries, near the sliding wall referencing the episode "A World of His Own". They also appear in the libraries of the Florida attraction.
- The thimble from "The After Hours" was previously seen in the lobby with a card that reads "Looking for a gift for Mother? Find it in our Gift Shop".
- The lobby had the toy telephone from the episode "Long-Distance Call" with a card saying "Perfect for the children's room and those late-night calls from Grandma".
- In a display case, there were two objects from the episode "A Thing About Machines"; there's the typewriter with the GET OUT OF HERE FINCHLEY message (the card next to it reads "Almost Writes By Itself"), and the electric razor with a card that reads "Has A Long Cord - Can Follow You Everywhere."
Walt Disney Studios Park (Paris)
- In the lobby sits a dusty old doll on the couch. Fans say it's Talky Tina from the episode "Living Doll", but others believe it's Sally Shine, the little girl in the pre-show and ride, and from the Tower of Terror movie. Others think the doll is simply Shirley Temple (whom Sally Shine is modeled off of). Florida's gift shop has Talky Tina sitting behind the register.
- There is a display case containing advertisements for items referencing episodes including one for a "Housemaid Wanted" nodding the episode "I Sing the Body Electric" and for "A Pair of Reading Glasses Wanted" from "Time Enough at Last".
- The boiler room both features a reference to the episode "Little Girl Lost". Chalk marks on the walls are done in the same way as the episode when trying to find where the portal to where the girl was. This can be found in the upper level next to the ride's warning signage. The girl's voice can also be heard occasionally calling out for help from the wall and from the radios around the room.
DisneySea (Tokyo)
- One of the pictures of Hightower's exploits is from another place in the park, Lost River Delta.
