
Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests experienced an unexpected evacuation from The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror after a seemingly minor mishap halted the Walt Disney World Resort attraction. The iconic thrill ride, known for its spine-tingling drops and eerie vintage atmosphere, temporarily shut down due to a flip-flop falling into the elevator shaft.
The Twilight Tower of Terror: A Classic Attraction
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is one of Disney’s most beloved and enduring theme park attractions. First opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 1994, the 30-year-old ride has cemented its place in Walt Disney World Resort history. While other parks, like Disney California Adventure Park, have transformed their Tower of Terror rides into new attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, the Hollywood Studios version remains true to its Twilight Zone roots.
To board the ride, guests step into an elevator-themed vehicle where they are seated in rows and strapped in before being sent on their haunting journey. The vehicle takes guests through a hallway and into a secondary elevator shaft, plunging them into the darkness.
Flip-Flop Sparks Tower of Terror Evacuation
During a recent visit to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Instagram user Amy Bruni (@amybruni) had a “mortifying” experience she will never forget. As she and her daughter boarded the ride, a slight misstep led to an unexpectedly significant disruption. Bruni shared this video detailing her experience on Instagram:
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According to Bruni, her daughter accidentally stepped on the back of her flip-flop, causing it to fall between the ride’s platform and the elevator vehicle. The flip-flop became stuck in the elevator shaft, forcing Disney cast members to take immediate action.
“In case you’re wondering what happens if your shoe falls off boarding the Tower of Terror and falls in between the elevator and the mechanics of the ride, let me tell you,” Bruni said. “First, you wonder, ‘Wow. I only have one shoe.’ Then, you notice that everyone is staring at you and that the ride is definitely not happening.”
Disney cast members quickly evacuated all guests from the attraction and called for a supervisor to assist with retrieving the trapped shoe.
Disney Cast Members to the Rescue
Bruni captured the recovery effort on video, showing Disney cast members working diligently to retrieve her shoe. Disney Park guests watched as cast members navigated the mechanics of the elevator shaft to fish out the flip-flop.
“We’ve been waiting forever!” one child exclaimed as the recovery efforts continued.
Finally, the Disney cast members removed the flip-flop, drawing cheers from onlookers. Bruni recounted the moment, saying, “They fish it out from in between the elevator and whatever else, and everyone cheers but also stares at you like you’re the biggest jerk of all time.”
Despite the embarrassment, Bruni reflected on the “new experience” with a smile: “Lesson learned. Don’t wear flip flops, and don’t have a child that’s always walking so close behind you that she flips your shoes off on a regular basis.”
A Reminder for Disney Park Guests
Losing an item on a Disney ride may cause a temporary delay, but Disney cast members are trained to handle such situations efficiently and carefully. If you ever lose an item on an attraction, notify a cast member immediately.
Have you recovered a lost item from a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort attraction? Share your experience with Disney Tips in the comments.
We have taken each of our 6 grandchildren , one at a time, to Disney World. Only once has an item been left on a ride, in the pocket for storing items on a roller coaster. When we walked away our grandson suddenly remembered that he had left his autograph book, filled with precious autographs. The ride had already departed, but the sweet young cast member took my phone number and said they would search for it when the ride returned and call me. it was a little while, but she did call, and that made his day, which also was his 10th birthday, and filled with lots of surprises from Disney cast members and a surprise appearance by his cousins, who also traveled from Texas !
Many years ago as we were waiting in line for Splash Mountain I convinced my son to let me borrow his hat with the promise that I would hold onto it and not lose it. It was his favorite hat with his name and football number embroidered on it, a one time hat that could not be replaced. Well, within seconds of the the descent down the hill the hat flew off even though I had both hands on it. Needless to say, it could not be found. We checked back several times and I ended that vacation feeling like the worst mother ever! He assured me he still loved me, but that story has been retold many times since.