Disney World is big on Magical Moments, but it’s also low-key kinda creepy at times!
Sure, there’s the obvious creep factor of scary rides and villainous merch, but the parks also contain some unexpectedly creepy history! For proof, look no further than some chilling tales from Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
We recently dove into the dark side of Magic Kingdom (now that’s a phrase that sounds like an oxymoron!), and spooky tales from EPCOT, and now we’re at it again in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
If you thought the Tower of Terror was the only creepy thing in the park, think again! Granted, a LOT of the spooky tales are related to Tower of Terror (pretend you’re surprised!), but still….
Caesar the Doll
Like we said, the Tower of Terror is the root of much of Hollywood Studios’ creepiness. Most of that creepiness is all in good fun, but the ride DEFINITELY has some haunting stuff, like a doll named Caesar that you hopefully DON’T see.
It happens at the end of the ride, once the elevator settles and the adrenaline rush wears off but before you exit. If you’re looking around, you might catch a glimpse of a creepy doll sitting amidst the dusty shambles. A nod to a Twilight Zone episode called “Caesar and Me,” starring a menacing ventriloquist dummy (aren’t they all!), the doll is EXTRA creepy due to the fact that Cast Members say hi to him every day so that he doesn’t cause trouble on the ride. Ok!
Ghostly Bellhop
Just when you thought Caesar was the only thing to worry about on Tower of Terror, along comes a ghostly bellhop! Fortunately, this one isn’t a literal bellhop hiding in the dusty shadows, but rather a good old-fashioned Disney ghost story.
Legend has it that years ago, a bellhop Cast Member suddenly passed away while loading guests onto one of the elevators on Platform D. Other Cast Members have reported weird happenings on that particular elevator, like random flickering lights and off-cue ghosts. While harmless, the lingering spirit of this bygone bellhop, if the tale is true, definitely adds to the creep factor of Hollywood Studios’ creepiest attraction!
More Terror From Tower of Terror
Okay, just one more batch of spooks from Tower of Terror, we promise! In addition to a creepy doll and a potential ghost, the ride has a few other “fun” facts up its sleeve!
For starters, guests may notice that the elevator inspection sheet notes that the vehicle hasn’t been expected since October 31, 1939, which is a nice thing to think about as you prepare to plummet. In the lobby, scrambled letters spell out “Evil Tower, You Are Doomed.“ Then there are those SCREAMS! The ride is said to play deliberate scream audio tracks as a way to lure visitors towards the attraction, like moths to a flame. It might just be you or your best friends screaming at the top of your lungs though! How fun!
Not So Epic Stunts at Indiana Jones
Considering the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular deals with some SERIOUS stunts, it’s not too surprising that accidents happen. Sadly, some of those accidents have resulted in injuries and even death.
In 2009, a stunt performer died during rehearsal for a tumbling roll, marking the most significant tragedy for the intense show. Previously, other Cast Members have been injured from high falls due to restraining cable malfunctions, while another was injured in a trap door snafu. This show has still yet to return, but hopefully if/when it does, no more injuries will come from the show!
Human Hair on The Great Movie Ride
Oh how we miss The Great Movie Ride! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a ton of fun, and it has a lot to love, but one thing it’s lacking? Human hair.
One weird fact about The Great Movie Ride is how the immersive cinematic attraction used some animatronics with wigs made from actual human hair. It brought them to life in an uncomfortably realistic way TBH, but we applaud the attention to detail (we think?)!
The Missing Crew From Nostromo
Similar to some of the hidden chills at Tower of Terror (like that wildly out-of-date elevator inspection lol), The Great Movie Ride also had some chilling tidbits, and any time Disney tries to force Alien on us, it always ends up way too scary.
The Alien scene from The Great Movie Ride was definitely the most frightening — made all the more frightening for guests on the left-hand side of the ship, Nostromo, where they could spot a crew list filled with people reported “missing,” presumably due to that menacing space monster. GAME OVER, MAN, GAME OVER!
“Andy’s Coming!”
Creepy, weird, or just straight-up silly? You decide! But one of the strangest Disney myths involves Cast Members as Toy Story characters acting way too dedicated to their roles.
Seeing as Cast Members go above and beyond to stick to character and recreate the Disney magic, this internet rumor spread like wildfire. The internet tall tale said that yelling “Andy’s Coming!” near a Toy Story character would result in them collapsing to the ground motionless — just like in the movie! So first of all, let’s just rip this bandaid off — it’s NOT true. At all. It’s also kind of a horrifying image to imagine the world’s biggest tiny Toy Story fan seeing their favorite characters dropping limp to the ground! We appreciate the dedication, but you gotta admit that would be a little jarring to see, which is why Disney has a policy against it for safety reasons. And presumably, trauma reasons.
This rumor didn’t START in Hollywood Studios, from the look of it, but since Toy Story Land is kind of a big deal round these parts, it seemed fitting to bring it up.
From ALL the terrors of Tower of Terror to, umm, human hair wigs, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is filled with creepy shenanigans, (possible) ghosts, and Great Movie Ride memories! So the next time you visit the park, be on the lookout for mystical bellhops and ventriloquist dummies!
3 Rides You Didn’t Realize Would Terrify You in Disney World
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What do YOU think is creepiest thing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments!
The post CREEPY Stories From Disney’s Hollywood Studios first appeared on the disney food blog.