Normally, refurbishments of attractions require the entire attraction to close for days, weeks, or months at a time. However, some attractions have mirrored ride systems that would allow them to remain open should maintenance be required on just one of the ride paths. For example, if Slinky Dog Dash requires maintenance work on the ride path, there is only one ride path and the entire ride would need to be closed for ride path maintenance. An example of the inverse situation actually has been taking place for months at Tower of Terror. Disney World has, somewhat quietly, been refurbishing half of the Tower of Terror ride experience. For a look at how that’s possible, check out the blueprint of the ride below.

As you can see in the diagram below, there are four initial elevator shafts (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta) that feed into two drop shafts (Echo and Foxtrot).

From February 6, 2022 through June 25, 2022, the Echo drop shaft was under maintenance, leading to Alpha and Bravo being closed and the attraction operating at half capacity. As you’d expect, wait times roughly doubled during the maintenance. All four lift elevators and both drop shafts reopened on June 26, 2022.

Then, on November 7, 2022, Disney closed the Foxtrot drop shaft and the Charlie and Delta elevators could not be used. Once again, wait times doubled as capacity was halved. Work on Foxtrot continued through the holiday season, leading to some very high wait times for an attraction that is usually more efficient.

Now, all four lift elevators and both drop shafts are in use again, with the Foxtrot refurbishment ending on February 9th and the Tower of Terror attraction returning to full capacity on Febaruy 10th. As expected, wait times are roughly half of what they were during recent weeks as a result of the increased capacity.

As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!