Take a look around at any given Tower of Terror (except maybe the Japanese version, which apparently includes an unrelated mystery plot), and you’ll see the fruits of the Imagineers’ labor pay off. References to “Little Girl Lost,” an original series episode that appears to be a clear precursor to Tobe Hooper’s “Poltergeist,” pop up at most Tower of Terror locations. When lightning strikes the elevator of an old Hollywood hotel, the narrator promises to transport guests to a “Fifth Dimension,” which is in one spot marked with a chalk outline like the one in the show. The image of a little girl (holding a Mickey plush, naturally) that appears in the pre-show also calls to mind the frightening original series episode, making it perhaps the most-referenced installment of the show featured in the ride.
Other key “Twilight Zone” Easter eggs that have appeared at Tower of Terror attractions include the book “To Serve Man,” the haunting fortune-telling machine from “Nick of Time,” the creepy ventriloquist dummy from “Caesar and Me,” and a flying saucer from “The Invaders,” to name just a few. Hilariously, Imagineers seem to have latched onto imagery from some less-than-iconic episodes alongside the classics, as fans report having seen props nodding to the silly robot tale “A Thing About Machines” and forgettable trumpet player story “A Passage For Trumpet” alongside more familiar set pieces.