Life Of An Endicott

It's about time we looked at another plaque featured in the Disney theme parks. This one is placed in the American Waterfront area of Tokyo DisneySea.

The New York City Preservation Society was founded by Miss Beatrice Rose Endicott. She and the Society decided to open up the Hotel Hightower (nicknamed the Tower of Terror, by locals) for guided tours, and redevelop the area around the Hotel.

Miss Endicott was the daughter of Cornelius Endicott II, and this plaque is dedicated to him:

It is my fervent hope that

future generations will long associate

the Endicott name

not merely with steel mines,

gold mines and railroads

but with global shipping as well

Cornelius Endicott, II 

1887

Cornelius Endicott II was a powerful man in the American Waterfront, a rival to Harrison Hightower, and owned the S.S. Columbia. He wished to demolish Hotel Hightower, and Miss Beatrice Rose decided to preserve the Hotel in response to her father's wish to demolish the beautiful and historic building.

Tip Top Revue

If you happen to be in the fantastic new Starbucks in Disney's California Adventure, be sure to check out some of the posters which adorn the walls of these perfectly themed coffee shop.

Like this one, for instance:

Performing this week in person!

Hollywood's Elite Entertainment Shine Brightest at the

Hollywood Tower Hotel

It looks like on Friday night at 8pm, Anthony Freemont and His Orchestra will be performing, at the Tip Top Club. While in the Stardust Lounge, Lawrence Jones and the Golden Tones will be performing on Thursday at 8pm.

Or perhaps you're free on Wednesday evening? If so, The Velvety Voice of Velma Woodrow will be in the Sunset Room at 8pm. And on Monday night, at 7pm, the Fountain Room has the Silver Lake Sisters. Superb!

And we can take the Red Car Trolley to the Hollywood Tower Hotel stop to enjoy any one of these fine acts.

Details of the Hightower

We've spent a few days away from Tokyo DisneySea, but we head back over to have a detailed look at the family crest on the Hotel Hightower, or better known as the Tower of Terror.

As we can see, the motto on this crest is:

Mundus Mea Ostrea Est

Or roughly translate, The World Is My Oyster. Supremely appropriate for Harrison Hightower!

Or Perhaps We'll Try Later

If, unlike yesterday, you think you need a bit of time to prepare yourself for the Guided Tours in Hotel Hightower, you can head on over to the Fastpass Line.

As you can see, there are set times for returning for your tour, but it does mean you can head off and have a stiff drink - or perhaps buy some spare camera spools.

Basically, just get ready for the 'Free Tours' from the New York Preservation Society.

Wait a Moment

Going back to the Tower of Terror in Tokyo DisneySea, once you have plucked up the courage to visit the Hotel Hightower, you can head in for a Guided Tour.

Just follow this sign:

Tower of Terror

StandBy Entrance

Daily Tours

What a Fright!

On my visit to the Hotel Hightower, I was lucky enough to get a souvenir as I was leaving my tour of the Hotel.

Isn't that fun? We are being welcomed by what looks like the lucky mascot of the Hotel!

Actually, maybe Shiriki Utundu is not as friendly as I first thought..

Can you guess where Princess Fee is in this photo?

Phew, at least we survived in one piece! And hopefully we haven't taken a part of Shiriki home with us.

Ready To Visit One Park

Arriving at One Park, American Waterfront, we are ready to enter Hotel Hightower.

But what's that? It's the front page of The New Century Chronogram - the local newspaper! Let's read all about it...

Special Hotel Hightower Edition

Looks like this hotel might not be all that it seems.

Sign of the Times

Continuing our extended stay at the Hotel Hightower, we are greeted with this fantastic entrance to the grandest Hotel in all of the American Waterfront!

But let's take a closer look at the sign itself...

It looks like not everything may be what it seems. Surely that doesn't say 'Tower of Terror'? I'm sure we'll be fine!

Is It Really Closed?

Unless it's been my imagination, we have spent quite a few days at Hotel Hightower. But according to this entrance to the building, we shouldn't have been able to visit it at all!

Let's take a closer look...

CLOSED

By order of the City of New York

Department of Building Safety

NO ADMITTANCE

Strange... Well, maybe this sign only means those doors are closed to the public. That must be it!

Attention: Coachmen

For those of you Coachmen who read this blog, be on the lookout for some special instructions for you when you visit Hotel Hightower.

Coachmen Must

Be Responsible For

Their Carriages

At All Times

Passing the Tower

Of course, you may decide that you are not brave enough to enter Hotel Hightower just yet, so grab a FastPass and pluck up the courage a little later!

Even the FastPass Ticket Despensing Machines are themed to match the era of the roaring '20s on the American Waterfront.

Post-Show Recovery

For those of you who have experienced the Tower of Terror attraction at any of the Disney Theme Parks, you will know how important the post-show area can be to recover, and to come back to reality!

The area after the attraction in Hotel Hightower is worthy of such a place, to spend some time in and around whilst allowing your stomach to catch up with you again.

As we can see, this is clearly the Rajan's Pool area (after yesterday's look at the Hotel Directory).

And we can even see Harrison Hightower's image above the exit door, and in the middle of all the other murals!

Homecoming of Hightower

Just before entering the pre-show of the attraction, we can see a couple of posters decorating the hallways.

This poster, for example, informs us of the forthcoming homecoming of Hightower:

Homecoming Celebration

for the

Congo River Expedition

Guest of Honor

Harrison Hightower III

Celebrated Adventurer & Explorer Extrodinaire

Presenting a program chroniciling his latest exploits

Complete with lantern slides

" The Curse of Shiriki Utundu"

Treasure of the Dark Continent

Atlantis Ballroom
December 31 1899

We can also have a look at the information on the Hotel Directory.

As we can see, the aforementioned Atlantis Ballroom is on the 4th Floor.

Lobby Level

Hotel Shop

The Rajan's Pool

Olympic Restaurant

Mezzanine

China Doll - Salon De Beaute

Atzeca Gaming Room

Alexandria Library

Solarium

1st Floor

Ladies Retiring Room

2nd Floor

Gentleman's Smoking Room

4th Floor

Atlantis Ballroom

5th Floor

Explorer's Club Meeting Hall

6th and 7th Floor

Hightower Museum

10th Floor

Penthouse

Although from the looks of the elebvator, perhaps we should take the stairs?

Glass of Tower

It look like blogger stopped publishing here at DF'82! Apologies, and now we should be back to normal...

When you enter Hotel Hightower in Tokyo DisneySea, be sure to look up and behind you at this beautiful stained glass window, welcoming you to the foyer area.

"The World is Mine Oyster Which I With Sword Will Open"

William Shakespeare

Beautiful detailing in this amazing attraction.

Inisde Hightower

As we step inside the Hotel Hightower in Tokyo DisneySea, you will notice one theme running throughout the murals on the walls - Harrison Hightower enjoys paintings of himself on many of his expeditions!

Following on from yesterday's blogpost, you will also see that the foyer has been spruced up as much as possible ready for the tours by the public.

And at the end of the corridor you can see elevator where the last trace of Hightower and the Idol were found.

Back to the Terror

To welcome DF'82 back to the world of blogging, we are going to spend a week over at the Tower of Terror in Tokyo DisneySea. I don't know about you, but there's nothing better than a week of terror to celebrate the spring!

The Tower of Terror in Japan is a completely unique experience. As The Twilight Zone has no recognition in the country, the attraction is themed around the world-famous architect and explorer Harrison Hightower, and his building Hotel Hightower. The Tower is situated in the American Waterfront area of Tokyo DisneySea, at One Park Avenue.

Wikipedia gives a very good explanation into the background story of the Hotel, and the ride itself:


Harrison Hightower...completed many expeditions around the world and collected thousands of countless artifacts. Most of these artifacts were stolen for personal gain and all he stored in his hotel. After one such expedition to Africa, he brings home an idol by the name of Shiriki Utundu.

He claims that the natives were very unhappy to part with their beloved god and threatened him that it would curse him. On New Year's Eve, 1899, Hightower held a huge party, attended by many members of the press. There he boasted about how great he was for taking the idol and denied any claims to it being cursed and even went so far as to insult it, using its head to put out his cigarette. Around midnight, he entered the elevator to retire to his quarters at the top of the hotel. As the elevator neared the top, the idol came to life.

The idol zapped him and the elevator, causing it to drop and crash at the bottom. When the elevator was finally pried open, only Hightower's hat and the idol were found. The hotel was then abandoned and left for many years, claimed by the locals to be haunted. After several years, in 1912, a woman from a New York restoration company reopened the hotel with paid tours available. It is on these "tours" that guests embark when they enter the hotel.

This week we're going to have a look at the Hotel itself, and some of the unique decorations and artifacts that can be found on its grounds. The attraction is best experienced without any prior knowledge, so I am not going to give any spoilers away as to what happens! If you do want to know much more about the preshow and the ride itself, head over to the Tower of Terror Wiki Page.

Otherwise, get ready to experience one of the greatest buildings in Tokyo Disney Resort.

Save Me A Space

Just outside Gower Books and Music in the Hollywood Tower Hotel area of Walt Disney Studios, there are some lusted after parking spots.

But don't forget that you can only parallel park, and you will need to remember to feed the metre!

Smell The Roses

Pausing for a moment, as we pass by the Tower of Terror in Disneyland Paris, we catch a scent of roses.

Ah, we're in the beautiful Rose Garden. Is that statue staring at us? No...surely not...

Buy Your Books Here

If you are visiting the Hollywood Tower Hotel in Walt Disney Studios, and suddenly realise you need to buy some books, or perhaps some sheet music, well look no further than Gower Books & Music:

Perhaps named after Gower Street in Hollywood, California, this shop looks like it sells Books "Used and New". And as Gower Street marks the Eastern end of the Hollywood Walk of Fame,we can also purchase "Maps to the Star's Homes".

Hola Detailing

I love the Hollywood area of Walt Disney Studios, especially the buildings surrounding the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Once you understand that I have a soft-spot for anything Art Deco, you can see why this is one of my favourite parts of the Park!

In front of the Tower of Terror, there is a fantastic seating area, which we have looked at before, and is quite secluded. Just in front of that, between the area and the Information Board, is another smaller seating area.

You can purchase a cool drink from nearby, or a hot chocolate, or simply just sit and watch the guests go by at this spot. But be sure to take a look at some of the surrounding details - all of which are a nod to the Californian/West Coast Art Deco era.

Look at this Spanish tiling - I wouldn't mind having a patio like this at the Royal Palace!