Narrator

### Quote

You unlock this door with the key of imagination, beyond it is another dimension. A dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into . . . The Twilight Zone.

**The Narrator** is a character from the Twilight Zone TV series who appears prominently in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

## History

### Biography

#### Background

The Narrator is a mysterious, omniscient and paranormal entity who serves as an observer to and guide for the 5th Dimension in the different worlds which it encounters. It takes the form of a white, dark-haired, human man dressed in a simple black suit who is often seen chain-smoking cigarettes. The narrator also was not bound by time nor space and had apparent control over the different extents to which he would be perceived by material parties. In the reality which the Tower of Terror franchise transpires within he was only shown to materialize himself through television-screens and as a disembodied voice.

#### Tower of Terror

The Narrator was an observer of the events which transpired in the Hollywood Tower Hotel on the October 31 of 1939 when it connected to the 5th Dimension. It is unknown if the Narrator attended the hotel with knowledge of the events beforehand or if he time-travelled to the event after learning of it. Following the hotel's reopening in 1994, the bellhops of the hotel would for unknown reasons begin attempting to send mortals into the 5th dimension. During this time, the Narrator appeared to would-be victims of the hotel, enlightened them on the history of the building, and assisted them in navigating the Twilight Zone.

## Appearances

### The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

The Narrator serves as the guide for guests in the Walt Disney World version of the attraction though he did serve the same role in Disney's California Adventure before the ride's closure and Disneyland Paris before being replaced by Sally Shine in a refurbishment. In both Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World, the Narrator is host of the Tower of Terror, "Lost episode" in the library pre-show.

In Walt Disney World, the narrator's voice-over guides guests in the elevators as they traverse the Hollywood Tower Hotel and 5th Dimension. He makes another appearance on the TV in the basement after the drop sequence with his disembodied voice later assisting guests in their disembarking.

In the library of the Hollywood Tower Hotel is are letters addressed to Rod Serling and fictional-character Victoria West. These are allusions to the Twilight Zone episode *A World of His Own* in-which a playwright named Gregory West uses a paranormal typewriter to bring all of his writings into the real-world. When his wife Victoria tossed a letter with her name on it into the fireplace she faded out of existence in that reality with the same being true when Gregory noticed the narrator and did the same with the name, "Rod Serling".

## Behind the scenes

The Narrator was the host of the original Twilight Zone television series, having been portrayed by series-creator **Rod Serling**. When the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was in development, Disney received permission to use the late Rod Serling's likeness for the character via footage from the Twilight Zone TV-series. This audio would receive dubbing from voice-actor Mark Silverman doing a Rod Serling impression.

## Trivia

* The Narrator's dialogue is referenced at Mortimer's Market where an edition of the Buena Vista Bugle comments on the Hollywood Tower Hotel, "Promises to be a star in its own right!".

## References

1. ↑ http://towersecrets.com/twilight-zone-references-in-the-tower-of-terror/
2. ↑ http://www.mainstgazette.com/2011/02/rod-you-shouldnt.html
3. ↑ https://a-land-of-shadow-and-substance.blogspot.com/2018/03/