Alternate Tower Spotlight: The Paris Tower of Terror, Part 4--The Boiler Room, Ride, Exit, and Gift Shop

The boiler room had the same layout and background soundtrack as the California Adventure version, but once again the details made it unique.

The libraries emptied into the boiler room hallway, in which gauges, a time card puncher, a directional sign, and a "days without accident" sign adorned the walls.  An emergency exit door was at the end of the hall to the right as guests left the libraries.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

The "13 days without accident" and directional sign appeared to be the same as DCA's, while the other devices were different designs for Paris.  As with the Californian Tower, the left side/Queen's library exited to the upper boiler room, while the right side library exited to the lower boiler room.  Paris went so far as giving the two separate doorways to enter into the boiler room proper.

Separate doorways for the separate queues at Paris, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Unlike at DCA, there was not a "man in boiler" sign on the machinery near the exit of this hallway.  The lower boiler room did, however, have the same row of random pipes and gauges running along this part of the lower queue as DCA.

Here's a photo of the pack side of them, taken on the way to one of the waiting areas.  You can see the stairs to the upper queue in the background.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Based on photos, it looks like Paris' boiler room did not have the dripping pipe.  Instead, it had this unique piece of machinery:

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Here's a view of it from the upper queue:

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

At the end of the room was, of course, the face boiler, with the emergency exit behind it.

Pictured here with the mechanic's desk.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

On the mechanic's desk sat an old radio, playing out static and creepy voices.  The track for this was the same audio as DCA.  I believe the newspaper prop on the desk was also the same.  Based on the photos, I can't quite tell if it had the Popular Mechanics issues in the desk drawer, or if there was a woman's portrait on the desk.

The back of the mechanic's desk, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Here's an overall view back at the lower queue from the end of it, with the face boiler and mechanic's desk being behind the photographer:

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

More machinery in the lower queue, probably at the base of the face-shaped boiler.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Like DCA, a decorative spiral staircase connected the upper and lower waiting areas, and separated the left and middle waiting areas from each other.

View from the lower queue, on the way to one of the waiting areas.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

In the gap between the middle and right waiting areas was the lower generator.  I don't appear to have a photo of it; however, its safety inspection chalkboard was definitely in the Paris boiler room--just not in the same location as DCA.  It appears in this photo with a wall of gauges, which was taken somewhere in the lower boiler room queue:

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

There were additional details along the sides in at least one of the waiting areas at the Paris Tower.  For example, in what appears to the the far left lower-level waiting area was this podium with a pencil sharpener and an issue of "Wheel" magazine.

Extra details, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Detail showing the podium with the magazine.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Regarding the upper queue, the most obvious difference was the staging of the storage area at the top of the stairs.  Most noticeable was the poem plaque being inside the storage area rather than attached to the surrounding fence material.  The text said:

It's easy enough to be pleasant

when life hums along like a song

But the man worth while

is the man who can smile

When everything goes dead wrong.

This was an excerpt from "Worth While" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.  Despite not having any apparent Twilight Zone connection, this verse appeared in all three Twilight Zone Towers of Terror.

Poem plaque in the storage area.  The plaque was still in English even for the Paris version.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

The large wooden object on the right side of the area was also a file cabinet/work desk combination in this version, as opposed to DCA's spare lobby key cabinet.

Paris' storage area also seemed to be a slight bit messier, with a variety of objects on the work desk.

All photos April 2017 by Pyrokenesis

Interestingly, despite all the detail here, I have not yet heard anything about additional Twilight Zone references being included in this area.  Whether they did not exist or whether nobody has yet to report them is unclear.

At the curve of the upper queue was the "spooky wall," where unsuspecting guests heard the cries of a ghostly little girl through the concrete, in reference to "Little Girl Lost" from The Twilight Zone.  The Paris version used the same English audio as the California Adventure version.  Here is the source audio, from Dlp Sounds on YouTube:

Looking back over the upper queue from approximately the spooky wall area, one could see this view:

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Here's a similar photo from DCA if you wish to compare:

May 2016

As different as the lighting looks in those two photos, I don't think I can accurately say that Paris' version had different lighting.  Rather, I believe that the difference was due to different cameras and settings; the lighting was probably the same in both versions.

As at DCA, the upper loading area had the same layout as the lower loading area, with the exception of the generator being surrounded by a chain-link fence cage rather than being between more solid walls.

The generator and right side loading area as seen from the upper queue, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Once guests reached the loading areas, the waiting and loading procedures were the same as at the Californian ride, with the major exception of course being the language of the spiel.

While waiting for the guests to arrive, guests heard a spooky voice announce:

"A nos précieux invités... Pour votre sécurité, une fois à bord, veuillez attacher votre ceinture et rester assis.
Veillez à conserver en permanence vos mains, vos bras, vos pieds et vos jambes à l'interieur de l'ascenseur. Apportez également une attention toute particulière à vos enfants. Merci."

(Transcript from here )

The spiel then repeated in English:

"To our valued guests... for your safety once on board, please remain seated with your seat belts fastened, keeping your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the elevator at all times, and do take care to supervise your children.  Thank you."

Here is the audio of it, posted by Dlp Sounds on Youtube:

Once guests boarded the elevator and completed the safety checks, the bellhop cast member gave the following spiel:

"Mesdames et Messieurs, la direction de l'hôtel vous recommande fortement de vous accrocher à vos chapeaux, à vos lunettes, ainsi qu'à tout autre objet que vous souhaiteriez conserver dans cette Dimension.

Les photos et les vidéos sont strictement interdits.

Pour votre sécurité, nous vous rappelons de garder vos bras, vos mains vos pieds et vos jambes... et si possible votre petit déjeuner à l'interieur de l'ascenceur, et ce jusqu'à l'arrivée... probable dans votre chambre.

Nous vous souhaitons un agréable séjour au Hollywood Tower Hotel.

Si vous avez besoin de quoi que ce soit... c'est trop tard ! Toutefois, n'hésitez pas à hurler!"

(Transcript from here )

This was the same spiel that DCA cast members delivered in English; the only change to the script appeared to be the language.

Thus, with a ding of the elevator's bell, guests found themselves on their way to La Quatriéme Dimension. 

Unfortunately, I have not yet found quality video of the Paris Tower of Terror in action.  I find this rather unusual, given that all other versions of the ride had a multitude of high-quality recordings available.

Thankfully, the most significant difference in the Parisian ride experience was the language of the narration.  The drop profile and show scenes were the same as DCA's, with the exception of the exterior view being of Disneyland Paris instead of Disneyland Anaheim.  Some small details, such as the placement of prop shoes in the hallway scene, were likely different, but the experience was mostly identical.

Thankfully, the complete source audio of the French soundtrack is available on YouTube, thanks to Dlp Sounds:

In case that video link doesn't work, here is the transcript from DLRP Synopsis (text done in blue in case you wish to scroll past):

(Départ)

Vous êtes les passagers d'un des ascenseurs les plus stupéfiants qui soit... Et vous allez faire le plus étrange voyage de votre vie.
Votre destination : inconnue. Mais une chose est sûre : une réservation a été faite en votre nom, pour une durée prolongée.

(Scène du miroir)

Dites adieu au monde réel...
...car vous venez de pénétrer dans la Quatrième Dimension.

(Scène du couloir)

Les tristes événements qui s'abattirent sur ce haut lieu d'Hollywood, sont sur le point de se reproduire.
Par une nuit d'orage il y a fort longtemps, cinq personnes passèrent les portes d'un ascenseur pour vivre un cauchemar...
L'orage est maintenant de retour et les portes s'entrouvrent à nouveau. Mais cette fois ci, elles s'ouvrent pour vous.

(Spiel de sortie)

La prochaine fois que vous réserverez dans un hôtel abandonné dans la partie sombre d'Hollywood, prenez bien soin de préciser combien de temps vous comptez rester... ou vous risquez de devenir des résidents permanents... de la Quatrième Dimension !

As the elevator pulled back into the load/unload station, the same spooky announcer that had given the pre-loading spiel stated:

"Mesdames et Messieurs, veuillez récupérer vos effets personels et sortir prudement de l'ascenseur.
Nous espérons que votre séjour au Hollywood Tower Hotel aura été agréable.  Et surtout : n'hésitez pas à revenir nous voir.  Merci."

(transcript from here )

Note that you can hear this spiel at the end of the "onboard soundtrack" source audio linked above.

Although I do not have photos of them, the exit corridors of the Paris Tower were the same as those at DCA.  However, Pyrokenesis noted that they could not find the hidden corpse from the episode "Dead Man's Shoes" under the stairwell.  Either Paris lacked this hard-to-spot Twilight Zone reference, or it was placed in an even more difficult to find location.  I assume the message boards in the exit corridors likely had slightly different posters on them as well.

After the exit corridors, guests arrived at the photo viewing area.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

The viewing area had the same setup as DCA, with one immediately noticeable difference: the rear display case wasn't empty!

Rather than simply being a window covered by a red curtain, the Willoughby Travel window had an actual display of travel advertisements!

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

The poster in the center said:

See America

The United States Travel Bureau

and was done in the style of a vintage National Parks poster.  It was surrounded by a display of luggage.  In general, this was a much more fitting presentation than DCA; the travel agency window actually had a travel advertisement.  Then again, given how Willoughby Travel referenced the Twilight Zone episode "A Stop At Willoughby," one might not want to take any vacations they advertised!

The viewing area also had the same Anthony Fremont poster in the same location as DCA.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Anthony Fremont was a character from the episode "It's a Good Life."  In that episode, he hated singing, so fittingly he conducted an orchestra at the Tower.

The display cases under the viewing screens were filled to the brim with Twilight Zone references.

The farthest right display window featured the electric razor from "A Thing About Machines" and the telephone from "Long Distance Call."

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

There were two text cards, in English, in this display.  One read "Perfect for the children's room and those late night calls from grandma."  The second, which appeared only at the Paris version, read, "Comes with an extra long cord.  It can follow you anywhere."  Both of these inscriptions, done in Banhof Regular font, referenced the plot of their respective episodes.

For those wishing to compare, here is what the California version of this display looked like:

Note the different statue and additional logo.  May 2016

The central window had "Modern Wonders" written across the top, and was the largest of the windows.  It had the typewriter from "A Thing About Machines" and an assortment of antique radios.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

The typewriter's paper read, "Get out of here Finchley!  Get out of here Finchley!  Get out of here Finchley!"  The card next to the device read, "Practically writes by itself."  These, of course, replicated what happened with the typewriter in "A Thing About Machines."

A card next to one of the radios said, "Static-free reception.  You'll be surprised at what you hear."  This referenced the episode "Static," which featured an old radio that could tune in to programs from the past.  However, the radio in that episode did not match any of the models shown in the display case.  The static-spewing haunted radio from the boiler room may also have referenced this episode.

Once again, here's the DCA version of the display for comparison:

May 2016

Finally, the left side display case held antique cameras.  One particular camera replicated the one from the episode "A Most Unusual Camera."  It was displayed alongside a card stating, appropriately enough, "A most unusual camera."

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Here's the DCA version:

Not really much of a difference here; just the addition of an HTH logo at DCA.  May 2016

Finally, guests arrived at the gift shop.  The layout and decoration of the shop was the same as DCA.

I don't have any other photos of the shop, but I do have this wonderfully clear photo of the four pictures that were presumably near the photo purchase counter:

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

These four photos showed the characters from the pre-show video hanging around the lobby and elevator.  Interestingly, small details in these photos only match up with the Floridian version of the lobby, and thus set them out-of-place at DCA and Paris.  Notably, the couch setup in the upper left photo and the twisted column in the lower right photo only exist in the Florida Tower's design.  DCA and Paris had individual chairs in place of that couch, and had straight columns rather than twisted ones.

After perusing the gift shop, guests left through the Tower Hotel Gifts doorway.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

From there, they returned to the Tower grounds, and continued their day at Walt Disney Studios Paris.

***

Thus concludes our tour of the Disneyland Paris Tower of Terror!

Obviously, it's still missing some photos and video.  If anyone has Paris Tower photos/videos they wish to share, please don't hesitate to leave a comment!

Alternate Tower Spotlight: The Paris Tower of Terror, Part 3--Lobby Waiting Areas, Libraries, and Pre-show

Beyond the cast member's podium was the crashed elevators and directory sign.  Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the whole scene from Paris, but I do have this detail of the directory:

April 2017, by Pyrokenesis

Based on this detail photo, it appears that Paris had different light fixtures next to the crashed elevators.  DCA's lights were round, while the lamp visible in the upper left of this photo appeared more cylindrical and had a vine-like detailing along the bottom.  The directory itself, however, appeared to be the same between the two versions of the ride.  The font for the word "directory" was Rubens, which most Disney fans probably know as "the Haunted Mansion font".  The Haunted Mansion and Phantom Manor used slightly elongated versions of Rubens font for their logos.

The cast member directed guests to one of two waiting areas.  For my DCA walkthrough, I referred to these as the "King's side" and the "Queen's side."  However, such labels would be inaccurate for the Paris Tower.  While the left-side waiting area did feature a portrait of a queen (well, actually an empress--more about her in a moment), the right side waiting area had a large emergency exit door!  Apparently French safety codes required that there be another emergency exit, which thus took the place of the King's portrait and display case.

If a group of guests was directed to the left side waiting area, they had to pass through the small hallway formed by the crashed elevators and the back of the check-in desk.  On the left side of the hallway (that is, the wall that formed the back of the desk) was the "22" door and a clock on a desk (set to 8:05, of course).  These referenced the Twilight Zone episode "Twenty-Two", the opening scenes of which seemed to have influenced the ride.

A painting of a stormy coast hung above the clock in the Paris Tower.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis.

In contrast, California Adventure's Tower had a Greek-style relief of children carrying books instead.

In the left-side waiting area, there was a large framed portrait displayed high on the wall, and beneath it was a display case with vases, a telephone, a bronze statue, some glass bottles, hand mirrors, and a variety of other small objects I can't quite identify in this photo.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

That portrait was "Portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna" by Franz Xaver Winterhalter.  Winterhalter was also the artist who painted the portraits of Napoleon III and Eugenie that decorated the DCA lobby.

Here's a clearer photo of the original portrait from wikiart.org

I have no explanation for why this portrait or the others appeared in the Tower of Terror. 19th century European royalty does not seem to fit the Hollywood or Twilight Zone themes of the ride. Was someone at Disney just a big fan of Franz Xaver Winterhalter? Did these people/paintings/artist appear in The Twilight Zone in some capacity? If you have any ideas, let me know!

After waiting in the waiting areas for a bit, guests would hear an announcement about the library doors opening, done in a ghostly voice.  It was in both French and English, and stated:

"Mesdames et Messieurs, bienvenue au Hollywood Tower Hotel. D'ici quelques instants, les portes de la bibliothèque se trouvant devant vous vont s'ouvrir. Veuillez vous tenir à distance de ces portes, car elles s'ouvriront vers vous. Merci.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Hollywood Tower Hotel. In just a few moments, the library doors in front of you will be opening.
Please stand back from the doors as they will be opening toward you. Thank you."

(Transcript from here)

Guests then made their way into the libraries.  Though they followed the same layouts as the DCA libraries, Paris' versions of course had their own unique traits.  One notable difference was that Paris' libraries still had carpet in the center, while California's started with carpet but switched to all wood floors partway through its run.  The cast members instructed guests to stand on the carpet during the pre-show.

Desk in the Queen's side/Left side library.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

I only have a desk photo from the left/queen's side room, but based on this photo of the desk alone one can spot Paris vs DCA.  While they had the same Egyptian lamp, they had different chairs, and Paris' has a book and a bronze dog statue rather than California's mahjong game.

For the curious, here's California's:

by land-of-manors-and-beans

Unfortunately, photographing the Paris libraries was plagued by the same issues as California's.  The rooms were very dark, you were given very little time to explore them, and the pre-show took up most of your time and attention in the room.  Presumably, the Paris version had the same Twilight Zone Easter Eggs here that I detailed in the DCA version, although likely with slightly different placement.

Pyrokenesis did managed to get these lovely photos of one of the back table lamps, which was a design not found at the ride's American counterpart:

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

That white lamp in the back looks unique to Paris' design too.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Regarding the pre-show itself, it had identical visuals to the DCA version.  Notably, the exterior view was actually correct for the Paris one, as in the video the Tower had the round fins on the sides that differentiated the Paris from the California exterior.  Regarding the audio, it was, of course, dubbed in French.  You can listen to the source audio for the French dub in this post by Dlp Sounds:

If for some reason that link doesn't work, here is the transcript:

"Vous ouvrez cette porte avec la clef de l’imagination. Au delà, c’est une autre dimension. Une dimension sonore. Une dimension visuelle. Une dimension de l’esprit. Vous pénétrez dans le domaine de l’ombre et de la matière, des objets et des idées. Vous venez d’entrer dans… La Quatrième Dimension.

Hollywood, 1939. Dans le strass et les paillettes d’un Hollywood à l’apogée de son âge d’or, le Hollywood Tower Hotel était une star à part entière… Le lieu de rencontre de l’élite du show business…

Mais quelque chose allait se produire qui allait changer tout ça…

(Les visiteurs assistent alors à la disparition de l'ascenseur)

Nous voici aujourd’hui par une soirée en tout point semblable à celle dont nous venons d’être témoins.

L’histoire de ce soir dans la Quatrième Dimension est quelque peu unique et réclame une introduction d’un autre ordre. Vous aurez sûrement reconnu ce que l'on appelle un ascenseur de service, il est toujours en état de marche et il vous attend. Nous vous invitons, si vous l’osez, à l’emprunter car dans l’épisode de ce soir, VOUS êtes la vedette, et cet ascenseur conduit directement dans… La Quatrième Dimension !"

(Translation from here)

 I have also seen videos of the pre-show that feature the English dub but with French subtitles.  Here is one such example, posted by Jundy Comer on YouTube:

This may or may not be an alternate presentation actually used at the Paris Tower.  When I rode the Paris version back in 2012 I recall everything being in French, so I do not know if or when the English audio-French subtitles setup was used.  Perhaps someone more familiar with Disneyland Paris can enlighten me?

After viewing the pre-show, the previously-hidden sliding door at the back of the library opened, and guests made their way into the boiler room.

Alternate Tower Spotlight: The Paris Tower of Terror, Part 2-- The Exterior Queue and Lobby Show Scenes

The exterior queue layout at the Paris Tower was the same as DCA.  Upon entering the gates, guests found themselves in an open-air foyer with a chandelier and an HTH mosaic in the center of the floor.

April 2017 photo by Pyrokenesis

Paris had more permanent fencing protecting the HTH mosaic, while DCA simply used some posts with a single draping chain around the design.  In addition, although I do not have any clear photos of the corners, I also think that Paris lacked the extra planters with fan-leafed plants in the entry corners of the foyer.  This omission could be due to the different landscaping needs of the Paris location, which I discussed in part 1 of my Paris Tower coverage.

Foyer ceiling and chandelier, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Other than the more substantial fencing around the mosaic and the lack of planters, the California and Paris foyers were the same.

Like DCA, the Paris Tower had an exterior fastpass garden queue to the right and a standby garden queue to the left.  Unfortunately, I don't have any photos from within the fastpass garden, but I do have photos taken through the fence from the outside which confirm that Paris had the same female statue in this part of the queue as DCA.

Unlike California, she didn't have a bench in front of her.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Pyrokenesis also confirmed that the "pool" directional sign was in the Paris fastpass garden, but was unable to get a photo of it.

Paris' date plaque, presumably in the same location as California's date plaque.  Note the different landscaping.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

As for the standby queue, it followed the same layout as its DCA counterpart, with one notable difference: there were no vines!  Aside from the long overhang at the start of the exterior queue, the Paris standby exterior queue was open-air, without the wood scaffolding and vines that shaded DCA's.

Under the long overhang, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Broken urn in the border planter, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Looking at the queue switchbacks from the end of the overhang.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Another vine-less view, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

I suspect that this change to the exterior queue was also due to the weather differences between Anaheim and Paris.  In California, the vines and wood scaffold provided much-needed shade from the sun, while in Paris such a structure might get bogged down with snow in the winter.

Having gone through either the fastpass or standby sections of the exterior queue, guests proceeded through the glass doors into the lobby.

Looking out the entry doors from within the lobby.  The fact that I don't see any planters in the background of the picture is why I think Paris' foyer didn't have them.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

The lobby doors were the same as California's, with the exception of having green European-style exit signs above them.  The ghostly exterior/lobby music loop echoed through the room.

The ceiling featured a geometric tile design crossed with beams, with speakers for the background music hidden among the tiles.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

As far as I can tell, the ceiling and chandeliers were the same as the DCA Tower, albeit slightly less dusty.  Notably, this wasn't always the case; California's lobby got a dustier, more web-covered treatment around 2010, while Paris retained the original look.

Although the Paris lobby had the same setup and scenes as its Anaheim counterpart, a variety of details differentiated them from each other.  Indeed, once one notices the differences, it is surprisingly easy to determine which Tower a photo depicts.

The first scene on the left as guests entered was an abandoned card game, set up as if the players had suddenly vanished.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

For those curious, here is my May 2016 photo of the equivalent scene in DCA:

DCA Tower

As you can see, Paris had a different, more wildly patterned carpet, different chairs, a different lamp and glasses on the table, and different curtains.  Paris also had an additional painting above the dusty potted plant.

Detail of Paris' table.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Another view of the card game scene, April 2017, Pyrokenesis

It also appears that Paris lacked the champagne bottle prop in this scene.

Beyond the card game was a decorative table set up in front of the next window, with a dragon statue and two lamps on it.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Once again, the carpet and curtains differed from DCA.  Although the setup of having a dragon statue and two lamps was the same, which dragon statue and which lamps differed between the two versions of the attraction.  For those curious, here's California's:

DCA Tower, May 2016

Regarding those curtains, the geometric pattern on the top part of the curtain was also unique to each Tower.

Lower photo by Pyrokenesis, upper photo by Mrbellcaptain

After the table with the dragon was the tea table scene.  This was set up as if two people were enjoying some tea while writing letters before disappearing.  A black sweater was still draped over the chairs, tea equipment remained on a serving tray nearby, and dusty envelopes lay on the table.  One of the lobby's emergency exits was just beyond this scene.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

Zooming in on this picture, it appears that Paris lacked the bizarre half-written postcard that DCA had.  This unusual Easter egg, consisting of a postcard that stopped half-written because the writer disappeared, would only have been visible to guests if they had to use the emergency exit.  It makes sense that Paris would omit this strange detail, as it would never have been part of the normal guest experience.

The postcard was far from the only difference in this scene between Paris and DCA.  Although the general description of the scene was the same, they featured different tables, chairs, carpets, curtains, and table setups.  Paris also had a flower vase on the table, and another vase next to the emergency exit.  Here's my (unfortunately blurry) photo of the sparser Californian version for comparison:

DCA Tower, May 2016

Following the tea set scene, guests encountered the main scene of the lobby: the main sitting area and grand fireplace.

This scene consisted of the grand art deco fireplace along the back wall, with an HTH banner above it and a cracked, crumbling wall behind it, as well as a fancy couch on the left and two matching chairs on the right.  In front of the whole scene was a carved owl statue set among dead plants.  Everything was covered in dust and cobwebs... although not quite so many cobwebs as its Californian counterpart.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

The owl statue.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

That owl statue, by the way, has been identified as "Great Horned Owl" by French sculptor Jules Moigniez. (Thanks to Mrbellcaptain for identifying it!)

On the left side of the sitting area, on the couch, was a creepy abandoned doll and a book.  The doll may or may not have been a reference to the Twilight Zone episode "Living Doll."  On the right side of the sitting area, draped over one of the chairs, was the October 31, 1939 edition of The Los Angeles Examiner, which thus provided the ride's story date.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

For those of you wondering how this differed from DCA, it was very much the same case as the tea set scene: The text description was the same, but the details differed greatly.  One of the most notable differences was the color scheme of the carpet and couches.  Paris' color scheme here was primarily blue-green, with blue floral patterned couches/chairs and a wildly patterned carpet that contained many blue and green hues.  By contrast, DCA's color scheme tended toward red, having red floral patterned upholstery and a red carpet with a more subdued pattern.

DCA (albeit with its owl statue missing) for comparison.  October 2016 photo by knocturnalliewitchstew

Comparing the Paris and DCA photos, one can also tell that Paris' fireplace wall had a much larger chunk of plaster missing from its upper-right corner.  The Paris couches were also less cluttered and dusty than the DCA versions as well.  For comparison:

DCA Tower, May 2016

DCA Tower, 2016 by Dusty Sage

The banners above the fireplace also differed in design.  Comparing the photos above, one can tell that DCA's was much more faded than Paris', that they had different tassels along the sides, and that DCA's HTH logo was smaller and higher up on the banner than Paris'.

Here's another interesting view of the Paris main sitting area, from inside the scene:

I think this is a Disney stock photo

Continuing clockwise from the sitting area, guests encountered the check-in desk.

April 2017, Pyrokenesis

This dusty carved desk was still littered with the hat, coat, and umbrella of the person checking in when the lightning struck.  The lamps on either side of the desk had HTH logos on the lampshades, and the sign read

Guest Registration

Cashier

Information

in Banhof Regular font.

The clock behind the desk read 8:05, because 8+5=13, and the Tower imagineers seemed to be trying to reference the "13 is an unlucky number" trope whenever they could.  Oddly, according to this photo, the Paris Tower lacked the "13 diamond rating" plaque on the wall behind the desk.

Overall, this scene differed very little from the version at DCA.  The only differences I could spot were the plaque, exact prop placement, dust levels, and the glimpses of the different queen paintings visible behind the desk.

Here's the inevitable DCA picture for comparison purposes.  May 2016

At this point, a cast member sorted guests into the pre-show waiting areas.  The CM did so while standing at the cast member podium next to the check-in desk.

A cast member directing guests.  April 2017, Pyrokenesis

The podium was identical to DCA's with the exception of the design on the lamp.  DCA used the same Egyptian-patterned lamp both on the podium and in the libraries, while Paris' podium lamp had a simpler orange and green cover.

***

I had initially planned to cover the lobby entirely in one post, but this one was getting incredibly long already.  Therefore, the next post will begin with the coverage of the lobby elevators and waiting areas!