That ominous hotel you see towering over American Waterfront is Hotel Hightower, home of DisneySea's Tower of Terror. This version of the ride ditches the Twilight Zone theme found in Walt Disney World's ride in favor of a completely original story line.

The proprietor of the hotel, Harrison Hightower III (whom Disney fans will recognize as Imagineer Joe Rohde), obtained a cursed idol named Shiriki Utundu. Ignoring the advice of his friends and employees, he failed to show respect to Shirki, and because of that he paid the ultimate price. On the night of December 31, 1899, Shirki came to life and sent Harrison plummeting down the hotel's elevator shaft. Luckily (or unluckily) for you, The New York Preservation Society has reopened Hotel Hightower for tours, including a chance to see Shiriki Utundu with your own eyes. It turns out that Shiriki Utundu doesn't particularly care for you either. Your elevator ride up to Harrison's penthouse is intercepted by Shiriki, he then makes your elevator bounce and fall repeatedly.

Tower of Terror is less intense than the ride at Walt Disney World, but it's still very much a thrill ride.