Standing 130 feet tall and topped with the world’s largest pair of Mickey ears, the Earffel Tower was an opening day icon of Disney-MGM Studios, debuting on May 1, 1989. Though it was located deep within the backlot area, the tower was chosen as the park’s symbolic centerpiece—representing the golden age of Hollywood and the studio production theme that defined the park’s early identity.
Despite its resemblance to a traditional water tower, the Earffel Tower never held water. Instead, it served as a playful nod to the real water towers found on studio lots in California, like the one at Warner Bros. Its name was a pun on the Eiffel Tower, and its oversized Mickey ears made it unmistakably Disney.
In 2001, the park introduced a new icon—the Sorcerer’s Hat, installed in front of the Chinese Theatre as part of the “100 Years of Magic” celebration. While the hat dominated the skyline and marketing materials for over a decade, the Earffel Tower remained quietly in place, still beloved by longtime fans.
When the park was officially renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios in January 2008, the Earffel Tower was updated with a new logo to reflect the change. It continued to serve as a nostalgic visual anchor, even as the park’s identity began shifting toward immersive lands and IP-driven experiences.
In 2015, Disney announced major expansions to Hollywood Studios, including Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. These plans required the demolition of the backlot, including the area surrounding the Earffel Tower.
For a time, the tower remained standing—sparking hope among fans that it might be relocated or preserved. But on April 29, 2016, Disney confirmed its official removal. The land it once occupied now houses Toy Story Land, and the park’s iconography has shifted toward the Hollywood Tower Hotel and the Chinese Theatre, now home to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Though it’s gone, the Earffel Tower remains a cherished symbol of the park’s original spirit—when movie magic, backlot tours, and tongue-in-cheek tributes to Hollywood defined the guest experience. Its silhouette may no longer grace the skyline, but its legacy still echoes in the hearts of those who remember the Studios before the IP boom.
