The word opens the door
Here’s a quick test of option two as a lit word and the arch as a frame. The word lights up from the n outward, then the door in the n swings open and the doorway moves toward the viewer until the room fills the frame.
This reveal suits an empty door. The testing asks for “less predictable” and “more surprising”. A lit door is already showing you the room, which could be interpreted as more predictable. Both options reach Rod’s Narnia moment, through the door and into the room; this is another way we could approach it.