A question about tower of terror

[Mgksjn]

Today my party is going to Hollywood studios I'm not a fan of heights and one other person isn't a fan of the dark. However one person is really wants to go on it so we are riding it. So I was wondering has anyone been on it who isn't a fan of heights and okay with the ride? Also for the person who isn't crazy about the dark bought a glow stick. Would he be able to bring the glow stick on the ride?

 

[disnut8]

Yes.

 

[BrianL]

Today my party is going to Hollywood studios I'm not a fan of heights and one other person isn't a fan of the dark. However one person is really wants to go on it so we are riding it. So I was wondering has anyone been on it who isn't a fan of heights and okay with the ride? Also for the person who isn't crazy about the dark bought a glow stick. Would he be able to bring the glow stick on the ride?

Well, if drops bother someone, then ToT is all about that. However, other than seeing out the window at the highest point, you can't really tell how high you are. There is a solid floor under your feet at all times. You can close your eyes at that point if you don't want to see the view of the park.

As for the glow stick, nobody will likely stop you, but I'd consider it pretty inconsiderate as it will ruin parts of the show for others. The darkness is part of the atmosphere and external lights could impact some of the illusions.

 

[No.1000]

My DS (16) blames me taking him on TOT when he was seven FOR his fear of heights.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Please don't bring a glow stick on this ride. It is dark. It is high. It is terrifying. If you think you cannot handle it then don't ride it.

I rode it once and will NEVER do it again. It messed me up for a good hour of the day.

 

[ErinsMommy]

As for the glow stick, nobody will likely stop you, but I'd consider it pretty inconsiderate as it will ruin parts of the show for others. The darkness is part of the atmosphere and external lights could impact some of the illusions.

This - I'm all for people taking things along on rides that make them feel more comfortable/safe but a glow in the dark stick in an otherwise dark place, would really irk me.

 

[BigredNole]

My advice is do not sit next to an older man who had been a manual laborer for 40 years and is afraid of heights. His grip was worse than a croc. He was so terrified and grabbed my leg so hard I had bruises before I got off the ride. I took all my strength to pry him from my leg.

 

[Rigby]

Don't do it. Get a drink and wait for your friend. You'd ruin the experience with the glow stick and it's all about the drop. Stay away!

 

[ErinsMommy]

My advice is do not sit next to an older man who had been a manual laborer for 40 years and is afraid of heights. His grip was worse than a croc. He was so terrified and grabbed my leg so hard I had bruises before I got off the ride. I took all my strength to pry him from my leg.

Please tell me you knew him because that would seriously freak me out if a stranger grabbed me - and TOT would have a new meaning. LOL

 

[disneyvoice]

Me! I am afraid of heights AND I dislike big drops on roller coasters but somehow ToT is my very favorite ride at WDW.

Honestly, I really don't even notice that I am up high on this ride. The only time I even notice the height is when the doors first open - after that I am so focused on the up and down of the ride that I don't even have time to notice or think about the height. But even when the doors first open the height doesn't bother me. The fact that I am sitting all strapped in and I am only seeing height out IN FRONT of me - not below me - makes it a non issue. After riding ToT the first time I realized that my issue with big drops on roller coasters doesn't really have anything to do with the drop itself but with the fact that I am falling FORWARD over the drop. Dropping while I am seated on ToT doesn't bother me at all - in fact I think it is really fun. To me the feeling of the drop is totally different the the feeling of falling forward.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Me! I am afraid of heights AND I dislike big drops on roller coasters but somehow ToT is my very favorite ride at WDW.

Honestly, I really don't even notice that I am up high on this ride. The only time I even notice the height is when the doors first open - after that I am so focused on the up and down of the ride that I don't even have time to notice or think about the height. But even when the doors first open the height doesn't bother me. The fact that I am sitting all strapped in and I am only seeing height out IN FRONT of me - not below me - makes it a non issue. After riding ToT the first time I realized that my issue with big drops on roller coasters doesn't really have anything to do with the drop itself but with the fact that I am falling FORWARD over the drop. Dropping while I am seated on ToT doesn't bother me at all - in fact I think it is really fun. To me the feeling of the drop is totally different the the feeling of falling forward.

I'm also afraid of heights, but TOT is my absolutely favorite ride anywhere, ever. I also can't take the dropping feeling on say Dr Doom's Fearfall, but I LOVE the sensation on TOT.
(Only the drops where you fall straight forward on coasters bother me; if they "swoop" at all - like on Everest - I have no issues.)

 

[prprincess]

My son doesn't like the dark or heights, but he has more of an issue with the unexpected drops and hates it. So that may bug you more.

 

[Surr]

My wife is terrified of heights but loves this ride. In my wife's case, she is very uncomfortable standing next to a balcony railing just a few stories up, but if she steps away from the rail she is fine looking out. Her and I believe most people's fear of heights comes from looking down from that height. On ToT you never look down, only out.

As far as darkness, if the dark rides like Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Dinosaur both someone then Tower of Terror will probably also bother then. There are moments when it is completely black, but they don't usually last more than a couple seconds or so.

For a lot of people who are not fan's of ToT, it is the combination of elements that they don't like. It may be my wife's favorite ride, but my daughter (13) hates it primarily due to the drops (and I really think the anticipation).

 

[Shellyb84]

I'm afraid of heights but ToT is my favorite ride! My DH isn't a fan of free fall rides but he still enjoys this ride.

 

[bumbershoot]

Don't bring a flashlight, but a glow stick is fine. It's not like they shine. They glow. Anyone could be wearing a glow stick necklace and happen to go on the ride and it's not going to cause a problem.

 

[starjazz]

I'll agree with several other posters. Its my favorite ride in all of WDW. But if someone brought a glow stick on the ride, I'd be HIGHLY annoyed. The pitch black aspect is a key component. Its like taking flash photographs on other dark rides, IMO.

Bottom line is, its not gonna kill ya. If you wanna try what is commonly thought of as one of the best rides anywhere, toughen up and give it a whirl the way its supposed be to ridden. Otherwise, just grab a snack and wait, or go see a show or something. That's my advice, for what its worth.

 

[MissMarzenia]

I don't consider it either dark or high ride, maybe it is different in Paris? I do not remember it being pitch black First time on ToT in Paris - I realized that coincidentally majority of my nightmares are related to elevators (I do not have a fear of elevators, they just happen to be a part of my nightmares).
If it is dark ride and my memory is just playing tricks on me - I would not mind a glow stick as it doesnt really give that much light. As long as they don't wear those glowing ears you can buy at Fantasmic

 

[steviethegreat]

Today my party is going to Hollywood studios I'm not a fan of heights and one other person isn't a fan of the dark. However one person is really wants to go on it so we are riding it. So I was wondering has anyone been on it who isn't a fan of heights and okay with the ride? Also for the person who isn't crazy about the dark bought a glow stick. Would he be able to bring the glow stick on the ride?

I am not a fan of heights, but I still ride things with drops, so maybe I'm not the best person to answer your question. But yes, it's scary, and depending on how legit your fear of heights is, you will not like the suspension of the dropping. They open the windows at the top so you can see out and then EVENTUALLY ~boom~ free falling, etc. They'll drag you up and drop you down again. It's a lot of fun, but the first time I rode it I was like ~never again. The next trip I rode it twice.

As for the glow stick, what if he put it under his shirt? It would muffle the glow and if he got scared during the part where you're not falling, (no need to poke your eyes out), he could open the neck hole of his shirt a little to see underneath. It would minimize the impact of his interaction with others, but make him feel like he had some control over his situation?

Realistically, the parts 'in the dark' still have lights. There are moments of dropping where it's pitch black, but the ride is still pretty fast. So if you REALLY want to do it, go for it. If you're on the fence, watch some youtube versions and maybe skip.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Heights don't really bother me. The dark doesn't bother me. The Twilight Zone (original) is my favorite television show. I think the ride is amazingly well done. Aaaand...I don't ride it anymore. I started having recurring nightmares because of it. I think for me it was the anticipation and anxiety that went along with it. So, my advice is to give it a try. You may just love it. You may hate it. It may haunt you. We're all just so different that there's no way to know for sure how it will make you feel.
There's also nothing wrong with skipping it completely. Maybe try taking a pic of your friend from the ground when the doors open up to the ride vehicle.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I do want to add that I love ToT itself as an icon of the park. While we waited for DH we had a wonderful CM bring us around to show us hidden Mickeys and some other cool things inside. I would never want them to change it or get rid of it. I could watch the ride all day