We too got stuck on TOT. It was a pretty new ride and our first time riding it, so DH and I were going to ride it first without the kids. We had DS, 12, and DD, 8, go through the line with us but take the "chicken elevator" to wait for us. DD was already freaked out by the preshow (she hates lightning storms, so it really got to her), but she had her brother to wait with her, so we weren't worried.
Everything went fine through the first drop, then when we got back up to the top, there was a long pause before the next drop. We thought at first that's how it was supposed to be, then the lights came on and we were looking at a concrete wall. A recorded voice said, several times, something about the bellman coming to assist us soon, completely in character with the ride theming! Then finally a live voice said "I don't know what happened, but something tripped the safety mechanism and it won't let you drop. I'm going to lower you down manually."
We went down slowly, very slowly, watching the plain concrete walls pass, with the floor numbers written on them. Finally at the bottom we moved backward and turned and then the doors opened. I thought this technology was all very interesting, until we stepped out and saw our kids! There were a couple of CM with them, reassuring them that we were fine, but DD was in tears, and DS looked like he had been trying very hard not to break down too. DD told us she had been sure we were never coming back!
Needless to say, we did NOT get right back on. However, we did ride it as a family the next day, and the photo of that first family ride is priceless. We are in the back row, DS against the wall, then myself, DD, and then DH Texas Aggie. The photo shows me and DH both looking at DD, who doesn't appear too scared at all. But DS is huddled into the corner, hugging the wall, hanging on for dear life! Guess being a 12 year old boy doesn't automatically make you a daredevil!
One final note: before that first ride, we had talked to a CM on Sunset Boulevard who told us to put a quarter on one knee and watch it rise into the air when we dropped. We did that, but before we got off, we noticed the quarter lying on the floor under the grate. Now, we know that one little quarter falling off someone's knee onto the floor couldn't trip the safety mechanism, but we will never again try that experiment on TOT!