Brave daughter, chicken mom...and ToT

[cardinalfan]

My lovely and adventerous 10yo DD has informed me that she wants to ride ToT this trip. (We leave tomorrow! Yippee!) Anyway, there is no chance either DH or myself will ride ToT. Really. Not a possibility. So my question is, can I wait in the line with her and exit at the Chicken Exit, leaving her to ride alone (she is OK with that) or is the chicken exit too far from the actual loading area to leave her? DH will wait for her at the regular ride exit, if I can't get there in time.

 

[jcemom]

If I remember correctly, the chicken exit was right where you get into the elevator, so you could go through the entire pre-show area together. You may want to reconsider, though. I was very hesitant about riding TOT as I was positive I would hate the drops. As a Twilight Zone fan I forced myself on anyway and it turned out to be my favorite ride in all of WDW!!! The first drop startled me, but after that I actually thought they were FUN, lol. It's a great ride and the theming and attention to detail are nothing short of incredible, imo.

 

[Duckfan]

I would be fine with that solution, you would have time to meet up with her in the gift shop and she would be okay. I hear you on this because this is not one of my favorite rides.

 

[IndyJammer]

When we were there in March, DW & I both had some kind of food poisoning - while DS9 HAD to ride TOT before we left. I stood in line with him all the way up to where he lined up for the elevator - then a nice CM escorted me to the "Safe" Elevator! It takes you right to the Ride Exit & Picture Viewing area - so you can check out the pictures while waiting!

It really is a neat ride though - The drops are fast, but they are also Over fast! I'd recommend trying it once - but otherwise, you can also take the "other" elevator!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

My DS wanted to ride TOT since our first family trip in 1997 (he was amost 7 at that time). I absolutely refused that year and also for our next two trips. In 2002 I finally decided that it was time to try TOT. It was the most fabulous experience I ever had. It is not at all like coasters with the big drops (I WILL NOT ride those). It became at that point my absolute favorite ride. We have had a lot of great rides on TOT since then. Last June during a week at WDW we rode TOT 13 times! We would have made 14 but ran out of time and had to get to the airport.
Believe me, it is not like anything you have ever been on before. It is truly an awesome ride.
Only problem is that it is TOO SHORT!!!!!!
Once we get on we never want to get off.

 

[cardinalfan]

Wow! Thanks to all for the prompt replies! Maybe the wonderful themeing and my DD's begging will get me to ride. Or maybe not.

She did get me on RnR last year - we have the most wonderful ride photo of me screaming like a little girl and my DD and two strangers laughing their heads off. I think she took it to show and tell this year.

Aaagh! Do they take ride photos at ToT? That would be blackmail fodder for sure! No way would I look calm cool and collected in that one!

 

[stacilee]

I am a 41 YO mom who doesn't really like the big rides all that much But I have to tell you:

That Tower of Terror is my VERY FAVORITE RIDE!

Please give it ONE TRY.

My kids always admire me when I do things that they think I would normally be too chicken to do.

WAY TO GO MOM!!, they shout. :thewave: :thewave:

Did you give birth to this DD?

If so- just tell yourself that nothing Disney dishes out could be more scary than childbirth!

It works for me!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

They sure do take photos on TOT. It comes after your journey inside the hotel after you enter the drop shaft. You will not being expecting it the first time you ride.
If you handled RnR with your daughter you can sure do TOT.

Hope you give it a try. You won't be sorry!!!!!!

 

[wdarling]

i think if ur daughter is worried bout goin solo a CM would ride with her. years ago i chickened out on big thunder(i was 6) and a CM rode with my 10 yr old brother.

 

[jennymouse]

I was faced with the same situation when I took my granddaughter. I've always been a ride chicken but I knew she wanted to ride ToT & RnR. We went first thing one morning before there was any long lines as I knew if I had to wait in a line I would chicken myself out. We walked right on and I did it. Afterwards I was saying "I was scared of that?" I've come to realize that it's true, the worst fear is of fear itself.

You can do it!

 

[petula]

One of my coworkers once passed on a saying from her mom: It's hotter when you cook it than when you eat it.

She then said that it loses something in the translation from German to English. lol In any case, it had something to do with how worries about something are usually worse than an actual experience.

ToT was my first grown-up ride, and I was sooooo chicken! (And this was back when there was only one drop! lol) But as most ride chickens who forced themselves on this one will tell you, it's a fabulous ride. You will not be disappointed, and there's a good chance it will become one of your favorites. Just do it! My mother did it for me! (Never mind I was about 29 at the time. lol)

The one good thing about the blackmail pictures: Since it's a picture of the entire elevator, it's a lot less close up and a bit grainier than something like a Rock 'n' Roller picture and the focus isn't entirely on you. (And what in the world? You say you won't ride ToT and then go on to talk about Rock 'n' Roller??? What's that about? lol)

Bawk bawk!

 

[cardinalfan]

Originally posted by petula
(And what in the world? You say you won't ride ToT and then go on to talk about Rock 'n' Roller??? What's that about? lol)

Bawk bawk!

Yep, chicken mom, that's my name!

When we went on Rock n Roller I:

1. Had no idea what the ride was like. My DD just kept saying, "oh, its just Aerosmith music, set to Goofy's Barnstormer". Tricky girl.

2. Drew straws with my DH. Guess who lost? That's right! DH! He had to stay with screaming 2 y.o. DS!

Maybe you all have talked me into this... thanks for the encouragement!

 

[Karibeth19]

I used to be so afraid of rides with straight vertical drops, but I love ToT!! Mainly I hated the sensation you get in your stomach when you drop. What helped me, was during the drops, instead of going along with the ride, I would plant my feet firmly on the floor, grab the handrails, and push my body up a little (as much as your seat belt will allow, and believe me, I like mine tight!), so I'm sort of hovering over the seat. It takes away a lot of the "falling" sensation in your tummy, and makes the ride easier to take. Of course, I don't do it so much anymore because I'm used to the ride, but it really helped in the beginning.

 

[MaryJ]

Originally posted by cardinalfan
Maybe you all have talked me into this... thanks for the encouragement!

The ToT is my favorite ride at WDW! If you decide to go for it, please let us know when you get back how you liked it! All I can say is that two years ago, a little girl in my preschool class (she'd just turned 5) was soooo excited because she was going to WDW with her family and she was finally tall enough to ride the ToT!! Now if a 5 year old can ride it, surely you can too!

 

[snyderla]

Karibeth19, I too HATE that sensation you get in the pit of your stomach when falling, it's almost painful to me. I even hate that little drop on POTC, but I love the ride, so I always go on it anyway. Last time on it I put my feet up against the back of the seat in front of us and held on to DH and lo and behold with my feet up like that I didn't feel a thing in my stomach! Now, I would never try TOT, but it did work for POTC. Actually, I have been in line 2 times with the intention of riding TOT. The first time was the year it opened, I had been looking forward to riding it since I had first heard about it, but couldn't do it. The next was 2 yrs later when there with my DB and our families. Well,he chickened out and so of course I had to stay back with him and visit, since he lives in FL and I live in IL and he was just up for the day.
(I have still not thanked him for chickening out so I didn't have to ride either, LOL.)
Lori