Can you walk me through Tower of Terror?

[CleveRocks]

I really don't need or want a description of the pre-show.

What I'm really looking for is a description of the RIDE itself. If you can, please give me a step-by-step description of what happens with the ride vehicle.

My 6 year old is really interested in riding it in November (no interest last year!), and I would love nothing more than for my son to enjoy thrill rides as much as I do, and to have him sit with me and share the experience with me. But I want to be able to prep him a little bit.

THANKS!!!

 

[Chuck65]

Well..............you get on to the elevator/car and go up about 2 or 3 floors. The car then leaves the shaft and proceeds down a hallway to the front of the hotel. Once there, it is very random as to what it will do. I would expect though several drops and rises during the course of the ride.

 

[scubamouse]

You are seated and I'd guess there are 30 other people in the elevator. At first it moves horizontally thru the hotel w/some guests/ghosts. Then it goes pitch black and starts falling. Once the falling starts you can see some light of the park as you go up and down.

DD did it twice last year when she was 3.5 and isn't sure she wants to do it again. DS was 5 and chickened out - it's easy to do that and meet a group at the exit. DD didn't love it either time but the thrill seeker got the best of her. She can't get enough of splash, BTRR and soarin. She's planning to do EE if she makes the 44" cut-off

Check the WDW website, they might have some video of it.

 

[DisneyDreamingAubrey]

just so you don't forget to tell your six year old...

The cast members play their parts really well, so they don't act real friendly, and they don't smile on this ride. It's part of the show, but I think it took my four year old son off gaurd.

 

[Mecha Figment]

just remember that you are never actualy falling or dropping. you are being pushed and pulled.

 

[JessiMommy]

I really don't need or want a description of the pre-show.

What I'm really looking for is a description of the RIDE itself. If you can, please give me a step-by-step description of what happens with the ride vehicle.

Ok, once you board the elevator, sit down & put on your seatbelt the "ride vehicle" zooms up a few floors & then stops. The doors open to what looks like a hotel hallway with guest rooms on either side. An image of some people that you see in the preshow appear in the hallway. They motion with their hands for you to join them. Then they disappear as does the whole hallway and all you are left with is a huge black area filled with 3D looking stars. Then the doors close & you quickly assend a few more floors. This time the doors open & your whole ride vehicle comes out of it's shaft & moves forward through a darkened room filled with "Twilight Zone stuff" a window floating in mid air shattering etc. Straight ahead from where you started is another shaft which is the actual drop shaft. Once you enter this you are staring at a blank concrete wall. You'll hear noises to the effect of the vehicle positioning itself in place and then any number of things could happen... it always varies. It will get completely black and you could drop a few floors right there from that spot (which is not the top) and then zoom all the way to the top where you will have the birds eye view of the park before dropping any number of more times. Sometimes when you are positioned in the drop shaft you go straight up to the top instead of dropping that little half drop first. They always mix it up & you never know how many drops you'll get. Part of the thrill is the rush you feel when you zoom back to the top for another drop. Hope this helps. If you are up for it, it really is an awesome ride!!!

 

[civileng68]

You start in the hotel Lobby, which is AMAZING theming. Even if none of you ride it, you should go through the line to the ride, and then get off at the "not riding" exit (yes they'll let you do that).

When you get into the elevator (with a bunch of other people), you are seated in seats with seatbelts. The elevator doors shut and you go up a few floors and the doors open. At this point you see some cool visual effects (nothing happens to you at this point, you are just watching). Then doors shut again and you go up to the top. The doors open and you see that you are in the "Twilight Zone" with just alot of cool visual effects around you. Your elevator cart moves out of the elevator shaft and moves across the room (yes, it's on wheels), you then enter the shaft at the other side of the room, the doors close, and then you go up and down and IT'S DONE!

I'm not one to hype up rides, but, this one is GREAT GREAT GREAT! You cannot leave this ride without a smile on your face. It just puts you in a good mood when you're done. Of course, my dad hated it, and was mad at me for talking him into riding it, so it's all a matter of perspective.

 

[meghanet]

Well, I am a total chicken. I have ridden ToT once, and only once. It's the only ride that I'm planning on not ever riding again, simply because I don't like the free fall feeling. It's been a long time since I've ridden it (back when they had the bar, from what I understand they have seatbelts now, which just makes me more firm on not riding it again, at least I used to be able to hold onto the bar.) However, the most important thing I would tell a kid is that there is a lot of ride before you actually start to fall. I didn't know this and it really did a number on my nerves trying to figure out when we were going to start to fall!

I'm the only person I know who really doesn't like this ride. I'm glad your child is getting up the nerve to do it! It is a fun ride, I just don't like that feeling the stomach when you drop and the random-ness of the ride just makes it worse for me.

 

[donna in Oz]

If you want to prep your son for the first drop, you should know that after the elevator begins to move forward, it will get dark, but you will then see daylight and the back side of the "Hollywood" sign.

Once you see that, you'll know the first drop is within 1-2 seconds away. And by the way, the camera for your photo is mounted on the back of the sign. Smile !!

 

[Little Mermaid DVCer]

As a mother of three young children and a teacher, I just want to warn you that this is a very scary ride. In February I went on it 3 times and 2 of those times there were terrified, screaming children in my "elevator car".
Unless your child has a strong tolerance for being scared, it is not a good ride for kids. It is different than other thrill rides in that respect.
I have a 7 year old who rides all the roller coasters in the parks for which he fits the height requirement, but I have not allowed him to ride Tower of Terror yet and I don't think I will this year either.

Just a heads up.

 

[GoofyBaby]

I'm the only person I know who really doesn't like this ride. I'm glad your child is getting up the nerve to do it! It is a fun ride, I just don't like that feeling the stomach when you drop and the random-ness of the ride just makes it worse for me.

Don't feel bad. . .I won't ride it either! The feel of free falling makes me nauseous and gives me headaches afterward! I will not be riding it in May!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Check the animation here on this site. http://disneysims.blogspot.com/ You probably need to play with the site some to learn how it works. Lots of great animations here.

 

[MonkeyPants]

DD did it twice last year when she was 3.5 and isn't sure she wants to do it again. DS was 5 and chickened out - it's easy to do that and meet a group at the exit. DD didn't love it either time but the thrill seeker got the best of her. She can't get enough of splash, BTRR and soarin. She's planning to do EE if she makes the 44" cut-off

Check the WDW website, they might have some video of it.

wow 3.5 and going on ToT that is a thrill seeker I am not sure I would let my nephew on it (almost 4) even if he wanted to

 

[Hannathy]

The scary part is not that scary it is dark though. I don't know about the screaming kids unless you mean screaming like on a roller coaster. I went on it at least 8 times last week and never had a "screaming child" on my car. One time I sat next to 2 little and I mean little girls one was about 6 the other maybe 4 their dad was behind with another little one and they all did fine as did my 7 yr old. Don't tell him too much I think that is what is great the first time on a ride the newness off it and not quite knowing what to expect. That was great on Everest the first time. The seating is 3 rows of 4 people and 3 rows of 3 people.
It is a great ride!

 

[ChrisFL]

Ok, once you board the elevator, sit down & put on your seatbelt the "ride vehicle" zooms up a few floors & then stops. The doors open to what looks like a hotel hallway with guest rooms on either side. An image of some people that you see in the preshow appear in the hallway. They motion with their hands for you to join them. Then they disappear as does the whole hallway and all you are left with is a huge black area filled with 3D looking stars. Then the doors close & you quickly assend a few more floors. This time the doors open & your whole ride vehicle comes out of it's shaft & moves forward through a darkened room filled with "Twilight Zone stuff" a window floating in mid air shattering etc. Straight ahead from where you started is another shaft which is the actual drop shaft. Once you enter this you are staring at a blank concrete wall. You'll hear noises to the effect of the vehicle positioning itself in place and then any number of things could happen... it always varies. It will get completely black and you could drop a few floors right there from that spot (which is not the top) and then zoom all the way to the top where you will have the birds eye view of the park before dropping any number of more times. Sometimes when you are positioned in the drop shaft you go straight up to the top instead of dropping that little half drop first. They always mix it up & you never know how many drops you'll get. Part of the thrill is the rush you feel when you zoom back to the top for another drop. Hope this helps. If you are up for it, it really is an awesome ride!!!

Pretty accurate except the window floating in mid-air and shattering is at the end of the first scene, not while you're moving forward in the next one.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Ok, once you board the elevator, sit down & put on your seatbelt the "ride vehicle" zooms up a few floors & then stops. The doors open to what looks like a hotel hallway with guest rooms on either side. An image of some people that you see in the preshow appear in the hallway. They motion with their hands for you to join them. Then they disappear as does the whole hallway and all you are left with is a huge black area filled with 3D looking stars. Then the doors close & you quickly assend a few more floors. This time the doors open & your whole ride vehicle comes out of it's shaft & moves forward through a darkened room filled with "Twilight Zone stuff" a window floating in mid air shattering etc. Straight ahead from where you started is another shaft which is the actual drop shaft. Once you enter this you are staring at a blank concrete wall. You'll hear noises to the effect of the vehicle positioning itself in place and then any number of things could happen... it always varies. It will get completely black and you could drop a few floors right there from that spot (which is not the top) and then zoom all the way to the top where you will have the birds eye view of the park before dropping any number of more times. Sometimes when you are positioned in the drop shaft you go straight up to the top instead of dropping that little half drop first. They always mix it up & you never know how many drops you'll get. Part of the thrill is the rush you feel when you zoom back to the top for another drop. Hope this helps. If you are up for it, it really is an awesome ride!!!

This is probably the best description ever. I dunno about which scene the window is in, but even if that is off...this was great.

 

[CleveRocks]

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!

Thank you ALL for your descriptions, tips, and warnings. This will DEFINITELY help me prep my son and help determine if the ride is "for him."

Anyone else???

 

[scubamouse]

wow 3.5 and going on ToT that is a thrill seeker I am not sure I would let my nephew on it (almost 4) even if he wanted to

I think she'll chicken out this year. It's like now she has enough sense to be fearful We never force them on rides but we did make sure she knew what it was like so I think that really helped.

 

[PlutosFriend]

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!

Thank you ALL for your descriptions, tips, and warnings. This will DEFINITELY help me prep my son and help determine if the ride is "for him."

Anyone else???

I think the others did a great job describing it. My family road it for the first time this past May. I LOVED it. I got a case of the giggles during the ride and then again after it was finished when I saw the look on my daughters face. My kids are 8 and 6. The 8 year old did fine, the 6 year old was close to tears, but we were able to talk her out of crying I hope she tries TOT next time we go, but at this point she says "no way" in a silly voice.

 

[pepperw23]

just remember that you are never actualy falling or dropping. you are being pushed and pulled.

I needed you on the ride with me ha-ha. I hated it. I am NOT kidding 37 years old and I had nightmares for three nights of a plane crashing, falling from a mountain etc...,never again for me.