Help me Convince wife to try ToT

[HairyAriel]

My wife is a big chicken and is afraid to try TiT. Can anyone relate a story as to how they overcame the fear of the unknown and got themselves to try it. Im out of ideas to convince her.

 

[safetymom]

I did ToT because my boyfriend called me a chicken. I did it. I did not enjoy it. I would never do it again. If your wife doesn't want to go don't push her to go.

I was plenty old enough to not do it. I thought I would try it but I didn't enjoy it and don't feel any better because I did it.

 

[Dancind]

Promise her a T-shirt, one of the ones that say "I survived the Tower of Terror". Well, it worked with my DD when she was 8. We managed to get her on it once a trip until she recently became addicted. On our most recent trip (she's now 12), we did TOT 10 times! I think we saw all four of the sequences. Diana

 

[Maridw]

Exactly what is your wife afraid of about trying ToT? I love going on it, but my DD (16) doesn't like it. She went on it twice and now that they change it and you don't know how many times you will drop, she won't go. She doesn't like the drops. She also doesn't like Dinosaur (too loud). We finally got her to ride BTMRR within the last two years. She wouldn't ride that because it threw her around too much. Now she loves it. DD didn't want to try TT and now it is her favorite ride.

If she is caustraphobic, it would be difficult to convince her to go, if she isn't, then it might be easier. You might have to compare it to something that she does like.

I really wasn't too thrilled about the bit of "airtime" I would get when they had the lap bars, but now they have individual seat belts for each seat.

I have a small fear of falling and this ride does NOT bother me in the least. I didn't use to have this fear until I went to Ireland and kissed the Blarney stone. (Upside down over a 3 foot gap, at least three stories above the ground). But the only time I have ever regretted doing it was when I did Tot, RnR, & Star Tours one right after the other - I don't recommend that at all.

Find out exactly what her anxiety is about and then go from there. Once you know why she doesn't (other than just very unsure), then you can look at easing that particular fear.

 

[jennymouse]

I tried ToT and R&R my first time last October. I went to EE and walked straight on it...my girls kept looking back at me to see if I was actually going to do it. Tell her to do it like that, because if I had had to wait in line I would have probably talked myself out of it...this way there's no time to back out. Did I like it. Heck yes! I thought R&R was way overrated...not scary at all. ToT I got kinda nervous waiting for the drops, then when it happened, I couldn't quit laughing. Good Luck!

 

[twinz]

Tell her Disney would NEVER hurt anyone, and when we went last September a 6 year old boy who was with us went on it (he didn't like it...but shhh don't tell her that part!).

 

[grinningghost]

Tell her this: it's really not that scary. Really. It's kind of eerie, but that's so minor compared to the AMAZING special effects on this ride. I'm not talking the usual Disney great imagineering stuff - I'm talking OUTSTANDING. Unfortunately, the only way to experience these incredible special effects is to ride the ride. Tell her the drops are just a small portion of the ride - it's everything before them that makes it so exciting and worth doing. Alot of people that have never ridden TOT think the theming and special effects begin and end with the drops and the queue. Not so - the middle of the ride is, IMHO the BEST BEST BEST BEST part of TOT. Tell her to do it. Unless of course she is seriously claustrophobic - that would be torture and you don't want to do that.

 

[kilee]

Different strokes for different folks.......If she really doesn't want to be on it she is going to hate it. In time she may come around on her own and decide she just has to give it a try. I always passed on it. Finally I did it our last trip. I too, made a straight beeline for it. If I would of had to wait or if I thought too much about it, I would of chickened out. My heart was pounding so hard in the preshow I was actually alittle afraid to go on the ride ( I was having a hard time getting my pulse to come down). Well I did it, most likely I won't do it again. I didn't enjoy it, not one bit. I for one wouldn't pressure someone to do this ride if they really don't want to.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I have a problem with motion sickness and I was worried that I might get ill on ToT. Well, I finally got the nerve to do it last December. It was fun. We bought the photo and I have my mouth wide open screaming. I didn't want to do it again right away, but I'm looking forward to it next week.

 

[Miscrapper]

And as a previous poster said everything before the drops is awesome. I didn't think it was too scary at all but I would never go on the free fall rides at Cedar Point or other parks.

It is a lot of fun! Kind of like going fast in a car over hills where you rise out of your seat!

 

[RobinMarie]

I'm just one of those people who cannot understand why people feel the need to deliberately inflict anxiety, fear and dread in their lives. Heck, don't most of them experience it without thrill rides? Nevertheless, I wanted to know what all of this fuss was about. After many trips to WDW I finally went on it ONCE. Like the other posts, I knew I'd have to do the fast-pass-walk-quickly-and-try to-appear-calm-stroll onto the ride.

I did it. I enjoyed all the pre-show fun and the middle etc. Even the drops weren't so bad. I didn't like going UP. I don't know why but going up repeatedly just wasn't fun for me. I was surprised not to be bothered by everything else. I was the only one in the group not to go again. They still had the lap bars which I was gripping. What do people hold on to now? I'm afraid if I don't sit next to people I know that I'll grab a stranger.

Because of the unknown amount of drops, I don't know if I'll do the ride again. My daughter has finally reached 40'' and is looking forward to the ride. I definitely agree with the sentiment, 'Disney will never hurt you.' She'll be so interested in the effects the first time it will leave little time for dread.

I read up on the ride before I went. Perhaps that might help.

http://www.tower-of-terror.com/

 

[Chip126]

I would love to help you convince her, but I am not sure how. Maybe tell her about everything before the "drops"? I would probably ride it over and over again just for that.

As far as the drop is concerned..............I do TOT once per trip (only to say I did it). I have not tried it since it has changed, but I am sure I will in December (only out of curiosity).

I love every single ride in Disney, BUT when it comes to dropping that many stories for a "thrill", I just can't seem to justify it.

Good luck convincing her though. As she approaches it and sees those top doors opening and everyone screaming......I think that might be difficult.

I would tell her to just try it. She will make it through it and at least she will be able to say she did it. If she does, make sure you buy the picture..........it may be the last time she goes on this ride.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I've never done ToT either ... I'm a big chicken and I don't really like drops on rides... Tell me how bad the drop on ToT is compared to the drops on Space Mountain (that I can handle).

 

[Chip126]

bunnyfoo........I don't consider Space to have any real drops. You definately will feel the drops on TOT! That being said.....the drops don't last long. This is not one of my favorite rides, but as stated in my previous post......I do it once per trip. I suggest giving it a try.

The pre-show is something that is not to be missed and the drops don't last forever. I am kind of looking forward to the seat belts because that is one thing that I hated about TOT was the fact that I always lifted off my seat when it dropped.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[safetymom]

HairyAriel, what are you willing to do in return for her riding ToT?

 

[cheeringmom]

I know that is a huge, fat lie, but that was the only way my kids got me to ride it. "It only drops once mom" yada yada. But I did have a great time. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

 

[Minniespal]

What exactly does she not like about it? -

I went on TOT twice once in 2000 and again 2001, now I luv roller coasters but I have a fear of falling, can't do Doctor Dooms Fearfall at IOA either.

I would say if she is a little apprehensive try and persuade her but if she really doesn't want to go on it don't foce her, she won't thank you for it.

 

[kmgl78]

When my daughter was about 10 she was terrified of all thrill rides such as roller coasters. My son convinced her to ride TofT by telling her he would ride something with her that he considered lame like Small World (he was a teenager). She finally got her nerve up and loved it. She tells everyone it is the best ride ever and wants to ride it many times. Now she even rides Rock & Roll Coaster.

 

[BarbaraMB]

I have yet to experience TOT but I have read that you can enjoy the preshow and before it is time to take the elevator you can escape through the chicken exit. Can anyone verify this for me and did they look like a fool asking to exit. My DH and youngest DD will NOT want to do the drop part of the attraction but DH doesn't want to draw any attention to himself either.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I tried Tower of Terror because my 5 year old nephew loved it. I figured if he could do it - so could I! I was very disappointed. It wasn't scary AT ALL! I won't do it again because it was a waste of time! I love roller coasters, and sorry, Universal has WDW beat here. If she won't do it because she thinks it is going to be scary, tell her not to worry, IT'S NOT!!