How bad is ToT, really?

[Mousemommy1]

The ToT is my favorite ride of all-time. It is wonderfully themed, perfect amount of O-M-G thrill. I could do it over and over again. One of my favorite memories is of my honeymoon in 2002 at Disney, and there was a hurricane and the park cleared out...DH and I got to ride the ToT 7 times in a row without getting off...the elevator operator CM would say funny stuff to us each time the door opened and we were the only ones in the car! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the ToT. And, FWIW, my oldest DD rode it for the first time when she was 5...the theme really creeps her out, but she really likes the ride...enough that she'll deal with the creepiness to go on it. It's a winner!

 

[Babbletrish]

Hello everyone! Quick question. So I'm on a quest to ride all the rides at Disney world and I see Tower of Terror is on the list. Anyway at first I thought it looked absolutely terrifying but then I got on youtube and watched the ride and it didn't look so bad..But then one of my friends rode it and said it was awful and she's a thrill rider! So now i'm confused and I wanted to know how bad is it, really?

The thing about ToT (and it has been a long time since I rode it) is this: The drop gets all the attention. For my money, though, it isn't the scariest part of the ride. I get freaked out by "Theater of the Mind" effects (not to mention that nerve-fraying "Twilight Zone" theme song), and there are a LOT of those in ToT.

 

[FloraFauna]

For years, I would walk through the queue with my family, then when it came time for the "service" elevator, they would go on and I would get into the "chicken" elevator. Like I said, I did this for years.

About 2 years ago, I gave the whole ride a try. I loved it--it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. Its one of my favorites now!!

Give it a try!!

 

[jmkjr72]

i hate heights but yet i love tot
now my son is a diffrent story every time he says he is not doing it but we get him to do it

 

[Sinderelly]

This is the only ride I've ever ridden that has really scared me. NEVER AGAIN

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

I totally love TofT & my DH totally hates it!

He hates heights of any kind....which I think is his reason to dislike it. He closes his eyes though the whole thing.

Myself, I could ride it over & over...it is more funny to me than scary for some reason.

 

[ronnmel]

LOVE it!! We rode it 8 times during our last trip.

I get motion sickness on several rides (Expedition Everest, Star Tours, Space Mountain, Teacups), but had NO problem on TOT. I've done free fall rides way worse at amusement parks.

 

[Erinmc3]

Did TOT for the first time this trip. Was a little nervous going into it because I'm not a fan of elevators or heights but the ride didn't bother me. Would definitely ride it again .

 

[k5thbeatle]

Hello everyone! Quick question. So I'm on a quest to ride all the rides at Disney world and I see Tower of Terror is on the list. Anyway at first I thought it looked absolutely terrifying but then I got on youtube and watched the ride and it didn't look so bad..But then one of my friends rode it and said it was awful and she's a thrill rider! So now i'm confused and I wanted to know how bad is it, really?

Well,I always get all worked up before I ride this but I always manage to get on and somehow I survive it? As others have mentioned it's all the build-up which leads to the anxiety (at least for me) culminating when those doors first open way up high. Then it's almost over before it starts as the rest goes pretty fast (figuratively speaking )

Get on it, hang on, and have fun...you'll be glad you did!

 

[dimndgal1]

My DD is 17 and she still closes her eyes for the parts up to the actual drops! Of course, this is what her father tells me. As I don't ride. I am a true chicken when it comes to ToT!

LOL - I have a feeling DD will have her eyes closed for many years to come

In fact, the first time we rode it at WDW (after the marathon at DL 8 months prior), she immediately closed her eyes after the belt check. The wife in the newlywed couple behind us said "Oh my gosh - Is it that bad?!" DD turned and (eyes still closed) said "It's okay, the ghosts are really scary but the drops are pretend!"

To the OP -- as PPs have said I think ToT is really one of those you have to try for yourself to decide. Just try not to end up in the front row your first time -- for me, it's definitely more thrilling to be in the front and I would imagine more intimidating if you're already scared

 

[julfre1]

I'm scared of heights and get motion sickness. Even soaring scares me as it feels like I am going to fall. However, I have done TOT and survived.

What I do is:
Make sure I sit in the back row. Do not sit in the front row.
Try to sit near the wall as it makes me feel more enclosed and less like I am near the edge. The very center of the back row has too good of view to the front so I try to avoid that seat also.
The ride up didn't bother me, but when the doors open and you start to move forward, I close my eyes.
When I feel really brave, I open my eyes when the ride is going down, but I never look forward, I only look at the row in front of me. You can tell by when it gets light that you are at the top and can see out over the whole park if you open your eyes now and look up. I looked up once then and Never again.
I've never had a problem getting into the back row. A lot of people ask for the front row so the attendent usually is good about sitting me in the back.

 

[BorkBorkBork]

I just rode it for the first time on Saturday! I am a total chicken but I did Splash and ToT for the first times this trip, alone because of rider swap!

It's really the anticipation that gets you for ToT, I felt like on the verge of a panic attack through the queue (hardly any wait since I rode it first thing during AM EMH) and when I found out I was sitting FRONT and CENTER! I was beside myself with fear all the way up until we started dropping, and then it wasn't so bad! It was exhilerating and fun but still terrifying. I was trembling and grinning when I got off! I would do it again before I did Splash because I felt better contained in ToT and not like I would fall out of the vehicle.

Try it, you might like it!

 

[Sommer76]

I love roller coasters and such but I HATE drops! Hate them! So I was really scared to ride ToT.

However, my husband encouraged me ride it this past summer and I absolutely loved it! Plus, it totally cured me of my fear of drops.

As soon as we got off the ride, I made us grab fastpasses so that we could ride it again. Seriously, ride it!

 

[disney1990]

Over 50 Diser here, this is one of my very, very favorite rides.

 

[humboldthny]

I thought TOT was fantastic, but I had ridden "free fall" rides at amusement parks before. If you get queasy easily though, I can see how it would not be too good.

It wasn't the "free fall" that did me in, it was the getting yanked back up over and over that made ToT a one time thing for me....I wish they had a chicken exit right before the drop because I enjoyed the queue and the rest of the ride up until that point.

 

[BLTLDZ]

I am a BIG chicken..BIG chicken. I always stare at the ride longingly while at DHS hearing the screams, and wondering what I am missing...

Well, finally, this past may I put my big girl panties on and went...let me tell you,,,FAVORITE RIDE EVER!!!

I screamed my head off, and it literally took my breath away, but I LOVED It.
I plan to do it again next month...of course I will probably have another mini panic attack while waiting in line, but I will go again
Hey, you won't know unless you try

 

[ZehnJahren]

I am a BIG chicken..BIG chicken. I always stare at the ride longingly while at DHS hearing the screams, and wondering what I am missing...

Well, finally, this past may I put my big girl panties on and went...let me tell you,,,FAVORITE RIDE EVER!!!

I screamed my head off, and it literally took my breath away, but I LOVED It.
I plan to do it again next month...of course I will probably have another mini panic attack while waiting in line, but I will go again
Hey, you won't know unless you try

This! I had a panic attack once I got to (and into) the elevator, but just kept forcing myself because I knew I'd like it - I'd ridden it like 10 years earlier. But boy, it was tough - I just literally made myself go in and sit down, though I wanted to say "I'm chickening out!" the whole time. But once we got off the ride, we were laughing so hard and had enjoyed ourselves so much, we immediately got in line again!

At least go through the queue, you won't regret it!

 

[miralys]

I love it. You should try it at least once.

My sister used to be terrified of it until I showed her the website that explains how the ride works. Big mistake. HUGE mistake! Now that's all she ever wants to do when we visit DHS.

 

[jnfr2424]

It wasn't the "free fall" that did me in, it was the getting yanked back up over and over that made ToT a one time thing for me....I wish they had a chicken exit right before the drop because I enjoyed the queue and the rest of the ride up until that point.

I'm a huge thrill rider and ToT is my 85 yr old mother's fave (mind you she will not ride EE, SM, RnRC or BTMRR) but as for me I can't take it! The last time I rode, I screamed so badly I lost my voice for the rest of the trip - everyone kept asking if I had a cold and when I said nope Tower of Terror they just said "Oh!"
I agree if there was a chicken exit right before the drop I would be fine! I love the theme ToT is the granddaddy of special effect of hands down! When I am brave I to get back on I make sure I get a corner seat and hold on for dear life!

 

[SDSorority]

Hello everyone! Quick question. So I'm on a quest to ride all the rides at Disney world and I see Tower of Terror is on the list. Anyway at first I thought it looked absolutely terrifying but then I got on youtube and watched the ride and it didn't look so bad..But then one of my friends rode it and said it was awful and she's a thrill rider! So now i'm confused and I wanted to know how bad is it, really?

I love it.

At first I hated it and said never again... but now, we ride it over and over. One of the smoothest rides at WDW. We much prefer this to RnRC or Space Mountain.

And I'm NOT a thrill person. At all.