How scary is Tower of Terror?

[goofy4tink]

I don't like roller coasters but dh is an elevator mechanic so of course we had to do it. It was fun in a weird sort of way! Okay I didn't really think it was fun until about 2 weeks after our trip. I really wanted to use the chicken exit right before we got on but the kids and dh literally pushed me onto it. If you look at the picture we bought while on it I look like I'm praying for my life! The drops really freaked me but what really got me was when you're at the top and the doors open up and you're looking out over MGM. It's a twisted ride but I think you should do it.
Like I said dh is an elevator mechanic so of course when they were building ToT there was a lot of shop talk about it. It's probably one of the safest elevators you'll ride in!
Have fun!

I grew up in a family of elevator mech. and they talked about it also!! While I know that it is incredibly safe, I just simply hate this attraction. I can't do freefall. Our experience.....
Finally decided in Aug'03 that we would be brave and try it. Dh, dd (10) and I rode it and came off saying.."Hey, that wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it would be." So, fast forward to Dec and dd and I have a short mother/daughter trip. We figure we'll do ToT since we liked it in Aug. Well!!!! Whole different drop sequence. I thought I was going to die. Evidently we got the wussie drop sequence in Aug. Nothing wussie about the one in Dec. Haven't been on it since. We just look at it from afar and then go enjoy RnRC!!!

 

[Kristina]

When my bf rode TOT for the first time he did it without me, I used the chicken exit. It was funny because after a moment of standing where they put you to wait for that quite modern elevator to open up, a little girl came to stand beside me. When the chicken elevator opened up out walked a CM in character who at first glance was quite serious but then he saw the little girl and he said "you again ?!" to which she replied that her Mom couldn't get enough of the ride . So down we went and I had a seat on a bench in the room where the ride lets out, it was empty of people besides those working behind the photo pick up counter. Then all of the sudden the doors open to one of the ride elevators and out come all these laughing happy people jumping up and down! I was jealous!

Now I'd suffered from minor panic attacks in the past so I know what I need to make me feel secure. A few days later I rode myself !! Except to feel ok with it I made sure I sat in the back row corner, so I'd have the elevator wall beside me. When it dropped I had to close my eyes..couldn't handle the lights whoshing by, I think I would have fainted! But it was fun, and it happened so fast!

I was first falling but then no we were going up no wait I was falling! That's how it felt ! So yeah I'd recommend it, it's brilliant and different but it did take some courage, and although I only did it once I am going back and I'll ride it again!

 

[doodlebug]

So how do you gage if a child will like it or not??? I think I am too big of a chicken to go on it myself but then again I just might have to try it to say I did it.. My ds (almost 8 yrs) loves Space Mtn, Splash Mtn, Big Thunder so I think he would not freak out on this but then again I'm worried he will freak!!

 

[MAGGIED]

I have been on TOT the last few visits to WDW and although it wasn't my fav attraction I did it for the kids - well in Nov I was hospitalized with some chest pain and now I am on heart medications so my doc advises me against things like TOT - I think I might still try the rollar coasters - they never bothered me before...... not sure yet - the kids are kind of disappointed that I won't be able to ride though.... I say if you can do it GO FOR IT!!!

 

[Looby Loo]

.. that this is my absolutely favourite ride and I wait a full year every year to ride it! I really can't wait till I am back in MGM in July.

In answer to the OP's question regarding the height, it is high but you rarely see outside - it is mostly in the dark apart from when the doors open at the top before the drop! But I love the feeling!! But maybe I am just strange!

My younger sister rode this ride when she was about 9/10 and she is quite nervous in nature and loved it too!

 

[northern michigan]

I've never gone bungee jumping, but that's what it felt like to me! It felt like a free fall followed by a smooth bounce /pull back upward. I would definitely have appreciated a front bar to hold onto. I just held (grabbed) onto my DD! I don't like heights, but that was the last thing about this ride that bothered me. I only went on it once. I hope to have the courage to do it again someday. I do have trouble with all motion rides to differing degrees. Roller coasters being easiest on me and mission space at the extreme end of the spectrum. TOT is in the middle. I eat a lot of mickey ice cream bars after these rides to calm my stomach.

 

[MinnieFan]

ToT is the absolute favorite ride of my DH and DS. I like the special effects part of it but absolutely hate this ride and will never do it again. It all depends on the individual - if you like the sensation of falling you will enjoy the ride, if not, you will be like me!

 

[mamapajama]

HELP!!!!

My DD(12) told my DS(5) that TOT is just like a FROG HOPPER. This is his favorite ride at the Mall of America. It is a kiddie ride that goes up about 15 feet and bounces down. Now my DS(5) want to go on TOT He also wants to go on every ride that he is tall enough for. That is everything except RNRRC. My girls have listed all the big rides with a check off so thier little brother can check off all the BIG rides he does. FYI--he has been on every big ride at the MOA and loves them.

Will he totally freak out on TOT???

Wow, 5? Hmm, I don't know. My first response is to say that 5 is too young but that's just based onmy kids. In 11/03, DS wanted no part of most things. He rode only Barnstormer (possibly Big Thunder but I'm not sure). The next year (8/04) he went on everything except RnRC, inlcuding ToT. He went on maybe 3 different times and then decided he'd had enough. Some background, he had a fear of thunder/lightning and was not terribly fond of pitch dark and he still went. I would make sure you expalin to him that it is much more than bouncing 15 feet up & down. You are being pulled down faster than the force of gravity and it could happen any number of times, little drops & huge ones. The whole pre drop "show" is eerie and dark. Even the queue area can freak you out. I would give him the info and take him in and let him decide once he's in there. I see so many kids on that ride being pulled in crying because they don't want to go on it & their parents force them. I think that's horrible to traumatize a kid like that and you run the risk of ruining everyine's entire day. Even after DS went on 3 times, we were waiting for an elevator & he decided he didn't want to go again. Even though I could have said "you've already bee on it" and made him go, I didn't. It's just not worth it to me to upset him like that. So we (it was DS, DD(11) & me) took the chicken exit & moved onto soemthing else.

i would say just follow his lead. I've also seen a site where there is video of he ride. Someone has a video camera on durin the whole ride. If I can find a link, I'll post it. Maybe he can watch it and get an idea from that.


HTH
Elise

Sorry in 11/03 he had just turned 7 so next year he was almost 8

 

[TammyAlphabet]

It is a thrill ride and scared me quite a bit. I loved it.

 

[liznboys]

I finally did Tower of Terror for the first time on the trip we just went on. Well, once was enough for me! LOL I LOOOOOVE roller coasters. But I don't like rides that have steep drops, that feeling of my stomach going into my throat-blech!!! I'm glad I finally did it though. I mainly did it so that I could experience the theming and atmosphere of the ride, I could have skipped the dropping part. I don't know how many times we went up and down, it seemed like several. I went by myself (dh and I swapped our kids) and a nice guy next to me was also alone. I told him it was my first time and I was so nervous!!! He talked me through it as each thing happened, thank God for him otherwise I might have had a heart attack! LOL And when he finally said, "It's ok, it's over now." I was SO RELIEVED. Oh and I have to add that I didn't see anything to hang onto, so I held onto the metal grate on the side of the car (I was in the very front row, on the far left.) I practically cut my fingers off gripping onto that metal! LOL

I think everyone who's considering it should definitely give it a go.

 

[ashjohnson80]

I love Roller Coasters but I hate ToT. I'll probably ride it this trip just because my DH loves it. But it builds up anxiety and then it takes you into the elevator shaft and going up isn't so bad, I mean its fast, but kind of fun, but freefalling down is very scary. There are a couple of little hand bars to hold on to around your legs but you have to share them with the ones who are sitting beside you which means if you are sitting next to me, then i will take them because its a reaction. Very scary ride. A lot of people love it though. Just thinking about it makes me get clammy hands....

 

[McDisney]

We've rode it three times, the first two on the same trip about four years ago, it was great - pretty inteanse drops, last time (this past Jan.) it was very mild, I think we only had two "large" drops and a small one. As I understand it is completely random as to how many drops there are and how far you fall. But that said it's a must do attraction!

 

[lagunn]

my youngest daughter came off this quivering,crying and being sick.
and it scares the c*** out of me too.
but i have to do it
when did they start to use seat belts though they didnt have them last time we went.

 

[Mickeyfaniam]

I honestly haven't figured myself out yet . I LOVE LOVE LOVE RnR and I love Splash & Space. I CANNOT ride Body Wars.... I'll get sick and I won't ride huge Roller Coasters with big drops. Anything that Spins...NO THANK YOU!!
I have ridden ToT Twice and I NEVER will again. The first time I was terrified and I wanted to sit next to my DH but my youngest son (11) insisted he sit BETWEEN mom & Dad. SO thats how we did it. I immediately freaked... it went dark and I screamed holey terror expecting it drop right off!! I ended up screaming thru the whole ride....I saw nothing.....my eyes were closed. In our picture I am bent accross my sons lap with my hands clutched to my husband and both my sons and my DH are looking down at this woman (me ) like "What the heck is she doing?" So I swore never NEVER again.
BUUUUUT a couple of years later I felt very confident.... no fear....WELL as soon as those doors slammed shut....IMMEDIATE PANIC ATTACK ....I SCREAMED "LET ME OUT" and then I must have been out of my mind with fear b/c I tried to climb out from under the lap bar. Some 14 year old girls in front of me turned around and were saying "its OK lady....its OK lady.....don't cry ...its nothing" I must have regained my senses cuz I finally somewhere in my mind came to realize.....where will I go if I get out from under this bar? So I stopped trying but I kept crying and shaking and yellling "IS IT OVER YET?" So thats it for me... I'm not riding again EVER...

besides I don't think I have any family members that will ride with me anyway

Now I'm wondering if I should try MS I want to but I'm afraid I'll freak again

 

[lagunn]

whats ms?

 

[Ilovestitch]

I LOVE TOT! I used to hate it when I was a teenager and it first opened, but now I love it. Last time I rode it, when it dropped I grabbed the arm of this total stranger next to me and hung on to it for dear life!

I rode it once with this little boy, probably 5 or 6. He looked so scared during the ride. Afterwards, his parents asked him how he liked the ride. He said "Its was great, except for the drops!"

 

[Mickeyfaniam]

MS = Mission Space

 

[NeverlandClub23]

When ToT first opened it only dropped once or twice now it does it so much it almost makes me sick. I still love this ride! The special effects and atmosphere give it a great creepy feel. My cousin was 12 when she first went on it and was terrified the whole time but wanted to do it again when we got off.

 

[MinnieM3]

I LOVE ToT. It's my favorite ride. I'm a big roller coaster chicken. HATED Rn R coaster. Tired it twice and almost barfed. Can't do the 0 to 60 blast off or the loops. Yuck! Can barely go on Space Mtn. Ok on Big Thunder. Pretty good on Splash Mountain. None are a MUST DO for me like TOT!

 

[TSirgey]

The beginning of the ride with the special effects is amazing. It is worth the last few seconds of falling. The ride is so fast, you do not have time to be scared! It is nothing like a rollercoaster.