Little kids on TOT-your thoughts

[tkitty]

My DGD isen't even 4 yet, she's about 41" with shoes, and wants to ride everything. I wonder how she will handle TOT. She is not bothered by the dark, and she thinks ghosts are cool, but she's never been on any of the big (40") rides yet. She has ridden all the other rides-Matterhorn, Barnstormer, all the ones under 40" requirement up till now. TOT is sort of intense, in fact, my DD28 hasen't ridden it yet and said she will if DGD wants to.
I showed her you tube videos, and she still says she wants to try it.
What ages have your kids ridden TOT?

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

In May, my youngest wasn't even 3 yet and he rode it. My DD's were 4 and 5. They all loved it!

 

[Mugglemama]

The same question has been asked here several times. The general consensus has been to let them go on it if they're tall enough and want to.

Personally, I don't think a 3 or 4 year old is missing ANYTHING by skipping TOT. It is a THRILL ride, and as such, is just too intense for most kids that young. On the other hand, lots of people on the boards say their tiny kids like it.

I have 4 kids (18, 12, 9, 5), and my 5 year old just went on it for the first time in July (I wouldn't let him ride it during our last visit when he was only 3). He liked it a lot, and even asked to go on it 2 more times during subsequent days.

Other people here have noted that their 3/4 year old's have slipped somehow during the ride (I can't envision this because the straps are the retracting type, and fit quite snugly, as far as I've ever seen...I've been on the ride about 20 times - but I've never taken a child younger than 5 on it, either). These parents whose children slipped said it was a very traumatic experience for child/parent alike, and I can certainly see why it would have been.

There are a million more things at Disneyland/DCA that are waaaaaaay more fun for a preschooler than TOT. Seriously.

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

Other people here have noted that their 3/4 year old's have slipped somehow during the ride (I can't envision this because the straps are the retracting type, and fit quite snugly, as far as I've ever seen...I've been on the ride about 20 times - but I've never taken a child younger than 5 on it, either). These parents whose children slipped said it was a very traumatic experience for child/parent alike, and I can certainly see why it would have been.

I hadn't read about that. Yikes!!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

It all depends on the kid. My DD went on it when she was 7 (she had been on BTMRR, Splash and Matterhorn and loved them all). She HATED TOT. She will go on it now, but still isn't crazy about it.

 

[marcemc]

There are a million more things at Disneyland/DCA that are waaaaaaay more fun for a preschooler than TOT. Seriously.

I agree. Let her try the BTMR and Space and Splash mountain before she attemps on going on ToT. These are fun fast rides and she won't feel like she's missing out on anything.

DS4 thinks he is not tall enough to ride ToT. In my opinion, it's not going to hurt him to wait 1 or 2 more years to ride it.

 

[tkitty]

Thank you for all the replies. I guess we'll see if she still wants to ride when we get her there. Her brother has never yet wanted to ride and he's 8.
We would never make them just because they're tall enough, but sometimes we incourage them to try a ride, then they see that they really love it.
Glad to see that other kids that age have tried it and liked it!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

DD went on it at 4. She has a love hate relationship with it. She loves it afterwards, but is nervous in line (of course she is the same way with POTC, HM, and BTMRR which is her favorite).

 

[Mugglemama]

I hadn't read about that. Yikes!!

It was a thread about a week (or two?) ago; and yeah, the parents' descriptions of what happened was really unsettling. I'd be pretty freaked if I thought my kid was falling out of their seat during a ride.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

My son is tall enough but will not be riding it. We are "local" and go to DL very frequently but I dont see any need for him to ride such an instense ride. It is a fav of mine and dh's but still make him sit it out. He's only 3 1/2 and I just feel like it's too young for that. However this decision is best made by each parent and their child.

I didn't see the thread about a loose seat belt but that would certainly be a scary experience...I would probably be holding on to my child for dear life anyway lol

 

[Heymy]

I had some concerns with my DDs riding it with the previous thread...but they were both DETERMINED to get on TOT. So I said okay, and my brother and I held on to each of them with all our might My 5 year old did fine but has informed us she will never step foot on that ride again. The just turned 3 year old thought it was fun but pretty scary and wants to try it again next trip. Neither of them had any issues of sliding out (they are super skinny kids), but I was nuerotic about keeping them "in place". I rode it again later that day with DH and my brother and started feeling guilty. How could I let my sweet little girls on this ride?? It really is the one ride that terrifies me, in the best of ways. I'm glad they tried it and glad they only went once.

 

[lorihannahgwen]

My 5 and 7 year old rode ToT at WDW this summer for the first time. They both wanted to ride on it. It was the first ride we did at DHS. The 5 year old did not like it at all. My 7 year old liked it and went on it again with her father.
The ToT at WDW has a movie first where it shows people getting on the elevator, then it gets hit by lightening and everyone disappears. My 5 year old was scared of riding in elevators after the ride becasue she thought we were going to get hit by lightening and disappear. It had nothing to do with the dropping of the elevator. You never know what will freak out a kid.
My 7 year old is looking forward to trying the ride again at DL next summer for our first trip to DLR.

 

[figment_jii]

To add in my two cents, I think this is something that is really going to depend on your child and their tolerance. About a month ago, I was riding ToT and there was a girl waiting in line (she looked to be about 8 or so) and was completely in tears. It was obvious that she was having second thoughts, but her parents remained in line and ultimately took her on the ride. The operator gave her (and her parents) numerous chances to get off, up until the moment he closed the gate. He even took a few moments to talk with her and try to tell jokes to get her to calm down. She ultimately remained on the ride and seemed happy afterwards, but before the ride started it was clear how she would do. As an outside person, I was surprised her parents didn't opt out because while she wasn't screaming, there were tears streaming down her face, but perhaps that's her normal pre-ride reaction. Ultimately, it worked out - so as a parent you just need to know your child's tolerance and go with it.

 

[marcemc]

To add in my two cents, I think this is something that is really going to depend on your child and their tolerance. About a month ago, I was riding ToT and there was a girl waiting in line (she looked to be about 8 or so) and was completely in tears. It was obvious that she was having second thoughts, but her parents remained in line and ultimately took her on the ride. The operator gave her (and her parents) numerous chances to get off, up until the moment he closed the gate. He even took a few moments to talk with her and try to tell jokes to get her to calm down. She ultimately remained on the ride and seemed happy afterwards, but before the ride started it was clear how she would do. As an outside person, I was surprised her parents didn't opt out because while she wasn't screaming, there were tears streaming down her face, but perhaps that's her normal pre-ride reaction. Ultimately, it worked out - so as a parent you just need to know your child's tolerance and go with it.

Could be. My DS7 cries before riding POTC.........everytime. That first drop scares him more than the big one at Splash.
Many people could think that we are being mean parents by putting him on the ride, but we know him best. Once it's over he says: "I want to ride again", once inside the ride again..........he starts crying

 

[tkitty]

I only want them to ride if they are wanting to try. The 8 year old may not even ride it. We had a similar experience at WDW with DGDS last year with EE. DSIL was giving him a hard time because he didn't want to ride, turning in to a really big ordeal. He rode it at the end of the day with me, and still says he didn't care for it. But he decided on his own to try it.

 

[DahliaRW]

My ds1 was 3 1/2 the first time he went to DCA/DL. We were worried about TOT too, but he insisted, so we let him go. He LOVED it. Got off and immediately went and asked his grandparents to take him again! He even talked his grandma into riding with him, and she hated it, LOL!

So I would say it depends on the child. Discuss what it's like, show videos so she knows, and if she still wants to let her try it.