Ok...So how fast is the Tower of Terror, really?

[PrincessBride05]

my fiance and I are leaving tonight to meet some friends in Disney this weekend. We will be going to MGM on Saturday & I am thinking of braving the ride (I'm a BIIIIIIIG chicken).....how fast is it really?

 

[ScarletFire]

I'm also a big chicken. The most terrifying part of the ride is the anticipation of dropping. As for the drop, not that fast and lots of fun. I felt like I was bouncing. I recently read that the drop is only 30mph. Do it! It's a specatular ride and the views from the top of the elevator are not to be missed. I'm afraid of heights but I felt very secure in the elevator.

 

[MinnieM3]

Huge chicken here, too and TOT is my favorite ride in all WDW! The drops feels fast, but it's over fast, too. It is agreat experience! If you're really worried, try to ask for the back rows and now the front.

 

[shirleyb]

My first time, my seatbelt must not have been that tight, because I felt like I was flying out of my seat! I ended up riding it 3 times though, so it must not be too bad!

 

[princess aurora]

It's harmless really. I mean it the atmoshere that gets you. It's a great thrill ride with butterflies in your stomach. When my DD7 was 5 she was big enough to go on it and loved it, while holding on to her father or me for dear life. This most recent trip my other DD3 almost 4 wanted to try it out (to keep up with her big sister). She LOVED it! There were so many people freaking outside and in the store and I would tell them SHE just went on it pointing to my wee little girl They couldn't believe it and were convinced it must not be that bad.

Now I will tell you my girls are true thrill seekers. They love and will try almost anything. My little one had her hands up on Big Thunder Mountain and Test Track before the rides even began

We went with friends and their DD5 went on ToT with no problem said she liked it but didn't really want/need to go on it again. She however loved the drop on Splash Mountain and loved Big Thunder Mountain. So I suggest you GO FOR IT! Hey you're at Disney you go through life only once.

 

[DanceRC28]

Like everyone else has said, the drops really aren't that bad. I was totally scared to go on, as was DH, but we both ended up loving it. Our only complaint is that it was over too quickly

Renee

 

[mattr555]

You must ride this ride. Its not the fastest, highest, or newest in Orlando but it is much more than the sum of its parts. It has the best theming, atmosphere and concept of any ride ive ever been on and actual ride part is a blast. This ride isnt just about the drop; the preshow, queuing area, and first part of the ride are excellent.

When the line splits in the basement, go left, you get a better view of the park from the left side liftshaft when you get to the top. When you put the seatbelt on, pull out some slack before securing. This way you will float out your seat and the feeling is fantastic.

The drop isnt actually that far as it isnt one long drop but a series of random ups and downs. Its never the same twice but when it drops its actually falling faster than gravity as its an assisted drop.

Why arent the newer Disney attractions this good?

 

[cobbler]

The anticipation is definatly worse than the drop itself! You can see yourself going up in the sense that you can see the wall in front of you and know you are going up. I remember thinking that for every little bit I go up I have to come back down too and that was the worst part of the ride - the thinking part

 

[liznboys]

ToT is the scariest ride for me. I am not into rides that drop you like that! I finally rode it for the first time in Feb. Those drops are intense, they made my tummy flip around. I like that feeling for a short time, but on ToT it's over and over and over depending on how many times you drop! But I was SOOOO glad I rode it!!! It is overwith before you know it. After I rode it, I said once was enough. But I think I may do it again.

 

[mattr555]

Dont ride Dr Doom's at IOA adventure after riding TOT. Dr Doom is a terrible below par drop tower with long lines and absolutely no theming. Save you time and ride Hulk again instead.

 

[dreamalittledream]

I am a big chicken too!
I finally rode it for the first time this year and I was glad I did. It made me feel like a kid again, kind of scared but knowing it would be a cool ride.
I felt like it was not as bad as the drop on SM.

 

[disney junky]

The coolest time is to go at night. The view is spectacular! My DW is the biggest chicken there is, no coasters, nothing, and she loved it and can't wait to go on again.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Some factoids:

- ToT uses motors to pull the cars down faster than gravity

- large fans are underneath, forcing air up thru the floor thru holes to make the air rush by you, making it feel even faster

- they use 4(?) different sets of motors and cables for safetly

 

[scoutsmom99]

Here is a site I read through before deciding to do TOT (start at the bottom of the page and work your way up (it is more about changes to TOT, but for some reason it helped me):

http://www.wdwmagic.com/tower.htm

 

[kgkmom]

I would also say that I was one of those people who said, 'No way, no how!' to TOT, and yet, there I was Last Feb, riding that ride! We had no lines, so there was no time for me to build up the anxiety any further. I would definitely go again-it was great! My DD (10 at the time) didn't mind the drops, but the pre-drop freaked her out (after you load into the elevator and just before you are in place to drop), so she doesn't want to go on the ride again *at all*. My mom was with us, and she went on too. Probably the reason I went on-if my 62 year old mother can do it, well I guess I can do it!

 

[Aroura]

I am a wicked "Thrill ride" gal, I am the one who drools over the biggest and the best roller coasters, but for some reason ToT TERRIFIED ME.... in a great way. When we dropped, I couldn't even scream. My mouth was open, and inside my head I was screaming like mad, but nothing could come out of my mouth.... Most likely because my stomach was blocking my throat. lol. It was great...

Really, it is a huge thrill, I'd do it again in an instant, but boy... it is a rush.

 

[rayelias]

I have a pretty bad fear of heights. The speed doesn't really bother me too much. It DOES drop faster than gravity, and you'll probably get that weird feeling in your stomach when you drop.

The height thing REALLY bothers me, though. Other than that, I love the ride. It's one of the best themed rides with a LOT of "hidden" things in the queue.

I close my eyes during the "drop" sequence. Well, let me rephrase that... I squeeze my eyes shut so tight, you couldn't pry them open with a crowbar. By doing that, I can make it through. Actually, it's not so bad that way.

 

[Tinkerbellz]

We have been to WDW twice and neither time would DS ride TOT. He loves RNRC and Space Mountain. He went through the all the bells and whistles with us on our last trip and used the chicken exit. I really think he would like it once he rode it. I have always let him make that decision though. I hope he opts to ride it next summer.

that TOT!

 

[MinnieMe67]

Ride it! Ride it! Ride it! This ride is the one thing I MUST do each trip down to WDW. My DH, DD and DS are all too afraid or too small to ride, so I go it alone! I think the scariest thing is the anticipation, the drops are just plain fun! Prepare yourself, once you feel that whoosh of warm air in the darkness, you are gonna shoot up and drop a random number of times. Last November, we brought both sets of our parents with us to WDW, and I was lucky enough to ride ToT with my mom (63) and dad (65), the picture of the 3 of us is pricelss to me! ToT is THE ride, I feel, everyone should try once! Good luck and have fun!

 

[LilMagic2000]

I'm right up there with all the rest of you chickens. However, as chicken as I may be, I have done "The Tower" and not just once-I liked it enough to go back. You can't beat the theme of this ride-you will not stand in any other line with as much stuff to look at and listen to as you will when you wait in line for ToT.