Should I ride the tower of terror?

[STEAMBOAT209]

You will really never know until you take that first drop, whoops, step, until you experience it, you just won't know, so; give it a try, it doesn't last long at all, it'll over before you know it. If it works out you enjoyed it, well, get back in line and do it again, if not; then you can say you experienced it, and its not for you. Go For It

 

[Allison]

I HATE rollercoasters but Tower of Terror is my favorite ride in DW. Go for it.

 

[orljustin]

Is this ride really scary? I am not into rollercoasters etc (I was too chicken to do splash mountain or space mountain even though I wanted too). I have heard the effects on the tower of terror are great but is it actually really scary to ride? TIA

Sigh.

What is scary? We don't know you.

I'm going to quote, sort of, from this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1274526

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We need to establish what is "scary" and then go from there.

I personally am not "scared" of theme-park rides.

Roller coasters don't scare me, but they petrify some guests.
(And, no, Tower is not a roller coaster.)

"Dark rides" don't scare me, but things that unexpectedly jump out at guests (accompanied by sudden sounds) like the heads-behind-the-grave stones (or in the trunks in the attic) at HM make some guests frightened.

"Rough" rides don't scare me, but some guests can't take the severe physical jostling and violent shaking, stops, and rapid starts.

Tower is DESIGNED to BE "scary" (or exciting or surprising, and/or startling).
That is its mission: to make guests react excitedly (some would say "with fright") from riding through its course.

Tower is one of the HIGHEST rides at WDW.
The idea, obviously, is to put you up high and drop you. However, you are not looking straight down, which is what bothers some with height problems. You look out over the park.

Tower is not the ROUGHEST ride at WDW.
The ride vehicle moves smoothly, except when it is in the drop sequence. Up-down-up-down. You get the idea.

Tower is not the DARKEST ride at WDW. There is one area in total darkness, right before the drop shaft. Otherwise, most parts are lit in some way.

Tower is not the LOUDEST ride at WDW. While doing the drop sequence, there are some very loud effects - that would be the loudest part of the ride. Mostly it is just music, narration and effects.

And, Tower has no "jump-out-at-you" scenes at WDW.
There are at no situations where the idea is to take guests totally by surprise and make them "jump".

So if these things would upset you (or SCARE you) be forewarned that Tower has some of them.

After saying all that...
I LIKE this attraction and ride it several times every trip.

So no, I'M not "scared" of it, but many guests very well MIGHT be.

 

[Mouse511]

I'm going to give the TOT another try in a few weeks. I've been on the ride once and I was scared. I think waiting and the anticipation of the drop is what gets me. I've never been scared of rides and will go on anything, but there's just something with the TOT. I'll let you know how I did when we get back from our trip.

 

[CleveRocks]

the only thing that scared me when i went on it was there was only lap bars across your lap! i think they have changed that now!

It has been one of my favorite attractions since they opened it. I miss the lap bars, you could actually come off your seat with those.

I'm not sure what either of you are talking about.

I rode ToT for the very first time about 2.5 weeks ago, so I don't know what you mean by lap bars. When I rode it, we wore seat belts, the exact type of seat belts that are used at rides like Soarin' and Test Track.

Trust me, my butt definitely lifted out of my seat each time we dropped. It was a lot of fun, not just the drops and bounces but the entire experience of the attraction. My 6 year old son was terrified by the entire atmosphere of the queue areas (and we used Fastpass), but he wasn't at all scared of the ride itself. Once we loaded into the elevator, he was just fine.

 

[maryliz]

My kids were 5 and 8 the last time they rode it ... it's not their favourite, but they will do it once a day, every day we go to MGM. And my Mom is 72, hates fast rides, rollercoasters, etc ... ToT is her FAVOURITE Disney attraction! I know people have said they are afraid of elevators and biggest fear is a falling one ... but because you are seated, it's not like being in the elevator in your office building. And the whole attraction from the lobby,to the preshow, to the loading area, to the ride itself is absolutely INCREDIBLE!

The "drop part" is over pretty quickly, so I'm with the "you need to do it once" voters. I'll bet you'll come off looking to go again!

 

[orljustin]

I'm not sure what either of you are talking about.

I rode ToT for the very first time about 2.5 weeks ago, so I don't know what you mean by lap bars. When I rode it, we wore seat belts, the exact type of seat belts that are used at rides like Soarin' and Test Track.

The lap bars were replaced with seat belts. The only seat that had a seat belt was the middle of the back row.

 

[mattsdragon]

If you gotta ask, don't ride it. Really, it's a scary ride for ride wimps (no offense), and it's intense. If you think it's too much, don't get on it because you'll likely be too scared and not enjoy it.

Start small, and build your way up to the headliners.

 

[meryll83]

The ANTICIPATION of this ride is what frightens me. I love the ride itself, but right through walking the creepy corridors to all the lift ride before I know the drop is coming, the anticipation just kills me!!
One time there was a guy in our lift who had obviously ridden before and as soon as the lift doors closed and we started to move he screamed so loudly it scared everyone. And he did it again at various points before the actual drops.
It was so funny he screamed like a little girl, but it really made you jump. I'm so glad it wasn't my first time or he would have frightened the life out of me!
It is an AWESOME ride though, the detail and effects are incredible, and I actually love the sensation of the drops once I get going.
Everytime I ride though (especially after a gap of however many days) the fear sets in!

 

[meryll83]

Also, I find that if you hold onto the seat/bars whatever, you don't lift out of your seat really, coz you can keep yourself down.

After a few times in a row I discovered the fun of letting go and having your arms in the air, you will lift out of your seat doing this and it is so much fun!
(Apologies to all the people's photos I've ruined by having my arms in front of their faces though - I'll have to start requesting the back row!)

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Here's something that might help... Ask the operator for a wall seat. The seats along the walls have an extra side handle to hold onto, in addition to the one in front of everyone. That way, if you're a person who likes to brace themself for something, you'll have that extra security.

Sure, the ride "purists" will say that the experience isn't the same, but I believe it's a good way to try it out and it's not that huge a difference from the all out experience. If you decide to go back a second time, then try one of the seats in the middle. Ease into things when you can, especially if there's initial hesitation.

 

[meryll83]

I have a feeling that if you're on the front row and not by the wall there's nothing to hold on to. Am I right?
I agree with the above post though, you will feel safer with something to cling on to, it took me a few rides to let go!!

 

[twinmum]

I agree with everyone who suggests doing it once. Our family (me, DH and twins DS8) rode ToT a few weeks ago. The drops were too much for one son, who was still recovering from a stomach bug (note: ToT CM's are VERY efficient when a "barf bag" is needed...but remember, he had been sick recently!). I love big roller coasters, but I'll admit that I closed my eyes on this ride.

For DH and other twin, this was a highlight of our trip. In fact, they went and rode it again. And FYI, this DS8 is our little guy who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair/walker - I was worried about him moving around too much, but he was just fine...very apprehensive before we started but SOOOO pleased he hadn't bailed out as he had been threatening to do.

It's so individual. Why not try it once? I'd do it once a trip, but I suspect that would be enough!

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

...come to think of it, you're right. In order to get the two handles (front and side) you need a wall seat, but not in the first row. Simply explain this to the "Creepy CM" running the ride and they'll take care of things.

 

[meryll83]

...come to think of it, you're right.

Wow, my memory does not deceive me! Yey!

 

[bytheblood]

I like RnR, Splash and even EE, but i despise ToT. I don't like drops and more than one of them is even worse.

But, as others have said, if you want to do it, try it. If you don't like it, you never have to do it again.

 

[byoung]

Got to try all the rides at Disney at least once.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

ToT wasn't so bad for me, but R&RRC left me spinning for a wee bit!

 

[aubriee]

The lap bars were replaced with seat belts. The only seat that had a seat belt was the middle of the back row.

Stupid question maybe, but what do you hold onto? I like Rock n Roll Rollercoaster better than Space Mountain just because I feel like I can hold on better to the harness thing that comes over you. I hate rides where my hands can't clutch something!

 

[meryll83]

Stupid question maybe, but what do you hold onto? I like Rock n Roll Rollercoaster better than Space Mountain just because I feel like I can hold on better to the harness thing that comes over you. I hate rides where my hands can't clutch something!

Nothing to hold on to! (Except maybe your fellow riders) Gotta be brave in this seat!