Should I try Tower of Terror if I a wimp?

[Belle Ella]

No way, no how would I ever get on ToT. I have no problem saying I'm a wuss, wimp, or whatever when it comes to rides with drops. I don't get why people I know have to look at me like I'm crazy or something. It's like you can't enjoy yourself if you aren't willing to go on every thrill ride according to some people.

I get wanting to experience some of the other elements for yourself, so if you want to do it, go for it. It's not enough to get someone like me to go. But I think wanting to see a few things for yourself is better than being talked into it by friends and then holding it against them later. I have a few friends who try to talk me into going on rides I'm petrified of (one got me onto Splash Mountain which I think I still hold against her and may play into the larger part of why she and I aren't talking anymore ...) and it's just not a good enough reason if you ask me.

 

[bumbershoot]

The difference between TOT and freefall rides is...TOT isn't a freefall! You're not out of control at all. With freefall, you're plummeting and the ride vehicle has to be braked. With TOT, you are *pulled*. It's a different level of safety and it's a different feel as well.

I've gone on one freefall ride as a teen, and HATED it. I won't do it again.

But with TOT it's like I can feel that we're not out of control at all.

And while my eyes like to play tricks with me at the top when the window/door thing opens and you can see far off, it's just a trick. My eyes want to make me think "ooh I can fall alllll the way out there! it's so high!"

But the reality is, you can't fall *out*. Just look at the building beforehand, to see that. For me, I'm "worst case scenario" person, and really being realistic about "what would happen IF" helps me out. With TOT, there's plenty of room between the seats and the opening, and you can't fall out, and you're being totally controlled the entire way, and all of that gets me through!

It's a thrilling ride, that's for sure.

My son rode it at 4. He liked the up/down. What he did NOT like were the effects as the lightning hits the people in the elevator and the people (it's a mirror) disappear.

 

[AustinTink]

Is the chicken exit at DCA the same as the DHS Tower of Terror? I read that the chicken exit is actually an elevator.

 

[WonkaKid]

Ok, I think I may have to try it once! I have always wondered, and guess I won't know until I do it.~Brianna

Brianna, I'm a bit a ride wimp too. The biggest coaster I'll go on is BTMRR (or Matterhorn ... which do you think is "bigger?"). I tried ToT for the first time during a Feb. trip to DL. I figured it would spice up the trip, since I'd never been before. Yes, it's kind of scary but definitely worth one ride. Sometimes in life you just have to take a risk. Put it this way: it was a lot less scarier than skydiving ;-).

Rob

P.S. I realized recently that I'll be going to two Disney parks in the span of about three weeks: Disney Paris in late Sept and DL Anaheim in mid Oct. .

 

[22David2]

I consider myself prudent when it comes to the big rides. I've grown up as a wuss and over the years have challenged myself with one thrill ride after the next. I started with Splash Mountain and succeeded with all including space mountain, thunder mountain, screamin', maliboomer, etc. And planned on "conquering" Tower of Terror knowing several things. First off: I knew it would be a big mistake to look at the ride from outside for too long. If there's one thing I can conclude from experiencing rides that look scary, it's this: The attraction always looks more intense and scary when watched from the ground. And going through the scary queue and watching the scary pre-show movie in the dark, scary room with the scary music doesn't help either. You just have to ignore all that build-up as best you can because if you don't and you're nervous about riding, it's only going to bring you closer to chickening out. Once you've done the ride, I think you'll either love it or hate it. But I've always come out on the other side loving what I'd been so scared of. Loving the experience of a ride you "conquer", after having been scared of it for so long, is one of the best feelings in the world. Because then you can ride again without the fear and with all the excitement everyone else has.

 

[Brady's Mom]

My DS 14 tried ToT when he was 10. He rode with his Dad and his older brother while I hung out with the younger boys who weren't tall enough for the ride.

We have the best picture of him taken on the ride with his eyes closed and his face screwed up in fear. He hasn't been on the ride again.

He tried to go on the ride when he was 12 and we were at DLR with my parents and my neice who was 10 - he went all the way through the queue and just couldn't bring himself to get in the elevator. My niece tried to give him a hard time about it and guilt him into riding the ride - but DH was having none of that and put a stop to it!

We are planning a trip to DLR in Nov. and his older brother will be with us - their plan is to ride ToT and Maliboomer if it's still around. He may make it all the way through the queue and not get on again.

It's really not the ride itself for him - it's the theming and the movie and the movie part in the elevator where the people disappear. I think his imagination works over time.

My advice - go through the queue and experience the whole theming elements and then if you just can't bring yourself to do the ride - wait near the elevators or use the chicken exit while you wait for your party.

The CM on ToT was super nice to our DS when he didn't want to ride - she let him wait with her while the rest of us rode it and we just met up with him right at the elevator exit when we were done.

 

[heatherleigh]

I had no desire to ride ToT, until I read this thread. I think I'll be able to handle it and I may even like it. I have to give it a try, at least.

 

[KarenB]

I LOVE this ride. Many trips to WDW I will ride it alone because DH gets sick of it. However, I extremely dislike the 4-D rides. Just remember that you really aren't dropping, but you are being pulled up and down. Also, nothing "touches" you like it seems in the 4-D shows. Give it a try!!

 

[ryanmcin]

I think it is a great attraction. The queue is wondering, the theme is great, the cast members play their part very well and the itself ride is a lot of fun. My wife can't do the ride because she gets herself so worked up that she almost has a panic attack. It really isn't that bad, you are enclosed for the most part and you know what you are in for, you just don't know how (or when) exactly it is going to happen.

I say try it once, you may hate, but you may love it. Just don't get yourself worked up, it's only a ride.

With rollercoasters, you get the breathtaking down, down, down feeling, but not with TOT. The drops switch and go up/down so quickly, it's hard to tell if you're dropping or flying upward! I've been on it dozens of times and I'm literally "LMAO" during the motions.

I couldn't agree more, I find myself laughing hysterically on this ride during the drops. So much fun!

 

[pixiewings71]

I hate any and all freefall type of rides, I have a major fear of falling so it's really hard for me to do rides like that. Our first trip to DCA DD10 was 6, she wanted to do ToT soooooooooo bad but I couldn't make myself do it so DBF took her on it, DD13 was 9 and we sait it out. Well DD6 loved it so much but she did it on our last day so we were leaving after that ride but she talked about it so much that I told her I'd do it "next time we went". Little did I know we would go back a year later. So that trip we all went on it...and it's now one of my favorite rides. It is NOT a freefall at all, it's programmed and it's very smooth. I laugh, scream and close my eyes but it's so much fun.......I really think everyone needs to give it a shot, and always remember if you chicken out at the end it's OK, you can go all the way thru the theming and at the very end you can leave. Just keep that in mind and all will be well.

 

[pixiewings71]

And FTR, I love Splash, love love love it!!!! But hate the drop at the end, I just worked up the nerve to be able to keep my eyes open last year....and you can peep at my sig to see how many we've been over the past couple of years. LOL

 

[DoomBugger]

Ya just go for it, you will love it in all likelihood. If you are struggling with the endevour just simply find a child that is in your 'elevator' and watch them having strees free fun; it will remind you that it is just a kid's ride!

 

[Gisele]

Yes! However... if you believe that you might experience motion sickness, then a resounding no! Even then though... if you are not certain that you will experience the former, then give it a try. You can also take motion sickness remedies that might work for you.

Have Fun!

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

I too am a wimp when it comes to free-fall rides. But I think we're gonna try it this coming trip. We won't have the kids (daughter wouldn't even get on it) so we won't have to worry about them and we can see for ourselves. Well, we'll see....

 

[pixiewings71]

I've never had motion sickness on ToT, just the jumpy feeling in your tummy but not actual nausea. Does that make sense? Also DoomBugger had a GREAT suggestion......the first time I rode it I started to get a little "worried"...OK fine scared....and I watched DD instead of the ride, she was cracking up laughing yelling "mom, look, my legs are flying" and they were, they were flying up in the air every time we went down....LOL It really did help.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

I'll also add my motion sickness experience: DH gets motion sickness on a lot of rides and on boats. He gets motion sickness headaches and nausea that lasts the rest of the day. But he doesn't get it on TOT. Even that time we rode 5x in a row, no motion sickness!

 

[JosieGirl71]

I have an issue with heights but challenge myself to try every ride at least once. The first time on ToT, my sister and I were screaming "When is it going to stop?!" The second time, I had a sweet little girl next to me and while I was white knuckling the bars, she was smiling with her hands in the air.

I still freak out on California Screamin', ToT, Splash Mountain and Soarin'. I come really close to a panic attack while waiting in the lines but I make myself do it because my DH loves those rides and it gets easier every time I ride them.

Try it once!

 

[deejdigsdis]

My Experience... I rode ToT for the first time a couple of months ago. I wasn't concerned about the downward drops. I don't have a problem with drops at all. (I didn't even realize that the drops on POTC and Splash Mountain were scary for some people. Well, except to my 3 year old...when he rode Splash for the first time last year my husband FORGOT to hold on to him during the drop and he slid clear forward in his seat! To this day when we talk about Disneyland he says, "Don't put me on Splash Mountain again, OK?") Anyway, I have no problems with drops, I love roller coasters, etc. The problem I had with ToT was the going down then up then down, etc. I ended up feeling nauseous and getting a headache that lasted for the next 24 hours. It was a mild headache, but still -- it was there. I was glad I tried it once, but I'm not sure I can handle that yo-yo-ness again.

BTW, I can't handle any of the spinny-type rides either. No Teacups for me. Or Star Tours. Soarin' doesn't bother me, though.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I really suggest you ride it at least one time to see if YOU like it or not. The ride itself does not last long at all...so...even if you HATE it , it will not last long....it is a fun ride, not at all like a coaster b/c there are no flips or turns....