To young for TOT

[ILuv2travel2]

In your opinion how young is to young for TOT? Ive seen children as young as 3 ride it who loved it. What are your thoughts?

 

[goldies 5]

I had one of those three year olds. A very young three. He wanted to and loved it. I think you know if you have a thrill ride seeking child. On the other hand his 5 year old brother does not like it at all. I think as long as they meet the height requirements and want to they should.

 

[melbarkwith]

My 3YO was tall enought for TOT on our last visit, but I wouldn't let her ride it. The main reason was that it scared the living daylights out of me! lol!

We did take her on Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy, which she wasn't too keen on (but not terrified either).

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

I don't think there is a magic number. I think each child is an individual, and you should consider their readiness based on them, not their age. Having said that my daughter's favorite ride has been ToT since she was 4.

 

[Mugglemama]

My youngest was 3 and tall enough for TOT, but we skipped it - I figured it would really frighten him and didn't want to spoil his fun by putting him on a ride he wasn't ready for. But that's based on his personal temperament.

He went on it last month (he's now 5), and LOVED it.

Personally, I think TOT is too intense for a lot of 3 year olds. But some tiny kids seem to really enjoy things that are meant to be thrilling and spooky (I have a couple of those myself, lol), so it just depends on the kid. Before putting a 3 year old on it, though, I feel strongly they should have the ride explained to them as clearly (and honestly) as possible....so that *they* can make the decision based on what they've been told.

I remember a couple of years ago some guy on here was posting pictures of, and leaving amused messages about, his poor, crying, terrified little boy who he had forced onto TOT, and he (the dad) thought the whole thing was so funny...it was really disturbing.

 

[lisalisalisa]

I think it depends on the child. I held off letting my eldest ride as I was concerned about scaring him but he came off from his first ride and said 'is that it'. My middle son is now the same age and has asked to go on next week but he is quite sensitive and it may be a bit much. I thought we could sit out front and watch for a while and see how he feels.

I have only been on the WDW version and loved it but for some reason everytime we go to Disneyland Paris I find an excuse not to ride. I will of course be minding the 2 year old at Disneyland next week.

 

[kids of the kingdom]

Funny story about that. Celebrating our DD's 5th birthday in Disney. Walking thru the park, we make the mistake of pointing out the TOT and she INSISTS on going on it. When we gently say when you're a bit older, she has a screaming, fist pounding tantrum. Here she is in her beautiful snow white gown with accessories prostrate in the middle of Hollywood Blvd. What's a Disney parent to do but give in. Thinking she'll learn a lesson about tantrums (haha) now we insist she go on. Waiting in line, she gets a bit nervous at the props, etc and we think great, this is working. When we get on the ride, the tables are turned. Who's scared now thinking this was a bad idea but mom and dad. I lay across her with each free fall knowing she'll fly out of the car if I don't. She was TALL enough for the ride, but otherwise a petite little thing. I cussed myself as a bad parent the whole time, praying nothing would happen to her. Thankfully, the ride came to an end without incident and I recovered from my melodrama. Walking away from TOT my DD calmly stated (obviously being more sensible than her parents) "That wasn't my favorite ride at all. Maybe I'll like it better when I'm six".

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I don't think there is a magic number. I think each child is an individual, and you should consider their readiness based on them, not their age. Having said that my daughter's favorite ride has been ToT since she was 4.

I completely agree. DD8 went on it for the first time when she was 7. I didn't push her to ride it, she decided she wanted to try it. She HATED it. She cried and everything. She still isn't crazy about it, but does go on it now (with no tears).

 

[disneyfaninaz]

My DD is now 10, she has been tall enough for several years now, and I still can't get her to ride it. Oh well, too bad for her!

 

[Heymy]

We have extremely tall kids and DD 3 has decided this is "her ride" for her birthday trip...she just reached 40 inches (maybe we'll get a stickler of a CM and then I won't have to worry). So I'm very curious to see if she actually goes through with it...she is definitely the daredevil type. DD 5 who isn't so adventurous and almost 50 inches but only 42 lbs has stated she'd rather go on TOT than Big Thunder because it won't be nearly as scary. I have beat it into their heads that yes, this could be pretty scary, but what does Mom know?? My fear, they'll be way too skinny and somehow slip out of the seat belt.

 

[jessica52877]

DS was 3 and LOVED it! He wasn't scared of anything at the time (ghosts, dark, etc). He actually didn't want to ride it when he was older (5-6) because then it was spooky to him. At 7 he rides it again.

 

[Mugglemama]

My fear, they'll be way too skinny and somehow slip out of the seat belt.

If that's your biggest concern, let it go. It's not really the kind of ride a kid would "fall" out of, and the restraints are retractable, so they only come out as far as you need. If I remember correctly, (and I was just on this ride a few weeks ago, so hopefully I do remember correctly, lol...), the lap belts fit snugly (much like the ones on IJ).

 

[ILuv2travel2]

If that's your biggest concern, let it go. It's not really the kind of ride a kid would "fall" out of, and the restraints are retractable, so they only come out as far as you need. If I remember correctly, (and I was just on this ride a few weeks ago, so hopefully I do remember correctly, lol...), the lap belts fit snugly (much like the ones on IJ).

You are exactly right. The seat belts retract meaning no matter how thin or how not so thin a rider is that belt will always be tight against the rider.

 

[tdashgirl]

My DD6 rode this when she was 4, hated it - the falling part made her feel "yucky". I think it all depends on the kid. I wouldn't say there's a right or wrong age. As long as they meet the height requirements, and want to ride it, it's all good Just like with HM, you can explain that the ghosts aren't real. It's "disney scary" meaning it's not really graphic or gross.

 

[Disneylander55]

Whoever's old enough to be 40"

 

[LVTiffy]

i really don't understand how these kids can go on these rides lol.i grew up near disneyland and cali adv. i went to cali adv when it first opened, when tower of terror im sure wasn't a thought of the park yet. My dad always told me that when i was younger i would be on space mtn scared out of my mind hiding my head into my dads chest lol. My first REAL coaster was Collasus (sp) at six flags when I was 10. My mom kind of tricked me on it and by the end i was crying. THen when i was 17 (2002), I went to Florida (with my at the time fiance) and went to Magic Kingdom and MGM Studios (at the time it was MGM studios) I rode rock'n rollercoaster which was fun. Then everyone got in line for tower of terror and once again i was scared and i passed. We did end up going to busch Gardens where everyone begged me to ride a coaster which i did, which i NOW love. i went to cali adv again when tower of terror opened, and i was soooo scared but i went on and now i love it. I ride it at least 10 times on my visit lol. Its one of those rides where you are always scared and nervous each and every time u wait in line and buckle the seatbelts on the ride.

But anyways, ya long story of my life on thrill rides but I really don't understand how these 3 year olds love this ride . There are kids who r in line, basically crying to their moms they dont want to be on it, but afterwards, they are smiling, laughing, and saying i want to go again. Crazy kids lol

 

[wdwfan22]

As others have said, it depends on the child. If they want to go, and you explain to them the ride and that it is scary, and they still want to go, don't let your fears hold them back.

My daughter started riding on the HS version of TOT when she was 3, and that was back when they did not have individual seat belts, just a lap bar that came down as far as the biggest person in your row, so you can imagine how high she flew up. My husband would just sit next to her and hold on to her. But she loved it, and still does, 13 yrs later.

 

[CaseyK]

This is our problem right now. I think DD will be tall enough (as she creeps closer and closer to 40 inches) and I know it could be to the discression of the CM. But this ride scared me- not the effects and the ride itself but the unknown. Now I know what to expect- I'll do it again. My bigger fear is motion sickness. I think we'll let DD decide if she wants to try it. Right now she really wants to try Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain and the Matterhorn.

 

[Mugglemama]

My bigger fear is motion sickness. I think we'll let DD decide if she wants to try it. Right now she really wants to try Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain and the Matterhorn.

DS12 and I both get pretty motion sick on TOT. Most visits, we skip it altogether. We went on it with the rest of the family last month, and we were both sorry we did (we felt pretty icky for about an hour afterwards).

Personally, I don't think a 3 year old is going to be missing anything by skipping TOT, know what I mean? The other rides you listed are SO much more fun. Not only that, but a 3 year old is SO stimulated at DLR, anyway....adding true thrill rides might just be overkill.

 

[parrothead24]

My 3.5 year old (at the time) love TOT at DW....it was his favorite ride! He's really not scared of monsters and rode every ride that he met the height requirement. But each child is different, just because they are tall enough doesn't mean they will like it.

He's anxiously waiting to try the one in DL in two weeks!