To young for TOT

[MrsPinup]

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).

I disagree. We took my DS5 when he was three (he is tall and thin) and had a horrible experience. Since there is no strap between the legs like on Soarin', every time we dropped he slipped further and further under the seat belt. At one point the belt was up under his armpits. The whole ride he and I both were crying and I was trying to lay across him to keep him from slipping out. We contacted Disney about it and all they did was apologize and say that they would take our event into consideration. To this day he is terrified of that ride (but loves other thrill rides).

 

[Mugglemama]

I disagree. We took my DS5 when he was three (he is tall and thin) and had a horrible experience. Since there is no strap between the legs like on Soarin', every time we dropped he slipped further and further under the seat belt. At one point the belt was up under his armpits. The whole ride he and I both were crying and I was trying to lay across him to keep him from slipping out. We contacted Disney about it and all they did was apologize and say that they would take our event into consideration. To this day he is terrified of that ride (but loves other thrill rides).

Wow, that sounds terrible. So sorry you both went through that. I don't see how we've avoided this same scenario since my kids are all super skinny, as well. But we've never had anything remotely like this happen. I didn't let any of them ride it until they were 5, though.

You bring up a good point, and your experience is just one more reason a parent might want to avoid putting a child as young as 3 on TOT.

 

[Petraman]

We were there the month that ToT opened. Our youngest was 3 as well, but we figured it wouldn't be good for them, then somebody out at the pool said, "hey our 3 yr old loved it. It really is no big deal at all... nothing to worry about".
Well, I wanted to try it so I convinced my wife to take them on it. Man did I blow it that day. It absolutey TERRIFIED my 3 yr old. She was so small she was flying all around under the bar. To this day (8 yrs &8 disney trips later) she still will not even walk by it.

I vowed that day I would never tell someone else if it was good for their child to ride it. Don't make my mistake, you know your child, so make the best decision you can for your own kid. Do not trust anyone else's input (sorry folks nothing personal), only you know your child best. Make the call and trust your instinct... and for goodness sake if they start to turn white in the standby line smile and tell them "let's go try something else" .... I wish I had

 

[Petraman]

I disagree. We took my DS5 when he was three (he is tall and thin) and had a horrible experience. Since there is no strap between the legs like on Soarin', every time we dropped he slipped further and further under the seat belt. At one point the belt was up under his armpits. The whole ride he and I both were crying and I was trying to lay across him to keep him from slipping out. We contacted Disney about it and all they did was apologize and say that they would take our event into consideration. To this day he is terrified of that ride (but loves other thrill rides).

Oh my goodness, you just gave me a horrible flashback. That is EXACTLY what happened to us with my 3yr old DD. Except it was her and me (Disney Dad) crying the whole time

It is amazing to me, we go to WDW now and she runs as fast as she can to ride RocknRollercoater but breaks into a cold sweat when she sees Tot. Go figure

 

[pinktink83]

Try the other fast rides first...if they do okay in the dark rides, try Matterhorn and Thunder Mountain...then try Splash Mountain. If they like that, then they'll probably be fine on TOT.

My 3 yo did NOT like half the dark rides, wouldn't go on Matterhorn, didn't care for Splash or Thunder. I decided not to take her on Space or HM or TOT after that.

 

[brergnat]

I disagree. We took my DS5 when he was three (he is tall and thin) and had a horrible experience. Since there is no strap between the legs like on Soarin', every time we dropped he slipped further and further under the seat belt. At one point the belt was up under his armpits. The whole ride he and I both were crying and I was trying to lay across him to keep him from slipping out. We contacted Disney about it and all they did was apologize and say that they would take our event into consideration. To this day he is terrified of that ride (but loves other thrill rides).

How would that happen? The seatbelt sits SO tight on the lap...

I just rode this ride YESTERDAY with my 6 year old son. He is a TINY child (he's only 44" and 45lbs). That seatbelt was over his lap so tight, I couldn't have put my finger between the belt and his leg.

Anyway, to answer the original question, I don't believe it's a matter of height at all, but a matter of whether or not the child WANTS to do it, KNOWING what the ride entails.

There was a family with a boy about 4 in line behind us yesterday. The boy was asking his dad 'is this a roller coaster' and the dad's answer was "something like that". Come on, parents. Be honest with your kids.

My son is a HUGE chicken. He only wants to ride "small rides" most of the time. He rode a sort of mini version of this ride and he loved the sensation of falling and going back up over and over again, so I explained that TOT is like that, but much much bigger and faster. He was intrigued. I was nervous, knowing him. I showed him videos on YouTube, explained it was in the dark, very loud, and people would be screaming (he's autistic, and noise sensitive). He was okay with all of it. He did fine on the ride itself, but he couldn't get out of that elevator fast enough, let me tell you! He said today that he likes it. But, I don't know. It will be interesting to see what happens next time we go, and whether or not he will want to still ride it.

 

[bumbershoot]

How would that happen? The seatbelt sits SO tight on the lap...

I can't understand it either. Happened on Star Tours, where the rides is going all over the place, but on TOT where it's just up and down? Seems a rare occurence to me.


Petraman, there are individual seatbelts now, not one bar.



DS rode at 4, and he liked the up and down. But didn't like that we disappeared. He knows we didn't, but even now at 6 he still talks about how he felt when you see the mirror trick of being zapped by lightning and then "disappearing".

 

[MrsPinup]

I don't know how it happened, but it did. I should have bought the photo showing it, but we were in such a state of shock we walked right out of the shop afterwards. My son is now almost 6 and still weighs only 40 pounds - he was probably right around 30lbs. at the time and just at the height requirement.

Petraman~ Did you contact them afterwards as well? The more people that say something after an experience like that, the better chance at having them put in the extra strap for between the legs - if even for just the kids.