Tower of Terror - 4 Year Old

[kribit]

Question has probably been asked (over and over and over)... We have 4 yo twins (one is well over the 40 inch mark, one scrapes over).

DH says absolutely NOT on TOT given it's intensity with darkness, and DROP of course. As I've read through some of the earlier posts, I noticed 3 year olds on these rides who meet the height requirement. (btw - I asked my pd and she said my kids are right on target for their age). I was getting a little worried To make a short question even longer, my motherly instinct is telling me NO, but has anyone brought their 4yo on this ride and enjoyed every minute of it?

My DH's major conern is the lap bar and if him sitting with one of my peanuts would go far enough down to hold them in. He's a big guy 6'4, 250. We haven't been since 1998 so the ride bar may be different.

Thanks in advance.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Personal opinion - our DS is 4 and I think ToT would be too intense for him. And I would be having nightmares of him slipping out. Although I am sure with safety these days that is extremely unlikely. I believe ToT would scare the out of him.

 

[cleo]

If they make height, they're safe to ride. I'd make the decision based more on how well you think they'll like the ride, given it's dark, it's spooky and it's got several very intense drops.

You'll get lots of opinions, since many youngsters love it and many youngsters hate it.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think everyone has their own seatbelt now, so I wouldn't worry about the bar issue.

Why not see what THEY want? If they ask to go on, tell them about it, ask again if they want to go. Follow their lead. This may not work for you, but that's my instinct.

 

[krissyh]

My brother put a leg over him out of his own nerves of him "flying out" but the little guy squealed with delight the whole time.

 

[Squirlz]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think everyone has their own seatbelt now, so I wouldn't worry about the bar issue.
QUOTE]

Yes, that is correct.

 

[horner5]

My DD rode it during her 4th bday trip in June and absolutely loved it. She will tell you to this day that it is her favorite ride at Disney World, followed by Splash Mountain. She is a thrill junkie though and has no fear. It will all depend on how your kids normally handle thrills like that. Her favorite part is when the "doors" open and you can see outside.

 

[jgorman9]

My daughter was six when she rode TOT and it scared her really bad. It wasn't so much the drop that scared her but the part before that with the ghosts, loud noises and darkness. She likes watching scary movies so we thought she would love the ride. She was so scared she couldn't even scream during the ride. When the ride was done. She burst into tears and started saying "I'm not going to ride it again!" over and over. I had to pick her up and carry her because she was shaking so bad. I felt so bad for letting her ride it. I don't think I would take a 4 year old on it, but all kids are different.

 

[pdarrah]

Every kid is different - my DS first rode TT when he was 4 and LOVED it. I also know 12 year olds who HATE it and I personally won't ride it again (I'm afraid of heights - I did it once, but that is IT!)

DS is now 7 and TT is on his "must do" list every trip. Actually, he is wearing a TT t-shirt to school today!

However, my kid is a ride daredevil (it might be because he has been to WDW every 6 months since he was 6 weeks old....) and actually marks on his measurement chart which ride is the next "goal". He just made it to 44" for Space Mountain last fall. The new goal is 48" for Rock-n-roller coaster.

As a previous poster said, why not talk to your kids and see what they want to do? My DS shocked me by wanting to do TT when he was 4. He saw the promos on the in-room tv stuff at the resort and begged to ride it. If your children look at it and say - that looks too scary - then skip it.

pdarrah

 

[antree]

I think they took the bars away and it is seatbelts. But I would Never bring my 4 yr old on it ieven if he wanted to. When he sees it, he tells me he is not going on it that it is a big people ride. Do a parents swap and then you can get on the ride without the kids. How would you feel, if your child was having a fit and wanted off, once you are on it that is it. I couldn't handle the fact of falling like that with my child there. We might think it is fun, but I think a 4 yr old is just to young.
JMO

 

[kribit]

I googled TOT and found a video of the ride (not that great), but my kiddos got the idea. DD says NO WAY, DS said YAY!!! Mom says "probably NO," but if there are separate seatbelts, perhaps my son may like it. He's a daredevil and would go on anything. My daughter is much more reserved...however is looking forward to "Zippadeedoda" ie. "Splash Mountain." This and Thunder Mtn were the only large rides we were planning on as a family...DH and I will take turns on Space, Ex Everest, etc...

Neither of us have been on Test Track, so we'll go on first and see how it is, then make a decision on if they'll like it.

Sadly, my daughter is the one that is well over the 40 inch mark. She must have had a huge growth spurt because she's taller than her twin brother!

 

[kvogel11202]

My DS was 4 when he went on TT- didn't elicit any reaction from him. He went on twice- no scream, no laugh - just bored. My DB 28 screamed like a baby. Depends on the person. If your boys are like mine, they would be fine, if they are like my brother- skip it! you know your kids better than anyone. Stick with your instincts, they got you this far!

 

[CowboyCO]

My DS went on it when he was 5 and loved it!

My DS (4) went on it last January and he got very scared. He didn't want to do it again. We are going back in Oct, and I don't know if he'll do it-- we'll leave it up to him. He was very proud of himself for riding it though! He also rode Dinosaur and same thing. Scared, won't do it again, but glad he was brave enought to do it once!

 

[melomouse]

DD refused at 5, as well as 5 1/2, but was ready w/trepidation at 6!

By 9 and 10, she's pushing US on to ToT as a "must do first"!

Good thing she "refused" at just 5, because my sense was that it would not be good for her. YOU know your kid best, and ToT will be there when you come back. Also, I keep finding that sometimes boys are different than girls??!!!!

 

[pbharris4]

It really depends on your child and both you and your DH how you feel about it. You know your child best. If it were me, I'd wait a few more years. Me and my then 9 yr old DD went on it (I'll try anything once) and getting there was neat, but when they open those doors and you start falling..OMG. I love fast roller coasters and stuff like that, but I have had way too many "falling" nightmares. DD felt exactly the same way I did. Once was enough for her as well. My 3 yr is more daring, but no way am I letting her on it until she's at least 8 or 9. I'm afraid she'd have nightmares.

 

[Smooshdog]

My DG/F little sis was 6 last summer and all she talked about was riding ToT. She is a little chatter box and never stops talking...however after riding ToT she did not say a word for about an hour. She told her mom that it "hurt her heart." I asked her the other day if she would ride it again and she is scared to ride it again...but she is also scared to ride Splash Mountain too.

I think the idea of watching the video on the net is a great idea.

 

[minkydog]

You know your own child. I,personally, would not take a 4yo on TOT, but then I didn't take them in HM either at that age. I think they're too young to process what they're seeing and hearing and too prone to nightmares. but that's just me. My DS11 still hates HM, so we skip it with him. He's not crazy about POTC but he'll tolerate it and he loves Spaceship Earth. So Im guessing its not the darkness but the music and ghostly sounds that creep him out.

 

[NJDad18]

TOT definately has seatbelts. It may be a little too intense for them, but only you can make that decision for them b/c it's a dark ride. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Splash Mountain may be a better choice for them b/c they have a 40" height requirement too.

 

[lindseysmomma]

We are going for the first time to DW in October. My dd who is 4 keeps telling me she wants to go on it. She saw a picture of it somewhere. Anyway I told her ANY ride she thinks she wants to ride we will go on and if at any point in line she decideds she doesnt want to go on it, no loss to anyone because we can do the parent swamp thing. I would never force her to go on it but why not let her try it, she may cry, but she might also be missing out on a great ride she would otherwise not try if I decided for her that it was to scary.

Rachel

38 days and counting!

 

[BamaFan121s]

DD rode it for the 1st time when she was about a month shy of turning 4. She LOVED it. It is still her favorite ride. Heck, 'tower' was her 3rd word.
I think it depends on the child. I have seen 8/9/10 y.o. kids get totally FREAKED by it.