Tower of Terror and young kids

[AsherBear]

Just wondering what age your kids started riding ToT? My son is 3 and has been on Big Thunder Mountain and Test Track without any problems. He is 41.5 inches tall so he meets the height requirements. Does anyone bring their young kids on ToT?

 

[maddiesmom0116]

My DD was 4 when she went on TOT the first time. She also has done BTMR and splash mountain with no issues. It depends on your child, you will know best what he can have fun doing.

 

[MassMom94]

With ToT, it's not just the physical sensation of the ride, it's the scary storyline - particularly the little girl who gets zapped. I have read countless stories of young kids who have been scared witless riding it. Then there are those who take it in stride. IMO a 3 yo is pretty young unless he's VERY mature.

 

[boppy]

My daughter was just turned 6 when she rode ToT for the first, and last, time. I was 37 the first and only time I rode it.
That was the first ride she rode that trip, and was pretty leery of any "dark" rides after that, but she recovered. However, every time we get in a regular elevator, she mentions ToT and says she hopes this one only goes up and down once!

 

[texhanddoc]

We took my 4 and a half year old at the beginning of summer. He has an older sister that loves it and he wanted to try it. I would say its ok if your child is mature beyond their age and doesnt spook easily. Even with that I had to constantly be in my child's ear telling him "Thats not real. They are doing this to try and scare you before the ride. There was no such thing as the hotel and no one ever got hit by lightning and the elevators didnt crash down." IMO once you are through the movie to the queue line in the boiler room its smooth sailing.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

I took my DS when he was 3.5 and my DD when she was 5. My DD is a daredevil and was a little intimidated after the ride, my DS loved it and wanted to ride it again.

 

[mechteach]

We took our 5 year old last year. She loves BTMRR, Space Mtn, Haunted Mansion, etc., and spooky stories in general. However, ToT lived up to its name with her - she was freaked out. The entrance area, storyline, etc., really made her very nervous. She still talks about it now, 9 months later, saying that she loves all of WDW, but not ToT! (And yes, I feel really bad for having her ride it - we asked her multiple times while in the queue if she wanted to leave, but in retrospect I think she was trying to be brave for her grandma and grandpa. ) Of course, as others have said, YMMV.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

My son was 3 when he went on it for the first time. He had been on all the other "big" rides except EE. He loved the others....he HATED TOT. He will be 6 on our next trip and still doesn't want to do it. He said the ghosts scared him, however judging by the way he screamed during the up and down part, I beg to differ

SO IMO, 3 is too young, even if they are plenty tall.

My 4-year-old DD wants to do it in December, I'll let her try it. I showed it to her on Youtube. She didn't seem scared.

 

[Mom2PrincessK]

both of my kids rode as soon as they were old enough...4.

they both loved it then and still do. DH on the other hand....won't ride

 

[1hero2princesses]

It scared my DS5 a lot. He hated it and will not be riding it this trip. He is scared by spooky, creepy stuff. I hadn't been on it in a really long time and he was really scared by the beckoning ghosts. He also really hated the drops. I just held his hand and talked to him the whole time telling him it was just pretend it would be over soon. I felt so bad. If your child is not scared of scary things - I would ride it first without him and decide for yourself. My kids love splash and BTMR. In fact those to them are know big deal at all. TOT is nothing like those in my opinion it is much more intense. More like a big time thrill ride.

 

[Pocahontas1]

My daughter road at three for her first time. She is a total daredevil. I think we rode it three or four times on her last trip. She had just turned five then. To quote her "I don't like it, I love it".

 

[jonandtina]

My son was 3 1/2 last year and is a thrill seeker. he screams Yeah baby on the rides!
We leave in 3 days and he can't stop talking abot ToT. He is 45 inches now so EE will be his next adventure.


Me, I come off of ToT with my legs and heart shaking.

 

[Suellen]

My LO was 3 when she first rode... and she says it is her FAVORITE ride at Disney. She keeps asking her 2YO "sissa" if she wants to ride this time. She asked me again to make sure I was going to take her on when we get there and wants it to be her first ride. Little does she know.... we are going to DHS last.

 

[Manda]

My son went on it right at his 5th birthday. He did okay - didn't cry and wasn't upset or anything during the ride. He generally likes thrill rides and liked the actual drop sequence part well enough. But the family getting electrocuted in the pre-show really freaked him out. He didn't say anything at the time, but now and months later, he randomly brings it up and asks more questions about it. It really bothered him. I've explained the storyline, etc., but he still sees it as them basically being fried/killed by lightning and he doesn't want to ride it again.

 

[ReneeA]

DS rode for the first time when he was 3. He said, "it's okay...I'll ride again when I'm 7." DD rode the first time just shy of 4 and liked it - wants to ride it next time.

On the other hand, DH and I are not huge fans.

 

[gallagher35]

It is my 4 year olds FAVORITE ride -- we rode it 4x in a row and she's still talking about it. The "spooky" didn't bother her b/c she pretty understanding of make-pretend stuff. Also a thrill-seeker so that probably doesn't hurt.

 

[rn448698]

Frankly, depends on your kid.

However, funny story...

I was a little freaked out the first time I rode it (27 at the time)...until I looked to my right.

There was a little girl, probably 4 years old sitting next to me clapping her hands as the doors closed right after we loaded...saying "I want to drop. I want to drop."

I got over my concerns pretty quickly.

 

[TriMom]

it depends on the kid - my 3 yo loves it! It is his favorite ride. My 6 yo refuses to try it.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

My son was 3 when he went on it for the first time. He had been on all the other "big" rides except EE. He loved the others....he HATED TOT. He will be 6 on our next trip and still doesn't want to do it. He said the ghosts scared him, however judging by the way he screamed during the up and down part, I beg to differ

SO IMO, 3 is too young, even if they are plenty tall.


My son had the same experience at 4 years of age. He has been on every other ride at Disney except the Rock N Roll rollercoaster (still too short) and loved all the other rides even EE. But ToT scared him to death. Afterwards, he was shuddering and said, "Hold me, Mommy." I have very much regretted it--he is 7 1/2 now and still does not want to ride it again.

 

[AsherBear]

Thanks for your replies everyone! My little guy is a daredevil when it comes to rides but he is very sensitive so I think we will be avoiding this one until he is older. Just gives me something to look forward to doing together in the future.