Tower of Terror - Can I do it?

[granball]

I have really severe neck and back pain, some claustrophobia and I can get a bit freaked if it's dark and I'm not expecting it. I've also had problems with dizziness.

I realize there is some darkness in Tower of Terror, and that you are in a closed elevator. Maybe if I know what to expect I won't freak. What do you guys think?

The free falls look really fun and I remember loving free fall rides when I was young. Is there stress on the body? Is there any jerkiness or roughness or anything that could impact my back and neck?

Thanks all!

 

[Cellthing]

As one with a back that is fusing itself together, I understand your pains. I have ridden TOT, but it wasn't without some pain. It really is a fun ride, but with the randomness of the falls and lifts, there can be some jerkiness.
It really depends on your tolerance, and what you feel like putting up with. Myself, I prefer to save my pain threshold for Rock 'n Roller Coaster.
The diziness and clausterphobia, I really can't help you with. I really don't think that you would feel too cramped, since the vehicle is fairly large.

Good Luck!

 

[granball]

Hi - thanks for responding. You must healing well to handle rock and roller coaster! On Tower of Terror, do you remember when the jerks are, and how much of it there is? I guess I'm looking for a description of how jerky the jerks are, but I'm not sure how one explains that!

 

[Scraper]

I had back surgery last march. A herniated disk. Anyway I love TOT just rode it about 3 weeks ago. I don't believe there are jerks. Well you get lifted out of your seat. It is never so dark I can't see the person next to me. The elevator is quite large I would say about 2 and half regular elevators. But I would not do anything to risk my health.

 

[Cellthing]

I would say there is much healing, but yet good science behind the meds I take.
The only true jerks that bother me are during the stops of the freefall. The main difference is that the elevator at that point is on a random cours. it may fall for a bit, and give you a soft stop, or it may be jerky. I really don't know how to explain it.
It will also depend on the forces you can deal with. I feel it on things that go up and down jerkily (if that is a word). Rides that are moving forward and smooth are much better. I will pretty much ride most of the larger roller coasters, since the engineering on them is primarily for g-forces and speed. The Thunder Mountain rides, I sit out, as with rides that are pretty much free runs like splash mountain and Kali River Rapids.

 

[flortlebap]

It sounds to me like you're pretty much in the category that Disney strongly advise do not ride! It is a pretty smooth ride but it does feel pretty claustrophobic (not too bad if you sit at the back row, though!) and you might just hurt yourself even more by going on.

Plus if you DO do yourself an injury, you won't be able to blame Disney. It might end up ruining your trip, my mother left all the rides like this until the last day and rode them then. She was in pain afterwards but at least it didn't ruin the trip

 

[granball]

Cellthing: When it does do a jerky stop, do you remember if it is a really big jerk or a minor jerk? I can probably handle a minor jerk, but not something with a lot of force. For example in the past I found it really painful to ride on the small Disney rental boats when there were wakes - you sort of slam over the wake rise and back down to the lower level of water.

Flortlebap - Trying it on the last day sounds like good advice!

Scraper: Thanks for your response. So you didn't feel any of this jerkiness that Cellthing described? When the gravity lifts you in your seat, do you slam back down in your seat after, or did it seem pretty gentle transition back into your seat to you?

 

[Cellthing]

The drop sequence is random, my wife rode it on our December trip, and said there weren't any sudden jolts. However, we got back in line, me included, and there was one moment of a jerk, it was survivable. I asked her if the jerk was on her last ride, and she said that it wasn't, and she was surprised by it. I don't think it is anything that would be too bad, everyones situation is different.
I like the suggestion of the last day, but with rides I love in MGM and EPCOT, I won't do that. The other option would be to make it the last ride of the night. You might do TOT, and then take in Fantasmic, which might allow you to rest from the thrills!

 

[spiceycat]

mother is 84 - with very bad back problems - no RR at all for her.
but she loves ToT.

the only point I remember it jerked was when it switched from an elevator to a moving cart. but it was pretty mild.

now leaving your stomach - oh yea - it definitely effects your stomach - so no eating before it....

both Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain are much to jerked for her to handle at the MK.

so is Test Track at Epcot.

I had to ride it first - to see how bad it jerks. then if I think it is okay she rides.

I am NOT riding R&R C - I don't like to be inverted.

 

[Tiffer]

Disney would advise you not to ride, but if I listened to that, I would be on Dumbo all day!! Not that I don't love Dumbo, but you get the point.

I have neck/back herniations and have anxiety and claustrophobia. Gosh, I sound REALLY bad on paper!

I cannot ride RnRC b/c it is so incredibly jerky. I have NO problems w/ToT, in fact it is a must do every time at MGM and DLCA. My DM is 65 and claustrophobic as well (she hyperventilated on 20k leagues when I was little), she loves ToT too!

I would NEVER ride MissionSpce or Star Tours b/c of claustrophobia ns have trouble w/back to the future at Universal, but I can handle it if I sit in front, if that helps as a reference at all.

 

[granball]

Tiffer, so the tot doesn't bother your neck at all? (I also want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences. It's so nice!)

 

[SueM in MN]

I would like TOT if it only made one up and one down (well, maybe two).
The computer assigns a random sequence, which could be a few falls or a lot of falls. it also assigns how far you go down (I don't know if the speed changes). We noticed it seemed jerky when there is a sequence that goes a short distance down and then goes back up. Maybe it's just me, but it seemed more jerky going a short distance.

As was already mentioned, you would be someone who would fit the warnings for the ride.

 

[granball]

Thanks all! I think this is one that I probably will need to pass on. I guess it's not worth the risk. Oh well. There's lots of other stuff to go on.

I'm pretty disappointed that they removed Who Wants to be a Millionaire. I loved playing that and it's something that had no risk for me. I've decided I can try the Buzz Lightyear attraction during my next visit, which I've never tried before. I'm looking forward to that. I'm going to look at the rest of the attractions I've never done and see if there are others I may be able to handle.

 

[shovan]

Just stay away the Dinosaur Ride in AK! I don't usually have much pain from any of the other rides but this one really hurt! Love RR, ToT, Test Track! But this was very jerky & rough, with nothing behind your upper back or neck, no restraints. We were really surprised & didn't expect this to be much at all. I had neck pain for the rest of the trip. Of course, there were usual signs of warning but it didn't really explain what to expect on this one!