Tower of Terror first timer...?'s

[DisneyFanEmily]

We will be going to Disney in a couple of months and I have gotten up the courage to ride Tower of Terror, I just can't pass it up again. I regretted not doing it when we were there before.
I heard they changed some things from years ago, almost every ride is different in some ways based on the drops. I've been reading some trip reports and notice a lot of people know when they take your picture, is this the same for every ride so you can expect the picture, or is it always different when they take your picture? and also, do they always open the door so you can see out and then drop you, or is it random?
Thanks.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

We will be going to Disney in a couple of months and I have gotten up the courage to ride Tower of Terror, I just can't pass it up again. I regretted not doing it when we were there before.
I heard they changed some things from years ago, almost every ride is different in some ways based on the drops. I've been reading some trip reports and notice a lot of people know when they take your picture, is this the same for every ride so you can expect the picture, or is it always different when they take your picture? and also, do they always open the door so you can see out and then drop you, or is it random?
Thanks.

Every ride has the door open. That is when your picture when be taken....as you start your descent.

Sent from my IPad using DisBoards.

 

[bastos]

Our last trip - I think we rode four times. It's was our middle daughter's fave ride (now RNR) and now our baby's favorite.

Yes - every ride is very different. Once - after two downward pushes - we even ended up in the basement. Only seen it once. Skeletons are down on the ground. Pretty cool.

 

[FamilyGuy]

We rode it a few times during our trip and IIRC, we prepared for the picture being taken when the ride vehicle is lifted up to the first time and then the doors are opened. I believe the drop begins before the actual photo is flashed.

One of my favorite rides BTW!

 

[karenklo]

My DH and boys love that ride!! I rode it once and the photo of me screaming my head off is proudly displayed in the living room..... I rode it one time and I am good with that one ride, however my family cannot get enough!

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

My oldest had his first ride at 4 and it quickly became his favorite. My youngest (now four) will have his first ride in April and will surely enjoy it too.

In December 2012, my mom rode ToT for the fist time ever. She is very afraid of heights and not a daredevil in the least. She absolutely LOVED it. Give it a chance. You may find it's not as bad as you've feared

 

[kidd_freeper]

The ToT at DHS has been voted the "Best Ride" on several websites.

You have to at least go through the line. The theming and background music is just perfect. There is a chicken-out door, just before you go on the elevator.

The ride itself is very good. You'll finish the ride and wonder what you were worried about.

 

[bcinohio]

Go for it!! We have been to WDW many times and I refused to ride TOT. My DH and kids love this ride. DH and I took an adult only trip in Dec and I decided this is the year I will ride. Ended up riding it 3 times. Called home to tell our boys and they were mad. Said they have been trying to talk me into it for years and I ride without them. We are returning in July with the family so I will ride again with the boys. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. It turned out to be fun.

Good luck.

 

[blingbowsparkles]

This is our first trip back in 3 years so I don't know about the changes but you have to ride it. It is a ton of fun and on our last trip my very tall 3 year old rode it and loved it. The cue and preshow are also really cool IMOP.

 

[pharaoh]

You should ride it! I am also terrified of heights and drops make me really nervous. I won't do Splash Mountain. I get nervous in actual elevators. I'm a wuss. But the ride is very fun and you should experience it. I have gone on it 4 or 5 times so now I have gotten it out of my system and probably won't ride again in the future, but every time I've gone on it, I've thought to myself, "What was I so nervous about?!"

 

[DisDance]

The scariest part is the anticipation of the first dro, you'll know it's coming because after your elevator moves forward you will stop at a blank wall and the music change drastically, when you hear it prepare yourself!

 

[elgerber]

The photo is not taken before the first drop (which isn't always a drop), it's taken during the ride, but you will know, as they will take you way up to the opening and hold you there for a second, then the drop and flash about the same time.

 

[casah]

I just got up the courage to go on this in December. I'm afraid of the dark, heights, elevators, drops, and I'm claustrophobic. Perfect ride for me, right? LOL But I actually really enjoyed it. After we FP'd it, I stood in line for an hour to do it a second time. Then I bought a shot glass as a souvenir. Seemed appropriate. LOL

 

[emilyindisney]

The dropping sequence is randomized for each ride car, on each individual run. The picture always occurs at the very beginning of the first drop.

Most WDW rides have ride videos on youtube that you can watch to get a feel for something. Maybe that'll calm your nerves to see what it's all about?

 

[Huff]

On our last trip we got to ride ToT with the lights on. Just after the ride started there was some sort of computer glich and all of the lights came on. Our ride continued as normal but we could now see everything. All the neat special effects seem so lame now!! The glowing little girl was just a clear plastic doll with some lights on it. The lightening bolts on the walls are just LED strips that could have come from Home Depot. The experience was neat but it kinda ruined it for us now!!

 

[kidd_freeper]

On our last trip we got to ride ToT with the lights on. Just after the ride started there was some sort of computer glich and all of the lights came on. Our ride continued as normal but we could now see everything. All the neat special effects seem so lame now!! The glowing little girl was just a clear plastic doll with some lights on it. The lightening bolts on the walls are just LED strips that could have come from Home Depot. The experience was neat but it kinda ruined it for us now!!

The same is true for Space Mountain. Got to ride it with the lights on as part of a YES class. It is simply a mad mouse ride, and is actually pretty slow. Lame.

But it didn't ruin the ride for me.

 

[DisneyFanEmily]

Thanks everyone!
Funny thing is, years ago, maybe when I was 15 I rode one of these drop rides, only it was outside, like Dr Dooms Fear Fall and I think that is worse but for some reason I decided not to ride ToT.....lol, my mother did and enjoyed it but would never go on Dr Dooms. I think I'm definitely going to give it a try.
It seems one thing is the same on the ride......that they always open the door and then you drop first? after that things can change between rides.

 

[elgerber]

Thanks everyone!
Funny thing is, years ago, maybe when I was 15 I rode one of these drop rides, only it was outside, like Dr Dooms Fear Fall and I think that is worse but for some reason I decided not to ride ToT.....lol, my mother did and enjoyed it but would never go on Dr Dooms. I think I'm definitely going to give it a try.
It seems one thing is the same on the ride......that they always open the door and then you drop first? after that things can change between rides.

No, sometimes they shoot you up first.
I didn't ride this for years and years, and when I finally did, I was so scared I could barely stand up when it was over. Now I ride it over and over and even put my arms up LOL.

 

[bcinohio]

Same thing here. DH got me on the PowerTower at Cedar Point a while back and I will never again ride that. So from that I would not ride TOT. Just tried it in Dec and liked it.

 

[Huff]

My first time riding, my wife plopped her purse in my lap and said here, hold this. I didn't pay attention! Ride started and I wasn't holding onto her purse, I was raising my arms in the air!! On the first drop her purse floated several feet above us. When we started back up her purse plopped back in my lap. As we exited the ride we were scolded a bit by CM's to hold on to belongings next time! Kind neat seeing her purse floating in mid air for a few seconds!