Tower of Terror for my 8 yr old???

[philnkels]

Hi there,
Wondered if you could help I am a bit worried about taking my daughter on TOT tomorrow, we have done a few parks now and discovered she hates roller coasters !! She loves simulator type rides ie, back to the future and star tours etc and she likes the water type rides like splash mountain, etc, she half wants to do TOT but is also half scared as I have never done it either I dont know what to expect, I would hate to see her come off crying!!!!

What do you think? Anyone else had this dilema???? Thanks

 

[bianca]

This is a tough one. Really depends on the kid and only you know her and how she'll act. I had one daughter that went on TOT at age 4 and another that waited until she was 12 when we MADE her go on. For the record, the 12yo totally regretted not going on earlier and facing the ridicule of her younger sister for years. She absolutely loved it the first time after going on, and in fact, rode 4 times that day. I can also say, that if she is made to go on and hates it, she'll probably never forgive you for it! Good luck in your decision.

 

[ImaDizneyNut]

Hi there,
Wondered if you could help I am a bit worried about taking my daughter on TOT tomorrow, we have done a few parks now and discovered she hates roller coasters !! She loves simulator type rides ie, back to the future and star tours etc and she likes the water type rides like splash mountain, etc, she half wants to do TOT but is also half scared as I have never done it either I dont know what to expect, I would hate to see her come off crying!!!!

What do you think? Anyone else had this dilema???? Thanks

See I have done ToT hundreds of times at least. I have NEVER put my kid on any ride I haven't done first. I can't believe people do this. If I were you I would go on the ride first, then and only then you will be able to figure out what your child cfan handle. My son is 4 and couldn't wait to get on it, We thought it was fine since we did it plenty of times and know what he likes and can handle. He went on it didn't cry or anything just sat there. When he got off he said I didn't like that ride. (He didn't like the beginning den room where you watch the movie). We said ok you don't have to go on it again. BUT everytime he sees the shirts we got (we get 1 for everyone that rides it during our trips) he says oh remember that ride I can't wait to get on it again lol

Now I have been on Mission Space and would NEVER take him on it, even if he did want to do it. Because I think that ride is nuts (I thought that even before anything happened)


I can't believe people trust their child to a company. Just because Disney says a ride is ok for a certain height or age doesn't mean it is ok for every kid that height and that age.

 

[Skroops]

Sure. I love this ride. I think it is important that they know it is scary, and that you drop. The actual drop portion of the ride goes by waaayyyy too fast! Have a great time!

 

[ploto]

Most eight year olds would not like Tower of Terror, especially if she does not like roller coasters. It is made to be scary and you must watch a creepy viedo before you even get on the ride. The scenry around the ride and inside the building is rather scary. Hope you are having a good trip.

 

[makinorlando]

Hi there,
Wondered if you could help I am a bit worried about taking my daughter on TOT tomorrow, we have done a few parks now and discovered she hates roller coasters !! She loves simulator type rides ie, back to the future and star tours etc and she likes the water type rides like splash mountain, etc, she half wants to do TOT but is also half scared as I have never done it either I dont know what to expect, I would hate to see her come off crying!!!!

What do you think? Anyone else had this dilema???? Thanks

My DD who was 7 at the time, wanted to do TOT (I did not, but she and a friend talked me into it, but by the time we got seated, and the doors closed and it was dark she started to cry. I held her hand, and after the initial anxiety waiting for the 1st drop (mere seconds), she was fine, and now likes the ride.

My DD also likes Space Mtn, RNR, BTM, and can't wait for someone to go one EE with her... I will not, as I am with your DD and don't care for Roller Coaster type rides. I did not mind TOT.

We are planning to head to MGM tomorrow as well!

 

[paras4ri]

Most eight year olds would not like Tower of Terror, especially if she does not like roller coasters. It is made to be scary and you must watch a creepy viedo before you even get on the ride. The scenry around the ride and inside the building is rather scary. Hope you are having a good trip.

You really have to know your child. My DD loved TOT at age 4 but my DS, who was 7 at the time was really scared. What set him off was the "ride" through the hotel before the drops - especially the lightening and the big floating eyeball.

 

[Enchanted]

ToT is much more of a thrill ride like a roller coaster and less like the usual simulator rides. Im 18, in good health, and I love most roller coasters, but I will admit that both times I rode ToT, I was shaken afterwards. ToT never does the same drop sequence twice in a row, so you never know how many times you will be dropped or how far you will be dropped. The first time I rode, we dropped several times, but we never made the "full drop" from the top to the bottom. The second time I rode they dropped us the "full drop" twice. I got off, and I could barely walk because I was shaking so badly. I like the ride, but it can do a job on you physically. And definitely don't eat anything directly before or after the ride.

Personally, I think if your daughter is only 8 and she doesn't like roller coasters, I would tell her to avoid it. Remind her that she can always try it when she's older. When I was eight, I was terrified of thrill rides, but around age twelve, I started riding roller coasters and I've developed a love for them. She could very well love them as well in a few years time. But I would definitely recommend keeping her off of ToT on this trip.

 

[Melissa]

My dd is pretty brave, she loves most all rides. When she did TOT at 7 she hated it! I think it was a combo of the drop and the dark scary part. She decided to try it again last month and liked it, and says she'd do it again. If she is ok with dark and scary, I think that is bigger then the drop especially if she likes splash mtn.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Well, back in 2004 my DD (she was 7 at the time) was scared of the drop in Pirates of the Caribbean but went on TOT.....twice!

 

[pezpam]

Well, back in 2004 my DD (she was 7 at the time) was scared of the drop in Pirates of the Caribbean but went on TOT.....twice!

Too darn funny! My DD is the same way. Loves TOT, RNRC, and all of the other 'big' rides, but she just hates that POTC drop...... Likes Splash Mtn drop, not POTC. That child is as odd as I am. (Charter Member of the EWWWWW, POTC Hairy Leg! Club here.....)

As far as TOT, I agree with everyone who said only you know your child. When my DD was 5, she refused to go on anything that was even slightly adventurous. At age 6, she talked herself into trying Primeval Whirl. At age 7, she decided that since she liked PW, she should at least try the bigger rides. We wound up going on every single big ride, scary ride, and thrill ride that trip and she loved every second of it. I let her know that I'd be happy if she tried them, but that I would never-ever 'make' her go on any of them - just knowing I wouldn't force her seemed to make her more comfortable about trying them on her own terms. She also started saying "MickeyMickeyMickey" to herself if she got nervous - it reminds her that even if she's nervous or the ride or CM behavior is designed to be scary/creepy, Mickey doesn't really *want* any of his guests to be hurt, so she really will be ok.

When it comes down to it, I'd say that encouragement is ok, but forcing isn't. Heaven knows I have had to talk my daughter through some moments when she's worked up her nerves and I've seen some kids who love the big rides still work themselves up to a few tears before going on a ride they loved going on earlier that day and will love again, but as a mom, you'll know if your child is a little nervous or really doesn't want to ride.

 

[Ilovestitch]

I would just tell your child to try it once if they want and if they hate it they won't go on it again. It doesn't hurt to try it- what's the worst thing that will happen? Just don't make a huge deal out of it and your child won't either.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

In our case it is a little different, I am sure my kids would go on with no problem and love it. I am the one that is scared. We ended up not riding last time, because I couldn't do it. I am trying to get myself where I can ride it in June. I love coasters, but for some reason I am paranoid about this.

 

[tinkerbell6]

We went on it on our last trip, when DD was 5, almost 6. She has gone on every ride in WDW or DL from the time she was tall enough, and was excited to go on this one. I agree with the poster that said it was the first part of the ride that's the scariest. DD didn't like the ride, hid her head for most of the time leading up to the drops. Loved the drops, though! I, on the other hand, still haven't experienced the ride properly yet, since I spent the whole time making sure she wasn't freaking out.

On our trip next week we'll ask if she wants to go on it again...it's up to her, but it will probably be NO.

 

[Matt]

My 7 yr old daughter loves Space Mountain, Mission: Space, Splash Mountain, etc. Tower of Terror scared the bejeezus out of her. I dunno. I think the sensation of her rising from her seat scared her. We got off that and she said "Well, Dad, that's the last time I'll ride that!

 

[Princess_Aurora]

It seems like the scariest part for young children is being in the dark. My DD loves the drop but she's kinda scared at the dark parts and hides her head in my shoulder.

She might not like roller coasters because of the jerking motions. ToT doesn't have that. You should ride it first and then make your decision. They also have a regular elevator at the top just in case for people that have changed their mind and don't want to ride anymore.

 

[LOLA2]

DD loved it at 5,6,7 hated it at 8 and now she says she doesn't want to go to Disney if she has to go on it -of course we won't make her. I think some kids like something one year and then hate it other years (By the way she loves all other thrill rides) she says it makes her tummy feel funny and that is why. Last year we took DS 4 for first time on it - loved it, wanted to do it over and over. Our luck, in a couple of years he will turn scared like his sister. This is DH and mine favorite ride in the World.

 

[Joann]

My sone went on it at the age of 4 and my daughter was 6 ... I was a mean mom and said were doing it! They had no problem going on it as they had no clue what it actually was about they new you went up and dropped as that is what me and DH only knew to hehe.... well the begining was fine going up was to aswell as at the top going thru the hallway. We went thru the twilight zone and omg haha my sons face was priceless and my daughter being 2 years older hid and turned white! LOL we got off and my son wanted to do it again ( remember hes 4 at the time hehe) My DD was white as a ghost ready to cry and said she hated it and was not going on it again EVER! She made me buy her the pin that says I survived the tower of terror tho, I ended up going on it 7 more times in a row with my DS and my daughter went back to RNR which ironically she loved. The next year when we went she tried it again and loved it! Last year when we arrived in orlando after getting to the hotel we dropped the bags off and she made us go right to MGM to do TOT she loves it now ... so the point to my long reply ( sorry ) is Tell them about it let them decide if they want to do it let them and if they hate it they don't have to do it again unless like mine they try it again and love it the second time, worst that will happen is they cry and won't do it again best that can happen is they experinced it and loved it and can be proud they did it!

 

[Zim]

I would say TOT is closer to a rollercoaster than a simulation ride. It really is moving up and down.... and before that around a room similar to the effect in the Haunted Mansion ride. My, at the time, 6 year old enjoyed the TOT but was terrified by the Haunted Mansion - go figure. But she's a coaster fanatic - I would say if she doesn't enjoy the thrill of a coaster like Aerosmith, she probably wouldn't enjoy it - unless she's in to spooky Goosebumps type stuff.

 

[turnlisa]

OK, we just got back and my 4 year old DS decided that anything he was big enough to ride, he was going on. We didn't force him onto anything. He was actually my excuse not to ride -- I hate roller coasters or anything that makes me go upside down. He loved ToT. Like others have said, not like a roller coaster. I rode it on his 5th trip and I really liked it too. As I mentioned, I HATE -- REALLY LOATHE -- roller coasters. It really isn't like those since you are just dropping straight up and down. I would describe it to her and give her the option of not riding it. I think she should be the one to make the decision.