Tower of Terror-Is it appropriate for 4 & 6 yr olds?

[wdw2125]

Definitely work your way up to it! Most thrill rides aren't as spooky as this one and I think the pre-fall show is extremely spooky, especially for such young ones. We made the mistake of doing it at the beginning of our trip w/ our 4 yr old and she freaked out any time the lights went out or dim the rest of the trip. The coasters are her favorite though! Goodluck on whatever you decide!

How weird! We are going around the same time and staying at POFQ too!

 

[hookedonears]

It's Disney. Disney makes rides for the entire family. If they're tall enough, they're good.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I suggest the adults go on the ride first and then decide if the kids should go. If I had done that... I would not have let my 4 yr old (big meanie!).

I love thrill rides but they still scare me to death. I didn't think Tower of Terror would be a big deal. I guess the name "Terror" should have given me a clue... but this is just Disney, right? Holy Cow! We must have dropped from the top all the way to the bottom and then immediately shot all the way back up!

The severity of the drops vary each ride, but some people on our ride said the drops were the most severe of all, and they had been on the ride several times before. My biggest fear during the ride was the safety of DS4 and I held onto him the whole ride and was glad when it was over.

I asked my 4 yr old when we got off the ride if he liked it, he said "Yes" with some certainty. When I asked him if he wanted to go again, he gave me a very certain "Nooooooo!"

But we both celebrated and got matching TOT tye dye shirts (purple and green) with an image of TOT and the words "Inhale and Scream!". The ride was worth the T-shirt. And when he wore his shirt at home, his preschool teachers were quite shocked he went on the ride... We wear our shirts with pride!

Now, when I ask him, he says he wants to go again. That means I have to go again too cause Mom is not brave enough for rides like this. So, I have to muster up some courage. At age 4, he wasn't afraid because he really didn't know what to expect. But now he knows... so it will be interesting if he really wants to go on it next trip or if he just makes an excuse to not go on it.

At age 45, I'll say I'd like to go on TOT again... but I have to admit being scared. For me, it's the loss of feeling in control when the thing drops. But I'm kind of wimpy with rides. And despite that, I'll say that TOT was one of the most awesome rides I've ever been on.

 

[deerhart]

At age 45, I'll say I'd like to go on TOT again... but I have to admit being scared. For me, it's the loss of feeling in control when the thing drops. But I'm kind of wimpy with rides. And despite that, I'll say that TOT was one of the most awesome rides I've ever been on.

hehe try being afraid of heights. heck SOARIN freaks me out (yet coasters I have no problems with at all)

 

[DisneyFamily123]

hehe try being afraid of heights. heck SOARIN freaks me out (yet coasters I have no problems with at all)

Oh. I'm afraid of heights too. The first time on Soarin, DS was 3. I held onto him soooooo tight, I was afraid he was going to fall out. And I'll also admit, I used the extra buckle strap intended for children... and I'm not the only adult who has, others admitted it her on the disboards.

Soarin is another great ride, I don't mind it until the seats dip forward. I wonder if I could ever handle something like parasailing. Also don't like driving over high bridges. And the part of Soaring flying over the bridge really weirds me out. But, I've been on Soarin 3 to 4 times each of our last 2 trips.

Now, went skiing 2x in Colorado. Those ski lifts are really high! and no belts to hold you in either.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

A majority of children DO NOT like TOT.

It is by far Disney's most intense and scary attraction.

There are some who like it, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

Let your child watch it on you tube first, and if they are gung ho about it then sure, give it a go.

 

[BamaFan121s]

I guess it depends on how easily freaked out your 4 & 6 yos are. My daughter rode it for the first time when she was 3 and loved it. Then again, her 3rd words was tower. It's still her favorite ride at 9 yo.

 

[MomRN]

Taking my 3 1/2 yr old ds on TOT probably makes one of my top five parenting mistakes. He loves fast. Had a blast on Test Track, Thunder... all 40" rides except TOT.

The problem was the scary factor. I think he liked the drops, but the "terror" was just too terrorizing. Bad idea.

 

[Manda]

My son rode it for the first time right at his 5th birthday. He didn't get upset during the actual ride, but didn't really seem to have fun either. He was quite proud of himself for riding it, but now refuses to ever ride it again. He was really freaked out by the ghostly images (including a kid) that seem to be electrocuted. I hadn't thought about it before hand, but that imagery was very upsetting to him.

 

[codenamejack]

..

 

[jpolak]

There's only one true way to find out.

 

[ReneeA]

My kids are tall and both rode it at 3. DS didn't like it - I asked him if he liked it and he gave me a timid "yes." Asked him if he wanted to ride it again and he said, "Maybe when I'm 7." 7 came and went and we haven't gotten him back on ToT. It's the only ride in all of WDW that he won't ride.

DD went when she was 3, got off the ride and said, "that was terrible...can we go again?" She's gone on it multiple times every trip since.

It really does just depend on the kid.

 

[mousejunkie98]

My son rode it 3 times when he was 5 (the one at Disneyland Paris). The first time, he loved it and asked for a t-shirt to show he'd ridden it. The second time, he was a little less thrilled. The third time, he cried the whole ride and got off swearing he'd never ride it again!

I'd have to agree that it depends on the kid

 

[mom2shayleeandlogan]

Last year my then dd3 rode it 6times. It was the highlight of her trip. She tells more people about TOT than anything else at WDW!

 

[CathieArms]

I wouldn't. My son was almost 5 last year when we took him. He *really* wanted to ride the ToT and I let him. It ruined him for rides for the rest of the trip. In fact, after that, we went on another ride (*very* tame ride - Star Tours, maybe?) that had the same "feel" as ToT when you strapped in. I practically had to hold him down because he was terrified it was going to be like ToT.

That's my experience...it's been a year and he still talks about it and, as we're discussing our next trip, he's very worriedly told me more than once that he doesn't want to do that ride again.

 

[Mason's Mom]

My 5 year LOVED it!! We rode 3 times in a row
Then we went and bought a ToT pin so we could remember the fun we had on that ride.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

One time we rode ToT last week there was a kid on our elevator who could not have been older than three or a very young four. I thought for usre things would not go well for this kid, but he rode and did fine. Didn't seem any worse off for the experience.

 

[delaneyc52]

I have a simple theory. If you parent gut says don't do this ride, then don't do it.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Depends on each child and even then it's a crap shoot......mine are now 22 & 19 and love TOT ...but they both still remember riding it at 4 & 7....they did the kid.....yes we want to..no we don't....so they rode it and hated it.....they probably started riding it again when they were around 13 and 16....they remember the time they first rode it as we "made" them do it...which it sooooo not true but does make for a funny remember when disney story)........so I'd say if they are at all unsure don't ride it.....

 

[CathieArms]

I have a simple theory. If you parent gut says don't do this ride, then don't do it.

That's actually really excellent advice. Every child is different, so only you - as the parent - have the slightest clue what to expect from your child.

My dd might've handled it fine at almost 5, but my ds absolutely did not. Think about your child's personality and what he likes and how he handles situations...and THEN make your decision. What people say on this board really won't be able to guide you better than you can guide yourself.