Tower of Terror Looks Intense

[ashjohnson80]

Ok I've never ridden Tower of Terror because I'm a big chicken. I ride most of the other "thrill" rides like Space Mountain. How bad is it? After the first drop how fast does it take you back up? Is it like drop you down shoot you up? It just sounds scary but I know that everyone that came out of it last year was raving about how great it was. I just don't want to miss out of something because I am scared. I went to Disney World in 1996 when I was in High School and I was so chicken I wouldn't ride anything, and it ruined my trip. I went back last year and rode almost everything except for Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster. I'm going back end of next month and just want to have the best time ever. Advice--?

Thanks, Ash

 

[QuickGold]

It's not half as scary as you think it is. I know you're thinking of those freefall rides at like Six Flags where they shoot you up and down alot. Nothing like that at all. You fall and rise, yes, but nothing as scary as that. Try it once and I think you'll love it.....and bring someone with you to make it less nerve racking

 

[shafke]

What's there to be scared of???

The drop is fast but in the dark... except for when they open the doors at the top to take your picture you can't tell how high you are. If you tend toward motion sickness maybe you might have a problem with the ups and downs. I think you go down faster that you go up.

Also, RnR is a versy smooth ride. I would not miss this. You barely notice the inversions and you are not thrown around at all.

 

[meeko_33785]

It looks a lot mroe intense than it is. I'm also not a big thrill-ride person and this ride is my favorite at WDW. Personally, I think Space Mountain was more intense for me than ToT.

Never done RRC and don't really intend to. Not my kind of ride at all.

 

[GarrettJD]

I agree with the others here. ToT really looks a lot worse than it actually is. You don't really have a sense of height except at the top, and the ups and downs are really smooth. Really, the anticipation of the drops are a lot worse than the actual drops. The theming, visual effects, and music also add a lot to the fear factor. Ride it once... you may get hooked.

Oh, and if you can do Space Mountain, you can certainly do Rock 'n Roller Coaster. Personally, I find Space Mountain to be more nerve-racking than RnRC. RnRC is much smoother (it doesn't jerk you around), there are no big drops, and because it's indoors and in semidarkness, it really takes away the sensation of height. The most intense part of the ride is the takeoff/double inversion at the beginning of the ride. It's so much fun! I managed to get my ride-chicken GF on the RnRC. She was convinced she would hate it, but she loved it! We did it twice on our trip. It's my favorite ride at WDW.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

This is a wonderful ride--not like any other ride. The theming is wonderful and the ride is fun. I'm the only one in my family who loves this ride--the other family members are happy to on it once, but I can repeat it over and over again.

Like I tell my kids, you don't know if you like it unless you try it!

T&B

 

[ashjohnson80]

I guess the part that I'm most scared of is the going back up. if it was go down fast go back up slow it would be fine i'm sure. and the thing that scares the poo out of me about rnrc is the inversions. i've never been flipped upside down, seems really really scary.

 

[vicb]

shafke mentioned that most of the ride is in the dark? I didn't know that, never been on either. DD and DH will definitely go on this trip but DS (8) not sure, he is quite apprehensive about dark rides. How scary for those of you who have done it with kids?

 

[tazdeb]

ToT is my 5 year olds favorite ride. The theming is dark, sort of a haunted house look in the lobby with fake lightning and TVs that play the Twighlight Zone theme song. I remember the lights go off for about 3 seconds. Then its down to the basement which is done in a haunted industrial theme. This is where you are greeted by the elevator bellmen who try to freak you out ala the haunted mansion. Once on the ride, well I wont give it away but the whole experience is more freaky than scary. The drops are really more fun than frightening.....My daughter and I went on this 4 times. The smile on her face when we got off was bigger everytime......TAZ

 

[threeboysmom]

Ash - I really really hope you try it on your next trip!! I am a big chicken and put off riding ToT for years before finally working up enough courage to go on last year! I was a basket-case in line, to the point of almost being hysterical with fear. BUT I ended up LOVING this ride! It's really not nearly as bad as it sounds - you sort of bounce up and down - I was picturing a big drop and then a rush all the way back up to the top again! I now kick myself for not trying it sooner - all those years I missed out on it!! My suggestion would be to pick one - ToT or RRC - and JUST DO IT! Otherwise, you will go back home with lots of regret. Been there, done that Let us know how it goes when you get back!!!

 

[ashjohnson80]

So it seems like everyone is saying that the trip back up isn't huge like all the way back up? I bet if I ride ToT and like it I will probably end up riding RnRC too. The more things I ride the more courage I get. How many times do you go back up? I'm way more worried about the going up than the going down...

 

[KLAIT]

ToT is my DS (5) favorite ride too. Dh and I can take any roller coaster you throw at us, but DH would not ride again after the first time. That leaves me to ride with DS. I have found that if you keep your eyes open, it does not feel as "intense" when falling and popping back up.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

tot is the best ride in all the parks - and to me the best in orlando, don't miss it. it's not that scary. the anticipation is worse than the ride itself, especially now the drops are smaller and more frequent. one word of advice. many people don't realise that there are places to hold on just down by your thighs, grab them it makes it feel so much 'safer'. as for r&r - I don't like it much, I think it's very jolty and my head bashes about a lot - but the upside down thing is fine - you're in the dark and its over before you realise its happened, the take off is excellent though - and I'm not some coaster junkie, I skipped all the rides at busch gardens this time and kraken at seaworld (old age setting in).

 

[poohkie]

There's nothing like the doors opening up and getting to look over WDW and wating for them to drop you. It's such a rush. I'm deathly scared of hights. And love love love love this ride. Going up really anit that bad. It's one of the best rides there.

 

[threeboysmom]

Don't worry about the "going up" part!! Honestly, there are times that you can't even tell if you are going up or down!!! I am the same way as you - most people are afraid of dropping - I'm the opposite - it's the going up that gets me frightened. But that is not the case with ToT! Trust me - sometimes I have to strain my eyes to see which way the wall in front of me is "moving" so I can get a bearing on my direction!

 

[Micca]

Please try the attraction It is one of the best in all of Disney, and has so much going for it other than the elevator ups and downs. I'm a wimp about some attractions, but have set aside my fears for this one.

 

[ashjohnson80]

I think I'm going to do it. My husband says that he is going to ride it this year with or without me? One more question how long are you either dropping or going up at one time? How long is the ride?
Well I think that was 2 questions.
I just don't want to miss anything from being a big wuss!