Tower of Terror okay for 5 1/2 yr old?

[N&B'smom]

My son will be 5 1/2 when we go and about 45 or so inches. He is debating on whether or not he wants to ride it. Anyone have experience with a 5 year old on this ride??? TIA!

Shelby

 

[shafke]

Our DS was 3 weeks past 4yo when we did Disney... he did ToT 3 times. He would not go back on after the 3rd time because the ride stopped in the middle and it was pitch black. Please note though.. DS is a coaster freak... he has been going on regular size roller coasters since he was 3 yrs 10 months (just made 42").

Does your DS go for these types of rides or does he freak out on kiddie coasters? If he does, chances are you will be able to get him on the first time and then he will decide if he is brave enough for a 2nd time. The big thing is not to force the issue. If he says no then so be it. Also, you may try to talk him in to waiting in line and if he has a last minute change of heart you can take the chicken exit.

 

[JenB]

It is my 4 year olds favorite ride
I think the most intense part is definitely the pre-show. I really think she just suffers through that so she can get on the ride. She is a roller-coaster girl trapped in a 40" body, however, so the more thrilling the better for her.

 

[N&B'smom]

Our son LOVES roller coasters. He loves every kind of ride humanly possible. I am not going to pressure him in any way to go on it. But if he wants to, I'll let him. I just wanted to see if anyone else had experience with a smaller child going on this ride. Thanks so much for your responses!!!

Shelby

 

[BrinxFam]

My dd went on ToT last year when she was 5 1/2 and she HATED IT! It was the first thing she went on and didn't even want to look at it from a distance this year! But she was also afraid to ride Splash Mountain last year but LOVED IT when she rode this year. So it all depends on the child.

Have Fun!

 

[anditoo72]

My husband brought our 4 year old on it two years ago, and he loved it!!!!!!!!!

 

[BradyBunch]

We just rode it last week with our 3 children ages 9, 10 & 11. They like roller coasters but all three and also myself HATED this ride. Not a pleasant ride at all. Didn't have this feeling about any other ride at any of the parks. It really depends on the child & it might be they have to ride it to find out. Our kids thought they would love it.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

My dd was 5 years old last summer and loved TOT. That being said my other dd will be 5 years old for this summer's trip and she wouldn't be caught dead on TOT. I think it all depends on the child.

 

[heatherj]

It really depends on the child.

My ds was 4 when he was able to ride it this past May. And he HATED the pre-show - but LOVED the ride itself. Now he says he doesn't want to ride it again - but its only because of the pre-show.

 

[fanofmickey]

We went on this ride with our twin boys age 6 - the one I thought would love the ride - hated it. The one I thought would be terrified - liked it okay. Go figure?!? The worst thing about the ride is the pitch black that you are in right before the drop - I think this is what bothered my boys the most. I have seen before in a similar thread that if you have a glo necklace or some kind of small light that the child can hold onto, then they are less likely to be freaked out by the pitch black and may enjoy the ride a little more.

 

[rykdad]

I agree with all the other posters that said it depends on the child. It should go without saying, but don't try to FORCE your child to go hoping he/she will like it. On our last trip, there was a child who was kicking and screaming that he didn't want to ride. His father forced him on and he was crying and screaming during the entire ride. Even when the ride was finished, the child was trying desperately to get out of his seat and out of the elevator car.

 

[Selket]

My older son who was about 5 1/2 last August decided he want to ride this much to my huge surprise. He loves Splash Mountain but won't touch a coaster. So I took him on it and he didn't like it. He wasn't upset when he got off - I think he was proud he rode it - but he said he didn't want to do it again.

I pushed him to ride splash Mountain (which then he loved) - cause I was almost positive he would love. (I didn't drag him on it screaming but he was very hesitant and I had to talk him into it - then of course that is all he wanted to do). ToT was his own idea. I think you have to know when to push to get them to try something a bit out of their comfort zone and when something is too far out of the zone not to bother doing anything but suggesting they can do it if they want (for my son that would be a coaster!).

If your son can do the Haunted Mansion (for scary/dark) and Splash Mountain for drops then perhaps ToT is possible. Try those 2 rides first perhaps? And get FP so you don't have to stand in line for 3 hours listening to other people scream

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks to you all!!! I would NEVER force my son to go on any ride. He only goes on the ones he feels he would like. I like the idea of trying Splash Mountain and the Haunted Mansion first!! I'll definitely do that!

Thanks SOOOO Much!!

Shelby