Tower of Terror - Tell Me the Truth

[PolyHereWeCome]

OK folks, I really want the truth about Tower of Terror -- I can take it!

Is it a great ride because it scares the *$%@ out of you when it drops and you didn't know the drop was coming?

Or was it great because there was a story, cool set, and drops?

How many times did you drop?

How many stories is the peak drop and did your ride do that?


Think I could take a few big drops, but my breaking point might be 3.

DON'T HOLD BACK, TELL ME WHAT YOU REALLY FEEL!! THANKS!

 

[allicat]

For me- once was enough. Everything about the ride scared me, the feeling of flying out of my seat, the unknown drops, the whole thing. I didnt even really follow the story because my eyes were shut in anticipation of what was to come.
Im glad to have said I did it but I wont do it again- Im too much of a chicken!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

I LOVE IT, but then I hate it. It has the greatest special effects. It is so cool, but then.;
;
;
;
;
; The bottom drops out and I HATE IT!

Until it is all over and then I love it again.

My dd really doesn't like it much and the one time her and I went on it together....we got STUCK! RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DROPS! Dead & Dark...nothing moving. FINALLY after about 10 minutes they manually pulled us down and got us off. They asked if we wanted to go again. DD said HECK NO! We still laugh about that one. The rest of the family was way ahead of us (mom waited on dd to catch up) and they didn't get stuck! Such drama.

 

[crow11ad]

Originally posted by PolyHereWeCome
OK folks, I really want the truth about Tower of Terror -- I can take it!

Is it a great ride because it scares the *$%@ out of you when it drops and you didn't know the drop was coming?

Or was it great because there was a story, cool set, and drops?

How many times did you drop?

How many stories is the peak drop and did your ride do that?


Think I could take a few big drops, but my breaking point might be 3.

DON'T HOLD BACK, TELL ME WHAT YOU REALLY FEEL!! THANKS!

The ride didn't really scare me. DW wouldn't even chance it. I was busy just getting married and the awww of that is all of Disney. Since it was random I believe I went 3 or 4 drops. The story is great. If you get a chance rent or buy the Tower of Terror movie that starts Steve Guttenberg and Kristen Dunst. It adds that much more to the story. It was just on for Halloween on the Disney channel. If you can ride it. At least you can say "hey at least I rode it." I can't wait to do it again in December.

 

[ChickieToo]

It's my favorite ride at disney. No spinning, just up and down. My DD who is five went on--twice in a row. She loved it! It is a little spooky--the set up and all, but isn't that why we go on these things, to get a thrill in a safe, controlled environment? I will also admit that while I really like rollercoasters, I was never one for that first big drop and the way it made my stomach feel. In talking about this with a doctor friend, he told me to scream during the drop. Something about the pressure and the diaphram, and I don't remember what else, but he is absolutely right. Screaming makes that funny feeling in the stomoch go away.

The number of drops is random and there is a combination of big high drops and short ones.

It really is good fun. Don't deny yourself!

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Is it true that you can pick the elevator all the way to the right and it's less intense? Or is that just a fable to get chickens to ride and then once we're strapped in, OH WELL, go for a fun drop, huh?!?

I'm gonna' do this ride, but I'm sure I'm going to be freakin' screamin'!

 

[Rhonna]

I LOVE this attraction!

It's both the thrill of the drops (no, it doesn't "scare" me - it's a pure adrenaline rush like a roller coaster only better) and it's also the terrific theming of the attraction.

It's one of those great themed attractions like Pirates where I wish it was a whole park in itself - I don't like it to end.

I don't remember how many maximum drops I've had on one ride. I don't think I've heard of more than 3-5 - BUT, often some of them are 'half' drops, not all the way up and down.

I think they need to make it so you get more air time out of your seat - that's the best!

I can't stop smiling the entire time I'm on this ride!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

First, I doubt that it matters which elevator you get into. They all move out to the drop chute anyway. So they all end up in the same place.
Then let me say that I avoided the TOT for several years. My DS always wanted to try it but I was too afraid. Finally in 2002 I got up enough courage to try it. I was so scared I don't know if I even noticed the effects all around me. Since then I can honestly say that this is my favorite ride in the world (not just WDW).
The drops ( I am not sure how many since there are several different versions the computer can put you through) are so much fun! I can ride over and over and over............
On our last trip we rode it 13 times. We would have done more but had to head back to the airport.
All I can say is to try it. Some will not like it. Others will absolutely love it.
I agree with another post that I much prefer the TOT drops instead of being bounced around in all different directions.
By the way, I can now enjoy the really wonderful special effects that are a big part of the Tower of Terror.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

LOVE IT!!!! From the special effects right down to all the drops, that ride is wonderful!!!! You have to try it at least once, this way you can say, "I rode ToT!!!" I don't think the drops are that bad, but I heard that they use seat belts now, whereas before they used lap bars. I can't wait...another 2 weeks, and ToT here I come!!!!!!!!!

 

[3MouseMom]

It's the best! I like both the "story" and the drop, but mostly the drop. Honestly, I am not keen on heights and won't go on rides that drop if they are open (we have some big ones up here at Cedar Point), but because the "elevator" is enclosed, I never got that scared feeling like I do when I am up high. And yes, we were there 2 weeks ago and there are now seat belts, not just lap bars.

I think we had about 4 drops, but some are smaller. My 8yo dd loves it too! You gotta try it!!

 

[alicenwonder99]

I'm a big chicken, too. My dh and dd got me on ToT a couple of years ago. The whole ride is awesome! Yeah, I could do without the drops, but they aren't that bad...really. The worse part is when you are in the elevator and the huge windows open up and you can see out over the entire park. It's at this point when you realize how high up you really are, and also, you know that the drops are coming. Remember, it's not like it drops all the way to ground at once. You drop a few floors, stop, then drop a couple more, stop, etc. I remember anticipating a huge, long drop and it was just like a few seconds.

If you can handle a rollercoaster with a short drop, then you can handle this. I was on California Screamin' last summer (the new roller coaster at California Adventure) and I thought I could handle the large drop. OH BOY WAS I WRONG!! The drop is soooooo long that I couldn't just hold my breath and get through it...lol. The drop in ToT is nothing like that. I can compare it to a drop in a small (for chickens) roller coaster. The story line of ToT is too cool to miss.

You'll like it. It may not be your favorite ride, but it's ok. I kinda reminds me also of Splash Mt. I don't like the drop at the end, but I'll do it just so I can experience the rest of the ride.

Mary

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

great thread...

I rode it once a few years back, and it wasn't a big deal. I went on it again this past year and I was freakin out the whole time. The story, the setup, the effects...and then the drops. The drop was the last thing on my mind, they just did a great job spookin me out...I didn't think it was possible but man...they did a good job. I think my girlfriends hand lost circulation at some point because I was holding onto it with my life!

One of my favorite rides, but I still prefer RnR :c)

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

I like the comparison to Splash Mountain -- I can take that. But somehow I think it's a lot bigger drop than that and you are just being kind!

Did they replace the bar with seatbelts or just add them in addition?

 

[Brian Noble]

It's the story/effects and the drop---not just the drop.

ToT drops just slightly faster than gravity, so you will feel yourself floating a bit. But, the belts auto-retract then lock, so you are unlikely to actually lose contact with your seat.

The drops are not as intense as, say, those on an S&S tower drop or combo-shot ride (which goes down even faster than gravity, compared to ToT.) Here's what one of those rides looks like:

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/inside_park/rides/thrill/powertower/index.cfm

On S&S drop or combo rides, I do lose contact with the seat. It scares the daylights out of me. I love it.

The ToT drops are physically more intense than Splash Mountain, but Splash is more visually intense, because you can see the drop, but can't see past the briar patch.

 

[PratersloveDW]

I love the Tower of Terror because you don't know what is coming. No one can tell you how many times you are going to drop since this changes everytime. The first time I went in on when it opened it was only once, then twice and now it is many times in different sequences (sp). My DH has a love-hate relationship with this ride. He loves the way they set it up and the story line that goes with it but he hates it, not due to the drops but becuase when you are on it, there are times your body is not sure which way it is going (up or down). The ride does not continue to go to the top and drop you. You will always go to the top at least once (about 13 stories) and stop but after that, it may only take you half way up and then drop you. It is an intense ride but so much fun!!

As far as seat belts, yes, each car is now equipped with individual seat belts. They no longer have the bars that come down for the row. Which, for those of you that hate coming out of your seat, this is a good thing. I know that whenever I rode with my DH before, when they only had lap bars, the bar would never be anywhere near me and I would have a fun ride out of my seat. However, one time when I rode (when it was still lap bars), I had a teenager get out from under the lap bar and stand on his seat. Hopefully that helps you understand the intensity of the drops...it's not too bad!

Try it at least once. If you don't like it, well at least you can say that you tried!! Have fun!!

 

[LibertyLover]

I have ridden ToT twice and hated it both times. The second time was sort of a "did I really dislike it" test. I don't care for the free-fall effect. It does not do good things for my stomach. But everyone is different. A friend of mine who can't stand roller coasters loved ToT, as did my DH.

 

[2Disneybuggs]

I actually dreamt the other nite that I was riding on TOT.The seats were circular though and I chose the one for pregnant people with a different seat belt. I woke up before the ride could start! I was upset because in real life I would never ride TOT. I am a big time chicken who happens to hate elevators as well. Maybe on our next trip my DH and DS will finally try it. Dh loves coasters but is undecided about TOT. It does sound like fun!

 

[Luvmyfam3]

This is one of mine and my kids' favorite rides (next to RnR). But, it was kind of an "acquired taste" for me. Truthfully, the whole atmosphere leading up to it kind of freaked me out. I always come off that ride shaking! It's not really so much the drops, but everything else. And the way it's set up, you can't really tell when it's going to drop. You think you're about to drop and then your car moves forward! You really do start feeling like you're in the "Twilight Zone"!!!

It's cool, though. You should give it a try. It's funny how many adults are skiddish to go on it, but there's little 7 yr. olds waiting in line for the 10th time! Haha!

Kim

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

O.K., I'm going to go on it and scream my freakin' head off!!

The whole Twilight Zone atmosphere sounds like part of the mind game, so I'll either get into that or be so frozen with fear that I'll shut it all out.

Am guessing like so many other Disney rides, it's on the shorter side.

 

[Cinderellagrl]

If there are seatbelts, how far out of your seat do you go? I'm just wondering if I should take my 5 yr old daughter on it.