ToT for wimps: Can I take it?

[mouse-eared-muffin]

I was just planning in my head, if I were to go soon (which I might) which rides I should dare to try again and which ones I should steer away from. From my understanding, ToT is a big drop ride which personally isn't my favorite, but as a young kid it used to be the ride I always needed to go on at least 10 times. Now, when I went a few years ago I went on Slash Mountain and my first instinct on a drop for some reason is to buck by head inwards toward my body. I bucked my head in so hard on Splash that I had a shooting pain down my back and I couldn't stand up for a few seconds... It was honestly the freakiest thing ever. The thing is, I don't have any known health issues, so idk why this happened and if it was just some rare thing? Ever since I've been scared of thrill rides with big drops, and I know ToT is ALL drop... So my question is, how extreme is it? Do you think I would be able to handle it or will I be in pain by the time I get off the ride? I used to be able to ride it and absolutely love it, but now I'm unsure wether to ride it and if I'd enjoy it like I used to just because of that one scary experience on Splash. Any answer would be great

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I'm sure about your pain...I'd consult a physician regarding that for sure.
I can help you more with the experience of TOT. It drops multiple times. Very unlike typical Six Flags type dropping rides in my opinion where you're strapped to a seat with the world at your feet. You're sitting in a box and you go up and down a few times. I personally find it fun and invigorating, however, if you hate that dropping sensation and it bothers you physiologically/psychologically, that's another story. I feel it's tamer than some people think. If you're tucking and forcing your head and neck into an awkward position the whole time, I can bet you'd be uncomfortable.

 

[mouse-eared-muffin]

I'm sure about your pain...I'd consult a physician regarding that for sure.
I can help you more with the experience of TOT. It drops multiple times. Very unlike typical Six Flags type dropping rides in my opinion where you're strapped to a seat with the world at your feet. You're sitting in a box and you go up and down a few times. I personally find it fun and invigorating, however, if you hate that dropping sensation and it bothers you physiologically/psychologically, that's another story. I feel it's tamer than some people think. If you're tucking and forcing your head and neck into an awkward position the whole time, I can bet you'd be uncomfortable.

Thanks for the help The Splash incident may have been a freak incident that only happens once, because a few years ago I went on Jarassic Park at Orlando, and I was fine. I enjoyed it even. The thing, I need something to hold onto during the drop. Like a lap br or any type of bar, to force my body back. It prepares me and prevents my neck from going in an unhealthy awkward position. If I remember correctly from my experience as a child, ToT has two small bars on each side of you, separating you from the seat next to you. I can just hold onto that and push back. I REALLY want to go on it before it's too late, so I wanna tough it out at least once. If I happen to not like it, then I'll know not to go on it.

 

[mouse-eared-muffin]

Plus if it's bad, I can just bring an Ibuprofen. That'll stop it. I was going to go with my friends in April on ToT, but I ended up waiting with another friend who was a wimp in the gift shop. If I go, I'll try to tough it out once to see if I can handle it. If not, I'll go on other rides.

 

[lazyboy97o]

What you describe, moving your head and trying to forcefully hold yourself up, are not safe ways to ride. You should not make yourself unsafe for a ride.

 

[mouse-eared-muffin]

What you describe, moving your head and trying to forcefully hold yourself up, are not safe ways to ride. You should not make yourself unsafe for a ride.

I really want to ride though. If anything, just to get rid of the fear. It's not as horrible as I make it sound, I swear. I was perfectly healthy and perfectly fine after JP River Adventure. It just makes me feel better to hold something so I know I can push off if it need be.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Thanks for the help The Splash incident may have been a freak incident that only happens once, because a few years ago I went on Jarassic Park at Orlando, and I was fine. I enjoyed it even. The thing, I need something to hold onto during the drop. Like a lap br or any type of bar, to force my body back. It prepares me and prevents my neck from going in an unhealthy awkward position. If I remember correctly from my experience as a child, ToT has two small bars on each side of you, separating you from the seat next to you. I can just hold onto that and push back. I REALLY want to go on it before it's too late, so I wanna tough it out at least once. If I happen to not like it, then I'll know not to go on it.

Yes there are definitely handles to hold to feel more secure. The other rides you're describing propel your body forward and part of your issue may be that you're attempting to stop the propulsion by clenching your body in place. TOT moves vertically. Now I'm no doctor or physicist, but I wonder if that factor would make for a more comfortable trip for you.

 

[mouse-eared-muffin]

Yes there are definitely handles to hold to feel more secure. The other rides you're describing propel your body forward and part of your issue may be that you're attempting to stop the propulsion by clenching your body in place. TOT moves vertically. Now I'm no doctor or physicist, but I wonder if that factor would make for a more comfortable trip for you.

true. I havn't take into account that the rides I mentioned also move forwards. You may be right. I think just having the comfort of holding onto something sill help. On Splash, it was probably just anxiety knowing that the rails on the side were small and slippery, so that didn't help. Not to mention there is no seatbelt or restraint that ony makes it worse. On the other hand ToT has a seatbelt so that should also make me feel better and cool the anxiety a bit.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

true. I havn't take into account that the rides I mentioned also move forwards. You may be right. I think just having the comfort of holding onto something sill help. On Splash, it was probably just anxiety knowing that the rails on the side were small and slippery, so that didn't help. Not to mention there is no seatbelt or restraint that ony makes it worse. On the other hand ToT has a seatbelt so that should also make me feel better and cool the anxiety a bit.

Anxiety is such a bummer right. My DH struggles with it and he gets nervous on certain rides but he wants to do them to have fun and be like everyone else. Whatever you choose, be safe and have fun.

 

[mouse-eared-muffin]

Anxiety is such a bummer right. My DH struggles with it and he gets nervous on certain rides but he wants to do them to have fun and be like everyone else. Whatever you choose, be safe and have fun.

Ah, very glad you understand. With someone with this type of anxiety, I really feel bad when my family has to skip out on a ride because of me. Really, I feel like I owe it to them to try it, especially since so long ago when I was just a little kid of all things, I enjoyed and craved these type of thrills. You would have thought as I got older I would be more tolerant to them than I already was lol

 

[lazyboy97o]

I really want to ride though. If anything, just to get rid of the fear. It's not as horrible as I make it sound, I swear. I was perfectly healthy and perfectly fine after JP River Adventure. It just makes me feel better to hold something so I know I can push off if it need be.

It's great that you want to conquer your fears, but that doesn't change your described reaction. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has a randomized drop profile and it is not a free fall ride. If you are exerting yourself against the handles to hold yourself up, you aren't going to know when you are going to be pulled up or when you are being pushed down.

 

[mouse-eared-muffin]

It's great that you want to conquer your fears, but that doesn't change your described reaction. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has a randomized drop profile and it is not a free fall ride. If you are exerting yourself against the handles to hold yourself up, you aren't going to know when you are going to be pulled up or when you are being pushed down.

Ah, true. I forgot that it's randomized there. I'm so used to the Cali Adventure version that's has a set pattern. I'll still try it. Instead, I'll do it near the end of the day so it doesn't ruin my whole day if it's painful. If I do happen to tuck, I'll just pop an ibuprofen and be done with it. I thiiiiink I should be fine because I was perfectly OK when I was like 7 and didn't feel anything, yet there's no knowing to be sure. I'll just take a risk. Then I'll know for sure wether if it's a go or a no.

 

[Princess Kaylee]

I was just planning in my head, if I were to go soon (which I might) which rides I should dare to try again and which ones I should steer away from. From my understanding, ToT is a big drop ride which personally isn't my favorite, but as a young kid it used to be the ride I always needed to go on at least 10 times. Now, when I went a few years ago I went on Slash Mountain and my first instinct on a drop for some reason is to buck by head inwards toward my body. I bucked my head in so hard on Splash that I had a shooting pain down my back and I couldn't stand up for a few seconds... It was honestly the freakiest thing ever. The thing is, I don't have any known health issues, so idk why this happened and if it was just some rare thing? Ever since I've been scared of thrill rides with big drops, and I know ToT is ALL drop... So my question is, how extreme is it? Do you think I would be able to handle it or will I be in pain by the time I get off the ride? I used to be able to ride it and absolutely love it, but now I'm unsure wether to ride it and if I'd enjoy it like I used to just because of that one scary experience on Splash. Any answer would be great

I would go on it. It is closing at California Adventure and it is uncertain if the same thing will happen to WDW's.

 

[mouse-eared-muffin]

I would go on it. It is closing at California Adventure and it is uncertain if the same thing will happen to WDW's.

that's exactly what I was planning for. I heard the rumours about it, and I really want to ride it before it's too late to, because I know I'm going to regret it. I just want to ride it once, just for old memories sake.

 

[LAKid53]

Just do it. Much better ride than DLR, with the ride through the hotel floors before the drop starts. Try not to tense your body to avoid injury and make sure your lap belt is snug. The drops last maybe a second or two. The one thing I disliked my first time was riding during the day when the sun was glaring into the openings and getting bright sun in my eyes after a brief time in the dark My favorite time to ride is at night...be even better if it was a foggy, rainy evening.

But make sure to ride, since the rumor of conversion to GoTG may be true, according to Spirit.

 

[GVentola]

DisneyTouristBlog is reporting on their site that Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios will not be changed to be a Guardians of the Galaxy ride.

 

[mouse-eared-muffin]

DisneyTouristBlog is reporting on their site that Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios will not be changed to be a Guardians of the Galaxy ride.

I really hope that's true. I'm already losing the one near me :'( I really want to ride ToT before all of them are gone (other than the ones out of country, but that's not gonna happen with how far and expensive it is) but hopefully WDW won't be gone. To be truthful, I've never been to WDW. Only Disneyland. I want to go eventually, though.

 

[TARDIS]

I know what you are going through. I love rides but get extreme anxiety right before them, even the ones I've been on a ton of times. I've been on way worst than TOT. But can't bring myself to ride it. It's the only one at WDW I haven't rode. But now I'm going to have too before it gets the rumored update. If not ,at least I have rode it lol.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

I was just planning in my head, if I were to go soon (which I might) which rides I should dare to try again and which ones I should steer away from. From my understanding, ToT is a big drop ride which personally isn't my favorite, but as a young kid it used to be the ride I always needed to go on at least 10 times. Now, when I went a few years ago I went on Slash Mountain and my first instinct on a drop for some reason is to buck by head inwards toward my body. I bucked my head in so hard on Splash that I had a shooting pain down my back and I couldn't stand up for a few seconds... It was honestly the freakiest thing ever. The thing is, I don't have any known health issues, so idk why this happened and if it was just some rare thing? Ever since I've been scared of thrill rides with big drops, and I know ToT is ALL drop... So my question is, how extreme is it? Do you think I would be able to handle it or will I be in pain by the time I get off the ride? I used to be able to ride it and absolutely love it, but now I'm unsure wether to ride it and if I'd enjoy it like I used to just because of that one scary experience on Splash. Any answer would be great

You've been on the ride as a kid so why do you have to ask others if you can handle it?

 

[officialtom]

I strongly dislike big rollercoasters, especially if they go upside down or disorient me (like Space Mountain...I want to love it but I can't help hating that it's pitch black and being scared of smacking into a pipe or something). That said, I absolutely love ToT. It's probably my favourite ride at WDW. The throws and drops are intense, but something about it is just awesome. I have no problem getting a beer and snack right afterwards.

I also love BTM and 7DMT, but they're not exactly "wild" coasters.