After waiting in line for ToT, we get to the elevator door and....

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

... I hear, "Daddy, I'm scared, I don't want to ride."

There's a good chance my 5 yr old will be saying this. We've talked about the ride, and he wants to go on it, but the pre-show and atmosphere might freak him out.

In terms of rides, he's a daredevil, so I know he'll enjoy the motion of the ride itself.

If he wants to skip it at the last second, can I get a child swap so I can take him out, and when DW and older 2 get off, I can ride (with older 2 kids) without waiting in line again?

Given this potential situation, would it be better overall to FP+ ToT, or ride it stand by?

(As a side note, my middle child, at 4.5 yrs old, had no problem with the pre-show, but was worried about the fast drop. Funny how they are all different! ps. He decided to give it a try, and it was one of his favorites, and the ride he remembers most from that trip.)

Thanks.

 

[uccats97]

Yes, they will accommodate a rider switch in this case. Hopefully, he'll ride though! A FP+ would definitely give him less time to think about being scared as the wait would be pretty short.

 

[BJ7644]

I'll second that using FP+ will give him less time to freak out about it. Plus it's a great tier 2 choice, many of the other tier 2 options aren't usually necessary.

My DD5 really wanted to ride it, loved it the first time - even said she wanted to ride again when we finished. Rode it again another day but it was after dark and she got a bit scared. She went through with it but after that ride she said never again lol.

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Last January my son was 3, turned 4 a week after our trip. He INSISTED we were riding it. We had FP, so although the wait was not as long, for me, who knew what was awaiting us, it was a lifetime. (I'm not a fan) The things we do for our kids...AND, it was just he and I this trip, no older siblings or DH to calm me.
He rode it, but afterwards said "It was fun, but I am never riding again"
I don't think the wait is what will do it, either the ride will be loved or feared, and in my case, definitely feared for me!!

 

[kcbonnies]

This exact scenario happened to me on RnR. We waited 45 minutes, myself and my 3 daughters. My youngest who was very excited to ride changed her mind right as we boarded. The cast was great. They escorted my youngest and me to the area where the older two got off and then asked the older girls how they liked the ride. They then gave us 3 paper fast passes and told my older girls to bring their dad back so he could ride!

 

[dmband]

I'm in the minority most likely but I tell my kids what to expect up front and that of the wait in line we are going.
I find 99% of the time kids are turned off by how people are reacting to situations vs the actual situation.

Just like if I child falls down and the parents freak, the kids cries.
If the parents are calm and "brush it off" you will often see the kid do the same.

I'm sure we have all seen that example happen both ways and how you respond when the child says they are scared has a lot to do with if they actually back out or not imo and experience.

 

[starjazz]

I had a similar situation - waited in line with my daughter and nephew. Got to the library, and the nephew starts losing his bananas. But my daughter and I really wanted to go on the ride. Short of just abandoning my sister's kid, which is what I wanted to do cuz I was pretty angry that he was bailing after such a long wait, I asked a CM what could be done. She escorted the three of us down an elevator (no not THAT one) and out the ride, where I dropped the nephew off with his Mother, and then the daughter and I were escorted right back to where we were.

It was uncomfortable and a inconvenient, but the CMs are the best. They've seen everything and totally understand these types of situations. As usual, they made it work out just fine. Keep Calm and Trust Your CMs. ;-)

 

[BudgieMama]

Definitely try and FP+ it! I LOVE the ride, but I find the theme terrifying, and I have to talk myself through it the whole time, reminding myself the ride is worth it, so I struggle to ride it without FP+. I'd never have managed to try it without it. I'm 31, and it freaks me out something rotten, every time. If I could skip right to the actual ride, I would. I wouldn't be surprised if it scared him, and would say that having less time to wait enormously helped me to ride it.

 

[JohnneeO]

We are not above bribery. My 3 yo DD said she didn't want to ride while we were in the boiler room after the library, but after her mom promised her a cupcake from the Main Street Bakery, she was fine.

 

[ashleymrush]

I'm a bit worried about my 8 and 5 year old doing the same thing when we go in June. Last time we went the 8 year old was 5 and he was not interested. He says that it's the ride he's looking forward to the most this time and he's pretty adventurous when it comes to rides. I thought that the atmosphere might scare him a little so we've watch a couple youtube videos of the ride that includes the video at the beginning, where they stand in line, and the spooky nature of the ride before the drop. I figured that we'll watch it a few more times before we go. This gave them both an idea of what to expect so that hopefully it won't scare them. We also talked heavily about how it's all fake and the "ghosts" are just video images. It seems to be helping so maybe you could do the same.

 

[ckb_nc]

my then 4yo turned to me as the ride starts and says I want to get offf - that was too late.

 

[Tormania]

My son was almost 4 when we visited WDW and somehow I was able to get him and my wife on this ride. I felt really bad afterwards though cause as the elevator car was moving through the rooms before the drop my son was physically shaking with fear. Mom was NOT happy with me after that. When we go later this year my son will be 7 and I'm sure he won't want anything to do with ToT....someday though he'll enjoy, but I'm not gonna drag him onto any ride he is terrified to get on. The trick will be he'll be tall enough 48"+ by then to ride pretty much everything at WDW so this year will be spent getting him prepared with local coasters and rides in preparation. We'll see how it goes.....lol.

 

[PattiPB]

Doesn't it crack you up that the last-minute "chicken exit" is an actual elevator ride...because you're afraid of the elevator ride...

 

[disnut8]

Doesn't it crack you up that the last-minute "chicken exit" is an actual elevator ride...because you're afraid of the elevator ride...

The alternative exit is an elevator but you can always ask to be taken out by the stairs. To the OP - if your child decides not to ride at the very last second, it's no big deal. However, that decision needs to be made before you are in the seatbelts inside the elevator. Once that happens, well, everyone needs to exit (yes, it's happened to me). So, let your son decide before he buckles that seatbelt.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Thanks all!

 

[Micca]

I would love to take my 4 & 5 yr. old DGDs on TOT, but I think it's a no go. They might be ok in the library and through the boiler room, but I think hearing everyone scream would put them off. I also don't want them to be afraid of getting on less scary/tame attractions due to a fright from TOT.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I would love to take my 4 & 5 yr. old DGDs on TOT, but I think it's a no go. They might be ok in the library and through the boiler room, but I think hearing everyone scream would put them off. I also don't want them to be afraid of getting on less scary/tame attractions due to a fright from TOT.

This is why I am going to try and plan ToT towards the end of the trip. Also, he may be braver from nothing "bad" happening on all these other big rides.

 

[goofy4tink]

Funny story. Back when my dd was about 10ish, she didn't want to ride ToT. So she waited with us, in line. Then exited via the chicken exit. When we met her, at the ride photo area, after riding, her comment was 'Si who thought a chicken exit using an elevator in a dropping elevator attraction was a good idea!?'

 

[goofy4tink]

Funny story. Back when my dd was about 10ish, she didn't want to ride ToT. So she waited with us, in line. Then exited via the chicken exit. When we met her, at the ride photo area, after riding, her comment was 'Si who thought a chicken exit using an elevator in a dropping elevator attraction was a good idea!?'

 

[Kaarup]

We rode ToT in December and behind us was a dad with his 5 (or so) y/o son. When it dropped the child started crying and hanging on to dad. As we exited the ride, I waited, and then said to the child... "was this your first time?" as dad carried him off. He nodded yes, and my husband and I high fived him and said " YOU DID IT!!" He smiled and dad said thanks. It might have helped him a bit!!