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Is Tower of Terror Scary?
It is the scariest ride at Disney World, a randomized 13 story drop sequence in a haunted hotel that never falls the same way twice.
The short answer
Yes. It is the scariest ride at Disney World, a randomized 13 story drop sequence in a haunted hotel that never falls the same way twice.
The four seconds before the first fall, when the elevator doors slide open near the top and the whole park lies bright and very small below you.
What it does to you
- Big drop
- In the dark
- Startle moments
The numbers
- Height to ride
- 40 in (102 cm)
- Biggest drop
- 130 ft
- Structure height
- 199 ft
- Ride length
- About 5 minutes
- Inversions
- None
How it scares you, broken down
Scary is not one thing. These four bars are our editorial read of where the fear comes from, zero to ten.
The moment people brace for
The four seconds before the first fall, when the elevator doors slide open near the top and the whole park lies bright and very small below you.
The doors part thirteen stories up, you see exactly how far down the ground is, and then the floor leaves.
Is Tower of Terror scary for kids?
This is the one to save for last. The 40 inch requirement lets in a lot of young riders, but the dread and the story frighten kids well past the height gate, so trust your read more than the ruler.
Height to ride. You must be at least 40 in (102 cm).
How to make it less scary
Sit in the back row where the drop feels shortest is a myth, the drop is random. The honest fix is to know it is coming and keep your eyes open, because the surprise is most of the fear.
Where it sits on the scale
Every ride below is scored on the same fear index. Yours is highlighted. Tap another to read it.
- Tower of Terror you are here 96
- Expedition Everest 88
- Rock 'n' Roller Coaster 85
- Mission: SPACE 82
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind 78
See the full ranked list of the scariest rides at Disney World
Questions people ask before they get in line
Is Tower of Terror scary?
It is the scariest ride at Disney World, a randomized 13 story drop sequence in a haunted hotel that never falls the same way twice. The four seconds before the first fall, when the elevator doors slide open near the top and the whole park lies bright and very small below you.
Is Tower of Terror scary for kids?
This is the one to save for last. The 40 inch requirement lets in a lot of young riders, but the dread and the story frighten kids well past the height gate, so trust your read more than the ruler.
Does Tower of Terror go upside down?
No. Tower of Terror has no inversions and never turns you upside down.
How big is the drop on Tower of Terror?
The biggest drop on Tower of Terror is about 130 feet. The four seconds before the first fall, when the elevator doors slide open near the top and the whole park lies bright and very small below you.
Is Tower of Terror in the dark?
Yes, Tower of Terror runs partly or fully in the dark, which is a real part of how it feels.
How tall do you have to be to ride Tower of Terror?
You must be at least 40 in (102 cm) to ride Tower of Terror.
How many drops does Tower of Terror have?
It changes every time. A computer randomly selects one of several pre-set drop sequences when your elevator enters the shaft, so the number of drops and their timing vary from ride to ride. You are always guaranteed at least one full plunge from the top of the tower.
Is the Tower of Terror drop sequence really random?
Yes, within limits. The ride picks at random from a handful of tested, pre-programmed drop profiles rather than improvising, which is how it keeps its promise of never the same fear twice while staying safe and consistent.
The four fear scores are Rope Drop News's own read of what frightens riders, never a measured stat. Every speed, height, and drop figure is a published Disney or attraction number.