Is there any place like Hollywood Studios at Disney World?
It’s got all of Galaxy’s Edge with Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and all the otherworldly food options there. Toy Story Land is also there, and we can’t get enough of Slinky Dog Dash. There’s also Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith and the Tower of Terror, and we haven’t even talked about the plethora of restaurants and other experiences in the park. It’s truly a happening place, but speaking of the Tower of Terror, if you’re planning on riding it during your next trip, we’ve got to talk about the worst decision you could possibly make on it!
As we were saying, if you do this one thing while riding the Tower of Terror, it could possibly be the worst decision you could ever make. We’re talking about not properly holding on to your belongings while you’re on the ride!
You read it right. The worst decision you can make on the Tower of Terror is not holding onto your belongings. It seems pretty simple, right? But trust me, it’s the kind of small oversight (that happens to us all the time) that can turn your thrilling drop into a panic-stricken search for your missing phone, hat, sunglasses, or whatever else you didn’t secure before the drop.
Why It’s So Easy to Forget
To be fair, it’s really not something we’re thinking much about beforehand. Also, when you’re in line for a ride as immersive as the Tower of Terror, you’re too caught up in the spooky ambiance, the dark hallways, and all the anticipation for that free-fall drop.
As we can attest, it’s very easy to get distracted by the details of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, and before you know it, you find that you’ve boarded the elevator without a second thought about your loose items.
Also, if you’re anything like most of us when we think, “It’ll be fine. I’ve never lost anything on a ride before.”, you’ll find that the Tower of Terror is a whole different beast. The ride literally pulls you out of your seat with its sudden drops and gravity-defying jumps back up the elevator shaft, which means anything that isn’t strapped down is going to float, fly, and maybe even vanish into the Twilight Zone.
What Could Go Wrong?
Let me break down a couple common scenarios for you:
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- Your phone: You didn’t zip it into your bag, so when that elevator drops, your phone has a brief moment where it’s literally floating in midair before it slams back down and possibly slides completely across the floor.
- Hats, sunglasses, or Minnie ears: These have a tendency to become airborne. For example, one second they’re sitting cutely on top of your head, then the next soaring off your head to who knows where.
- Bags or purses: If they’re not securely fastened, your bag could tumble off your lap and spill its contents everywhere. That granola bar you packed? Gone. Your precious Disney pin collection? Now it’s scattered across the floor of the elevator.
The Aftermath
I hope it’s coming across clearly that there’s nothing worse than stumbling off the ride, only to realize that your phone has disappeared into the void. The fun quickly shifts to panic as you frantically plead with a Cast Member to help you retrieve your lost stuff.
The Tower of Terror isn’t exactly a ride where you can easily get back on to search for something. Also, while Disney’s lost and found system is amazing, do you really want to spend hours of your park day waiting for your lost phone to (hopefully) turn up?
The Simple Fix
Here’s the solution: Hold onto your stuff! There’s even typically a handy little pouches on the ride where you can stash your phone, keys, and any other small valuables. If it doesn’t fit in the pouch, make sure your bag is zipped and you’re holding on to it securely held in your lap. This one small decision will let you fully enjoy the ride and leave with all your belongings safely intact.
There you have it. This is the worst decision you could make on Tower of Terror, and now we’d love to hear about your experiences on the ride in the comments below.
In the meantime, keep following AllEars for all the latest Disney news!
I Lost My Glasses on Tower of Terror — Here’s What To Do If That Happens to You
Have you ever lost or almost lost anything on Tower of Terror? Let us know in the comments!
I recently read a story about a visitor who obeyed the CM when checking if he was seatbelted and then quickly undid the belt before the ride started (NOT the CM’s fault!!) Predictably, the visitor went flying during the drop and hit his head on the ceiling. So, yes, secure your belongings INCLUDING yourself!
No the worst mistake you can make is thinking ‘this won’t be that bad’ when you suffer from motion sickness. Many years ago I convinced myself I could handle it. Even many hours later I still had symptoms. The silver lining, though, was now I know better and have never tried another ride like that. It wouldn’t be bad if it was just a short time after and you would recover. But when your entire day is ruined…..