Is Tower of Terror faster than free falling?

Two of the most jaw-dropping Disney attractions - the Tower of Terror and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! - employ some plussed up elevators for an exciting and sometimes nauseating ride experience. Dropping 13 stories at a speed faster than freefall requires some pretty interesting science!



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Perhaps the most famous drop tower ride is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Walt Disney World, which has been wracking the nerves of visitors since 1994. Its faster-than-freefall drop, which, according to Disney lore, plunges 13 stories in its 199-foot tower, is plenty thrilling.

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You're not falling for it. One of the most remarkable things about the Tower of Terror is the engineering that went into the ride. The ride vehicle you sit in is called an Autonomous Guided Vehicle. It's locked into place in each elevator (actually, they're referred to as Vertical Vehicle Conveyances).

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Those screams are meant to entice Guests to go ride Tower of Terror. However, those screams are totally fake! The screams you'll hear along Sunset Boulevard are actually a recording from speakers strategically placed on the walkways near the ride.

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It is only four minutes long, so even if you're not having the time of your life on the Tower of Terror, you know you will be exiting and back on solid ground quickly. Keep following All Ears for the latest on visiting Disney World!

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The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is meant to operate four different elevator-style ride vehicles at once, but for months, only two have been operating, leaving the classic attraction at half-capacity. This has led to longer lines and longer wait times, giving fewer Guests a chance to experience this thrill ride.

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The Tower of Terror has a recent habit of breaking down mid-ride, with some guests even evacuated from the attraction. This has led to higher wait times than usual, with the ride reportedly reaching up to 220 minutes this week.

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Now, guests hear classic rock/pop songs from the Guardians of the Galaxy film soundtrack, and experience one of six drop sequences (meaning the ride should be different the first few times you ride it). The ride itself is shorter, faster and more intense than Tower of Terror was, but it's not a huge change.

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Though many will see the number 13 as unlucky, if you see this posted as the wait time on Tower of Terror, you should jump into the queue immediately. Disney posting 13 isn't a spooky way of saying 15 minutes, it actually means that the ride is pretty much a walk-on.

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A tall 3-year-old should also be a fairly mature and brave 3-year-old to enjoy this ride. We suggest you ride one time for yourself if you have any concerns about the suitability of this attraction for your family. As far as an age rating, we also suggest most kids be at least 6 years old before riding this attraction.

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Keep an eye on the standby line wait times for The Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom, and The Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios. If either attraction has a wait time of 13 minutes for the standby line, get in line! 13 minutes is a 'code' for no wait time at all.

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