How do they measure you for height restrictions?

[Canadian Girl 77]

DD is 39.5 inches and desperate to ride Splash Mountain - maybe she'll change her mind when she sees it again.

I can't remember how they measured her last year for rides like the Barnstormer. If she is just shy how likely is it that they'll let her ride?

[Disneylush]

We were just there and they were not measuring for anything. My son was about 38in and wanted to do test track so badly. I didn't let him until I saw very tiny kids boarding. I figured it was my own risk and if something happened it was my own fault.

[OKW Lover]

They usually measure at the entrance to the queue. In addition, they sometimes also measure at the boarding area itself.

[dck12ga]

They have a little wooden/plastic character standing outside the ride that has his arm sticking out and if your son/daughter can stand under it , they are not tall enough. Also remember, you say that you will take responsability for your son/daughter if he/she gets hurt?? Well, did you think of that person who was hit by your flying son/daughter??:confused3

[swimlib]

make sure that your child is wearing shoes on the ride! That may push the one at 39.5 over. But remeber to keep the shoes on at ALL times. I saw a family have to leave soarin after over an hour wait because they were going to let their daughter ride without shoes. The CM saw them removing the shoes and asked to remeasure the child and when she was under, the child couldn't ride, even if the shoes were put back on since she measured under without them and that's how she was riding.

Just an observation from a recent trip, the CMs were double checking height, and I did see several kids get turned away at the elevators of ToT and in space mountain.

[magchavez]

My dd wanted to ride Soarin' last year and she was just shy of 40 inches. They had her stand under the sign as the previous poster said, then they put a piece of paper between the top of her head and the sign. If they could easily pull the paper out, she could not ride. I thought that was taking it a bit far. She'll be tall enough for everything this year so she's excited!

[Disney1976]

They usually measure at the entrance to the queue. In addition, they sometimes also measure at the boarding area itself.

Exactly what I was going to say! I've seen many CM's holding a measuring stick, and it is common for them to check twice. Have your daughter wearing shoes, and make sure she practices standing up straight. Also, if it's close, you might want to try riding first thing in the morning (you're always a little taller in the mornings because your spine hasn't been compressed from walking around).

I know a lot of parents complain about the measuring and how it can seem excessive, but it is done for a very good reason, for the safety of ALL guests on board the attraction. The last thing Disney wants is an injury to occur because they failed to follow the established rules.

[wdwfamilyinIL]

My kids have always been meaured "hard" in our visits, but I would rather be safe then sorry. I have felt so bad for them when they couldn't ride something,but I knew it was for their best interest.

[RllngRckBrw]

Our son was close last year and the one tip we got from here was be sure they were shoes (sandals are usually not as thick) and practice with them standing up straight. I know this may sound extreme but our son either wanted to slouch (which made him to short) or stand on his toes (whcih made the CM remeasure. This helped greatly when it was time for us to ride. we only needed to use it 2wice but it was a good thing because they did the paper thing.

[Canadian Girl 77]

Thanks everyone! I've now got her convinced that Snow White's Scary Adventure is a big kids ride so she'll get to go on that at least - she watched the ride on youtube and assures me that it is "so not scary Mommy!"

But she saw some other pictures in my scrapbooks and now really, really, really wants to go on Big Thunder Mountain too.

Guess we'll be riding Goofy 50-million times this trip. Just like last year!

[ClaraBug]

This past August, my DD was only 38.5" and she desperately wanted to ride Splash mountain. My father went out and bought her sandals with a inch think heel...I put her hair up in a ponytail and she just barely made it. I do after to admit that I had a fear of her flying out of the boat on the "big" drop(:lmao: I know I have issues) but my fear was unfounded and she wanted to ride it again!!! We changed her shoes while on the train to frontierland.

[Stevennnnn]

7

[lissiesmum]

do they ever make your child take off their shoes? My daughter is on the small side and her flip flops have a chunky heel that will put her just over the 40". I was wondering if the shoes are obvious if they have them measure in bare feet? They are comfortable shoes and what she likes to walk around in, but there's a definite "heel" to them...

[TarheelPrincess]

do they ever make your child take off their shoes? My daughter is on the small side and her flip flops have a chunky heel that will put her just over the 40". I was wondering if the shoes are obvious if they have them measure in bare feet? They are comfortable shoes and what she likes to walk around in, but there's a definite "heel" to them...

In September I saw a CM tell a mother that her DD would need to remove her Princess "High" Heel shoes before being measured for BTMRR...so, yeah, it's at the CM's discretion...

[jessica52877]

We've been measured at the start of the line, only to wait in line and be measured again at the ride and turned away (this was Space Mountain), so they are quite strict.

[bennyb98]

They are several stations to measure at several different points.

[LittleMissMagic]

Back in 2002, we went with friends and their DS(3). He wanted to ride Kali really bad, and he was a tad bit short of the marker, but not a lot. They gave him a wrist band (orange) so he could go through the queue again without having to get measured.

Then the next day at MK in line for the Barnstormer, they said he was exactly 36" - and gave him another wrist band (yellow).

I haven't seen any of these wrist bands recently, but they were a great time-saver (and assured that he could get on the ride everytime).

[lissiesmum]

ok, thanks, I'll leave these shoes at home then...I'd hate to wait in line to be turned away later!

[Sheribo]

Ok, I know I'm going to get flamed here but I can't keep quiet. If a child was 2 inches too short to stop using a car seat, would putting on thick shoes make them safe in a regular seat belt? The whole point is safety. We've all seen small kids sitting with those over the head restraints and they don't look comfortable but we know that they're safe because the ride was designed for it. Each ride has been designed with a certain height ratio in mind for safety.

My kids have begged me many times and I keep telling them it's out of my control and that it's for their own safety. I've always been grateful that the CM's measure and that they are the 'bad guy'. I couldn't live with the guilt if something should happen.

[maxiesmom]

Ok, I know I'm going to get flamed here but I can't keep quiet. If a child was 2 inches too short to stop using a car seat, would putting on thick shoes make them safe in a regular seat belt? The whole point is safety. We've all seen small kids sitting with those over the head restraints and they don't look comfortable but we know that they're safe because the ride was designed for it. Each ride has been designed with a certain height ratio in mind for safety.

My kids have begged me many times and I keep telling them it's out of my control and that it's for their own safety. I've always been grateful that the CM's measure and that they are the 'bad guy'. I couldn't live with the guilt if something should happen.

No flames from me! I can't imagine what goes thru some parent's heads, to try different things to get around a safety measure! If a child getting on a ride is more important than their safety, then you have your priorities backwards.:sad2:

On that note, did anyone else see the note about them raising the height restriction on the front of Splash Mountain in Disneyland? Seems when kids who met the height restriction ducked down they were getting knocked around a bit. So yeah, a few inches can make a big difference!

[DisneyKings]

The measured DD & she wouldn't stand up straight or she would have met the height req. They wouldn't let DH get her to stand straight either, so she didn't get to ride. I think we'll wear the crocs next time so if she is not so cooperative she'll still be tall enough.

[mom22bless]

Splash Mountain is closed and will be Splashin' soon. That's what the sign said yesterday.

At EE the CM's kept checking and rechecking a little girl. They had an upside down L and if the kid's head didn't touch the botton they couldn't ride. My DD was 2 inches too short for the Rockin RC in HS and that's what they did to her.

[rparmfamily]

We just left and both my kids got measured at nearly every ride that required it. (They are about 48-50" and ages 6 and 8) I am pregnant and didn't ride many rides so I hung out around the rides and watched many kids get turned away, so it seems that at both AK and MK they are being pretty by the rules when it comes to it.

[bkstrick0725]

My son has a little more than 3 weeks to grow 3/4" Think that's possible? I definitely like the idea of making the CM the "bad guy" in enforcing the rules.

[lissiesmum]

I'm glad they enforce the rules, I'd rather be safe than sorry!

[Joanna71985]

My son has a little more than 3 weeks to grow 3/4" Think that's possible? I definitely like the idea of making the CM the "bad guy" in enforcing the rules.

Why are CMs "bad guys" for making sure the rules are followed?

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

When we went this past summer, I didn't know what DS would be able to ride and what he wouldn't. But I had a general idea and the rides that were too big/scary or he wasn't tall enough for we either skipped or babyswapped. DS was fine with this..it gave him a chance to get out of his stroller and play a bit while Mommy or Daddy were in line. :)

So yes, we stuck to mostly 'kiddie' rides but that was fine. Those rides will still be there the next time we visit and we can ride them then. :)

[Disneymommmyof2]

My dd wanted to ride Soarin' last year and she was just shy of 40 inches. They had her stand under the sign as the previous poster said, then they put a piece of paper between the top of her head and the sign. If they could easily pull the paper out, she could not ride. I thought that was taking it a bit far. She'll be tall enough for everything this year so she's excited!


That happened to us...but after DD rode it with me and was going back with DH cause of a baby swap pass

[Sheribo]

Why are CMs "bad guys" for making sure the rules are followed?

LOL! They are certainly not the bad guys for doing the right thing but to the kids, they must seem pretty mean. As a parent of 3, I'm not above letting a CM take the heat for this one. They brush it off and move on but for me, I'd hear about for a very long time. :rotfl2:

[Babboo]

DD is 39.5 inches and desperate to ride Splash Mountain - maybe she'll change her mind when she sees it again.

I can't remember how they measured her last year for rides like the Barnstormer. If she is just shy how likely is it that they'll let her ride?

SharkyGoddess and I have agreed that from now on (while our youngest is below 6' tall) will have a letter from the doctor stating his ACTUAL height and we will be carrying a tape measure. Our experience is this - the "measuring sticks" are varying and inaccurate. According to one that came to my waist (I am 6' 1") and the measure was "42" then I am only 4' 6".

Some have reported having to get a CS manager.

We have also noticed two different sticks at some rides where one is taller than the other. We have wondered and asked why. Naturally we did not get an answer.

[btcrane]

Ok, I know I'm going to get flamed here but I can't keep quiet. If a child was 2 inches too short to stop using a car seat, would putting on thick shoes make them safe in a regular seat belt? The whole point is safety. We've all seen small kids sitting with those over the head restraints and they don't look comfortable but we know that they're safe because the ride was designed for it. Each ride has been designed with a certain height ratio in mind for safety.


Certainly not going to get flamed by me. Our first trip to Disney, our youngest wore cowboy boots the entire time. Sure, this was his favorite pair of shoes since his granddad had bought them for him, but I remember thinking, hey, he can get on a ride or two that he was an inch or so too short for. A few years later, (and possibly a few years wiser), I wonder what I was thinking. He's tall enough for just about any roller coaster at any park now, but he's very thin, so now I worry about him just "sliding through" the bars. How crazy is that?

[btcrane]

We have also noticed two different sticks at some rides where one is taller than the other. We have wondered and asked why. Naturally we did not get an answer.

:rotfl: I've noticed this, too!

[maxiesmom]

SharkyGoddess and I have agreed that from now on (while our youngest is below 6' tall) will have a letter from the doctor stating his ACTUAL height and we will be carrying a tape measure. Our experience is this - the "measuring sticks" are varying and inaccurate. According to one that came to my waist (I am 6' 1") and the measure was "42" then I am only 4' 6".

Some have reported having to get a CS manager.

We have also noticed two different sticks at some rides where one is taller than the other. We have wondered and asked why. Naturally we did not get an answer.

Don't bother with either the letter of the tape measurer. Neither one has any weight with Disney. Disney has no way of knowing if a letter from a doctor is real or a forgery. And the only measuing instument that matters is their own. All you will do by brining a letter and a tape measurer is to cause a scene, and make yourself angry.

[bopper]

Why are CMs "bad guys" for making sure the rules are followed?

It is the difference between "Mommy says you can't go on" and "The CM measured you are you are not tall enough and those are the rules."

I would prepare the child ahead of time by having them wear their normal shoes, practicing standing up straight, but telling them if they are not tall enough this trip that you promise this will be your first ride on the next trip.

If the child would not stand up straight to be measured, maybe subconsciously they don't really want to ride?

[bennyb98]

Don't bother with either the letter of the tape measurer. Neither one has any weight with Disney. Disney has no way of knowing if a letter from a doctor is real or a forgery. And the only measuing instument that matters is their own. All you will do by brining a letter and a tape measurer is to cause a scene, and make yourself angry.


Ditto. As someone who has worked at an attraction with a height requirement I can assure you that the Disney height sticks are the only official measurements allowed.