Height measuring posts on rides

[ChrisSD]

Had 2 bad experiences in a row recently.

Bad Exp 1:

Gadgets Go Coaster: DS 2, we measure him at the post at the start of the line - good to go. He rides it once, loves it. We go right back in line, the cast member looks at him from 10' away and says "he's too short". We measure him at the post AT the loading area, yep - too short. Disparity in the stupid post.

Bad Exp 2 just 10 minutes later:

Star Tours: DD 3. It's a 30 minute line so I don't measure her myself at the post - I have a CM do it. She says " Yep, she's fine! ". She was at least half a centimeter taller than needed at this post. I push her feet down when she is measured to make sure she isn't "tippy toeing". 30 minutes later we make it to the loading area, the CM there says he has to check her, OK no problem! But wait - she's too short ( by I'd guess a micron )! I tell him she was measured below - he gets pissy and says " I am the authority ". I tell him "yes I know, I am not trying to argue her way on the ride, I'd just like you to fix your measuring posts". He doesn't care. Luckily the CM's at the bottom gave us universal FP's after I told them what happened. DD was in tears. "Why won't they let me see the show daddy?" At home I measured her myself - she is 40" and maybe another 1/4" with NO SHOES ON. She had shoes on at the park.

Seriously - for $2,000+ per year for our APs can Disney construct accurate, consistent measuring posts?

[bumbershoot]

With a coaster, since your little one had just been on it, it's likely that he WAS indeed shorter the second time in line. The forces that coasters put on our spines are incredible!

Star Tours... That ride ended up being a very good lesson in "never EXPECT to get on a ride" for DS. He was 3 when the first CM said he was fine and the second CM said "NO" (while pushing down on DS's shoulder) and slipped a piece of paper between head and stick (DS was scrunching down b/c he thought the CM wanted him to). While DS and DH didn't get a universal FP, they got a "come back when you're tall enough" pass that worked as a FP (and this was before ST had FPs), from the CM at the entrance.

It has worked out beautifully, though it was tremendously frustrating at the time. DS is 8 now and above my shoulder (I'm 5'3", so I'm short, but still...omg) and he STILL will make SURE he is tall enough for any ride with a height requirement. It has worked out well. I hope it works out for you, too.

[samsonpete]

Every single time my 18 month old rode maters junkyard jamboree he was measured at the beginning and at the loading area. It was a bit unnerving because he was just tall enough. He loved that ride and I was really nervous that they would turn him down after he'd already ridden it ten times and then I would have a major meltdown on my hands! I kind of thought that maybe they need a central measuring station somewhere in the park that they can give kids wrist bands in different colors for different height requirements so we could avoid the potential for drama at the front of the rides.

[larina]

Originally Posted by samsonpete

...I kind of thought that maybe they need a central measuring station somewhere in the park that they can give kids wrist bands in different colors for different height requirements so we could avoid the potential for drama at the front of the rides.

People would trade them out. No matter how hard they try to get them on tight enough to not be removed, people will try to get around it. It is sad, but it is another case of a few bad seeds ruining it for everyone.

[scrapshappen]

It's not just Disneyland. We have that same exact issue at our local amusement park here. Two rides with the same height requirement and the measuring stick are not set at the same height. It's the consistency that bothers me.

In some ways, it makes me relieved that Indiana Jones will be closed when we are there. DS (7) measured 46" at the doctors office this morning, but I am afraid he would still be a titch too short to ride it. And even when I have explained to him over and over that we just have to see on some rides if he is tall enough, he goes into melt down if he's turned away.

[inluvwithbuzz]

Originally Posted by scrapshappen

In some ways, it makes me relieved that Indiana Jones will be closed when we are there. DS (7) measured 46" at the doctors office this morning, but I am afraid he would still be a titch too short to ride it. And even when I have explained to him over and over that we just have to see on some rides if he is tall enough, he goes into melt down if he's turned away.

Last time we were in DL my son was just 46" and he wanted to ride Indiana Jones so bad. He had been waiting for years. The CM at the entrance said he was tall enough but warned us about the last measuring stick being a little longer due to the floor. Thank god he made it through. They have 3 measuring points at Indiana Jones.

Maybe its a blessing that Indiana Jones is down for a refurb while you are there. Its heartbreaking when kids are told they are just not tall enough to be able to ride.

[disney-super-mom]

Originally Posted by larina

People would trade them out. No matter how hard they try to get them on tight enough to not be removed, people will try to get around it. It is sad, but it is another case of a few bad seeds ruining it for everyone.

Maybe a stamp on the hand then. People can't trade those out.

[Geemo]

We have a 4inch wide board painted and on the wall. We use it to record the kids and now grandkids heights.

I have 48" marked on the board. That is our "Magic Disney" height! Once you are 48" you're good to go at Disneyland.

With the little ones, before each trip we would go over which rides they would be able to ride. As well as which rides they miss the height requirement and would not be riding.

We try to keep each trip on a happy positive note from start to finish. Tantrums, melt-downs and pouting are not allowed and my grandkids know it. They know we are there for FUN! There are many rides, if they can't go on a certain one then there are others to choose from. Pick one and get in line!

We have had many great trips with little ones. Our next trip in Jan/Feb will be the first where everyone going with me will be tall enough to ride all the rides!!!

If the measuring posts were that big of an issue for me, I'd carry a small tape measure. If I felt Disney's measuring posts were off, I'd reel out the tape to see.

[larina]

Originally Posted by disney-super-mom

Maybe a stamp on the hand then. People can't trade those out.

You can wet them to smear them and rub hands though. People wash their hands, there is little they can do for this. It happens at the fair here every year.

[BoltzNBrew]

We had this crap happen to us last time on BTMRR. CM measured my sone at the front and son was good, waited all that time in line, got onto the loading deck and they pulled him to measure again and he was a hair too short. He was in tears and we plead our case about thier inaccurate measurements but they still would not let him on. Total BS that can be avoided.

[disney-super-mom]

Originally Posted by larina

You can wet them to smear them and rub hands though. People wash their hands, there is little they can do for this. It happens at the fair here every year.

If a stamp wasn't clear a CM could easily send the family back to get re-measured and re-stamped at the measuring station. It wouldn't be difficult to enforce.

Besides, the ink that Disneyland uses for the stamps to gain re-entry does not smear if you get it wet....after it dries that is, which takes about 15-20 seconds.

[madigraham]

may i recommend the kids wearing vans...
my 19 month old is 32 1/2 in and in vans he is about 33 1/2 which tends to let him barely slide onto autopia and some of the Car's land rides. the vans tend to have some thicker soles

[Tasmen]

My DD is right at 40" right now. I'm planning on putting her in cowboy boots to give me a little wiggle room in case there are differences in height from the start or end of a line. I'm actually quite a bit anxious about this as we really want her to ride Star Tours with us this year.

[ValpoCory]

Originally Posted by madigraham

may i recommend the kids wearing vans...
my 19 month old is 32 1/2 in and in vans he is about 33 1/2 which tends to let him barely slide onto autopia and some of the Car's land rides. the vans tend to have some thicker soles

Interesting. Also, ride first thing in the morning. You can be a half inch taller first thing in the morning than you are at night.

[ChrisSD]

Good points by everyone. I know I could fix every single post in 1 night at Disneyland and make them consistent. Apparently that is too much to ask for $649 per Premium AP. Should I submit a tape measure at my next renewal? Glad the $150 increase is paying for, well, nothing.

I understand the points about morning/night measurements etc...bottom line is the posts at line start and line end are AT LEAST 1cm off at a lot of rides and that is absolutely inexcusable.