I had the same fears as you, except I was a paranoid DAD. When she road, I reached both my arms over and held down both her shoulders. She loved the ride. I was extremely sore for 2 days afterward.
Was it necessary? From a purely logical perspective, no. For my sanity as a parent? Yes. She's bigger now and I don't feel like I have to do that any longer, but turn back the clock, and I would do the same thing again.
My daughter is a daredevil also I took her on when she was tall enough at 4 and I am sure she would be safe if I didn't do this but I reach over and put my hands on her shoulders. She likes the ride but doesn't love it I would call it the 2nd most intense roller coaster at DW Everest being the most intense she was on that also. So I would say if she is up for it do it.My middle daughter just turned 5 a few weeks ago. I just measured her today and she's right at 44 inches--just barely. We've got another month before our trip, so I'm assuming she'll grow a little before we leave. But...I can't even imagine her on Space Mountain. I can't imagine her not sitting right next to me. I'm not that worried about her being scared because she's a dare devil. But, I AM scared that she won't be safe. Am I being crazy? Our youngest is too short to ride, so I can do a rider swap without an issue. I'm just wondering if 5 and barely tall enough really is too short or I'm being a worry wart for nothing.
So, what you're saying is I'm crazy? Ok, ok, ok. I get it. It's a mom thing. Sigh. I guess I can play it by ear because we have to do a rider swap anyway since my youngest is too small. Hubby and oldest daughter can ride, get the swap pass, and then I can ride with either my middle daughter if she's up for it and tall enough at that moment or oldest can ride with me again.
If you are second guessing yourself and your choice to let her ride Space Mountain, perhaps skip it this trip.....
Space Mountain is really not a very intense coaster, the dark just makes it seem that way. There are no loops or giant drops. I took my dgd when she was 5 and she got off begging to go again. That said, you still have to be ok with it. Have fun whatever you decide.
BTW, I rode SM as a 3yo. Height limits were much more lax back then.
So, what you're saying is I'm crazy? Ok, ok, ok. I get it. It's a mom thing. Sigh. I guess I can play it by ear because we have to do a rider swap anyway since my youngest is too small. Hubby and oldest daughter can ride, get the swap pass, and then I can ride with either my middle daughter if she's up for it and tall enough at that moment or oldest can ride with me again.
I'm worried about this for my son. He's 7 but is really, really, really tiny - 5% for height and 3% for weight. I'm glad to hear that they took your word for it.If she's 44" barefoot, with shoes she'll be fine. My friend's daughter was only stopped to be measured a couple times. Only once at Space Mt. With her normal sneakers on she was a good inch over the minimum. We had more CM's question her age than her height. She's 8 years old but such a tiny thing she looks younger. A few tried to tell us she couldn't ride with her 9 year old brother. We simply told them she was 8 and they let it go......surely believing we were lying.