37 inches and on our way to Disney...

[mmbrad02]

I know this varies by child, by castmember,etc. Just simply looking for your experiences...

My DD is very small for her age, as she is a former micropreemie. But she is almost four and definitely has a strong will. I am looking at the 38" rides. She is measuring 37 inches flat footed (no socks or shoes) up against a wall. Maybe a tiny bit over. If we put a pair of normal sneakers on her, what has been your experience with the 38" rides?

We made Fastpasses for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train *knowing* it is very likely she won't be allowed on. DH and I will do parent/child swap in that case. But I admit part of me would love to ride it as a family.

 

[Kalea]

My DD is also 4, and we've found her shoes typically give her an inch.

Last year, she was riiiiiight at 40 inches (in shoes), and she was allowed to ride all the 40-inchers. Sometimes she was measured at the line entrance.

I followed a suggestion I'd read here and made sure we weren't carrying her when approaching the line. We also practiced measuring--I made an L-shaped bar and showed her how they would want her head to touch the bar.

This wasn't exactly the info you were looking for, but good luck!!

 

[LaurenT]

measure her with the footwear she'll have on in the parks. That's what Disney expects. If she measures 38 in her sneakers, she'll be ok.
But there are very, very few CMs out there who will let a child on if her head does not touch the bottom of the height bar.
So, tell her she won't be able to ride, but you just want her to stand as tall as she can to see how much more she has to go... then if she doesn't measure up it won't be a huge disappointment (except for you), and if she does get to ride she'll be super surprised.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Agreed with others, we're just back with our son who measures about 37.8 barefoot. With his sneakers he is over 38, but we practiced taking deep breaths before being measured, no tip toes and proper posture.

Also we showed him this picture to prepare him for what he needed to be taller than, then practiced with a ruler at home. End result was he rode SDMT 4x and wasn't even measured on the 4th. Also he was never given a second check once he got to the ride's car as some people suggested he might.

 

[cakebaker]

My grandson was measuring 38.5 on our trip a few weeks ago. We had him measured at SDMT just to see how much further he'd need to go to be able to ride. The CM talked to him about standing straight and "stretching" as much as he could. lol He was very, very close so we're hoping by the end of this month, it's enough.

Problem is ....he's 2. A big boy, but only in size, he's still a 2 year old in his head so not sure if he's really ready for it or not. He was crazy about the barnstormer- laughed and even raised his arms in the air on the dips and he wanted to ride everything after that ! Guess it's a bridge we'll cross if he's tall enough to ride it.

 

[Aurora0427]

My DD is also 4, and we've found her shoes typically give her an inch. Last year, she was riiiiiight at 40 inches (in shoes), and she was allowed to ride all the 40-inchers. Sometimes she was measured at the line entrance. I followed a suggestion I'd read here and made sure we weren't carrying her when approaching the line. We also practiced measuring--I made an L-shaped bar and showed her how they would want her head to touch the bar. This wasn't exactly the info you were looking for, but good luck!!

How did you make the L shaped bar????

 

[Kalea]

How did you make the L shaped bar????

Just a couple spare pieces of PVC we had around the house. You could even just do it with your arm, though.. the idea is just not to duck, which is most kids' instinct.

 

[kastoney]

How did you make the L shaped bar????

My hubby is finishing our basement and just made one with spare wood. We've got one encroaching on 40 inches so we're doing lots of practicing.

 

[MikesTooLz]

Just get a thick pair of shoes so they are taller.
They measure the kids with their shoes on.

 

[cakebaker]

Just get a thick pair of shoes so they are taller.
They measure the kids with their shoes on.

The only reason I don't do this is that those height requirements are there for safety reasons. I want to make sure my grandson is actually tall enough to safely ride and thick soles don't help that.

Am I probably overly cautious and an 1" here or there won't make a difference? Probably, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. If he's 1/2" too short, so be it. He can wait till the next trip.

 

[staceyrhood]

The only reason I don't do this is that those height requirements are there for safety reasons. I want to make sure my grandson is actually tall enough to safely ride and thick soles don't help that.

Am I probably overly cautious and an 1" here or there won't make a difference? Probably, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. If he's 1/2" too short, so be it. He can wait till the next trip.

Exactly! My son was asked to remove his shoes (crocs) and hat a couple years ago at soarin, there was about 1/4" between his head and the bar...no riding for him it is all about their safety, which is how it should be.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I was in MK last week. My younger daughter is a little less than 37" tall. She was wearing her Minnie Mouse heels while the CM was measuring her for 7DMT. She was given the green light. I was surprised. The tip of her head was barely touching the ruler. Keep the FP+. It was a fun ride for the little thrill seeker.

 

[smidgen21]

My DS who is just over 48" was measured several times a day for things like RRC, ToT etc, sometimes even by both CMs at the beginning and end of the line. We had practiced standing up tall against a wall having him make sure his heels, butt and back where all touching the wall the make sure he wasn't slouching. He did find with being measured, and even bumped his head a couple times at Typhoon lagoon bc he had taken off his glasses so he couldn't see the stick lol (he was ok). It would be nice if they could measure them and give them the ok on their magic bands...kinda like Great Wolf Lodge does when you first get there and they give you a braclet with your height.

 

[flip526]

We were just at Disney two weeks ago and rode 7DMT four times... Prior to our trip we kept measuring our 3yo and she was measuring around 38 inches. For our first ride they measured her and the top of her head was just hitting the bottom of the measuring stick but they let her through...but for the other three times on three other days that we rode, she was never measured again. We just scanned our FPs and walked in with her, CMs didn't stop us or ask.

 

[Minniekins]

Try to go as early in the day as you can - we are tallest earlier in the day, and every little bit helps! Good luck, hope you have a great trip!

 

[karensi]

Sorry, a little off topic, but is the height requirement for 7DMT 38" or 40"?

Thanks,


Karen

 

[2girlsmomma]

The only reason I don't do this is that those height requirements are there for safety reasons. I want to make sure my grandson is actually tall enough to safely ride and thick soles don't help that.

Am I probably overly cautious and an 1" here or there won't make a difference? Probably, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. If he's 1/2" too short, so be it. He can wait till the next trip.

The ride height requirements are supposed to be in shoes, as most people wear show.
I'm just guessing, but I think it'd be accurate to say that the safety measurement is a little less than required. As in, if the safety engineer determined that it needs to be 36", they set it for 38". To protect them from people that may slip past and be under the required mark.

 

[dansdad]

sorry, a little off topic, but is the height requirement for 7dmt 38" or 40"?

Thanks,


karen

38" 40" is the next milestone for Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.

 

[karensi]

38" 40" is the next milestone for Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.

Thanks dansdad.

 

[dansdad]

Thanks dansdad.