39 1/2 Inches

[mndisneynewbie]

I am just wondering and want to prepare my son - do they measure with shoes on for the rides? My son is 1/2 inch short of the 40" height requirement and we leave in 2 months. I do NOT want to put his safety in jeopardy, I just want to be able to prepare him for what to expect.

 

[caravarela]

Yes, it's shoes on, unless they think the shoes are too high and making the kid much taller than they are.

 

[smithgrandchild]

Disney is all about safety first, which is a good thing. It may be that they have gotten more conservative with their requirements than years past.

When Star Tours first opened 22 years ago they had an age requirement but no height requirement. I remember this most vividly as DS was 2 at the time and 2 years old was the designated age requirement. DS was nowhere near 40" at the time. My husband keep telling the CMs the little guy made the age requirement as we walked in the line. He went on the attraction with no problem at least twice. That being said, we certainly didn't take him on the "mountains" or any roller coaster type ride. DH and DD did that separately.

 

[angieinct]

When we took our granddaughter in '09, she was measured in her shoes. I think as long as they're not in platforms no one will ask for the shoes to be removed. Omi was just at 43 inches, which was a milestone height. She was even able to go on ToT, her mom's favorite ride.

 

[stargazertechie]

CMs will allow shoes to remain on as long as they're reasonable (so no putting DS in stilettos)

Have him practice standing tall, chin up, under a book or something else. A lot of little kids duck UNDER the measuring stick at WDW.

If you want to ride height restricted rides, ride them first thing in the day- you shrink as the day goes on.

And just because he gets on a ride once, doesn't mean he'll get on it each time during your trip. It's all CM discretion.

 

[AnjieNet]

CMs will allow shoes to remain on as long as they're reasonable (so no putting DS in stilettos)

Have him practice standing tall, chin up, under a book or something else. A lot of little kids duck UNDER the measuring stick at WDW.

If you want to ride height restricted rides, ride them first thing in the day- you shrink as the day goes on.

And just because he gets on a ride once, doesn't mean he'll get on it each time during your trip. It's all CM discretion.

We had this happen with DD in Disneyland with California Screamin'. She had ridden it upwards to 20 times in 2 days and wanted to ride it one more time on our last day and the CM said she was too short to ride. Talk about a heartbreak! Luckily we had enough time to wait out the CM switch and she was able to get on another 5 times before we left.

Oh, and the Nike Shox are a good way to add a slight bit of height if you need it and they are very comfy to wear around the parks.

 

[boufa]

CMs will allow shoes to remain on as long as they're reasonable (so no putting DS in stilettos)

Have him practice standing tall, chin up, under a book or something else. A lot of little kids duck UNDER the measuring stick at WDW.

If you want to ride height restricted rides, ride them first thing in the day- you shrink as the day goes on.

And just because he gets on a ride once, doesn't mean he'll get on it each time during your trip. It's all CM discretion.

I worked at an amusement park a few years ago, the decision of the any employee along the route that the child is too small is final. And yes, it can change through out the day. Many people don't know this but a lot of places (not sure if disney is one of them) hide measuring marks in the design of the waiting areas. For example all of our railings at the loading platforms were the same height as the ride restrictions. If the top of the head was not clearly over the top bar of the railing, that is when someone goes over and stick measures them.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

My girls are both short for their age. Before every trip, we would measure them, but I did have to remind them that they may not be able to ride. I did this so that they would not be disappointed. They wore the shoes they felt most comfortble in, flip flops, and we would just go from there. If they were tall enough , yeah, if not, we would try again next trip. I know it is all about safety so I was ok with it. When my oldest was finally tall enough to ride Rock and Roller Coaster, I was still worried that she could fall out.

 

[mom2rtk]

Do keep in mind that not only can they be allowed in at one time and not another, but they can make it at the beginning of the line, but not once the get to the end when they will REmeasure. They have to do it that way for the people who sneak past the first CM while they are measuring someone else. Just prepare them for this possibility going in.

Tell the child their goal is to HIT the bar, as most kids try to avoid bumping their heads.