40" is 40" is NOT 40"...

[chipnwendy]

I know this has been addressed before, but I feel the need to vent a little bit about the 40" height requirements at WDW. I've read that they have the wristbands at Disneyland, like the ones they give kids at Kali River Rapids in the Animal Kingdom, so why do they still not have them for the other rides at WDW?

After riding Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Dinosaur, Test Track, etc..., my newly 40" tall girls were so looking forward to riding the Tower of Terror (much to their mother's chagrin) only to have the bellboy at the front entrance wedge his high-tech ball point pen in between their heads and the height bar to determine they weren't tall enough. Even showing this guy the souvenir picture from the Dinosaur ride wasn't enough to convince him.

I'm not trying to flame that guy at the ToT, but after going to MGM with the specific intention of riding that particular ride, then trying to explain to my kids why they weren't allowed to ride, then getting no straight response from anyone at guest relations, I felt like the forums were the only place to vent a little frustration.

Thanks for letting me get this out of my system...

 

[savs]

We know how you feel. The last time we were there my son had just made the 40" and had rode on Splash Mountain several times and when we went back there a new person was working and insisted that he wasn't tall enough. Try explaining that to a child!!

I think they need the wristband thing, it would save on a lot of tears. If you get it at guest relations as you come into the park, then if they are not big enough...you won't walk up to a ride, get them all excited and then be told NO. This way it will help the problem before it even starts. (Plus they need some level ground to measure them at....the uneven ground at the Splash Mountain did not help matters.)

 

[sarahg311@hotmail.co]

So the height requirements for Kali River is 40"?? I thought someone posted that the child had to be 36" and there was a booster seat on some of the rafts for little ones....is this true?? By the way I think the wristbands are a great idea....also bring in a doctor's note stating your child is 40". See them dispute that!!!

Sarah

 

[webray]

Whether a kid is disapointed or not..you have to remember..the castmembers are just looking out for the safety of the child. You should be thankful.

 

[bengalbelle]

Whether a kid is disapointed or not..you have to remember..the castmembers are just looking out for the safety of the child. You should be thankful.

I agree to an extent, but this would be more for people who are trying to cheat the system.

We went in December. My DS measured over 40" at the pediatrician before our trip. My inlaws also have a Dr's scale and we measured him there. He was fine with the measurement at Splash Mountain. When we got to Test Track he appeared shorter than the bar. We took him on anyway (because we know he met the height requirement) but if they had rechecked him we may have been turned away.

I completely understand the frustration. I love the wristband idea.

 

[tiggger1]

I understand the safey of the child if they child is truely under the height requirement but I agree there has to do something about the consistancy issue. Its really hard for kids to understand why they cannot ride a ride that they rode yesterday. It really shouldnt happen. If they are really that close, I really think there should be an area where a kids can be measured and they can get a wrist band stating they are tall enough, if they arent, sorry try again next time, but if they are then they should get a band or card. that way no confusions and no poor parents have to tell a kid that they aretoo short. They do it if your over 21 at the clubs. why not...

 

[shellybaxter]

Whether a kid is disapointed or not..you have to remember..the castmembers are just looking out for the safety of the child. You should be thankful.

Webray,

I buy that in most cases. I'm a BIG safety person. I think it's crazy to give kids higher shoes or "big" hair. But the system is flawed if one castmember at a ride messures the child and says they are fine and the next at the same ridge says no. I'm all for safety. I'm also all for treating children with respect. As adults we'd never allow ourselves to be treated like that.

What if you went to a golf course and you had to take a test to play on that course. You pass the test, play several times and then a new "tester" comes along so you have to test again. This tester doesn't think you are good enough so they won't let you play anymore. Adults would be outraged by such treatment. I'd say lawyers might even get involved.

My only point is that a system that is fair to all children should be established, like the suggested wrist band for a one time messure. I know it would take time, people would complain about the line, etc, but it would be more fair to the children.

Shelly

 

[chipnwendy]

Thanks for the all the reaffirmations. By the way, Kali River Rapids height requirement is 38". I just used that ride as an example because they use the wristbands. Oh, and by the way...

"Whether a kid is disapointed or not..you have to remember..the castmembers are just looking out for the safety of the child. You should be thankful."

...is exactly the same type of response I got from the people at guest services. Must be in the training packet or something.

 

[Straitlover]

This is one of the few things I liked aobut Legoland in CA. They had stations set up at the front, and your kid was measured there. They had different colored wristbands for the different ride requirements. Once you got that wristband, there was no more measuring. Each ride has a sign saying you can ride if you have certain colors of wristbands. The only problem you might have is being measured on different days by different people.

 

[simba928]

You should have gone back later in the day when a different cast member was there. Before you went though, you should have explained to your child that they might not be able to ride, but you will try one more time. I think that is ridiculous that with that little of a height difference your child is denied the ride. I totally understand the safety issue and I think thats great that Disney is so careful about it, but on the other hand, a half or quarter of an inch isn't going to make much difference in the safety of the child. Just my 2 cents though.

 

[pdarrah]

What is also frustrating about this is that the measuring bars are NOT the same height at every 40" ride. It isn't just that the CM is "reading" it differently. They are actually DIFFERENT. We encountered this 1 1/2 years ago when DS was just over 40". The pediatrician had just measured him at 40.5". We measured him at about the same at home. He easily banged the top of his head into the bar at BTM, "skimmed" the top at Splash, had to stand VERY straight for Test Track, only made ToT because he was wearing a hat (wasn't our plan - we assumed he would be fine, but he BARELY made it even with the hat and I doubt it would have without.) and wasn't allowed to ride Body Wars at all - he missed that one by a good 1/2"!!

I don't mind the measuring and certainly understand that it is a safety issue - but why isn't 40 inches the same height everywhere? Many of these were on perfectly level ground, so it isn't just that. How hard is it to use a tape measure when installing one of these.

Yes - a wrist band system would DEFINITELY be easier and might even speed up the loading on some rides since they wouldn't have to measure in line.

pdarrah

 

[ReggieB]

Someone else mentioned the wristband idea on another thread a week or so back. I can't remember who said it, but apparently this has been tried at a Disney park few years back. What was happening was parents were swapping wristbands from kids that could ride to kids that failed the height requirement at the gates, resulting in all sorts of stand offs with cast members at the actual rides. Which I would imagine was pretty unpleasant, hence I guess they feel it's best to check at each ride. So it was down to a few dishonest people, as it usually is, that it was stopped. Perhaps they could use a wristband and an ultra violet stamp (as they use for park hopping) that had some very specific design so you know that they have passed the height test. They are small light readers that could be portable enough for a cast member to have at a ride entrance, but I expect cost is an issue, hence it's cheaper for them just to keep re-measuring. Very frustrating to the parents and kids on the cusp though.

 

[safetymom]

What is the person measuring when you went in said your child was too short? Would you be happy with that? If you got a wristband saying your child was too short for some rides then what would you do?

 

[jaysue]

Someone else mentioned the wristband idea on another thread a week or so back. I can't remember who said it, but apparently this has been tried at a Disney park few years back. What was happening was parents were swapping wristbands from kids that could ride to kids that failed the height requirement at the gates, resulting in all sorts of stand offs with cast members at the actual rides. Which I would imagine was pretty unpleasant, hence I guess they feel it's best to check at each ride. So it was down to a few dishonest people, as it usually is, that it was stopped. Perhaps they could use a wristband and an ultra violet stamp (as they use for park hopping) that had some very specific design so you know that they have passed the height test. They are small light readers that could be portable enough for a cast member to have at a ride entrance, but I expect cost is an issue, hence it's cheaper for them just to keep re-measuring. Very frustrating to the parents and kids on the cusp though.

My goodness, people will find all sorts of ways to break the rules - they can ruin it for all of us. At Canada's Wonderland they have colour coded wristbands (purple, red, green etc.) that match to the rids that are colour coded - this way the kids can easily see which rides they would be let on and not let on. I think they are designed that they cannot be taken off and given to another person without ripping them in some way

Cheers
jaysue

 

[mjmcca]

I ran into this problem on my last trip. DD was tall enough for body wars, was tall enough for the CM on the outside on TT but not for the one on the inside. I think that it isnt right that one tells you it is ok and then another tells you no go on the same ride after already waiting in line.

 

[madhouserobey]

at hersheypark you go to the ride office they place the kids on a flat piece of concrete with a wall labeled with certain ride heights with a sliding alum. plate . then the kids stand flat against the wall and they slide the slide down if the slide stop on the red line between the different heights the child get the lower ride height. they get a hand stamp and a wrist band .this stops the changing of wrist bands with other kids

 

[tiggger1]

If they put the bracelets on right you shouldnt be able to switch. I do think the stamp would also work thought.

 

[donnajon]

Hmmmmm...I might just have to bring a tape measure with me on my next trip in case they challenge my DD.

 

[Tiger Fan]

What is also frustrating about this is that the measuring bars are NOT the same height at every 40" ride. It isn't just that the CM is "reading" it differently. They are actually DIFFERENT. We encountered this 1 1/2 years ago when DS was just over 40".

This was the same thing that happened to us. She was 40" at ToT, but the same day, that evening, she was NOT 40" at Splash. The tools they used were not even similar. She was very disappointed and I know the safety speil, but it's one of my greatest pet peeves that the system is so inconsistent. Sorry you had this happen, unfortunately MANY others have had the same problems.
Lisa
Tiger Fan

 

[simba928]

What is the person measuring when you went in said your child was too short? Would you be happy with that? If you got a wristband saying your child was too short for some rides then what would you do?

At least there will be some consistency there. If you get on several rides that require you to be 40 inches, but then one ride that has the 40 inch height requirement, that means there isnt a very good system in place. With the wristbands, then you do not lead your child up to the ride and get them excited about it. I think Consistancy is what everyone wants here. If you get on one ride with the 40 inch height requirement, then you should be able to get on EVERY RIDE that has the same requirement.