44" Height Requirement at FoP

[Jack Kerouac]

Our four year old hit his head on the Expedition Everest height measuring device. So he was able to ride that and loved it.

We went to Flight of Passage and he was measured three times. The first time, he hit the measuring bar, the second time he grazed it, and the third one he had to breathe in and stand tall to make it.

They let him ride it, thankfully. But it seems their measurements aren't all the same at the same attraction. I would guess there had to be at least a quarter inch difference between devices one and three.

Has anyone else had measuring issues at FoP or other attractions?

 

[DisneyMom93]

When my kids were young we went with some friends and one of their kids was able to get on Primeval Whirl in the morning and in the late afternoon was too short for the same ride. He made the measurement easily the first time.

Even though we had pictures of him riding it earlier, they wouldn’t let him on again. Which is understandable. He was so upset.

I’ve since heard that your spine contracts as the day goes on, so you are a little shorter by the end of the day. And that could have been it. Because it was the exact same ride and measure stick that’s the only thing I can possibly attribute it to.

Maybe have her do all those rides early in the day. That’s all I can think of to help. Lol

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Was this all in the same day? Same trip? Was he wearing the same shoes? Was it in the morning one time and later in the day another time?
Variables with your child could have changed from one measurement to the other vs the measuring sticks being different heights.

 

[Jack Kerouac]

Was this all in the same day? Same trip? Was he wearing the same shoes? Was it in the morning one time and later in the day another time?
Variables with your child could have changed from one measurement to the other vs the measuring sticks being different heights.

This happened on Monday when we visited AK in the morning. Everest was around 9am or so and FoP was just before 1pm. The three measurements on FoP were taken over a timespan of 15 minutes. FWIW, he easily passed the Space Mountain measurement (also 44") yesterday morning. He wore the same shoes for Everest and FoP and Space.

Thankfully, we have about nine months until we go next summer, so there shouldn't be any height questions the next time around.

 

[sponica]

If I remember you're the tallest at the beginning of the day and then as the day wears on you shrink

 

[Jack Kerouac]

If I remember you're the tallest at the beginning of the day and then as the day wears on you shrink

Yes, that's true. My issue is the three FoP measurements were taken within 5-10 minutes of each other (total time being 15-20 minutes) and he seemed to be "shorter" at each measurement.

 

[MickeyMice]

frankly, a kid should get a wristband once s/he is measured for a certain height. this business with the same kid measuring differently during the same day (even in the same queue) is madness.

 

[CarolynFH]

frankly, a kid should get a wristband once s/he is measured for a certain height. this business with the same kid measuring differently during the same day (even in the same queue) is madness.

Yes, I'm sure Disney would love to do that - if they could prevent unscrupulous parents from moving the band to a kid who was too short. I'm sad that there are parents who would do that, but I'm sure some would try, succeed, and broadcast how they did it all over social media.

 

[traveler9]

Yes, I'm sure Disney would love to do that - if they could prevent unscrupulous parents from moving the band to a kid who was too short. I'm sad that there are parents who would do that, but I'm sure some would try, succeed, and broadcast how they did it all over social media.

It would probably become a TikTok trend.

 

[eticketplease]

Yes, I'm sure Disney would love to do that - if they could prevent unscrupulous parents from moving the band to a kid who was too short. I'm sad that there are parents who would do that, but I'm sure some would try, succeed, and broadcast how they did it all over social media.

When we went to Dollywood many ages ago they were given wristbands at the guest services area after being measured. Not sure if we had to have DS measure everyday or if it was good for length of stay.

It certainly relieved a bunch of anxiety of what to say if DS couldn't ride after being in line which is a trouble in itself and I'm not sure if they had a DAS equivalent but if they did we didn't know about it.

I'm not sure how Disney would be able to address this though especially considering they have 4 parks and GS is overloaded as it is.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

frankly, a kid should get a wristband once s/he is measured for a certain height. this business with the same kid measuring differently during the same day (even in the same queue) is madness.

Yes, I'm sure Disney would love to do that - if they could prevent unscrupulous parents from moving the band to a kid who was too short. I'm sad that there are parents who would do that, but I'm sure some would try, succeed, and broadcast how they did it all over social media.

It'd be pretty hard to cheat really effectively though - since if the kid isn't within 1/2" it'd be obvious enough anyways as soon as someone measured for confirmation. So cheating a wristband would only work for a small population - those parents with no regard for safety, a kid that's already pretty darn close to the height requirement, and only for the few rides that have that specific height requirement. It's not like they'd be able to pass off a 40" kid as 44".

 

[CarolynFH]

It'd be pretty hard to cheat really effectively though - since if the kid isn't within 1/2" it'd be obvious enough anyways as soon as someone measured for confirmation. So cheating a wristband would only work for a small population - those parents with no regard for safety, a kid that's already pretty darn close to the height requirement, and only for the few rides that have that specific height requirement. It's not like they'd be able to pass off a 40" kid as 44".

The idea is that once a child is measured at park entrance and gets a wristband, they're not measured again. So if the parent (and it's sad to say that there are indeed parents with no regard for safety) switches the wristband from the 44" kid to the 40" kid, the CM at the ride sees the wristband and let the 40" kid onto the ride. They wouldn't be measuring the child at the ride itself. I have no insider knowledge, but I suspect that cheating like this might be at least one reason that Disney doesn't have a wristband system like some other parks do.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

When we went to Dollywood many ages ago they were given wristbands at the guest services area after being measured. Not sure if we had to have DS measure everyday or if it was good for length of stay.

It certainly relieved a bunch of anxiety of what to say if DS couldn't ride after being in line which is a trouble in itself and I'm not sure if they had a DAS equivalent but if they did we didn't know about it.

I'm not sure how Disney would be able to address this though especially considering they have 4 parks and GS is overloaded as it is.

At least last year you had to m

When we went to Dollywood many ages ago they were given wristbands at the guest services area after being measured. Not sure if we had to have DS measure everyday or if it was good for length of stay.

It certainly relieved a bunch of anxiety of what to say if DS couldn't ride after being in line which is a trouble in itself and I'm not sure if they had a DAS equivalent but if they did we didn't know about it.

I'm not sure how Disney would be able to address this though especially considering they have 4 parks and GS is overloaded as it is.

At least last year you had to measure each day and they had a DAS type pass you had to do each day

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The idea is that once a child is measured at park entrance and gets a wristband, they're not measured again. So if the parent (and it's sad to say that there are indeed parents with no regard for safety) switches the wristband from the 44" kid to the 40" kid, the CM at the ride sees the wristband and let the 40" kid onto the ride. They wouldn't be measuring the child at the ride itself.

I get that they would have been officially measured, but there would still be measuring sticks at the rides (inevitably not everyone would get a wristband, so they'd need a backup). And at any point that a CM double checked, it would be obvious if it was a cheater (any kid shorter by more than a half inch or so). No one in their right mind would believe that a kid shrank 4" in the afternoon, so it wouldn't be arguable.

 

[eticketplease]

I get that they would have been officially measured, but there would still be measuring sticks at the rides (inevitably not everyone would get a wristband, so they'd need a backup). And at any point that a CM double checked, it would be obvious if it was a cheater (any kid shorter by more than a half inch or so). No one in their right mind would believe that a kid shrank 4" in the afternoon, so it wouldn't be arguable.

Again this is from quite awhile ago and at Dollywood but once your child had the wrist band they just showed that and were not measured again. The bracelet had to be cut to be taken off similar to the wrist ones they use at Stormalong Bay so they would not be able to be shared easily.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

When we went to Dollywood many ages ago they were given wristbands at the guest services area after being measured. Not sure if we had to have DS measure everyday or if it was good for length of stay.

It certainly relieved a bunch of anxiety of what to say if DS couldn't ride after being in line which is a trouble in itself and I'm not sure if they had a DAS equivalent but if they did we didn't know about it.

I'm not sure how Disney would be able to address this though especially considering they have 4 parks and GS is overloaded as it is.

We went to Dollywood last year. Dollywood measures daily and writes the description of the shoes they are wearing on the wristband. We had 2 day passes, went to the height measurement station the same time each day with the same shoes on and daughter was issued a 42 inch band the first day and a 40 inch band the next So a method like that is convenient for the day, but not ideal for multi-day destinations.

 

[eticketplease]

We went to Dollywood last year. Dollywood measures daily and writes the description of the shoes they are wearing on the wristband. We had 2 day passes, went to the height measurement station the same time each day with the same shoes on and daughter was issued a 42 inch band the first day and a 40 inch band the next So a method like that is convenient for the day, but not ideal for multi-day destinations.

I never get how they are off from day to day especially at the same place with the same measuring stick.

At least you knew to avoid the 42" rides on the one day but if they wanted to ride it again the next day then it is hard explaining why they can't ride it today..

 

[MickeyMice]

Yes, I'm sure Disney would love to do that - if they could prevent unscrupulous parents from moving the band to a kid who was too short. I'm sad that there are parents who would do that, but I'm sure some would try, succeed, and broadcast how they did it all over social media.

OK, so keep measuring kids but don't split hairs over a half inch if the kid has a wristband. there's a better way that doesn't involve uncertainty and tears when kids shrink (or more likely measuring tools and techniques are inconsistent).

It'd be pretty hard to cheat really effectively though - since if the kid isn't within 1/2" it'd be obvious enough anyways as soon as someone measured for confirmation. So cheating a wristband would only work for a small population - those parents with no regard for safety, a kid that's already pretty darn close to the height requirement, and only for the few rides that have that specific height requirement. It's not like they'd be able to pass off a 40" kid as 44".

there's no way a ride is safe for a 44" kid but not for a 43" kid. safety tolerances are much wider than that.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

there's no way a ride is safe for a 44" kid but not for a 43" kid. safety tolerances are much wider than that.

I agree. That's why IF someone cheated with a kid off by an inch, it wouldn't be the end of the world - and if the kid was off by more than that, it's clear from a cursory measurement that they are not wearing a correct wristband. So it's a small window of kids who would be close enough to pull off cheating, and even then only for a few rides.



Really, I think they should have the measurement at the front of the park / at the entrance to the ride be 1/4-1/2" taller than the final measurement. So no doubt that if the kid passes when entering a queue, they will pass for the ride at the loading platform.

 

[woodys_girl]

Our four year old hit his head on the Expedition Everest height measuring device. So he was able to ride that and loved it.

We went to Flight of Passage and he was measured three times. The first time, he hit the measuring bar, the second time he grazed it, and the third one he had to breathe in and stand tall to make it.

They let him ride it, thankfully. But it seems their measurements aren't all the same at the same attraction. I would guess there had to be at least a quarter inch difference between devices one and three.

Has anyone else had measuring issues at FoP or other attractions?

Years ago we had this same issue at these same rides. Son easily made it at Everest. They checked him, but no stretching, standing tall, double takes or anything. Then just a short bit later over at FOP he didn't make the cut. I noticed the ground had an ever so slight angle at FOP and my son wasn't willing to try and stand his tallest because he was worried there would be another yeti like there was on Everest. But he wasn't ducking or anything, just standing normal like at Everest. So I believe they are a tiny bit different.

Similarly my daughter wasn't 48 inches last time we were at DLR, but the next two days at SeaWorld and Legoland she was totally 48 inches--different parks, but was still funny how much she "grew."