44"-ish: How Strict are the Height Restrictions?

[Emily & Sarah's Mom]

My daredevil DD is within a quarter inch of 44". Somedays she actually is 44" depending on shoes, hairstyle, and posture. How closely do they check at Space Mountain and EE?

Thank you!

 

[MomPlanner22]

I don't know how closely they check (though I have heard they are rather strict about this). However, I have the Unofficial Guide for 2006 and they suggest in this scenario that you have your child wear (or change into) shoes that will make them meet the height requirement. If you don't have any concern over her safety or fear of a ride, it is probably the best way for her to get the most out of her experiences!

 

[Tiziminchac]

I've seen people tossed right out of the park for trying to get around the 44'' rule! And from what I hear they don't even let you on the tram to get to your car, they make you walk!

 

[tjmw2727]

My daredevil DD is within a quarter inch of 44". Somedays she actually is 44" depending on shoes, hairstyle, and posture. How closely do they check at Space Mountain and EE?

Thank you!

In my experience they are very strict. Expect her to be measured each time you ride even if she was tall enough prior in the trip, she will also likely be measured more than once each time she rides. They will measure to the head not the ponytail, remove hats and I have seen them ask for obviously high shoes to be removed. (One boy two girls). They have a stick that is shaped like an upside down L if they can move it over the childs head and the head dosen't stop it they will not allow the child on the ride. Remind her that she needs to stretch up to the stick and hit it (without tippie toes) some children kind of shrink away from it naturally, KWIM? So shoes and hairstyle will not help but posture will. I will say that if her everyday shoes are sketchers or something with a little sole and she is over 44" she may be ok.

If a child looks close to the requirement they will be measured at the entrance to save the child from a long wait for nothing. Most times if a child looks close to the height he/she will be re-measured again before boarding. If either measure is deemed to short he/she won't be able to ride.

I have seen many a family happy to have "snuck" by the first CM only to have the child re-measured at the boarding area. Not saying you would do this but the child waited a long time and wan't able to ride. I felt bad for the kids despite the fact that it seem to me the parents know it was a risk.

If I were in your situation I would prepare her for not being able to do the 44" and if she can consider it a bonus. When you think of all the attractions at WDW she is only restricted from maybe 4? EE and SP, 44 and RnRC and PEW are 48", that's pretty good!

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

I don't know how closely they check (though I have heard they are rather strict about this). However, I have the Unofficial Guide for 2006 and they suggest in this scenario that you have your child wear (or change into) shoes that will make them meet the height requirement. If you don't have any concern over her safety or fear of a ride, it is probably the best way for her to get the most out of her experiences!

Wow - having see CM's ask children to remove obviously high shoes its a shame that a guide book recommends this!

I have peraonslly seen one boy with very high soles, (I think they were heelies) one girl with platform type sketchers (not the regular sketchers) and another girl with fairly thick soled sandals asked to remove shoes prior to measuring. FWIW only the girls with the sandals was tall enough without the shoes.

TJ

 

[hanncam]

I have seen grown mothers and fathers cuss out the attendant because their children were a bare hair short of the requirement. I think that the requirements were put there for a reason and I feel sorry for the attendants when they have to turn people away. I have also heard that attendants actually have discovered some parents put toilet tissue in the child's tennis shoes to get them on a ride. Needless to say things didnt go well for the parents once this was discovered.

I know it is hard when your child really wants to ride something and literally can almost brush the bar but I remember that my little girl went in March last year and her dissappointment at not being able to ride much. THEN I remember last October when she was tall enough and the excitement in her eyes when she realized that she was finally tall enough!

So a long answer to your short question, YES they are VERY strict on height requirements.

 

[teacher31]

I'll never forget the parent who got angry ahead of us when their child was being measured for Big Thunder. The parents propped up his hat and had a fit when the CM turned them away. They mumbled something about waiting until the next CM came on, and the CM said something along the lines of, "And he'll still be too short then." Come on guys. It's a safety issue!

 

[Skylarr29]

Height restrictions are impossed for your child's safety. I wouldn't try to get around them. Even if you wanted to they are very strict and you will probably be unsuccessful.

 

[Emily & Sarah's Mom]

I had no intention of trying to sneak her onto a ride she is not tall enough for and have not even mentioned that EE or SM are an option for her. We would most certainly have her measured and politely abide by the CMs decision.

 

[Chuck65]

The height restrictions are there to keep your child safe. Keeping my child safe is at the top of my priority list. My son was able to ride almost everything when we went, but there were some things my daughter couldn't do. I used those occasions to take her on a ride or show she loved and made a lasting father daughter memory She still brings up the fact that she got to see Muppets 3D while her big brother didn't (he and Mom were riding Star Tours).

 

[MonkeyPants]

I've seen them be very strict and they should be, its a safety issue. I want to smack some parents who get all defensive and angry about out and say 'hey stupid, do you not care about your child? would you rather they slip out of Soarin and drop 40 feet to the ground?'

 

[TikiGoddess]

I don't think the OP intended to push the rules, she was just curious. I know our ds was tall enough on some 40" rides and not on others. It seems like some of the sticks are different. He wore the same shoes every day. You may be surprised what she can ride and what she can't. Also, on some rides the guy at the start of the line said he was tall enough and then when we got to the ride part they said he was too short we just said okay and moved on. Oh, and by the way, don't take the safety restriction rants personally. Every one of these threads I've ever read goes off on a tangent when it comes to measuring kids. I always am sure to duck when these get started. Hee hee. Hope this helps!

 

[texasthree]

My son is 43" and on every ride than had a 40" height requirement they measured him. I think its certainly possible you could walk right on but chances are your daughter will be measured for most every ride with a minimum requirement of 40" or higher.

 

[tjmw2727]

I had no intention of trying to sneak her onto a ride she is not tall enough for and have not even mentioned that EE or SM are an option for her. We would most certainly have her measured and politely abide by the CMs decision.

I didn't take your post that way at all fwiw -

I just don't want you or any other family standing in line for a ride a chld may not be able to ride.

TJ

 

[TinyLolitaBunny]

i have heard very mixed responses about this, so I measured my siblings with their shoes off at home before we went and im only telling them they can go on what they reach without shoes. that way they wont be disappointed if they didnt get on something b/c of their shoes.

 

[traviesojmt]

My DD3 is going to be very close to 40" when we go to Disney in Aug. She really wants to ride Big Thunder Mt. So far, I keep telling her that she might not be big enough to ride this year. I think that she will probably be a bit shy of the 40" to be honest. I really wish that they had the measuring sticks at certain places in the park (where you enter would be nice) so that you can know before even taking your child to the line. I am suggesting that they have different height sticks (38", 40", 44, etc) permanently located at guest services for example. It would eliminate alot of sad kids if you knew ahead of time that they had just missed the cut-off height. Just an idea.

 

[pjshaff]

We just went earlier this month, and they were pretty consistant about measuring both my son (over 40") and daughter (over 44"). DS was measured at BTM at the front entrance and when the line splits, at TT every time we went on, and at TOT at the entrance to the hotel. DD was measured at RnRC--this was the first time she was tall enough to go on it...I did warn her before the trip that she might not be able to ride b/c of her height, so she was ok with knowing that.

Have fun!!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I also feel bad when I hear parents cussing out the CM's for "catching" them. But, I didn't think the OP was trying to cheat.

I agree with the earlier poster, make sure she stands up straight...my kids are slouchers....when I measured DD13 for a bridesmaid dress I was making, I had to remind her 10 times that if she didn't stand up straight the "floor length" dress wouldnt be!! And with strangers, your DD might shrink away from the stick, as someone mentioned.

My DD2 was extremely disappointed she couldn't ride EE or TOT. And she is barely 32" tall!

I wouldnt' mention riding the rides....then, as you approach them while there....say brightly, "Hey...I am not sure if you are tall enough yet, but let's try!!" Then if she makes it...SCORE!!! If not, go for a Mickey ice cream bar...always makes me feel better.

It is tough, my DD13 was tall enough long before DS11.....he was always so bummed out.

 

[deedeetoo]

My experience is quite a bit different from many posters. Last time we went my short daredevil DD was exactly 40". We knew she was tall enough to make the 40" height requirement but were still concerned about them measuring her. We were quite surprised that she was only measured a couple times (both times she just made it). Most of the time no one questioned her. Once she even walked up to the CM with a stick and asked if she was tall enough and he just smiled and waived her by.

I don't know if this was just luck, or if she seemed taller because she talked and carried herself like a 5 yo and most 5yo are will beyond 40". She is also very thin and somehow that gives the illusion of height. People constantly comment that she is tall for her age which just amazes me.

We are going again in a few weeks. She is now 7 (will be turning 8 on the trip) and is at 47.5 inches and desperately wants to ride RnRRC which has a 48" requirement. I told her we will just have to wait and see how she measures up when we get down there.

On the other hand, I have my DS5.5 who is 41 inches and is too scared to go on anything that even looks like a roller coaster. We are trying to convince him that Splash Mountain really isn't scary...

 

[kimand3kids]

We were just there last week - DS6 rode Space Mountail 6-8 times and was measured maybe twice (he's exactly 44", a tad taller w/ his hair spiked up). He was measured for EE too and given a "YETI" stamp so he wouldn't have to be remeasured.

At Sea World they also measured him and he was given a bracelet to wear.

EE was his all time favorite ride!