Accuracy of "measuring sticks"

[party-of-five]

Ok, I'm not really sure what they are called, but the measuring devices at the rides. Does anyone know how accurate they are?

I'm not looking to cheat the system in anyway. I am happy that Disney is strict about the height of the riders. Years ago, my little guy made it past the first CM measuring him on Barnstormer only to be turned away as we were ready to get onto the ride. We were disappointed, but I explained to him that Mickey simply wanted him to be safe.

So, my question, how accurate are the "measuring sticks". Given the above mentioned situation where one CM can say OK you make it, only for another to say, sorry you don't. Plus we had a situation the other day where the Dr.s office came up with one measurement for my son, but at home, using the oh so scientific tape measure against the wall technique, he measured 1/2 in. less.

Just curious.

 

[Miranda Danda]

I completely understand your question. I am wondering the same thing.

Back in October we went to our local fair. Just one month prior at her 3 year appointment, my DD measured as 39 inches, but according the the fair, she was only 34 inches. I mean, c'mon!!!

I am sure Disney is more accurate (hopefully) because now she is 41 inches barefooted

 

[davedmaine]

Ok, I'm not really sure what they are called, but the measuring devices at the rides. Does anyone know how accurate they are?

I'm not looking to cheat the system in anyway. I am happy that Disney is strict about the height of the riders. Years ago, my little guy made it past the first CM measuring him on Barnstormer only to be turned away as we were ready to get onto the ride. We were disappointed, but I explained to him that Mickey simply wanted him to be safe.

So, my question, how accurate are the "measuring sticks". Given the above mentioned situation where one CM can say OK you make it, only for another to say, sorry you don't. Plus we had a situation the other day where the Dr.s office came up with one measurement for my son, but at home, using the oh so scientific tape measure against the wall technique, he measured 1/2 in. less.

Just curious.

Probably pretty close to dead on.. Of course a lot depends on the kid's shoes, how straight they're standing, etc

 

[minnie mum]

given the multitude of 'outraged' parents who insist that their child is tall enough to ride, (every single day) I would bet the height measurements are very accurate. As the pp noted, a child's height will vary from morning to night, by the height of their shoe's heels, and by how straight they are standing.

 

[tzolkin]

I agree they are pretty accurate. We always seemed to wind up with a Dr visit soon before or after a trip where one kid was close to a height cutoff and it always seemed that the Dr measurement was just a bit lower than the stick at Disney. (Ex. 39" at Dr, but they got on the 40" rides. Of course shoes, time of day, standing up straight, etc may have made the difference)

The only attraction where we felt there was a discrepancy between the measuring stick at the entrance and at the boarding area is Test Track. More than once a child was "tall enough" at the entrance, but after waiting in line was "too short" and not allowed to ride.

 

[EvianCay]

The height sticks are checked every morning by Cast Members as part of the attraction opening procedures. They use a tape measure to verify that the height stick is at the proper height.

 

[mesaboy2]

These types of threads always seem to go on the assumption that the measuring stick at one's doctor's office is accurate. I'd be willing to bet if you went to several doctor's offices and measured at each one, they would not agree with one another.

Disney's measuring sticks are accurate enough to ensure that folks are tall enough to safely ride a ride without incurring liability. They don't need to be accurate to the nearest micron.

Teach the kids to hit the bar, stand up straight, and go in the morning as much as possible. That's really all there is to it.

 

[Alesia]

They're more accurate than most kids are.

 

[party-of-five]

These types of threads always seem to go on the assumption that the measuring stick at one's doctor's office is accurate. I'd be willing to bet if you went to several doctor's offices and measured at each one, they would not agree with one another.

Disney's measuring sticks are accurate enough to ensure that folks are tall enough to safely ride a ride without incurring liability. They don't need to be accurate to the nearest micron.

Teach the kids to hit the bar, stand up straight, and go in the morning as much as possible. That's really all there is to it.

. Couldn't agree more. Which is why I said I was curious about other's experiences.

Our baby has some health issues and sees either the pediatrician or gastro at least once a month. He's seen both in the same week a few times. We've needed to monitor his weight gain closely. I always laugh because they are measuring to the tenth of an ounce! Ha, that could be the difference of if he just tinkled or not!

I agree that time of day, shoes, standing up straight and measuring device can make a difference, albeit probably a small differnce. But when you're the little one dying to ride a ride, you're hoping for a forgiving measuring stick.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Ok, I'm not really sure what they are called, but the measuring devices at the rides. Does anyone know how accurate they are?

I'm not looking to cheat the system in anyway. I am happy that Disney is strict about the height of the riders. Years ago, my little guy made it past the first CM measuring him on Barnstormer only to be turned away as we were ready to get onto the ride. We were disappointed, but I explained to him that Mickey simply wanted him to be safe.

So, my question, how accurate are the "measuring sticks". Given the above mentioned situation where one CM can say OK you make it, only for another to say, sorry you don't. Plus we had a situation the other day where the Dr.s office came up with one measurement for my son, but at home, using the oh so scientific tape measure against the wall technique, he measured 1/2 in. less.

Just curious.

When my boys are close, it has been nerve racking! LOL They have made it on some rides in the morning and not in the afternoon, but also vice versa. I've also had them make it on one attraction with a 40" req. but not on others-- big thunder okay, but not even close to making it on Soarin! It honestly doesn't make sense to me, same shoes, same times a day?? If he is really close you need to prepare him, or just avoid those rides altogether to avoid a meltdown.

 

[disnut8]

It's kinda like that old saying - "a man with two watches never knows the correct time."

Which is the "correct" measurement"? The doctor or Disney. Well, when you are at the doctor's office and then have to provide an "official" measurement, it's the doctor. When you are at Disney, it's Disney.

Heck, I'm 50 years old and I have no concrete evidence of exactly my height. I might be 5'. I might be 4'11-1/2". I might be 5'1". I have no idea.

What we did with our grandkids was to tell them that they would be measured at least twice and if they couldn't go on, then that was fine and we'd find other fun things to do.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

They're more accurate than most kids are.

Or the parents say they are.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

so if they measure in the morning its cooler meaning the stick condensed and is shorter (which would be a good thing) then as the day gets hotter the stick expands and becomes taller,,,lol j/k

 

[PeanutButterMom]

This makes me pretty nervous because I'm banking on Jelly being 40" when we go next year. 4 inches over 14 months is doable, right

 

[ErinsMommy]

I agree with the pp that said sticks in doctor's offices are never measured the same -- so I would say the smae about the ones at parks. However, the diferences are never substantial (an inch here or there).

 

[auprincess]

I think they are pretty accurate, although on our last trip, my oldest was 42 inches without shoes ~ so we told her we would let her try for SM and all the other 44 inch rides, but not to get her hopes up. We were very surprised when she was able to ride all the 44 inch rides with no second glances (b/c she was touching the bar no problem). I guess I should have prepared myself a little more for EE

 

[sympatico]

My question is why can't they measure the child once and slap a color coded bracelet (for height) on him/her and they're good for the day instead of constantly measuring for each ride. That's what they do at the amusement park near where we live.

 

[mesaboy2]

My question is why can't they measure the child once and slap a color coded bracelet (for height) on him/her and they're good for the day instead of constantly measuring for each ride. That's what they do at the amusement park near where we live.

Because parents have shown time and again that this system can be defeated.

 

[Alesia]

My question is why can't they measure the child once and slap a color coded bracelet (for height) on him/her and they're good for the day instead of constantly measuring for each ride. That's what they do at the amusement park near where we live.

They tried it - parents immediately began cheating.

 

[sbeaulieu]

I measured my little guy at home in his shoes before we left. He was just barely over 40. At the parks he was never even close to failing the 40" height requirement. He seemed to be measuring in at 41 and wasn't even standing tall or anything.