Almost 40 inches, but not quite...

[eerst5]

My 3.5 yr old daughter is just barely at 39 inches as we near our August trip. While I'm hoping for a growth spurt, I'm not sure she'll hit the 40 inch mark needed for a lot of the rides that she has not yet done, but would really like to do- Splash Mtn, Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, Star Wars) What have people done for this? Really thick soled flip flops? Mickey ears? I feel like I'm cheating, but for a lot of the rides, she is so darn close it's a real bummer if we don't do them...

 

[Gracie09]

Heigh requirements are there for the safety and security of your child and others on the ride. They are strictly enforced and trying to get around them with high heels or hats or high hair the cm can (and probably will) make you take off the shoes, hat or take down the hair. If they think you are trying to make her appear taller. Also she will likely be measured twice once at the beginning of the line and once before she gets on. If she passes the first and fails the second she will not ride.

 

[Agent7]

You really, really shouldn't do that. I know she's close but some restraints can injure the child if they aren't tall enough. It isn't because the ride is "scary" but that the restraints can injure them. And yes it has happened. Mission Space is one that confuses people (because the green side is pretty tame) but the restraints can bruise or break a chin if the child is too short. Also they make you take off all hats and can check shoes for padding/alteration. And they can make you take down that pretty $80 BBB hairstyles if you insist the child is tall enough to ride. Many rides have three height checkpoints and they will send you out at any of them. If they can slide a piece of paper under your child's head they can decline them from riding. CM's are generally so strict because they can lose their job over this, it's a major safety violation.

 

[PennockFive]

I remember when I was younger I was so excited because I made the height requirement on a roller coaster. At one point during the ride I ended up slouching down in the seat a little, unfortunately right below the padding. On one of the last loops, I whacked my head onto the back of the seat. It hurt like crazy. My mom still reminds me of that. Even though I know it's disappointing to not go on the rides, there is a reason behind the requirements. I even met the height, and still got hurt. I wouldn't push it.

 

[Allison]

An inch really isn't that close. I did see a child turned away from a ride at Disneyland this spring after making it past the first measuring area. They were turned away as they got to the loading area.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Getting to ride a ride is not more important than your child's safety. Follow the rules.

 

[staceyrhood]

They are very strict, removing hats and shoes if needed....and as previous posters said, they usually check twice, once at the beginning of the line and once at loading.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Getting to ride a ride is not more important than your child's safety. Follow the rules.

 

[mm1971]

My 3.5 yr old daughter is just barely at 39 inches as we near our August trip. While I'm hoping for a growth spurt, I'm not sure she'll hit the 40 inch mark needed for a lot of the rides that she has not yet done, but would really like to do- Splash Mtn, Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, Star Wars) What have people done for this? Really thick soled flip flops? Mickey ears? I feel like I'm cheating, but for a lot of the rides, she is so darn close it's a real bummer if we don't do them...

It's really not worth risking the safety of your DD. My brother had my nieces wear higher shoes and i remember one being bruised the next day due to a safety belt not being in the right place. Lucky it was only that (and yes, I expressed my displeasure). My DS did not ride as they were similar height and he was not tall enough. It is possible to grow fast at that age, here's to hoping you make it.

 

[brymolmom]

BTDT. Not sure if you have older kids too but if not appreciate your situation - believe me, it is MUCH WORSE when the little one has to watch big brother/sister go on the ride while he is left behind.

My best advice is to prepare your child that you probably WON'T be able to ride. I made it like a bonus if we did - but totally prepared the younger one that she wouldn't be able to ride.

And they are VERY strict. My dd was, IMO, 40 inches in her regular shoes when we left for our trip. At one height check - the CM took a piece of PAPER and slipped it in between her head and the wooden bar on top. Visually she looked like her head was at the top, but because the paper slipped through showing her head wasn't all the way touching the top, she was turned down.

I did promise fun things for her if she couldn't ride...Like an ice cream treat or going back on her favorite ride a second time.

Best of luck.

 

[amomma23]

They will check to the point of making sure a KTTW card will not fit in between the top of the head and the measure. DD was tall enough for Soarin' by a good half inch, but the CM asked if I could loosen her high ponytail to double check.

 

[maxiesmom]

My 3.5 yr old daughter is just barely at 39 inches as we near our August trip. While I'm hoping for a growth spurt, I'm not sure she'll hit the 40 inch mark needed for a lot of the rides that she has not yet done, but would really like to do- Splash Mtn, Soarin', Test Track, Mission Space, Star Wars) What have people done for this? Really thick soled flip flops? Mickey ears? I feel like I'm cheating, but for a lot of the rides, she is so darn close it's a real bummer if we don't do them...

You won't be able to cheat, so don't even worry about it. Disney is on to all of the cheats--high hair, thick soled shoes, slipping things into shoes.

What you need to do is plan around the rides your daughter won't be able to do. I know that is not what you want to hear, but that is the reality of how you need to plan your trip to WDW. Don't consider those rides, because there is not even a chance your daughter will get on them.

 

[FargoBear]

Go with the thick-soled shoes but be prepared for the possibility of a wrench in the plans in case she's asked to take them off.

My son was about 41.5 to 41.75 inches on our trip in October and we bought him some shoes that inched him up to 42.

He was checked once on some 42-inch rides at Disney and Universal and then three times on others, but no one ever made him take off the shoes and he was able to ride everything at 42 inches and below.

 

[maxiesmom]

Go with the thick-soled shoes but be prepared for the possibility of a wrench in the plans in case she's asked to take them off.

My son was about 41.5 to 41.75 inches on our trip in October and we bought him some shoes that inched him up to 42.

He was checked once on some 42-inch rides at Disney and Universal and then three times on others, but no one ever made him take off the shoes and he was able to ride everything at 42 inches and below.

There is a vast difference in gaining a quarter of an inch and gaining a whole inch. Normal shoes can give you the extra quarter inch in height. Shoes with an inch high sole will stand out and make it obvious what the parent is trying to do.

 

[Lady V]

Disappointment < serious injury
Seriously, don't try to get her on something she is not tall enough to ride. Would it be worth her being permanently injured? Death? No, I'm sure not. I know that seems dramatic but the rules are there because people DO die and is it worth it? I bet looking back their family members don't think so.

 

[MommyBell08]

I know you are probably excited to go on the rides with your daughter. Just try and enjoy the things she IS tall enough to ride a plan another trip soon. We are taking our trip in September with 5 kids under 6years old. At first I thought about trying to do rider swap but we just decided to just do things we can all enjoy as a family.. Its not worth stressing over. Just enjoy what you can at the height your daughter is. She will grow, and Disney will still be there!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Is the 'take shoes off' thing an urban myth? Wouldn't that be a violation of policy: to be in a park without shoes?

Anyway, my daughter has twice needed her soles/heels to cross a ride requirement threshold. When she was 3.5 (2010), she was a touch under 40 without shoes, and summer and fall 2013 was a touch under 48 without them. On both of these trips her being in specially selected shoes got her over the threshold.

You'll encounter CMs who do things differently. There were times at Test Track she was measured twice. Other times not at all. When she rode Primeval Whirl last fall, she was measured once at the queue entrance, but not again.

One time last summer riding the Mummy (at Universal) a ride operator there did this thing forcing a card between her head and the measuring bar to show she wasn't tall enough...six or so other times her head hitting the bar was enough for those operators.

 

[asmit4]

39 inches without shoes, standing correct?

We buy all our shoes at Carters at this point. They are standard sneakers- no fudging #s. You have about 8 weeks before your trip correct? If you are really lucky she might grow 1/4 inch....I'd bet our Carters shoes add 3/4....not sure but they have thick soles (like most sneakers do).

Prepare her for being too short- and hope for the best. At least she will be able to ride 7DMT

 

[maxiesmom]

Is the 'take shoes off' thing an urban myth? Wouldn't that be a violation of policy: to be in a park without shoes?

No myth, I've seen it done. If the CMs suspect the shoes are worn to give the child extra height they can ask for them to be removed, so they can take a true measurement. No different than telling a child to stand up straight, or patting down their hair to find their head.

 

[DisneyFoodieFan]

My daughter just barely made it to the 40 inch line on our last trip, she was never measured twice, only once at the beginning of the line. And they never asked her to take off her shoes even though she was just barely tall enough.