I work for Universal out here in CA and we measure the children with their shoes on. The only reason we might make them remove their shoes, is it they are obviously adding inches to the childs height. It is amazing the types of shoes parents will put on their children in order to have them make the height requirment. This also goes for shoes that have obviously been stuffed with napkins to add height. It is usually very obvious when a child has their shoes stuffed or are wearing special shoes to pass the height marker. This would be the only reason we would have the child remove their shoes. Hope this helps!!! - Karen