Child height requirement and 39 inches - a curiosity

[SWAMPBO]

DD was 39 last year...she had a pair of clogs she wore and went straight through...they just heppend to be her favorite shoes at home, so we let her take them...they also have some platform cinderella sandals for sale at the parks that also give a lift...

if she is sitting beside me, I am not worried about her safety on these rides...she rode dinosaur, big thunder mountain(her favorite), test track, soarin...no problems...

 

[Lifeangel1]

My grandson was just the "legal" height. Sometimes he could ride and sometimes they turned him away. He was a trooper and accepted the decision either way. The restrictions are there for a reason and I am all for keeping the children safe but I also wish they had a better more efficient way to measure them to avoid disappointment.

 

[pixarmom]

I just wanted to let OP know that I agree it's so important to prepare our kids who may be too short to ride!

It was tough with our two older boys, before our youngest was born. Here's what we had for one of our trips: 6-year-old (44 inches tall) and 5-year-old (43.5 inches tall.) From a distance, they look the same. You can see where this is going. We told our then 5-year-old that he will not be able to ride space mountain. He was disappointed, but knew what to expect. When we got there, he told us he understood he is probably too short to ride, but can he please just ask the CM when his older brother gets in line. We allowed him to check, and the really kind CM said, "You are definitely going to be tall enough next year!" We had already planned that he would spend time with my husband in the arcade at the exit to SM, so that's what they did, and he handled it really well!

The other part was to prepare the tall-enough sibling for no gloating - which he also did extremely well! While this is no longer an issue for them, their pre-schooler brother now has to wait for what we call the "tall rides." (Our pre-schooler already thinks he's "big" because he uses the potty - don't want to mess that one up!)

Anyway, I know how disappointing this can be, especially for families that don't get to WDW on a regular basis. But I'm a big fan of the prep work at home, too! Good luck!

 

[cinderella crazy]

Just an FYI, be sure to tell her to stand as far back and as straight as possible! My DD was exactly 40 inches on our last trip. She had a well child visit at the Dr. about a week before we left. I was so excited to see that 40 on her paperwork!! Anyway, when we got there amazingly even with shoes she was barely cutting it and if it is crowded at the front where they would measure they would rush her and we got turned away a few times because they weren't patient enough to let her stand up straight. She was 3 and the concept was not completely there for her, if you know what I mean. So practice the standing up straight thing.

I noticed this when I measured her the other day. I had to tell her to stand up and look straight ahead. If she doesn't stand just right, she may not make it. If that's the case, one of us will go on a ride with our older son and the other will go on a ride that DD can ride. I'm pretty sure she's going to get measured on every ride. She's tall but she is also tiny/really skinny (she must get the from DH ).

 

[DisneyTigers]

OP here!
Thanks everyone, for the advice!

I will most definitely be sneaking in extra veggies over the next two months, and we'll be going shoe-shopping, too - not for platforms or super-high heeled cowboy boots, but definitely for some sneakers w/ extra "cushion". Oh, and I bought some great hair gel that makes his hair spike up just enough - with the right shoes and his "me-hawk" as he says, he's about an inch over 40!

If that doesn't work, though, we're preparing him to take it all in stride and I know he'll have a great time, regardless!

 

[doconeill]

It's to bad that Disney doesn't have a measuring station at the front of the parks. A place where you could have your child measured, be issued a card, or have a hand stamped, showing what the actual height is, and then not waste your time waiting in line, hoping that this time you just might make the height requirements. Your child is borderline, and sometimes they slip through. It's a roll of the dice.

Unfortunately such systems where they are employed get abused by the unscrupulous, with the transferring of whatever "marker" is used, which is why another poster said they may be lawfully required to measure at the ride anyways.

Parents with children who are borderline need to understand that there are natural fluctuations that can cause varied measurements between home and park, within the park, etc. Disney does the best they can but they have to cut it off somewhere for safety.

My best advice is that if you know you will be returning in the future, let the kids know that and don't get their expectations up this time - concentrate on what they CAN do. If you don't believe you'll be making another trip, wait until there is no question.

We set our DDs expectations right from the start, and they handled it with grace. DD#2 enjoyed getting measured either way, and like to make a point of it when she was tall enough - enough to walk into the pole...hard...

 

[kaytieeldr]

While it stinks that they have to measure twice, they do have to measure twice. It is way too easy for one person to distract the person doing the measuring out front, letting another sneak a too short child into line.

Yeah - for example, the Mickey bars a parent might slip into the child's shoes just before getting measured at the entrance, would have melted enough by the time they got to the loading platform - making the child ultimately too short to ride

 

[maxiesmom]

Yeah - for example, the Mickey bars a parent might slip into the child's shoes just before getting measured at the entrance, would have melted enough by the time they got to the loading platform - making the child ultimately too short to ride

I still find it hard to believe someone tried that one! Crazy!

 

[zeferjen]

Yeah! We are leaving in a week and I just measured 3.5 yo again and.... she grew! She is officially over 40"! I am not thinking she will go on most of the 'thrill' rides, but I am really excited to see her on Soarin

 

[piglet33]

It's to bad that Disney doesn't have a measuring station at the front of the parks. A place where you could have your child measured, be issued a card, or have a hand stamped, showing what the actual height is, and then not waste your time waiting in line, hoping that this time you just might make the height requirements.

They do this at Canada's Wonderland. My DD got a colored wristband for the height group she was in. All the signs had the wristband colors that were allowed to ride. It was so much easier this way.

Hershey Park also has height signs in the front of the park. You measure and see that your kid is a Hershey Bar or Kiss, etc. and then look for rides with that candy bar on the sign. Very easy.

 

[DISHoppy]

We have a ~39" DD3 as well. She wants to ride everything she saw on the Di$ney DVD circa 2007 we broke out the other day. DD6 does not want anything to do with rides like Barnstormer, BOTRR, Test Track, etc. I need some extra pixie dust for a growth spurt over the next 4 weeks for our upcoming trip. Oddly, DD3 does not like the dentist, DD6 has no problemo with that. Go figger.

-Kevin

 

[Virtucomp]

I've worked with safety standards for years. I am sure that the height requirement is not set so that the restraint system will work if you are 40" tall but if you're only 39", certain death!

They determine the actual safe limit for the restraints and then add some inches to that to make sure a slightly tall skinny kids will still be safe. Parents should not be cheating the limit as it is for safety.

For the parents that have kids at the 39" mark they do sell those inversion table contraption that hang the kids upside down by their feet. I'm sure a few months of that before the trip would work and it's fun for the parents to watch.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Is it EXACTLY 40"? Just measured our son, looks like on the tape measure in bare feet he is about 40.5".. should we be good on all of the 40" rides??? Sure don't want to wait in line and then.."OOPS!!!, your son is just a little too short." Then again, we have 4 months, hopefully he grows a little more just to be sure..

 

[cinderella crazy]

For the parents that have kids at the 39" mark they do sell those inversion table contraption that hang the kids upside down by their feet. I'm sure a few months of that before the trip would work and it's fun for the parents to watch.

Know where I can get one? J/K folks!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Is it EXACTLY 40"? Just measured our son, looks like on the tape measure in bare feet he is about 40.5".. should we be good on all of the 40" rides??? Sure don't want to wait in line and then.."OOPS!!!, your son is just a little too short." Then again, we have 4 months, hopefully he grows a little more just to be sure..

I think you're probably okay, especially if you have four months for him to get another half inch or so!

 

[tzolkin]

Is it EXACTLY 40"? Just measured our son, looks like on the tape measure in bare feet he is about 40.5".. should we be good on all of the 40" rides??? Sure don't want to wait in line and then.."OOPS!!!, your son is just a little too short." Then again, we have 4 months, hopefully he grows a little more just to be sure..

I think they're right at about 40" (which would include the shoes).

DS got on most of the rides, (except the issue with the shorter stick on the inside of Test Track) but when he went to the doctor a few weeks after our trip, she said he was really only 39.5" (no shoes).


When our kids were close to the height requirement, we always tell them at each ride "let's see if you're tall enough for this one today". If they're close, don't assume they'll make it on a 40" ride even if they just rode another 40" ride (or even that same one-- DS rode Soarin one day and was "too short" the next morning)

 

[WDSearcher]

One thing most people either don't know about or don't take the time to do ... almost all of the true "thrill" rides (Everest, RRC, TOT, etc) have some sort of "when you're ready to ride" certificate. If your child misses the mark by an inch or so and is upset, ask the CM if there's such a certificate for that ride. The certificate is basically a tricked out FP. It states that the bearer is currently under the height required for the ride, but when they DO get tall enough, they can go to the front of the line (or, for all intents and purposes, have a FP for whenever). I've seen some of these given out and a few of them used, and it's always a way to take some of the sting out of being told "you're not tall enough."

 

[doconeill]

One thing most people either don't know about or don't take the time to do ... almost all of the true "thrill" rides (Everest, RRC, TOT, etc) have some sort of "when you're ready to ride" certificate. If your child misses the mark by an inch or so and is upset, ask the CM if there's such a certificate for that ride. The certificate is basically a tricked out FP. It states that the bearer is currently under the height required for the ride, but when they DO get tall enough, they can go to the front of the line (or, for all intents and purposes, have a FP for whenever). I've seen some of these given out and a few of them used, and it's always a way to take some of the sting out of being told "you're not tall enough."

I've seen these, and they are a curious beast...they actually don't say anything about being Fastpasses on them, although at least some CMs will allow them as FPs. They are actually worded in such a way (unless the wording has changed) that they don't guarantee anything other than you will be allowed to ride when you are tall enough. They also don't seem to give them out freely - perhaps as a "recovery" mechanism if it appears that there may be a problem child or something like that - but in cases where we've heard of such things they never seem to be offered either.

I've also seen these things sold on eBay in bulk and touted as "magic Fastpasses", and since they have no identifying information really they are ripe for abuse like that.

 

[chartle]

Unfortunately such systems where they are employed get abused by the unscrupulous, with the transferring of whatever "marker" is used, which is why another poster said they may be lawfully required to measure at the ride anyways.

Parents with children who are borderline need to understand that there are natural fluctuations that can cause varied measurements between home and park, within the park, etc. Disney does the best they can but they have to cut it off somewhere for safety.

My best advice is that if you know you will be returning in the future, let the kids know that and don't get their expectations up this time - concentrate on what they CAN do. If you don't believe you'll be making another trip, wait until there is no question.

We set our DDs expectations right from the start, and they handled it with grace. DD#2 enjoyed getting measured either way, and like to make a point of it when she was tall enough - enough to walk into the pole...hard...

They do this at Canada's Wonderland. My DD got a colored wristband for the height group she was in. All the signs had the wristband colors that were allowed to ride. It was so much easier this way.

Hershey Park also has height signs in the front of the park. You measure and see that your kid is a Hershey Bar or Kiss, etc. and then look for rides with that candy bar on the sign. Very easy.

Its been reported that they tried a wrist band at DLR. They found that people would have their taller kids measured and then cut off the wristband and tape it on the smaller child and yes they brought these items in just for this purpose.

A CM commented that if they instituted a wrist band system it wouldn't replace the measurement at the loading platform it would just add another courtesy measurement similar to the one they do it the start of the ride.

I'm sure this has been posted, but everyone worried that they could possibly wait a long time in line only to be turned away, they measure at the start and the end of the ride. You may be ok at the start of the line, but the measurement at the loading platform is the "official" one.

What they do at Hersey park is also just a courtesy measurement. You can't just go up a Kit Kat ride and say "I measured my kid at the front of the park he's OK."

 

[maxiesmom]

They do this at Canada's Wonderland. My DD got a colored wristband for the height group she was in. All the signs had the wristband colors that were allowed to ride. It was so much easier this way.

Hershey Park also has height signs in the front of the park. You measure and see that your kid is a Hershey Bar or Kiss, etc. and then look for rides with that candy bar on the sign. Very easy.

The problem is that the wrist bands are easy enough to get off if you really want them off. I have an intact one sitting on my dresser from a Mickey's Not So Scarry Halloween Party. It would be totally possible (and probable) that if Disney went to wrist bands, you would have parents pulling them off of one child and putting them on a shorter child. Then you would still have to measure, and have a giant fight about it too boot.