Child's height question...

[Disney1976]

For the DGD this year I may stop at the front each day, get her measured and have them give her a wristband saying she is tall enough. She is 40" in bare feet and 40-3/4" in regular tennies and I don't want to get stopped like we did with her brother.

I may be mistaken, but I am almost positive Disney doesn't do wristbands. I think they experimented with it at one point, but found it led to rampant "cheating" (taller siblings putting the wristband on a smaller one, etc) so they stick with the measuring at each ride now.

For kids who are right at the mark, I would suggest hitting those attractions early in the day, as we are taller in the mornings, and shrink a little as the day goes on (I think our spine compresses or something, but I'm no doctor).

Lastly, lets all remember folks -Disney will still be there next year if your child is a little too short to ride. The CM's are just doing their jobs, and the guidelines are put in place for safety reasons. Yes, there may not seem to be any real difference between 39" and 40", but clearly there must be if that is the requirement for the ride.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I may be mistaken, but I am almost positive Disney doesn't do wristbands. I think they experimented with it at one point, but found it led to rampant "cheating" (taller siblings putting the wristband on a smaller one, etc) so they stick with the measuring at each ride now.

For kids who are right at the mark, I would suggest hitting those attractions early in the day, as we are taller in the mornings, and shrink a little as the day goes on (I think our spine compresses or something, but I'm no doctor).

Lastly, lets all remember folks -Disney will still be there next year if your child is a little too short to ride. The CM's are just doing their jobs, and the guidelines are put in place for safety reasons. Yes, there may not seem to be any real difference between 39" and 40", but clearly there must be if that is the requirement for the ride.

The only ride that does the bracelet is Kali River Rapids. They will measure you once and if your child is between 38-40 inches they will put a bracelet on (with a stamp over it so it can't be removed) so the ride operators know they need the special seat.

By the way, your last paragraph made the point perfectly

 

[Vijoge]

Lastly, lets all remember folks -Disney will still be there next year if your child is a little too short to ride. The CM's are just doing their jobs, and the guidelines are put in place for safety reasons. Yes, there may not seem to be any real difference between 39" and 40", but clearly there must be if that is the requirement for the ride.

We all know this is true but it's still disappointing, especially for the ones who won't be able to come back next year (or for several/many years).

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Sorry if I posted incorrect information. I had read in other threads that you could have a child measured at customer service and then they wouldn't have to be re-measured for each ride. I have not done it myself, so I was just passing information on and I'm sorry if that wasn't correct (especially since it would be much more convenient).

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Sorry if I posted incorrect information. I had read in other threads that you could have a child measured at customer service and then they wouldn't have to be re-measured for each ride. I have not done it myself, so I was just passing information on and I'm sorry if that wasn't correct (especially since it would be much more convenient).

If would be great if they did that. That way you wouldn't have the disappointment of the child SEEING the ride and not being able to go on. You could just avoid them altogether.

 

[TravelinGal]

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Lastly, lets all remember folks -Disney will still be there next year if your child is a little too short to ride. The CM's are just doing their jobs, and the guidelines are put in place for safety reasons. Yes, there may not seem to be any real difference between 39" and 40", but clearly there must be if that is the requirement for the ride.

But, some families may not get to go again! Yes, we are very lucky that we go almost every year, but across the country, that is the exception, not the norm (although it would seem to be the norm to people on the DIS... LOL) This will be DS's 3rd trip (4th if you count my going when I was pregnant with him...) and my 16th trip. We are blessed, in deed.

What about someone with dwarfism. S/he may be an adult and possibly not reach the height mark.

What about the child who has a terminal illness and this is the only chance for them to go?

Yes, I'm reaching for the extremes here, but it is part of reality. So a simple "there's always next year" comment can be very far from the truth for some.

 

[imthatgirl]

like someone else said, just dont promise anything. my 3yo was measured at his dr at 39 inches without shoes. i had no interest in him going on the bigger rides, but i did want to take him on kali(btw this was this past thursday) we walked up not even thinking it would be a problem, the cm hab him walk under the bar and he didnt make it. i didnt put up a stink, it was what it was. but i did kind of stink because i know hes 38 inches. their measuring tools are a bit bigger i think. but anyway, its not something he will stand next to, its a bar, and if he can walk under it hes not getting on, if he has to duck to get under it, he will get on. and i think when they made the bar they did take shoes into account.

i did see a guy put up a stink at soarin, he made a fool of himself. the kid wasnt getting on. i dont think any amount of argueing will make them change their minds.

 

[weesignlanguage]

My family is going in two and half weeks and I am a little nervous about the whole height issue w/ my ds. He will be 4 on Oct. 11 and he is 41 inches barefoot but I just have this gut feeling that the measuring sticks at WDW are a bit higher than they "measure."

We went in January and ds was crushed when he couldn't ride things and to be honest we had not thought ahead about the whole height thing. When we got home from our trip, my dh made a "measuring stick pole" just like they use at WDW for my ds to practice under and he has to squat to put his head under it so I feell sure he is 40 inches plus. But I am still concerned that the measuring sticks are a little on the high side at WDW. Anyone noticed this at all or am I just worried for no reason??

 

[Ellester]

My family is going in two and half weeks and I am a little nervous about the whole height issue w/ my ds. He will be 4 on Oct. 11 and he is 41 inches barefoot but I just have this gut feeling that the measuring sticks at WDW are a bit higher than they "measure."

We went in January and ds was crushed when he couldn't ride things and to be honest we had not thought ahead about the whole height thing. When we got home from our trip, my dh made a "measuring stick pole" just like they use at WDW for my ds to practice under and he has to squat to put his head under it so I feell sure he is 40 inches plus. But I am still concerned that the measuring sticks are a little on the high side at WDW. Anyone noticed this at all or am I just worried for no reason??

We didn't find them to be too high. Our ds (then 34 months) was right at 40 on our last visit. He made Sorin' each time at both the stations, missed Test Track one day, made it the next, made Dinosaur without a problem. He was definitely slightly taller in the mornings, you may want to schedule the "must do" rides first thing to take that into account. I think the most important thing is to remind your ds to stand up as straight as possible with his heels right at the base of the stick. Our ds had a tendency to slouch away from the stick and try to keep his feet slightly apart. Practicing at home is a great idea!

 

[weesignlanguage]

I think the most important thing is to remind your ds to stand up as straight as possible with his heels right at the base of the stick. Our ds had a tendency to slouch away from the stick and try to keep his feet slightly apart. Practicing at home is a great idea!

That is EXACTLY what our ds did in January and he acted so goofy! HA! We kept telling him to put his feet up against the stick and he didn't get it. That is why we made the stick at home. He is plenty above our homemade 40 in. stick! We will do the 40 in. rides first thing in the mornings! Great advice!

 

[slo]

It's so frustrating when your child can't go on a ride, I know, I've been going through this for 10 years now. My oldest has always been very petite, and she wasn't able to do many WDW rides until she was 6 years old (she's been going since she was 2). After she could go on some rides, than my youngest couldn't go on rides. When my youngest was 3, she was a hair short from being able to go on Soarin, and the CM wouldn't let her go Now, if they are that strict for Soarin, which isn't dangerous at all, imagine how they are for other rides (which I support).

I know it's frustrating to have your child to short to go on the ride, but it's for their own safety. This is our first time, since 1999, to go on rides as a family (my 5yr old is tall enough to go on most rides), so I understand how you feel. You can still have fun, even though your child can't go on some rides. Just do the parent swap, and you'll still have a great time

 

[TravelinGal]

Just do the parent swap, and you'll still have a great time

Can't do the parent swap when I'm a solo parent on the trip. DH couldn't take time away from his business this year.

 

[puffkin]

My 2 1/2 year old is right at the 40" mark. I am going to be buying extra thick shoes and socks for him....He LOVES rides and will go on anything. I just don't know how we will be able to make him understand if they won't let him on. I don't think the rides that he can't see will be a problem, but for instance if we get through the first measure at Splash and then they don't let him in the boat, he will have a FIT. We will try talking to him ahead of time and preparing him, but I don't know how much he will understand at his age. Hoping he gets a last minute growth spurt!

 

[TravelinGal]

That makes me think of a question...

Does every ride that measures have a second person at the end that could nix it even though the child passed the first one with flying colors?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

That makes me think of a question...

Does every ride that measures have a second person at the end that could nix it even though the child passed the first one with flying colors?

I don't think so. We've never been measured twice

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

We recently got back. We took our DS (he's 10 and measures nearly 65"...yep big for his age) and his best friend who's 7 months older and barely hits the 52" mark. We did get measured twice at Rock 'n Roll Rollercoaster and also at the Create and Ride your own Roller Coaster thing at DisneyQuest as the 2nd CM thought Alex was too short to ride.

The other thing is that he had to ride with the t-strap between his legs on Soarin' and was upset that he kept getting his height checked. So, for those of you with 3 and 4 year olds, be glad that they are relatively tall for their age. Try explaining to a nearly 11 year old that he may not be tall enough to ride a ride he's been dying to ride...especially when his best friend, (and my son) passes all with flying colors.

Also, please keep in mind (and no flames here, honest) that the height designations are made for everyone's safety. While you may think that fudging a 1/4 inch may not be much, fudging at all could jeopardize your child's safety. If so, will you assume responsibility for the accident or will you expect Disney to do so? I promise, I'm not trying to flame anyone, but I would hope that this is something we would all consider when "fudging."

 

[Schmeck]

What about someone with dwarfism. S/he may be an adult and possibly not reach the height mark.

What about the child who has a terminal illness and this is the only chance for them to go?

Yes, I'm reaching for the extremes here, but it is part of reality. So a simple "there's always next year" comment can be very far from the truth for some.

Being an adult or terminally ill doesn't make any difference - it's all about safety, and if someone can't fit safely in the ride restraints, then they can't go on. It's not just the safety of that one person, not to gross anyone out, but you can be killed by the force of another human body.

 

[imthatgirl]

That makes me think of a question...

Does every ride that measures have a second person at the end that could nix it even though the child passed the first one with flying colors?

what happen with my middle son was he got a stamp at the first person saying he was measured. on the couple of occasions he didnt get the stamp the second person did measure him.

but yes there is always other people in the front of the line who can say no if they think the first person measured wrong.

 

[Patti_C]

Ugh. I just measured him and I remembered wrong. He's 38 1/2. He'll still make the cutoff for Kali, but too far away for Soarin' still. Darn.

"How to safely make a child grow 1 1/2 inch in 1 1/2 months" Now, that's a book I could get behind!

Hang him from the monkey bars and pull on his legs?

 

[buzzmom3]

Yep, it happened to my DS on Splash Mountain. Made it by the first CM no problem, second CM measured him and said he was too short. I have no problem with the height requirements but it is very difficult to explain to a 4 ear old why he measure 40 in on one stick but not on another.