Child's height question...

[TravelinGal]

ETA - I just realized the chart I had was off. It does say 40" on it, but I see on the WDW site it says 38".

Please don't judge me or flame me. Just looking for a clear answer.

OK, yes, I'm considering fudging a little on my child's height for a ride.

We have a ride at our local theme park that is like Kali River Rapids (actually "our" ride is more wet and more rough!) that has a 38" height minimum, so DS has been on it. He LOVES it! I see Kali has a 40" minimum. He is about 39 1/2" now and I don't know if he'll jump up that extra 1/2 inch before our trip.

My question is, if a child is wearing a hat (thinking bucket hat) do they make them take it off to measure them? I don't want to put stuff in his shoes. I'm just wondering if he's wearing a hat if it might buy him that extra 1/2 inch (or less if he grows between now and then)

I would never consider trying to get him on a ride that would frighten him or be of danger to him.

So, what are your thoughts/experiences on kids with hats?

 

[Luhts]

Hi! We are in the same situation. We're celebrating our ds' 4th birthday (looks like a week after you!) and he is a 39" adventure freak! He absolutely loves Star Wars and would be so disappointed if he wasn't allowed to ride. But I have been talking about it to him and explaining that for safety reasons, he may not be able to go on.
I'm wondering if they have their birthday button on, and seem totally excited to go on the ride, if the CMs can take "pity" on them at let them on. I'm guessing it won't happen b/c of the "if we do it for one person..." scenario, but I can still cross my fingers!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Yes, they will make him remove the hat for measurement. However, Kali River Rapids has a height requirement of 38 inches. If the child is under a certain height (40 inches I think) there is a special seat with additional restraints that the child rides in.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Hi! We are in the same situation. We're celebrating our ds' 4th birthday (looks like a week after you!) and he is a 39" adventure freak! He absolutely loves Star Wars and would be so disappointed if he wasn't allowed to ride. But I have been talking about it to him and explaining that for safety reasons, he may not be able to go on.
I'm wondering if they have their birthday button on, and seem totally excited to go on the ride, if the CMs can take "pity" on them at let them on. I'm guessing it won't happen b/c of the "if we do it for one person..." scenario, but I can still cross my fingers!

CMs are extremely strict about height requirements. There is no chance they will be swayed by a birthday button.

 

[TravelinGal]

Luhts - Happy Birthday to your DS! My DS will be 4 on 10/12 (we're there 10/10-10/18)
Sadly, I agree that the birthday button will do nothing to sway the CM on height.

Maggie'sMom - thanks. I have not seen anything about Kali having special seats for 38"-40" riders! That is cool.

I just realized that he is 39 1/2" in socks. I just need to find him some nice tall tennis shoes!! I know they don't make them take shoes off!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I just realized that he is 39" in socks. I just need to find him some nice tall tennis shoes!! I know they don't make them take shoes off!

That is true, unless you put him in platforms. Regular tennis shoes with reasonably thick soles will get through. But there are reports of CMs making kids take off their shoes if they think the soles are too thick.

 

[hmacmahony]

I think the best thing to do, is to wear big shoes, but be prepared that he might not make it even with shoes. I have twice seen a CM (at different rides, different trips), make a child remove his shoes to see how tall (and they were not tall enough). I have seen CMs push down high pony tails as well.
So, at 39 1/2 maybe he might squeeze on with bigger shoes, but I would not promise anything, they can be very strict about height.
My daughter was at the doctor yesterday, measured right at 40 inches, and can not wait to ride splash, big thunder, soarin, she is a daredevil, but we have told her, she is PROBABLY big enough,and we will have to measure her at every ride, and see what they say. I don't want her to be disapointed if we get that one CM who says she is not big enough, so we made no promises to her about riding anything.

Luhts - Happy Birthday to your DS! My DS will be 4 on 10/12 (we're there 10/10-10/18)
Sadly, I agree that the birthday button will do nothing to sway the CM on height.

Maggie'sMom - thanks. I have not seen anything about Kali having special seats for 38"-40" riders! That is cool.

I just realized that he is 39 1/2" in socks. I just need to find him some nice tall tennis shoes!! I know they don't make them take shoes off!

 

[TravelinGal]

I just looked on WDW site and I see where it does say 38". That's strange because the chart on the TA site says 40" for Kali. I'll have to look at other rides more closely now too! Maybe he can ride Soarin'! (I thought that height requirement was silly last year - with the T strap for the kids, I don't see the worry, but I digress.)

Yeah - I can see where obvious platforms would be a trigger. I'd just look at normal tennis shoes.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Please don't judge me or flame me. Just looking for a clear answer.

OK, yes, I'm considering fudging a little on my child's height for a ride.

We have a ride at our local theme park that is like Kali River Rapids (actually "our" ride is more wet and more rough!) that has a 38" height minimum, so DS has been on it. He LOVES it! I see Kali has a 40" minimum. He is about 39 1/2" now and I don't know if he'll jump up that extra 1/2 inch before our trip.

My question is, if a child is wearing a hat (thinking bucket hat) do they make them take it off to measure them? I don't want to put stuff in his shoes. I'm just wondering if he's wearing a hat if it might buy him that extra 1/2 inch (or less if he grows between now and then)

I would never consider trying to get him on a ride that would frighten him or be of danger to him.

So, what are your thoughts/experiences on kids with hats?

The height requirement on Kali is 38 inches, so it should be a non-issue if your son is 39 1/2 with shoes off.

 

[SueM in MN]

CMs who work attractions have posted in the past that getting caught allowing a child on who is too short is a fireable offense. So, you are unlikely to get a CM who would take pity on any too-short child and let them on.

Also, I didn't see it mentioned, but your child will probably be measured more than once. The CM at the entrance to the queue will measure before you even get into line. The child will also be measured at least once again before boarding, especially if they look like the height is questionable.

I don't have any pictures of the special seat on Kali River Rapids, but it includes a removable lap bar that goes in front of a child who is below 40 inches.

 

[Luhts]

There was a ride at Canada's Wonderland that ds was too short for, and they "took pity" on him and let him on, but I know that won't happen at DisneyWorld. I just hope my little guy isn't too disappointed. But I know it's a safety thing.
OP: I'm glad they have the "special seat" for your guy, just incase. I hope he as a great 4th Birthday!

 

[TravelinGal]

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!

 

[Luhts]

Ya, I'm still on here! lol
Bringing up Soarin' reminds me that my then 3 y/o rode it at Disneyland last year, but at DisneyWorld he's too short??!! But it's the exact same ride!

 

[TravelinGal]

Ya, I'm still on here! lol
Bringing up Soarin' reminds me that my then 3 y/o rode it at Disneyland last year, but at DisneyWorld he's too short??!! But it's the exact same ride!

That's strange! It says 40" on both disneyland.com and disneyworld.com for Soarin'. Maybe it was shorter last year and they changed it??

 

[bumbershoot]

"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!

My son had a piece of paper slipped between the top of his head and the measuring thing, at the *second* measuring stick at DL's Star Tours. That was September.

In December, he was MORE than tall enough (and honestly he was tall enough in Sept, but a Disney person was scrunching him down and he was trying to please so he didn't stand straight and tall, sigh).

In between, we called it the "grow tall for Star Wars ride" diet. Lots of GOOD food, veggies, fruits, grains, good fats.

Right now we're having the "grow tall for Grizzly" diet.

 

[ERMama]

my son barely made the 40 inch mark for our recent trip with his shoes on (buzz lightyear ones which did have thicker soles). the cm's measured him but never made him take his shoes off.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Just wanted to share a word of warning that if your child is RIGHT AT the height mark, don't promise them that they will get on a certain ride. My DD was measured at her drs right before a trip and Disney's height and the Dr's Height was NOT the same (and she was wearing Crocs at both times so it wasn't that). Some of the Disney height levels may not be exact. It's better to have a "wait and see" attitude so that nobody gets disappointed.

 

[TravelinGal]

It helps that DS doesn't have an older silbling pumping him up about the rides. He doesn't really know what's there so if he can't go on something, it's not a big deal.

 

[vcgirl925]

These sneaks have a 1" heal! They might be good, especially if he's on the line....

http://www.martyshoes.com/Adidas_Response_Trail_J_013094_P6179.cfm

My son is just about 41" but i might get him a little higher soles just in case.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

That's strange! It says 40" on both disneyland.com and disneyworld.com for Soarin'. Maybe it was shorter last year and they changed it??

It was 40" last year too. My DGS was right at 40" but at Soarin he didn't pass. He made it through all of the other rides without a problem...but I don't know why the soarin measure stick seemed to be higher than 40" even though it is supposed to be 40".

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.