CMs asking kids to remove shoes for height check

[Mnrlred]

CMs should NOT be asking anyone to take off their shoes. That is against the policy. The rule is that if the shoes fit their feet appropriately (I.e, if they're not wearing big brother's shoes which are clearly 3 sizes too big), then it doesn't matter if they are three-inch platform sandals, CMs are required to allow them to ride. But bear on mind, your kid may look like he or she is touching, but if anything can pass between their head and the bar (a ticket, a flik card...anything no matter how thin), then they are not tall enough.

The wording you provided is a bit off. The rule is that If their shoes were obviously altered to meet the height requirement, the CM should ask the guest to return with the appropriate footwear.

It seems to be inconsistent, and your mileage may vary. keep in the CM at the entrance and/or their manager, if it comes to that, will have the final say.

 

[letsgoreds]

Our experience was that the CM at WDW seemed to really want the kids to meet the height requirement. They wouldn't bend any rules, but once told DS3 to raise his arms (lengthen's body), stand tall, etc. I didn't think that he had a chance for BTMRR, ST, TT, etc...so each time was a fingers crossed, because he was RIGHT at the height. Removing shoes is a no-no. The exception are higher heels for girls. That is adding several inches to a child's height. The shoes you tagged are not unreasonable.

I would just be honest with your LO that they are very close to being tall enough to ride the ride, but we will need to find out that day. If they don't make it for 7DMT, buy a mickey bar (or do something else fun) and move on. Probably a bigger deal for parents than the kids if they don't make the height.

Fingers crossed!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Here is the very worrisome situation:

Kids a "near-height" are measured TWICE.

Once at the entrance to the queue (waiting line) and again just before boarding.

It is VERY possible that a "borderline height" child can be passed at the FIRST
check-point, spend in a long time waiting in a busy queue with the rest of the family,
and THEN be stopped and refused boarding by the second measurement.

This can be absolutely crushing to a child and her/his family.

Be very aware that if the child "just passes" at the first measurement
there might be some unpleasant news at the ride-boarding.

I actually witness this happen to a family on Primeviel Whirl. A boy was measured at the entrance by a CM who didn't seem to care where his head hit on the line. He was close, but literally missed it by a hair. They were in front of us. The CM waved them through. 40 minutes later, the boy was called out of line just before they were assigned a car, and CM wouldn't let him on. Family put up a stink, boy left in tears, but it really comes down to safety.

OP, when is your trip? You DS may have a growth spurt between now and then. I will tell you, it is not typical for the CM to ask for shoes to be removed. Like someone said previous, shoes are factored in. As long as you are not wedging him higher with paper towel, or like the little 3yo with the wedge sandals, he should be fine in normal sneakers.

I would have him measured no matter what the outcome, because it looks like chances are, he will pass!

 

[LaurenT]

I'm gonna wager that your son will be able to ride. Those are ordinary sneakers - you're not putting him in stilts.
I think the incident with the crocs is unusual. My DD has been going to WDW several times a year for 10 years - since she was a toddler. She has been right at the line many times for various rides and as long as her head made contact, she was allowed on. With sandals, with sneakers, with crocs....
As far as safety - again, you're not putting him in stilts to sneak him on a ride. The height restrictions are created with shoes in mind. I am certain that there is a little room between the height restriction and the actual height that would create a risky situation.
Tell him he may not be able to ride. Tell him they may stop him at the second check, but get a FP and take him. If his head makes contact with that bar without him standing on his toes, I'm sure he'll be fine.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I actually witness this happen to a family on Primeviel Whirl. A boy was measured at the entrance by a CM who didn't seem to care where his head hit on the line. He was close, but literally missed it by a hair. They were in front of us. The CM waved them through. 40 minutes later, the boy was called out of line just before they were assigned a car, and CM wouldn't let him on. Family put up a stink, boy left in tears, but it really comes down to safety.

OP, when is your trip? You DS may have a growth spurt between now and then. I will tell you, it is not typical for the CM to ask for shoes to be removed. Like someone said previous, shoes are factored in. As long as you are not wedging him higher with paper towel, or like the little 3yo with the wedge sandals, he should be fine in normal sneakers.

I would have him measured no matter what the outcome, because it looks like chances are, he will pass!

I only wish, we leave in 17 days and he's already grown 4/10th of an inch since we booked. He's at 37.9 without shoes. No matter how much Kale and spinach we consume, I fear that last little spurt isn't happening.

To the PP decrying safety, I'm with ya. But my kid has seen that darn 7DMT commercial so many times that he's obsessed with seeing it. Personally, I'd rather use a FP for a parade, but if he can legit ride, I'm gonna let him.

 

[LaurenT]

I only wish, we leave in 17 days and he's already grown 4/10th of an inch since we booked. He's at 37.9 without shoes. No matter how much Kale and spinach we consume, I fear that last little spurt isn't happening.

To the PP decrying safety, I'm with ya. But my kid has seen that darn 7DMT commercial so many times that he's obsessed with seeing it. Personally, I'd rather use a FP for a parade, but if he can legit ride, I'm gonna let him.

Oh OP.... he's 37.9?! He's gonna be fine. I'm not sure if you mean 9/10ths of an inch or 9/12ths... but even 9/12ths is going to be fine in a pair of regular sneakers. Is your FP for the morning - before he "compresses"?

 

[WikiWiki]

Just to see( they had no intention of riding at that time) my sis took her son to get measured for mine train- he's 2 and very tall. Cm told my sister to get him some thicker shoes when they come back intending to ride and he should be good to go. So, her experience was the opposite- the cm told her to bump up his height with shoes.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Oh OP.... he's 37.9?! He's gonna be fine. I'm not sure if you mean 9/10ths of an inch or 9/12ths... but even 9/12ths is going to be fine in a pair of regular sneakers. Is your FP for the morning - before he "compresses"?

Unfortunately not, it's for 2pm. But I keep checking daily to try to make it earlier.

 

[kastoney]

We are going to be in a similar situation next month. My daughter is a dare devil and right at the cusp of 40 inches, I'm dreading making the first check and not the second.

One of our local amusement parks actually measures kids when they arrive and gives them a colored band to show what rides they can go on. I'd much prefer this system at disney as it removed the subjectivity in measuring that appears to be rampant.

 

[Gracie09]

We are going to be in a similar situation next month. My daughter is a dare devil and right at the cusp of 40 inches, I'm dreading making the first check and not the second. One of our local amusement parks actually measures kids when they arrive and gives them a colored band to show what rides they can go on. I'd much prefer this system at disney as it removed the subjectivity in measuring that appears to be rampant.

I don't think it's rampant. I've never had a problem with a difference at the beginning and the end. I suspect most of the issues are children on the cusp that were standing tall at the beginning but not at the end. Disney tried wristbands and parents were taking them off their taller children and putting them on the shorter children.

 

[LiveYourLife]

Unfortunately not, it's for 2pm. But I keep checking daily to try to make it earlier.

Awww, before you get in line for your FP+ just hold him upside-down at the ankles...that will stretch his little spine right out!!!

In all seriousness, if he's at 37.9 without shoes you should be okay. However, as the saying goes: hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Have fun OP!

 

[Jennasis]

Just to see( they had no intention of riding at that time) my sis took her son to get measured for mine train- he's 2 and very tall. Cm told my sister to get him some thicker shoes when they come back intending to ride and he should be good to go. So, her experience was the opposite- the cm told her to bump up his height with shoes.

The problem is, this is advice that would work only if they happened to get the same CM on that return visit with those thicker shoes...which is unlikely. They may very well get a stringent CM who would endeavor to get militant with the height.

It's a crapshoot.

 

[SueM in MN]

We are going to be in a similar situation next month. My daughter is a dare devil and right at the cusp of 40 inches, I'm dreading making the first check and not the second.

One of our local amusement parks actually measures kids when they arrive and gives them a colored band to show what rides they can go on. I'd much prefer this system at disney as it removed the subjectivity in measuring that appears to be rampant.

Disney did try the central measuring point and colored bands, but according to what CMs posted, it was quickly abandoned.
The reason was parents trying to cheat the system. They would get a taller child measured, remove the band and put it onto a shorter child, then get the taller child measured again to get a new band.

 

[Eastern]

Disney did try the central measuring point and colored bands, but according to what CMs posted, it was quickly abandoned.
The reason was parents trying to cheat the system. They would get a taller child measured, remove the band and put it onto a shorter child, then get the taller child measured again to get a new band.

unbelievable

 

[auralia]

It's also worth mentioning that if you carry the child through the line they are much more likely to remeasure! My ds was 43.5 inches and they remeasure at almost all rides if we were carrying him, when he was walking on his own he was only remeasure once. (Star tours)

 

[cruisingmom1977]

Just wondering because I've seen it discussed here that if it looks like a kid is being made to appear taller with certain shoes, the CMs will ask the child to remove them before measuring. Has anyone actually witnessed this? Curious because my DW just purchased these for our son (Not for height restrictions, they were on clearance) and I just realized wearing them he just barely hits 38 inches, aka Mine Train! Without them he does not.

I'm prepared to be flamed here but...OP...how much height do these shoes add to your son? My son in just shy of 37 inches flat footed. Regular sneakers make him just shy of 38 inches. I would like something that will make him a shade over 38 so I don't have to worry about the "double measure"...

...and to those that will tell me that half an inch is jeopardizing my kids life...give me a break...half an inch or an inch isn't making a safety difference on any of these rides.

 

[spewey]

My son is right at 48" with shoes on. He got on every ride with a 48" requirement during our last trip in May, except for one...the water coaster at TL. Even tho he met the requirement with his shoes on and his dad was riding with him, the CM made him take his water shoes off and sent him away heartbroken.

We had the same experience (although w/o water shoes my daughter just made the requirement). I was expecting that, as water rides often have different criteria, as their specs are designed for riders WITHOUT footwear.

 

[spewey]

I'm prepared to be flamed here but...OP...how much height do these shoes add to your son? My son in just shy of 37 inches flat footed. Regular sneakers make him just shy of 38 inches. I would like something that will make him a shade over 38 so I don't have to worry about the "double measure"...

...and to those that will tell me that half an inch is jeopardizing my kids life...give me a break...half an inch or an inch isn't making a safety difference on any of these rides.

Here's the thing, though - and this is not a flame. Height requirements are by their very nature arbitrary, and do not leave room for subjectivity. You are correct that a half inch probably won't matter much - but then, would an inch? Two? Three? Once you allow for subjectivity, where do you stop?

Incredibly smart and thorough (and usually Swiss and German) engineers set the specs. The contact with the purchasers usually states the ride can be operated with a higher height limit, (Cedar Fair parks have been notorious for that in the past) but not a lower one. Who are we to argue?

Having said that - a child that touches the bar with the top of his/her head wearing normal footwear gets on most rides at most parks. YMMV.

 

[surferdave]

Disney did try the central measuring point and colored bands, but according to what CMs posted, it was quickly abandoned.
The reason was parents trying to cheat the system. They would get a taller child measured, remove the band and put it onto a shorter child, then get the taller child measured again to get a new band.

I always thought this was a poor excuse. The colored bands work perfectly fine for such purposes elsewhere and Disney isn't hesitant to use them themselves when it suits their needs, like the hard ticket events. People try to cheat any system, and the bands are made to be very tamper resistant. As long as the CM who places it does it properly and a child has an actual hand at the end of his/her wrist the bands would work better and more consistently than measuring sticks at the front and back of every queue with different CMs applying different standards.

 

[Victoria3]

I'm prepared to be flamed here but...OP...how much height do these shoes add to your son? My son in just shy of 37 inches flat footed. Regular sneakers make him just shy of 38 inches. I would like something that will make him a shade over 38 so I don't have to worry about the "double measure"...

...and to those that will tell me that half an inch is jeopardizing my kids life...give me a break...half an inch or an inch isn't making a safety difference on any of these rides.

If it didn't matter why isn't the requirement 37 inches?