Concerned about Height Requirements

[Aneille]

um ok call me stupid or gullible but you gotta be kidding me right? I mean people don't really lose height each day, do they? Got a link to tell me more ofthis phenomena

According to Wikpedia " A person's height also varies over the course of the day, by an average of 19 mm, gradually shrinking as the spine compresses over the course of a day, and stretching back out overnight (Tyrrell, et al. 1985)."

For those like me that don't use metric often 19mm is .75 inches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

I am not sure I buy that as a valid reason for not measuring once upon entry because I think there must be a bigger safety factor figured in for the height requirements to take into consideration mis-measurements and people getting by with larger shoes etc.

I think the reason WDW doesn't measure once is that its harder to fake your height multiple times throughout the day then it is to do it once. By taking your measurement more times, they are making it harder to cheat, and giving the CM's more chances of catching someone that is adding a cheat. I bet most of us could think of a way to add 2 inches to our height if we wanted if we only needed to be measured once.

Also by measuring once, some people may attempt to change ID bands and or bring their own in.

Edit: Maybe that is some of their reasoning but I can't believe its the only one.

 

[mojophone]

According to Wikpedia " A person's height also varies over the course of the day, by an average of 19 mm, gradually shrinking as the spine compresses over the course of a day, and stretching back out overnight (Tyrrell, et al. 1985)."

For those like me that don't use metric often 19mm is .75 inches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height

I am not sure I buy that as a valid reason for not measuring once upon entry because I think there must be a bigger safety factor figured in for the height requirements to take into consideration mis-measurements and people getting buy with larger shoes etc.

I think the reason WDW doesn't measure once is that its harder to fake your height multiple times throughout the day then it is to do it once. By taking your measurement more times, they are making it harder to cheat, and giving the CM's a better chances of catching a cheat.

Also measuring once and some people may attempt to change ID bands and or bring their own or something.

Wow this is so cool. I just learned something really hepful. At least I think it is helpful, I now know why other parks don't do this. THanks for the info

 

[susykt4]

DS was also just under 40 inches for our January trip. He got on Big Thunder Mtn seven times, made it onto Soarin' once and was turned away once. The Soarin' people were STRICT and I think we only made it on the first time because we got there right at park opening when a zillion people were pouring into the line. We skipped Splash Mtn this time and Test Track was closed. It seems like we got him on something else, but I can't think what it could have been...

 

[Chris Kringle]

Thanks for all of your feedback. I went to Walmart today and picked him up a new pair of sneakers. He's had the other sneakers for several months and the tread is a little worn. The newer shoes are a half size bigger and seem to have a thicker soul. According to my measurements he is now just over 40 inches. I'll be sure to hit splash mountain right away though, before he compresses!

Only 5 more days!! Can't wait !!!!

 

[DISUNC]

Thanks for all of your feedback........I'll be sure to hit splash mountain right away though, before he compresses!

Have a great time!!!

 

[RN2BIA]

In 2003 my DS was 5 and barely met the requirements. It was his new tennis shoes with the soles that helped make him tallk enough - that and I spiked his hair. Tell him to stand tall and act like he is six.

 

[Lorelai]

Thanks for all of your feedback. I went to Walmart today and picked him up a new pair of sneakers. He's had the other sneakers for several months and the tread is a little worn. The newer shoes are a half size bigger and seem to have a thicker soul. According to my measurements he is now just over 40 inches. I'll be sure to hit splash mountain right away though, before he compresses!

Only 5 more days!! Can't wait !!!!

Okay, my plan is to run into MGM towards RnRC with my 7 year old (just barely 48 inches) first thing in the morning, yelling "Go faster, run, RUN...you're shrinking by the second!!!" Wait, maybe I'll carry him to MGM so he can't shrink on the way.

Seriously, I never knew this daily shrink fact, but it makes sense - in some odd way. Thanks for sharing! I think we DISers have some very cool "little known facts" that would make Cliffie proud.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Okay, my plan is to run into MGM towards RnRC with my 7 year old (just barely 48 inches) first thing in the morning, yelling "Go faster, run, RUN...you're shrinking by the second!!!" Wait, maybe I'll carry him to MGM so he can't shrink on the way.

I'm not going to let my son run, because the running might make him compress more!!!!

Seriously, though, I'm going to use the breathing trick and hope for the best and prepare him for the worst.

 

[Sleepy]

Aside from one ride (that I know of), which is stand up at King's Dominion in VA, I will never understand why they measure a child STANDING UP. If the safety is all about measurement and fitting properly in restraining belts, harnesses, bars, etc, wouldn't it make more sense to measure a child from the rear up while they are in a sitting position? Have stationary hard plastic seats with stationary measuring sticks overhead. Have the kid sit in the chair and if his/her head can touch the protruding stick, You are good to go! No problems with thick soled shoes to fudge the height. Remove all hats too. Now, I wonder how many parents would stuff the kids pants with a couch cushion to improve height ?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Sleepy, that's been my point before and exactly why 1/2" or even an inch or more doesn't really matter on most kids. You could have a child with real long legs and a short torso, and that has to be who the ride manufacturer is designing the ride for. You then have another child who is the same 48", if we are measuring for a ride like RnR where we are concerned about the shoulder restraint fitting, who has short legs and a real long torso. So for them, their torso, at 46" could be the same at the 48 or 49" child with extra long legs.

Sleepy, how did you like the stand-up ride at KD? My kids went on it--I didn't make it on it, but plan to at some point this summer.

 

[Aneille]

I agree with T&B and Sleepy too.

Car seat restraints use a height requirement as well, but if you check with a car seat tech they will tell you its not really the height but where they height is located that makes a seat a good fit or a bad fit.

But you have to have some type of hard measurement otherwise so many people would get it wrong. Heck, even with a hard and fast rule people ignore it, either because of ignorance of the rule, or they don't bother to follow the rules.

 

[DisDarling]

Id have to say if he is still not meeting the height requirments, try the other rides and attractions Its Disney World, dont sweat it, you will have a great time any way!!
D.D.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

But you have to have some type of hard measurement otherwise so many people would get it wrong. Heck, even with a hard and fast rule people ignore it, either because of ignorance of the rule, or they don't bother to follow the rules.

And can you imagine how complicated it could be outside of a ride like RnR? They could measure my son's height, then his torso and leg measurements. Then while we're at it, let's factor in his weight, because a severly unweight child could be more unsafe on a ride like that (or esp on a Space Mt type ride). By this time the child has compressed and isn't tall enough.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Seriously, I never knew this daily shrink fact, but it makes sense - in some odd way. Thanks for sharing! I think we DISers have some very cool "little known facts" that would make Cliffie proud.

It's because of gravity. I used to teach 7th grade and we studied space. Astronauts come back from space missions taller than when they leave! For one week during the space unit, the 7th graders had to measure themselves when they woke up in the am, and again before they went to bed. There was a definite difference! I have to admit I never thought about it for ride height restrictions...

Last trip, my DS 3 1/2 was barely 40 inches. I'd joek with him at dinner every night to eat his broccoli so he could go on Big Thunder Railroad (He actually does love broccoli...and when he ate a healthy portion, I'd say, "Oh, you are going to grow tonight!") When I measured him at home, I thought he was exactly 40" or maybe a tad bit under, but he measured up fine for the rides! I'd be too nervous to fake a height with a hat or shoes, but he was clearly above the line at WDW even though I thought he was just barely 40" at home.

When we first measured him at Big Thunder Railroad, we cheered! People were laughing, and I told them all, "We've been *growing him* all summer -- he's been eating all his broccoli!" I even took his picture by the height sign. What a milestone!!

Good luck!

 

[Sleepy]

Sleepy, how did you like the stand-up ride at KD? My kids went on it--I didn't make it on it, but plan to at some point this summer.

I never rode it, but my husband did. He said it was a very rough ride and said he would never ride it again. That was many years ago ( 7) and due to the park's deterioration at that time, we never went back. Height was an issue....specifically inseam height. You had to straddle a safety device during the ride. I know if my husband barely had enough inseam height (he is 5-3), I would have never made it. I am only 5ft and have short legs. I also have problems with Anaconda due to my height and the way the headrest restraint is designed. It's perfect for a taller person. I also had problems with Lock Ness at Busch Gardens W'burg. My son was tall enough for it, but he is very thin and at the time, it appeared his shoulders could have slipped through the shoulder harness. WHen dealing with something that goes upside down, this is a huge issue. We did not ride. I don't care if one makes the height requirements or not. There are other factors to safety.

Anyway, not meaning to hijack this thread. It's concentrating more on height requirements in general, not how well one (within the required height) will best be suited based on how the ride restraints are designed.