DD measures 40 inches exactly (with sneakers)...

[zakatak]

DD measures 40 inches exactly (with sneakers)...
How likely is it she will get turned down at BTMR? Splash?

I know the height requirement is 40 inches, but I've also heard that their sticks are slightly off (even from the end of the line to the front). I haven't said anything to her yet about riding Splash and Thunder because I don't want to get her hopes up if they don't let her ride.

Anyone have any experience with JUST 40 inchers?

Thanks!

Karen

 

[robinb]

We had the exact same situation at Disneyland in March. My DD was exactly 40 inches (OK, on a good day) with her shoes on. Disneyland has an automated measuring system where the child receives a water-proof bracelet like the ones given on E-Nights or at waterparks or at the hospital. It's color coded with the appropriate height of your child. My DD measured at the 40 inches the first time the CM measured her and then failed the next time. He would not give her the 40 inch braclet and I refused the under-40 inch bracelet and took my chances at the rides.

She squeaked through every ride we tried: BTMR, Splash, Soarin' Over California. The CMs really worked hard to get her to stand up straight so she could make it. Yet, one double-checked with a piece of paper between her head and the measuring stick at Soarin'. She made it . She refused to ride BTMR after standing in line, but loved Splash (even through the DL ride has single seat logs ) and Soarin'.

Good luck! I hope your little daredevil can ride!

BTW, we'll be at The World in 9 days too (actually in 6 ).

 

[NotUrsula]

We found that when DS was just a smidge over 40" standing straight, he got on at every ride UNLESS we had been carrying him in the ride line.

I don't know if that makes the CM's think the kids are younger, or what the reason is, but we found that if they had seen us carry him, they were much more draconian about the measurement. (Understand, we did not try to cheat, but it was the slouching that caused him to fail. He was shy of the CM's, and tended to cower when they made a big deal out of measuring him.)

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Good luck. My son was 43.5" and a good 43" (he was after all- 5yrs old.... just turned 5 but still 5) and he kept measuring too small for lots of rides he shouldn't have. I thought there were some that were 44" and then I understood why he didn't make it (also didn't have thick soled tennies on though) but some he definitely should have passed the height restriction. I think it has to do with the slouching/shyness thing too though. And they really don't have time to wait for him to get comfortable with them enough to stand up straight and measure him. LOL

I do think it's a bit at the CMs discretion though. That's the only way I can explain there being times that my son had to wait out the rides with me and the youngest (and vice versa with his daddy) yet we'd see SHORTER children, definitely visibly shorter, coming off the ride having rode it. *shrugs* Happens I guess- and only ONE time did my son notice it also and got really upset.

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee dad Says.............................Cut a 1 inch by 1 inch piece of 3/8 inch plywood, and insert just before the ride. Should help, can't hurt!

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm in a similar situation!

My DD (7) is just 48 inches with her sneakers on (47 1/2 with them off). I'm so afraid she won't make it for RnR. She REALLY wants to go on this in December. Hopefully, by then she'll grow another 1/2 to 1 inch before our trip so that she's not broken hearted if that stick is 'off' a little.

I may purchase higher sandals just for that ride.

I would never try to pass off my child whose clearly under the height requirement. I just want to be sure that if she's 48 inches, they don't tell her 'sorry' because of a stick that's not measuring correctly.

Let's see, what's good for helping a child grow an inch in 5 months?? Lot's of veggies? This might be a good way to get her to eat more!

 

[welovedis]

Originally posted by disneefamily
Disnee dad Says.............................Cut a 1 inch by 1 inch piece of 3/8 inch plywood, and insert just before the ride. Should help, can't hurt!

You're kidding, right?

 

[deb305]

Our DD was just 40.5" on last trip. I prepared her that the CM's decision were final, and safety was more important than anything. She did get on BTM. I felt awful as I am a large person, and sitting next to her in the car kept the bar from touching her knees. I literally was holding her down, and using my foot to brace myself on my side of the ride to keep from squishing her. I'm not sure if she was more afraid of the ride, or being splat like bug by her Mom.
These height restrictions are for her safety, nothing is more important than that. And I agree some height restrictions seem way to high, but I'm not the designing engineer. Please don't try to cheat the system with shoes etc. Frankly, as great as a place WDW is, they still keep their accident information very secret. No one knows the true accident rate in any of the Disney parks. Kids can get hurt on these rides.

 

[dijid]

Bandanas in the shoes are much more comfortable than plywood! My DD is 40" on a good day with her head held high, but with a little padding in her shoes (and the instructions of not to put it in or take it out til we were out of sight of the CMs) we did fine. Every CM measures differently, too. Sometimes she appeared to be 42" tall others, she barely made it. They all have their technique for where to stand, how to hold the head, etc. So my advice is to use a little padding to insure you make it and then you don't have to worry!

 

[beattyfamily]

I don't feel that anyone here wants to 'cheat' and harm their child. They want their child who just measures 40 inches or 48 inches not to be declined because of a faulty stick.

If my DD is 48' with her sneakers on and sometimes she gets on a ride and sometimes she doesn't, well, that is what I'm trying to avoid.

I'm hoping it's all moot because I have 5 months for her to be 48 inches with no shoes and right now she's between 47 and 47 1/2 depending on who measures her!

 

[LIFERBABE]

My ds measured 41" on his physical 3 days before we left for WDW. He was "sticked" on all the 40" rides. His head hit the inside top of the "L" shaped stick and they let him pass. He rode Test Track and Splash Mountain Thunder railroad and others as we visited all 4 parks. He did not make Space Mountain as their req. is taller.

I realized that the height requirements are prudent, as they do have to have enough "torso" to keep them secured in the rides as there are not many other types of restraints. I tried to hold on to him on Splash as it only has a lap bar and as stated earlier with an adult and a child the bar will only go back as far as the adult will let it, so the child is not as snugly fitted on these rides.
When you are dropping 5 stories, there is no way to hold on if they were to start to slip.

He wore regular court style sneakers.

Every year they grow a little more and get to experience new rides and it's exciting to them.

My older DS wanted to Drive the Indy Car at MK by himself, which requires 54" (I believe) I thought it was so cute when she "sticked" him and when he didnt make the cut she said "next year". He talked of nothing else the rest of the day that next year he'll be seven and he gets to drive the car all by himself!

 

[disneyag]

My 6yr old DD was measured 3 days before our trip in May. She measured 48 1/2 inches without shoes. The top of her head did not touch the bar at RNR. By the way, it's now a permanent height sign. There was no CM with a stick. Anyway, I think it's prudent to at least talk to your child about the possibility of them not being able to ride if their height is close.

 

[wenbel]

The last time we were at DW there was a CM standing at beginning of SPLASH line and he never stopped us (not crowded either) so DD thought she would be able to go on. When we got to the front of the line the CM stopped us, measured her and said no. (she was another close case). She was disappointed but while we waited for rest of family in the gift shop the CM heard us talking about next time and gave her a certificate about being a future rider. She told us that when DD was big enough to go on SPLASH to bring the certificate back and she could go to the front of the line with her family. Anyone else have this happen? Should we bring her certificate back or will they think I'm crazy??
Note: this happened 4/2002 and we are going 4/2004

 

[princesstommi]

Should we bring her certificate back or will they think I'm crazy??
Note: this happened 4/2002 and we are going 4/2004

Take it with you! It can't hurt. The worst thing they can say is "NO" and you will have to do the normal standby line. But I would bet that a friendly CM would treat that as a fastpass and congratulate your DD on being able to ride this year.

 

[Manatee]

I have identical 4yo twins, this past christmas we tried to get them onto splash, one passed the stick test the other did not, it was just down to the sole thickness on their shoes, so one went on with DW then they swapped shoes and the other went on with me. They do not measure kids in bare feet they are measured with their shoes on, so unless they are trying to cheat with really big heels, if your child is on the measure line with their shoes on they should be ok, i do not think a matter of an inch or so is going to make any difference to the safety aspect on these rides.

 

[crisi]

Someone has posted as well that they are more likely to let a child who looks five but is just 40 inches slide than a child who looks three and is the same height. Don't know if its true, but it does make some sense that there is a little discretion going on here and that some CM may let a short five year old ride, but be leary of letting a tall "just three" on.

 

[Disney Princess 6]

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