Disney with kids who don't meet height requirements

[aripantaloon]

There are so few rides that have a height requirement that our kids don't seem to mind. Well, sometimes the middle child gets a little miffed that our oldest can ride the big kid rides and she can't, but she gets over it quickly. We're not waiting until all of our kids meet the height requirement since we would be waiting a very long time.

The rider swap works really well. It's not like we are siting next to each other on Space Mountain (for example) anyway.

 

[Taja]

If my BFF's DGD had to wait until she was 48" tall to visit DL (they live in the vicinity) or WDW (first visit at age 9), she would have had to wait until she was 10 years old! And since her brother is 9.5 years younger than she is, it probably would be at least another 6 years. He's only three, but he has a larger build that his older sister, so he'll probably be significantly taller at an earlier age.

I have to agree with those who say there is far more available at WDW (and DL/CA) without height requirements that there is with minimum height requirements. It eliminates most of the thrill rides, so perhaps Disney is not the best choice for families who love thrill rides.

 

[Dreamer8]

Well then you will have to wait until they all reach the height min. I guess.

This is the amazing thing about having an only. We don't need to wait for anyone else to grow! and until then Child swap is perfect! And there is no hassle with one child for anything. I think OP what you might not see that Disney isn't 100% about the rides. Alot of it is about the experiences. The magic will leave once they are 9 or the same time Santa no longer exist. They really think that it's Mickey, and not a guy in a costume. They believe that Tinkerbell just lit up the castle! Those are moment you won't get with an older child.

What is so off putting about child swap OP?

Well besides the obvious that I wouldn't get to ride with DW, it seems a bit cumbersome.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Well besides the obvious that I wouldn't get to ride with DW, it seems a bit cumbersome.

Ok, so as a wife that loves thrill rides i will say: I don't care if DH is next to me! It's not like im holding a conversations with him while it's going on. I'm to engaged with the ride.

It's hardly "cumbersome" You do the line all together you are then ushered into a side room. The first person goes, comes back waits for you or meet up in the giftshop.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Here are all the rides, attractions, shows that younger children can go on and don't have height restrictions.

MK: Winnie the Pooh, Mad Tea Party, Snow White, It's a Small World, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Prince Charming's Carousel, Jungle Cruise, TTA People Mover, Laugh Floor, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Country Bear Jamboree, Swiss Family Tree House, Tom Sawyer's Island, Carousel of Progress, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Numerous Character Meets and Meals, Wishes, Electric Parade.

And that's just for Magic Kingdom. It's so much more than just thrill rides, and unlike some of the other amusement parks, younger children can have a great time at WDW. Whether it's a hassel or not is such a subjective thing, each family will have to decide on their own though. We love Disney!

AND Tiki Room, Mickey's Philharmagic, Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents, Pirate of the Caribbean, Liberty Belle Riverboat, and Astro Orbiter. There is just so much that they can do in MK, and only 5 things with a height requirement. EP has 4 things, AK has 4 things, and HS has 4 things.

 

[mesaboy2]

Well besides the obvious that I wouldn't get to ride with DW, it seems a bit cumbersome.

I don't know that it's as cumbersome as you appear to think, but to each their own. While I would enjoy the ride a little bit more if my family could all do it together, it doesn't significantly detract from the magic of Disney IMO.

 

[Dreamer8]

AND Tiki Room, Mickey's Philharmagic, Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents, Pirate of the Caribbean, Liberty Belle Riverboat, and Astro Orbiter. There is just so much that they can do in MK, and only 5 things with a height requirement. EP has 4 things, AK has 4 things, and HS has 4 things.

There are certainly a lot of rides but it so happens that the ones that have height requirements are typically the most popular and in Epcot's case, are essentially the main draw. Who would go to Epcot in the morning if you can't ride Soarin or Test Track?

 

[heatherwillmom]

The first time that we took our kids to WDW, they were 3 & 5. They couldn't ride a lot of things but it was still fun. DH doesn't ride a lot. I rode a lot of things alone & we did the baby swap on some others. The look on their faces was worth the trip. The character interaction was very important to them. It was several years before they could or wanted to ride the thrill rides. I don't regret taking them at that age. In fact, I wish we had taken them earlier. They are teenagers now & they want to ride everything

 

[mesaboy2]

There are certainly a lot of rides but it so happens that the ones that have height requirements are typically the most popular and in Epcot's case, are essentially the main draw. Who would go to Epcot in the morning if you can't ride Soarin or Test Track?

Me.

 

[Dreamer8]

Me.

haha okay well I'm sure there are a few but I don't think the majority of people would be happy if they found out Soarin and Test Track were being refurbished.. I'm guessing the park would be almost empty in the morning.

 

[mesaboy2]

haha okay well I'm sure there are a few but I don't think the majority of people would be happy if they found out Soarin and Test Track were being refurbished.. I'm guessing the park would be almost empty in the morning.

Spaceship Earth, The Seas With Nemo and Friends, Living with the Land, Mission: Space, Innoventions East and West, Epcot Character Spot, and Journey into Imagination with Figment. Only Mission: Space would be a possible issue with the kids. Plenty to do, and that's only in Future World.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Add us to the list of people who go to Epcot in the AM!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I have a 4 and 2 year old. We go probably 2 times a year most years. My 4 year old is 37 inches. She is not going to be 48 anytime soon.... with that said her favorite park is Epcot. She could spend all day with characters, in the "golf ball", splash pads, innovations, and the seas. Add in figment a couple million times and living with the land and you've made her morning. She also LOVES making her duffy around the world.

I think that you are under estimating what Disney is about. If those rides are going to break the trip for you then you should wait. If this is a one time trip and you won't ever be back then don't bother. But if you are going to wait because you think you won't have fun you are mistaken. The view of Disney through a childs eyes is nothing short of magical. They see it and BELIEVE it's real. Dumbo might not do it for you but it sure will make a big impact on a little one who truly thinks they are flying in a magic elephant!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

By the time a child is old enough for Rock N Roller Coaster, Its a Small World and Turtle Talk might not hold the same enjoyment. Disney World has something for every age group. It was designed to be a place that a family could go and find something for all ages to enjoy. It seems silly to wait until a child is old enough for the thrill rides but miss out on the "magical age" where they are so excited to meet the characters, do the KidCot activities, etc. If you reduce Disney World to just the thrill rides, you're missing the whole point of Disney World.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think the OP doesn't want to use child swap because he wants to ride with his wife. If the kids can't ride, there's no way he can do that unless the kids go to kids club or he waits until the kids are tall enough to ride to visit....those are his options. I don't remember him saying how old his kids are because if they are under 4 and/or not potty trained, the option that's left is in-room babysitting. Or maybe bringing a relative who will agree to stay with the kids.

 

[Tara922c]

I have taken dd three times to wdw, and all three times she was too short to ride anything with a height requirement. She is tiny, age 4, and maybe 38 inches. Being said, we had a blast! Sure we were not able to ride any of the "thrill rides", but there was more rides that we could ride, then we couldn't ride.

I was one of those people wondering why on earth anyone would bring a kid to disney that wasn't tall enough to ride some of the rides. Then I had my own child. She loves disney, and talks about it all the time! We are a Disney loving family, and my dd, poor thing, is short like her momma! (I am only 4'11) I am not waiting until she is tall enough to ride the "big rides" before I take her. Seeing her at Disney at 3 years old when Cinderella was real, the castle was real, and Mickey was real was priceless!

 

[JUJU814]

What if..you wait until the kids are tall enough, and then they don't WANT to go on one of the thrill rides that has a height requirement? What if they're too afraid? Are you going to make them go just so you can ride it? Maybe you should wait until not only are they tall enough, but old enough to let walk around by themselves for an hour or so.

Not all kids like thrill rides. Mine are some of them! lol

 

[Dreamer8]

What if..you wait until the kids are tall enough, and then they don't WANT to go on one of the thrill rides that has a height requirement? What if they're too afraid? Are you going to make them go just so you can ride it? Maybe you should wait until not only are they tall enough, but old enough to let walk around by themselves for an hour or so.

Not all kids like thrill rides. Mine are some of them! lol

That sounds like bad behavior to me and if they're not going to do what I want to do, then we won't do what they want either. Including no pool time.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I think the OP doesn't want to use child swap because he wants to ride with his wife. If the kids can't ride, there's no way he can do that unless the kids go to kids club or he waits until the kids are tall enough to ride to visit....those are his options. I don't remember him saying how old his kids are because if they are under 4 and/or not potty trained, the option that's left is in-room babysitting. Or maybe bringing a relative who will agree to stay with the kids.

Which is what we did last year but it was more to have a "day off". My parents thought it would be nice if we could spend our anniversary day at the parks by ourselves. OP there are options but in the long run I know for me it did not matter if I rode with DH and child swap is not as hard to use at all.

 

[danceintherain]

There are certainly a lot of rides but it so happens that the ones that have height requirements are typically the most popular and in Epcot's case, are essentially the main draw. Who would go to Epcot in the morning if you can't ride Soarin or Test Track?

haha okay well I'm sure there are a few but I don't think the majority of people would be happy if they found out Soarin and Test Track were being refurbished.. I'm guessing the park would be almost empty in the morning.

Your problem, at the moment, is your audience. The majority of people who frequent these boards have no problem going to Disney with small children, and likely already have done so. You may come across a few who wouldn't take their children until they were old enough for all the major attractions, but many of those people only come by here in the few months prior to their trip, and never come back, because they never return to Disney.

I think the OP doesn't want to use child swap because he wants to ride with his wife. If the kids can't ride, there's no way he can do that unless the kids go to kids club or he waits until the kids are tall enough to ride to visit....those are his options. I don't remember him saying how old his kids are because if they are under 4 and/or not potty trained, the option that's left is in-room babysitting. Or maybe bringing a relative who will agree to stay with the kids.

Well...at least one of his kids is likely under 4, or very short, because he mentioned wanting to ride Thunder and Splash Mountain, which I had no problems riding as a 4 year old. Thunder Mountain was actually my favorite ride as a child. I don't like it so much now, because I find it a bit too jostling for my taste, but that's beside the point... Since the height requirement for Thunder Mountain is 40' now (and likely was in 1991) the only thing I would not have been able to ride that I might have wanted to ride would be Rockin' Rollercoaster and Space Mountain (I did want to ride Space Mountain and couldn't, but RnRC wasn't there yet)

Anyways, it seems the OP would need to pay for in room babysitting, bring an additional adult, or leave his children at home, if he wants to ride these attractions with his wife. Personally, I think all of those things would be more of a hassle than riding a few attractions alone.