DL accuracy of height requirements

[Tabarr06]

My son is 39.75 inches without shoes and 40.5 with tennis shoes on. I have heard that the measuring guides are inaccurate at DLpark. Does anyone know which ones are taller then the advertised 40 inches. He has two older siblings who constantly talk about big thunder and splash mountain and really wants to ride those. I was hoping to hear any personal experiences of people who were in a similar situation. Leaving in 40 days. Hopefully he grows a quarter inch in the mean time to make it safe.

 

[willmccready]

My son was EXACTLY 40" when we went last year and he didn't have any problems for Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, or Star Tours. Just make sure he stands up straight.

 

[Aurora_Australis]

We had two in our party be denied for rides in the afternoon that they had ridden in the morning at DCA but no issues at DL. Both were right on the markers at 40" and 48".
My fingers are crossed for a 1.5" growth spurt over the next 3 months for my 3.5yo.

 

[WDWLODGE]

I would suggest that you do these rides first thing in the morning. A few years ago our DS was at a similar height and we found he would always measure above 40" in the morning but on a few occasions came up just short in the evening. You are your tallest in the AM then gravity begins to take over throughout the day.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you want DL specific feedback, you might want to post this in the DL forum.

 

[Tabarr06]

Thanks for the replys. This gives us hope. It is amazing how much we shrink during the day. Sorry if I posted in the wrong section. I am in Disneyland (California) section right? Or does that refer to California adventures? Thanks.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Thanks for the replys. This gives us hope. It is amazing how much we shrink during the day. Sorry if I posted in the wrong section. I am in Disneyland (California) section right? Or does that refer to California adventures? Thanks.

You are in the correct forum.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the replys. This gives us hope. It is amazing how much we shrink during the day. Sorry if I posted in the wrong section. I am in Disneyland (California) section right? Or does that refer to California adventures? Thanks.

You initially posted in the WDW Theme Parks Attratctions and Strategies forum. It appears that a moderator has moved it to the Disneyland forum for you.

 

[Malcon10t]

I have personally measured all the height sticks with a measuring tape, and they are all dead on exact, except Jumping Jellyfish, which is 1" off. If your child is exactly 40", ride in the morning, and make sure they are standing with their feet together, and stand up straight. We have had 1 issue when my granddaughter had made the height for 2 days with me there, then friends took her on and I wasn't there to coach her, and she wasn't tall enough (feet weren't together.) Also, try measuring on a ride they may not want to do so you can check it out before and avoid a melt down.

 

[Darkbeer1]

California law states that the measurement must be taken on a specific post that has been tested by DOSH, and that failure to make sure the child is the correct height falls to the lead operator of the attraction on duty at the time is the responsible one and can be cited or even sued if something goes wrong. So that is why they are so strict.

 

[Angrose]

Beware of Big Thunder. We just went a few weeks ago with my nephew who measured 40in home. They measured him at the entrance of the queue and he just made it, but they measured him again on the ride platform and he was a smudge too short, so he couldn't ride. I was pretty upset, I mean, why even measure at the queue entrance then? The CM was really nice about it though and gave us a family FP for any ride. He also just missed the height requirement for star Tours but made it onto RSR twice. Go figure.

 

[pharmama]

Beware of Big Thunder. We just went a few weeks ago with my nephew who measured 40in home. They measured him at the entrance of the queue and he just made it, but they measured him again on the ride platform and he was a smudge too short, so he couldn't ride. I was pretty upset, I mean, why even measure at the queue entrance then? The CM was really nice about it though and gave us a family FP for any ride. He also just missed the height requirement for star Tours but made it onto RSR twice. Go figure.

This happened to us at Big Thunder as well. DD rode it once without issue (she was checked at the entrance marker and passed, was not rechecked at the platform) then liked it so much she wanted to go again right away. Again she "passed" at the entrance marker but this time they checked her on the platform and felt she was a hair too short. They gave her one of the "come back when you're tall enough" FPs good for up to 6 people too. She was super confused though since she had just ridden the ride...

We did not have issue at any other 40" rides with her on that trip but I think she only did Splash, Soarin' and RSR.

 

[Malcon10t]

Beware of Big Thunder. We just went a few weeks ago with my nephew who measured 40in home. They measured him at the entrance of the queue and he just made it, but they measured him again on the ride platform and he was a smudge too short, so he couldn't ride. I was pretty upset, I mean, why even measure at the queue entrance then? The CM was really nice about it though and gave us a family FP for any ride. He also just missed the height requirement for star Tours but made it onto RSR twice. Go figure.

It really is all about how they stand. That and kids really don't like to hit their heads. You have to make sure they know they have to hit their heads. When my granddaughter missed the mark, I know the CM thought I did something, but all I did was remind her to stand up straight, put her feet together and stand with feet UNDER the bar. She would have her feet too far forward.

 

[GatorChris]

We taught our kids how to measure up when they were close to or at 40 inches. We would set up a board, or in one case with the stair banister at exactly 40 inches, we would teach them how to touch their heads to the marker. Some kids try to "fit" under it and don't get the purpose.

The only time we had a problem is this last trip at Indy, which is 46 inches. Our daughter is 46 inches, so we measured her at the entrance and she passed by a good margin. Then she passed again at another spot - I think the FP exchange area - and passed again by at least half an inch. Then when we got to the ride, they were giving her all sorts of grief. The CM was actually pushing on her head. That's when I told her to get her hands off my daughter and let her stand up. They let her on, finally. It was so weird. I get they're trying to be safe, but this gal was clearly have a bad day and was taking it out on kids.

 

[bumbershoot]

We never found found there be an error in the height sticks.

We had two in our party be denied for rides in the afternoon that they had ridden in the morning at DCA but no issues at DL. Both were right on the markers at 40" and 48".
My fingers are crossed for a 1.5" growth spurt over the next 3 months for my 3.5yo.

She was super confused though since she had just ridden the ride...

And both of these make perfect sense.

An immediate re-ride for a kid right on the line is asking to measure short. That very ride just smooshed the child down a bit. Take some time between, do some stretching, drink some
water. Or just go the next day.

F

 

[ParkHopper1]

Teaching and working with the kids ahead of time as @Malcon10t mentioned on how to "stand tall" (feet together, back straight, shoulders back, neck extended) is the difference between riding and not sometimes. If you just show up and hope for the best kids in the marginal zone are gonna have a tough time as some discovered. If the kids know the importance of how to play the game and not to slouch well ahed of time before even arriving at the park, they will breeze through every time.

Practice at home so when the time comes and you give them a "stand tall" reminder they know exactly what to do even if tired.

 

[pharmama]

An immediate re-ride for a kid right on the line is asking to measure short. That very ride just smooshed the child down a bit. Take some time between, do some stretching, drink some
water. Or just go the next day.

F

Perhaps. But she passed the measurement at the queue entrance by a CM the first and second time through. They did not measure her on the platform on ride one or perhaps she would have failed then too.

 

[agamble]

This happened to us at Big Thunder as well. DD rode it once without issue (she was checked at the entrance marker and passed, was not rechecked at the platform) then liked it so much she wanted to go again right away. Again she "passed" at the entrance marker but this time they checked her on the platform and felt she was a hair too short. They gave her one of the "come back when you're tall enough" FPs good for up to 6 people too. She was super confused though since she had just ridden the ride...

We did not have issue at any other 40" rides with her on that trip but I think she only did Splash, Soarin' and RSR.

When our oldest was 35" we took her to ride Gadgett's. She rode twice, on the third time through they said she wasn't tall enough. We put her in different shoes the next day and didn't have any issues.

 

[Aurora_Australis]

We taught our kids how to measure up when they were close to or at 40 inches. We would set up a board, or in one case with the stair banister at exactly 40 inches, we would teach them how to touch their heads to the marker. Some kids try to "fit" under it and don't get the purpose.

That's a good idea, thanks! Our youngest has a language delay so running through the process beforehand would be useful. (She also has a tendency to stand on her toes when I try to measure her - not helpful!)

 

[Leopardstars]

That's a good idea, thanks! Our youngest has a language delay so running through the process beforehand would be useful. (She also has a tendency to stand on her toes when I try to measure her - not helpful!)

I did this with my daughter prior to going to our local amusement park. It helps when they understand why the need to stand up straight and not slouch. At 5.5 my DD will still tend to slouch.

My son is 39.75 inches without shoes and 40.5 with tennis shoes on. I have heard that the measuring guides are inaccurate at DLpark. Does anyone know which ones are taller then the advertised 40 inches. He has two older siblings who constantly talk about big thunder and splash mountain and really wants to ride those. I was hoping to hear any personal experiences of people who were in a similar situation. Leaving in 40 days. Hopefully he grows a quarter inch in the mean time to make it safe.

My DD just grew a 1/2 inch in about 7 weeks. Here's hoping for a growth spurt that makes sure he's over 40 without shoes.