Does DL strictly enforce height restrictions?

[ND Disney Daddy]

My youngest daughter is just a shade over 39" in bare feet. In tennis shoes she just barely scrapes the 40" requirement for many of the rides she's looking forward to (Splash, Space, Big Thunder, etc.)

Does anyone know how strict DLR employees are in enforcing the height requirements? Are the "you must be this tall" signs set right at 40", or do they go a little higher to account for shoes & hair?

I'll have one heartbroken little girl on my hands if she has to stay behind while her sisters ride the big kid rides.

 

[skiingfast]

I don't know that the measuring will allow some leeway or if it's exact. But She will be measured and sometimes twice in a queue by any CM paying attention.

I hope she can stand tall and ride.

 

[Shimmer]

We had the same thing last visit. My youngest was 39.5" in bare feet/flip flops. He got turned away from Sorin' in sandels.

But in his "fast shoes" (his description of tennis shoes) he could just hit the 40". Most CMs were very careful when checking him to make sure he hit the mark. They'd ask him to take off his ears and really checked.

We did notice a slight difference between signs...some were a tiny bit lower than others.

He got good at backing right up and standing very tall and proud.

 

[starshine514]

We're gonna be in the same predicament w/ my 4-yr-old next month. 39.25" at last measurement... I too was wondering if shoes count towards the height. If they do, she'll probably be fine (tennies raise her up wnough to hit 40"), but if not...I'm prepping her that she may not be tall enough, but hoping for a growth spurt in the meantime.

 

[skiingfast]

We're gonna be in the same predicament w/ my 4-yr-old next month. 39.25" at last measurement... I too was wondering if shoes count towards the height. If they do, she'll probably be fine (tennies raise her up wnough to hit 40"), but if not...I'm prepping her that she may not be tall enough, but hoping for a growth spurt in the meantime.

You are measured with shoes on. You have to bump your head, not hair, solid scalp against a fixed stick.

 

[It'sKim]

Some of the measurement sticks do seem to be a little off, but they are really strict with it. If they don't meet it, they don't ride.

When my boys were 3 they barely hit the 40" mark. They always got measured twice and had to take off their hats.

 

[Raindown]

I wouldn't try to scrape by the height restrictions. The restrictions are safety oriented and you could end up waiting in line only to get turned away before loading into the ride. Waiting in line only to get turned away is never fun.

 

[been2marceline]

The rides safety systems are based on a persons size, so the CMs have to go by the rules, the liability is huge....

Even though there is little risk, IMHO, that anyone could get hurt, it's always better safe than sorry.

I'm sure Disney has taken into account shoe height, so the "real" size limits are probably a notch or two below the posted heights... get those thick soled shoes on and have fun!

 

[taaren]

When we went last fall I measured my DS3 before we left at home and he was 38.5". When we got to DL, we asked for a switch-pass at SM and they said "He looks tall enough, are you sure he's not 40?" and apparently he was 40 Disney inches (we're from Hawaii, he was wearing rubber slippers, so it wasn't the shoes ). Turns out he didn't want to go on Space or Splash when he got to the front of the line he said it was too scary but he _loved_ Soarin' and Star Tours so we were glad they measured him (though they did measure both at the entrance and again at the midpoint, and again before he entered the theatre on Soarin.) So yes, they will check, but perhaps in shoes your DD will be tall enough for those magical 40 Disney inches? Hoping this trip he'll be 42 Disney inches so he can go on Grizzly - he keeps asking for that ride ...

 

[DizNee Luver]

They're pretty careful when it comes to measuring.......some of the ques have a 2nd measuring stick & I believe it was Soarin' that had 3....my daughter got measured at every single one. The CM will make sure they're standing tall, but if there's air between their head & the marker they won't be allowed to go. I've heard of people putting their daughters in shoes with thick heels, but the height restrictions are there for safety reasons & I'd much rather leave the park with everyone in one piece!!

 

[starshine514]

I've heard of people putting their daughters in shoes with thick heels, but the height restrictions are there for safety reasons & I'd much rather leave the park with everyone in one piece!!

I agree that the height restrictions are USUALLY there for safety reasons, but remember reading about Stitch's Great Escape at the MK. It has a 40" HR, but that restriction was previously lower. They moved it up not because of safety, but because some smaller kids were getting scared on the ride!

I don't want to put my child at risk at all, but did want to know if the 40" is with or without shoes (because 40" with shoes might be considered 39" without shoes), as this will directly affect my borderline-height child (who is shorter than a lot of kids a year younger than her).

 

[helenb]

I'll admit that it's been a couple of years since I've had to deal with this, but IME, Disney was not nearly as strict or nasty about height limits as other amusement parks. I did not notice any cases of height upping (where the markers on the measuring sticks/wall plates are actually higher than they read by the numbers) and they never made my kids take off shoes.

My son was going on Space Mountain and Splash Mountain at age 3, because he met the 40 inch height limit. He loved it, and was so thrilled!

The only time I recall a big stink was once on California Screamin'. He *barely* met the height limit, in shoes. It was soooo close. Still, it was January and the lines weren't too bad, and he had ridden twice. But the third time we got on, a cast member pulled him out of the train (we were already seated and strapped in) to measure him against the wall. The guy was *super* picky, measuring him multiple times, and everyone in line started booing. Then, after a couple of minutes, the CM finally let my son back on the ride, and everyone in line gave him a big cheer. He loved that!

So, perhaps it's a little different now, but I would say, buy your child a pair of THICK-soled shoes. Good sneakers will add an inch. Prepare your child before you go: you are going to TRY, but you may not be able to go on these rides. But stand tall and we'lll do our best. Chances are, if you try, you'll get on at least some of the time, and when your child has a blast, it will be worthwhile!

 

[ND Disney Daddy]

Thanks for all the replies! We'll have her wear reasonably thick-soled tennis shoes and practice standing up straight, and I think she'll be ok. She does still have two more months to grow (c'mon, growth spurt!)

It wouldn't be a big deal if we were able to go to DL more often, but if she doesn't make it on Splash Mountain this trip she'll have to wait several years before she can try again.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

pretty talls work great for girls

 

[frijolefrito]

They just have her stand up next to the measuring stick thingy and that's it. No taking off shoes or anything like that. Should you cheat? No.

 

[KPeveler]

If your DD is wearing shoes that have obvious "lifts" to heels to them, they will make her take them off. So those pretty princess shoes or wedge flip flops (yes, I have seen both in the parks!) - they MAY ask her to take them off so that she can be measured properly.

Also make her aware that they may measure her twice (actually at Soarin, they can measure her up to 4 times) and a second CM may turn her away even if the first person did not. It stinks, but it happens.

 

[bumbershoot]

The only time I recall a big stink was once on California Screamin'. He *barely* met the height limit, in shoes. It was soooo close. Still, it was January and the lines weren't too bad, and he had ridden twice. But the third time we got on, a cast member pulled him out of the train (we were already seated and strapped in) to measure him against the wall.

He probably was actually a bit shorter after riding that coaster twice. We all shrink a bit as the day goes on, so if a ride is important to you make that ride FIRST, after a good night's sleep and being thoroughly hydrated (the water helps "plump up" the intervertebral discs).

Also make her aware that they may measure her twice (actually at Soarin, they can measure her up to 4 times) and a second CM may turn her away even if the first person did not. It stinks, but it happens.

Yep!

DS was absolutely tall enough, was measured carefully outside Star Tours. Got to the second measuring CM, was called out of line, and then the CM put his hand on DS's shoulder, pushing down, while measuring him. We hadn't practiced having DS stand straight and tall, he was trying to go along with the CM, DS wasn't aware (nor was DH, who was the adult with DS at the time) that they might measure again so didn't know that his ride was in jeopardy. The CM was able to slip a piece of paper between head and stick (DS thinking that this was what was WANTED, was scrunching down), and DS was denied. I wish I'd been with them b/c I would have encouraged DS to stand up tall and let him know what is going on, but DH gets a bit overwhelmed by things, and feels they are going much faster than they really are, and the communication in those moments is generally, well, no communication at all.

However, that said, the BENEFIT of having this happen just ONCE is that our son never ever assumes he can go on a ride; he will stand and measure for any ride, no matter how short the height req is! He's over 48" now and will still measure himself at 40" rides and at WDW's 42 and 44" rides...

 

[DahliaRW]

We had the same issue with my younger ds. We had him wear rainboots which boosted him just enough to be tall enough. They never asked him to take them off nor did they seem to look much at his feet.

 

[love2go2disney2]

A couple years ago my son was bearly 40 inches. He was able to pass to ride TOT, Space mountain, and Thunder Mountain. WE got to star Tours and The CM said OK , he wanted to ride it again.. The same CM said he could not go on. We said you let him just 5 minutes ago. HE would NOT let him on. We even had asked for his boss and they did NOT let him on. However, he could ride the other rides including TOT without difficulty.

 

[DBMC]

My 3 year old measures 41" barefoot, and 42" in her crocs. And my 2 year old measures 35" barefoot and 36" in her crocs. I don't consider that cheating at all. I actually just got them comfy shoes for the trip, then did a last measurement to see what rides they could ride. As long as your not putting them in heals or big platforms or something! lol I am sure they understand that kids shoes will add height and have taken that into account when creating the height requirements.