DS is 38.5 inches tall. With shoes on will he make the 40 inch height requirement?

[Skye00]

My son is 38.5 inches tall without shoes. With thick socks and shoes will he make the 40 inch height requirement? How strict is Disney on almost making the height requirement? It will be just the three of us and I know that my daughter will be disappointed if she cannot ride Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. Any feedback or personal stories are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[KelsiesMommy]

Just beware they may make him take his shoes off if it appears you are trying to "bump" his height with high soled shoes and extra socks.

 

[Amy&Dan]

It really depends on the cast member. My daughter was very close to making the height requirement for a few things awhile back. She did make it (this was for Indiana Jones) but on more than one occasion, she had to take off her shoes to be measured. A couple of times, she was also measured more than once in the same ride que by different cm's. The first at the opening to the que, another time when we were just about to get on the ride, another one remeasured her. Other times that same trip, even the same day, we would walk right on and nobody (different cms) would ask to measure her. Then another time for the Maliboomer, they at first declined her but then a second, more experienced cm came over and told her to stand up straight and she passed. I guess my point is that when a child is very close like that it can go either way. Wearing thick shoes is not a guarantee and really not even worth it in my book. The height requirements are for safety reasons in the end. Tell your kids it looks like there will be a few rides you won't be able to ride so that they are prepared. Then when you get to Disneyland, go to Splash or Space and tell your kids you want to measure your son to see how far he has to grow for the next trip. He may measure up and then they will be pleasantly surprised!

 

[hlbtimes2]

It really depends on the shoes you have her wear. I would put the shoes on her that she'll wear in the park and measure her. Make sure she is standing up big and tall (see my tag- LOL!). Kids tend to scrunch down a bit when cm's measure her, remind her not to do that.

Disney is strict on the height requirements. They'll measure more then once for a ride- at the enterance and at the boarding area. Dont be shocked if one tells you ok, and the other says too short. It happens! Also, dont be surprised if she is tall enough for one ride or not for another. Or tall enough one morning and not later the same day or the next day. Its just the way it is and there is NO point in getting up set about it.

If she is really close I recomend riding those rides early in the day. After a full day of walking her spine with compress a bit and she'll be slightly shorter in the evening.

edit: I just reread your post and realize your dd is 4 and the child in question is your 2 year old son. Sorry about calling him "her" through out my post. Depending how "two" he is, I wouldnt take him on most of those rides. If he is 2, pushing 3 in a month or so, maybe. If he is a young 2, I wouldnt take him on the thrill rides. He's too young.

 

[robinb]

My son is 38.5 inches tall without shoes. With thick socks and shoes will he make the 40 inch height requirement? How strict is Disney on almost making the height requirement? It will be just the three of us and I know that my daughter will be disappointed if she cannot ride Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. Any feedback or personal stories are appreciated. Thanks!

Your son is only 2? I wouldn't take him on Space or Splash no matter how tall he is. IMO, he is too young for thrill rides. Please take advantage of the Baby Swap Fast Passes given out by Cast Members at the entrance of each ride. Your older DD will be happy as she will be able to ride twice, once with each parent.

 

[DangerMouse]

Your son is only 2? I wouldn't take him on Space or Splash no matter how tall he is. IMO, he is too young for thrill rides. Please take advantage of the Baby Swap Fast Passes given out by Cast Members at the entrance of each ride. Your older DD will be happy as she will be able to ride twice, once with each parent.

I believe the problem is, the OP is going with just her two children and will not have a second adult to do baby swap with.

I agree with robin though. A two year old should not go on the bigger rides like Space or Splash. Is there anyway you can drag along a friend or gramma? It would make your trip much easier. Otherwise, I would prepare your dd that she won't be doing any of the bigger rides.

 

[robinb]

I believe the problem is, the OP is going with just her two children and will not have a second adult to do baby swap with.

D'oh. I think you're right. Sorry I missed that!

Depending on the OP's previous trips, her DD may not even want to ride Space and/or Splash. I know my DD wasn't ready mentally for either one until she was 5 or 6! She is now a thrill ride junky at 7 . If the OP's DD already loves the rides, I would try to prepare her in advance that she won't be able to ride at all if there is not another parent to swap with. There is plenty of things to do at Disneyland that both kids can do.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Also, I was just thinking don't some of the rides even say ages 3 and up, plus a height requirement? I missed the age two thing when I read the first post. And I have to agree, even if he makes the height, I wouldn't take him. The thing is, he could get so freaked out he won't then ride anything, even something like Peter Pan or Dumbo. At that age, they have a bad experience and thats it, you cannot reason or make a two year old understand that so and so ride won't be scary like the other one. And yes, I learned that the hard way years ago with my son! Good luck, its tough when its just one adult like you will be but thankfully Disney parks have much more that everyone of all ages and heights can ride than thrill rides.

 

[Skye00]

I understand that the approval to ride depends on who is measuring. I know that he won't pass the 40 inch mark if he has to take off his shoes. My son will be 3 in a couple months and is very adventurous and big for his age, so I am not really concerned about the thrill rides being too much. My only concern about booking the flights is that I will be the only adult with them (no ride swap available) and we were just at the parks in November and my daughter got to ride everything as I brought my mother along. Unfortunately she will be on vacation out of the country and cannot tag along. I know my daughter will be so disappointed if she cannot ride (especially since the trip was going to be a surprise for her 5th birthday). I guess the other option is to just stand in the queue and buckle her in the ride, let her ride and then exit together, but then I can see my son's disappointment at not being able to ride.

But, I know there will be plenty of other things to do....

 

[hlbtimes2]

I guess the other option is to just stand in the queue and buckle her in the ride, let her ride and then exit together, but then I can see my son's disappointment at not being able to ride.

But, I know there will be plenty of other things to do....

They will not let your son wait in the queue if he is not tall enough to ride.

 

[Skye00]

I just wanted to comment that when we were last at Disneyland in November 2007, my son rode every ride he was able to - Haunted House, Pirates, Snow White, Toad's, Toon Town roller coaster, etc. I definitely do not have to worry about his fear on Splash, Space or Roaring Railroad. Thanks for all your input!

 

[DangerMouse]

They will not let your son wait in the queue if he is not tall enough to ride.

And, they won't let your dd ride alone if she is only 4.

Ok, if your son wants to ride these rides and he is adventuresome, I'd make a trip to Payless and find him some shoes that will get him to that 40" height. Take along a tape measure with you. I'm not sure what kind of boy shoes will have a 1 1/2 inch lift on them, though. Good luck!

 

[Skye00]

They will not let your son wait in the queue if he is not tall enough to ride.

Really? We were able to do it in November 2006 on Roaring Railroad. Maybe we just passed under the radar.

 

[abby]

Ok, if your son wants to ride these rides and he is adventuresome, I'd make a trip to Payless and find him some shoes that will get him to that 40" height. Take along a tape measure with you. I'm not sure what kind of boy shoes will have a 1 1/2 inch lift on them, though. Good luck![/QUOTE]

Try cowboy boots, also, have hims do some streching exercies before you go and practice standing as tall as he can.

 

[fidoprincess]

We have been in this postion many times and I just tell my older one ahead of time that we are not going to be able to go on every ride. Then I ask him if he still wants to go under those circumstances and he has said YES! every time. Once in the park, I know he does miss the big rides, (me too!) but we remind each other that another time will come when we can do them and at least we are at DL and having a great time anyway. There are just so many other things to do that it is still so worth going even without those few big rides!

 

[Pirate-Emery]

I believe it all depends on the CM.

I've noticed several times where the child "wasn't even close" but the CM's let them on anyway.

38.5-> 40, probably isn't too bad...

Just do the best you can, and hope for the best. And as the poster above me said: at least they're enjoying DL, and that's a treat in itself.

 

[robinb]

My son will be 3 in a couple months and is very adventurous and big for his age, so I am not really concerned about the thrill rides being too much.

He certainly is big ... in the 90th percentile for his age. I just wonder if you see him as more "adventurous" because he is so tall. I just think that even if he is tall enough and "adventurous" enough that doesn't mean that he is mature enough for something as intense as Space Mountain. {shrug} I guess that you know your child best and if you want to cheat the system which is there for your son's protection and make your two year old tall enough, the CMs probably won't turn him down.

 

[DangerMouse]

I believe it all depends on the CM.

I've noticed several times where the child "wasn't even close" but the CM's let them on anyway.

38.5-> 40, probably isn't too bad...

Just do the best you can, and hope for the best. And as the poster above me said: at least they're enjoying DL, and that's a treat in itself.

Wow, in all my DLR trips, I have never experienced this. They measure to the nth degree. They measure at the front of the que, and then if they even question it, they will remeasure at the loading area. If there is any tiny little bit of air between the top of the head and the bar, you won't get on the ride. CM's are VERY serious about this and I have never ever seen anyone slide through if they were under the required height.

 

[XTinabell]

He certainly is big ... in the 90th percentile for his age. I just wonder if you see him as more "adventurous" because he is so tall. I just think that even if he is tall enough and "adventurous" enough that doesn't mean that he is mature enough for something as intense as Space Mountain. {shrug} I guess that you know your child best and if you want to cheat the system which is there for your son's protection and make your two year old tall enough, the CMs probably won't turn him down.

Some kids are more mature and can handle things better than others. My sister was one of those kids that just wasn't afraid of anything especially things that would scare most kids - like space mountain or a horror movie. My sister wasn't much older than the op's son and she insisted dad take her on space mountain, my dad said no she wasn't big enough well she marched to the sign showed she was big enough and said let's go. My dad really didn't want to take her but he did to teach her a lesson in the end she had the most amazing time and my dad was the one who was freaked out! So some kids just I guess are a little more brave.

 

[pindecisive]

He certainly is big ... in the 90th percentile for his age. I just wonder if you see him as more "adventurous" because he is so tall. I just think that even if he is tall enough and "adventurous" enough that doesn't mean that he is mature enough for something as intense as Space Mountain. {shrug} I guess that you know your child best and if you want to cheat the system which is there for your son's protection and make your two year old tall enough, the CMs probably won't turn him down.

I agree.

Rules are there so accidents don't happen. Better to be safe and disappointed than sorry.

Lol, I won't even go on Splash Mountain and I'm an adult (Yes I hate ferris wheels too), to me a 2 year old seems much too young.