DS is 40" tall...but worried since CM's ruler is taller...what about Heely's?

[cinderlexa's mom]

Last June we went to DL and DS was exactly 40". CM's rulers seemed to be about 41", so he couldn't get on any height restricted rides. We were upset because he actually is 40" tall. (This happened at Splash M, BTMR, and a JJ at CA)

I'm thinking about buying him some shoes with extra height. Maybe something that would give him that extra inch. (Note: I'm not cheating Disney rules, because he is 40", that is what the ride states is required, yet, WDW has 41" rulers... )

If I buy him Heely's and lock the wheels in, so he can't use the wheels, these shoes seem to be the tallest I can find. On the other hand, maybe CM's are on the look-out for Heely's because they are so tall, maybe CM's would ask him to take them off to be measured?

Skechers and Geox seem to be pretty tall too.

Any experience or advice?

 

[mbc35]

This is discouraging. My son is 40.25" with shoes. He will be very upset if he can't go on the rides. (We're going in a month.)

 

[pooh2001]

No Heely's are allowed in the parks. The wheels do not lock - either the wheels are in or out.

 

[genius118899]

I've never heard of a CM asking someone to take their shoes off to be measured. I'd imagine that when computing safety requirements, the Imagineers factored in shoes.

 

[dbenlee]

I have never seen a CM ask a child to take shoes (even sandals) off when measuring. I'm not saying it hasn't or won't happen. I have seen some little girls who were close to the minimum height wearing some thick soled sandals get measured without being asked to remove the sandals. Also, hopefully by your next visit your son will have grown enough not to need the thick soled shoes.

 

[vicki_c]

They will ask kids to take off their shoes if they think there's an obvious reason to. And as a PP said, Heelys are not permitted in the parks.

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

If you say Heely's aren't allowed, I'm sure you're probably correct--but where is the official WDW statement?

Also, I guess I can't "lock" the Heely's, but if I don't tell him they have wheels, I don't think he'd look for any...

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

Also, if Heely's aren't allowed, I could buy some other shoes like Skechers or Geox that are thick soled...

Anyone actually seen a guest being asked to remove their shoes to be measured?

DS is 40", but wore flat sandals to DL in June and was rejected at each ride!

I believe the height requirement is 40", as stated, but Disney adds an inch on the CM ruler because of thick soled shoes?

 

[Robo]

If you say Heely's aren't allowed, I'm sure you're probably correct--but where is the official WDW statement?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/dress-code.htm

Prohibited Items

The following are not allowed to be brought into the Disney Theme Parks:
• Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller
• Alcoholic beverages
• Weapons of any kind
• Folding chairs
• Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
• Pets (unless they are service animals)
• In Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (for the safety of the wildlife), balloons, straws and drink lids are not permitted. Note: they now have biodegradable paper straws.

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

Okay...how about if you remove the wheels from the Heely's? DH says they come out.

This may seem extreme...but for young children...it's hard for them to "know" they're 40", Disney says they need to be 40" to get on rides, but CM's won't let them on...

 

[rpbert1]

With Heelys you take the wheels off and use them as normal trainers, they are not allowed when you are skating about on them.
I have seen people being made to take trainers of to get measured.

 

[disnut8]

The Disney measuring sticks are not 41 inches tall. Height is subjective. Like a man with two watches never knows the correct time.

Your doctor may say your child is 40 inches tall. Your kitchen wall may say he's 40 inches tall. But if you take him to my doctor, that one might not say he's 40 inches tall.

Disney never asks kids to remove their shoes unless it's a very blatant attempt to get an obvious under height child onto an attraction. And remember that there are usually two measuring points - one outside and one inside. He could pass the outside one and be denied inside. As I said before, height is subjective. As the day goes on everyone tends to slouch a bit so they are "shorter".

And always remember the height requirements are there for safety reasons. If you do decide to go with a higher shoe than normal, remember that your child will have to wear those shoes all day long so make sure they are comfortable.

 

[daisyduck123]

Anyone actually seen a guest being asked to remove their shoes to be measured?

Not me. But since we're on the subject of Heelies...I HAVE seen a CM stop a family, tell them to remove the wheels from the Heelies, & WAIT while the mom took them off. Happened in Animal Kingdom last Dec. 24.

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

I can guarantee some Disney measuring sticks are taller than 40".

We brought a tape measure with...CM didn't care.

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

Don't worry about the wheels! There's no way my kids would wear those, not unless they had a helmet, knee and elbow pads on!

Seen too many ER accidents...

 

[CathrynRose]

Okay...how about if you remove the wheels from the Heely's? DH says they come out.

This may seem extreme...but for young children...it's hard for them to "know" they're 40", Disney says they need to be 40" to get on rides, but CM's won't let them on...

Yes - Heely wheels do pop out.

Sketchers is another 'thick' soled brand you could try (and theyre more comfy than Heely's at the park)

Ive been there a zillion and one times and have never seen a kid (or anyone) asked to take their shoes off.

Have a good trip - and get some thick shoes for the lil ' dude.

 

[Bethann23]

I would just find high heeled shoes.... Good Luck .....

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

I would get Sketchers with thick soles.

 

[mbc35]

And remember that there are usually two measuring points - one outside and one inside. He could pass the outside one and be denied inside.

This happened to my older son on Big Thunder Railroad at Disneyland. He was right at the required height, so I understood both the CM who passed him and the CM who denied him boarding. But it's awfully hard for a 3 yo to wait in line for 25 minutes thinking he's going to get to go on and then have to wait while his cousin rides. If he'd failed the measurement at the beginning of the line, we would have gone and had ice cream or something while everyone else rode.

 

[CathrynRose]

This happened to my older son on Big Thunder Railroad at Disneyland. He was right at the required height, so I understood both the CM who passed him and the CM who denied him boarding. But it's awfully hard for a 3 yo to wait in line for 25 minutes thinking he's going to get to go on and then have to wait while his cousin rides. If he'd failed the measurement at the beginning of the line, we would have gone and had ice cream or something while everyone else rode.

And you know what happened to my son one year at ToT - we went on, measured and everything was hunky dory.

And being off season, there wasnt much of a line - so we exited the ride, and got right back in line. Apparently the ride somehow squashed my son's height, as they absolutely refused to let him on, round 2. I even said - that man just let him on - so 'that man' came over and measured him again, and suddenly he wasnt tall enough.

And the next day my flip flopped 40" son, wore his sketchers... as he did the rest of the trip.