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

[ReneeA]

It's so very subjective anyway and up to the individual CM's. When my DD was 3, she was 40 1/2". We were in WDW for 10 days, and rode every ride with a 40" minimum...without wearing higher healed shoes.

On the 9th day, she was denied riding Splash Mountain due to being "too short"...this after riding it at least 10 times earlier in the trip. I told her to stand up straight (it was a long, tiring trip ) and the CM told me to "give it up and try to be a good parent, that I wasn't doing her any favors by trying to get around their rules." I was furious because she truly was tall enough and tons of other CM during our 10 day stay had measured her correctly.

We just waited until another CM was manning the measuring stick and she was allowed on as she should have been from the beginning.

 

[maxiesmom]

I was just stating if my child were 41" when the requirement was 40" and a CM wouldn't allow him to ride, I would speak up. Not to make my child happy but a matter of speaking up for what's correct and true. Why suffer in silence if you know you're right?

And speaking up in this case would get you what, exactly? All it would do is upset your family even more, and make you look like a bully. It is Disney's park, their measuring sticks, and their rules that count. Not what you meausred you kid at home or in the doctor's office. Arguing about it is not going to change anything.

Just be aware before you go that if your child is right on the edge of a certain height level, they may not be able to ride. If the parent doesn't make it out to be a huge deal, then the child will be able to handle this disappointment much better.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Maybe someone can find the Disney rule that states no tall shoes??? I didn't see one but maybe I am looking in the wrong spot........

There is no rule as such. However, normally when a child's height is measured in a doctor's office it is with their shoes off, so it is the height of the child.

In a way Disney is making an exception to borderline children by doing the measurement with shoes on. At the water parks measurements are barefoot. The Cast Members are allowed to use their judgment concerning the thickness of the shoes.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Okay, after 83 posts, I have to comment.

Heel - like in the heel of your foot.

Heal - like in what the doctor does to you when you are sick.

And for those who are saying it's just one quarter of an inch, if the kid is only 39.75 inches tall. Well, Disney makes the rules and the rule there is you have to meet or exceed the top of their measuring stick. If 39.75" is okay, why not 39.5" or 39.25" or 39.0" or 38.75"....if you catch my drift.

Plus to the poster about how can you tell if they are Heelys (nor sure of the spelling here) or not? You can see the big H emblem on the side of the shoe.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It's so very subjective anyway and up to the individual CM's. When my DD was 3, she was 40 1/2". We were in WDW for 10 days, and rode every ride with a 40" minimum...without wearing higher healed shoes.

On the 9th day, she was denied riding Splash Mountain due to being "too short"...this after riding it at least 10 times earlier in the trip. I told her to stand up straight (it was a long, tiring trip ) and the CM told me to "give it up and try to be a good parent, that I wasn't doing her any favors by trying to get around their rules." I was furious because she truly was tall enough and tons of other CM during our 10 day stay had measured her correctly.

We just waited until another CM was manning the measuring stick and she was allowed on as she should have been from the beginning.

I'd put the flame suit on. You will probably be pounced on and declared a bad parent and not teaching proper values to your child. Be sure to double check your grammar too. There are not only shoe police but grammar police too.


Time for me to say good bye to this thread.
This is just getting way too petty. I accept your Bad Mommy of the Year award.
Have a magical day everyone!

 

[luvsJack]

I understand that it is Disney's rule and the rule says 40", but don't ya think that a group of people with enough intelligence to design a ride like say EE and to run a park in the way that WDW is run also have enough intelligence to make their height rule take different shoes into consideration? I mean, it would seem that they would be making kids take their shoes off if they hadn't already figured that in. And it would seem that they would be out constantly making sure the sticks were correct. Besides, I think if they saw this as such a huge problem they would install some type of general measuring area so that all the kids are measured one time, by the same person (in that shift) and by the same ruler. Then they could easily measure the kids in thier sock feet and this conversation wouldn't be happening!

OP (and anyone else thinking about what to do) IF your child is 40" tall by your dr. measuring, by all means let them wear shoes that will insure they pass at the ride. BUT, if your child is even a hair less then 40"; it is a safety rule and your child's safety is most important, using taller shoes in that case is not adviseable. If my child was close I would tell them ahead of time, "We will try but you may not be able to ride" that way there are no unhappy surprises.

 

[Karrie Davis]

We got my son a pair of shoes that had a huge heal, 1 size too big and bought adult insoles and cut them to size, we ripped out the insole that came with the shoes put in the new one or 2 then put back the original on top. We did this on day 3, the 1st 2 days he could ride the 40 inch rides the 1st hour then after that could not-he shrank..... So we could not take his heartbreak after he loved a ride becasue he has already rode it then later was told no so got the shoes at target and did this, problem solved.

 

[Im_with_Dopey]

As others have said, Heely's are not allowed at WDW, but....

I was just there in Aug. and their were many, many kids with them.
You didnt say how old he is but if your son has never had them or walked in them that in itself could be very dangerous. Just get him the sketchers and he will most likely be fine. Our grandson was 1 inch shy of getting on RnRC and the CM told us the height restrictions are made by the company that makes the rides. we were also told this at 6 flags. I believe this to be true because the primevil whirl and a ride at 6 flags are the same and have the same height restriction.

 

[CathrynRose]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but make sure that you "coach" your child on his posture when being measured. My DD tended to slouch down a bit when standing underneath the measuring post. I think she was afraid to hit her head? I taught her to stand up nice and tall and make her neck look like a giraffe's and it worked. She was 40" at the time, according to us and her doctor, but I agree that Disney's measuring posts are a little off. But teaching her to stand up tall (not on her tiptoes, though), gave her that little "boost" she needed to ride the rides.

It also depends on the CM. Some CMs are very critical and will really get down to your child's level to see if the are hitting that post or not. Other CMs just kind of glance quickly and let them go.

And 'sticking your chin out' gives you maximum height, as well.

And I have no need to fudge the system - my 13 & 17 year olds clearly meet the height requirement.

As I mentioned before - my child who (like a previous poster) rode all week and literally got off and got back in line, was denied entrance. It's a little silly, really.

I feel they should be doing what 6-Flags does. One measure, in the front of the park, and a stamp, or wrist band.

 

[izzyzoeybear]

And 'sticking your chin out' gives you maximum height, as well.

And I have no need to fudge the system - my 13 & 17 year olds clearly meet the height requirement.

As I mentioned before - my child who (like a previous poster) rode all week and literally got off and got back in line, was denied entrance. It's a little silly, really.

I feel they should be doing what 6-Flags does. One measure, in the front of the park, and a stamp, or wrist band.

They do that at another theme park in TN....and it works great. Right through the doors that is a little storefront that they measure then depending on height put a different wristband on the child so everyone knows what rides they can be on.

 

[jamstew]

They do that at another theme park in TN....and it works great. Right through the doors that is a little storefront that they measure then depending on height put a different wristband on the child so everyone knows what rides they can be on.

They used to do it at SeaWorld San Antonio, too, but this summer they were measuring at each ride. I think it must be a problem with crowd buildup at a central measuring point. If they found the crowds were too big at SeaWorld to use that system, I can't imagine Disney attempting it.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Unfortunately these threads never end well and we can see the beginnings of that here. Wailing, gnashing of teeth, suggesting the lineage of another poster is highly suspect.. these things may be interesting to some -- but they don't address this threads main beef - Disney's sticks don't measure up.

I suspect that those sticks are in some cases, in need of review/replacement. But Disney will never know.. because nobody writes Guest Relations a letter..

If you'd like to read any of the 1060 previous threads about the Height Requirements at Disney ... fill your boots..

Disney Height Requirements

This one is closed... because:

a) the DIS does NOT condone getting around Disney safety requirements in anyway, shape or form.
b) we can argue about it here all day long, but ultimately, Disney's Parks, Disney's Rules. Argue with Disney.

Thanks!

Knox