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

[jippy]

I agree with the safety comment - there probably is a reason they won't let someone too short on the ride as disappointing as it is. Would hate to have to live with the guilt if something happened.

 

[MeanestMomEver]

I see you are from Indiana...so am I...Welcome!!!

Thanks for the welcome, Izzy!

 

[MeanestMomEver]

Right- rules are made to be followed and that is why I am sure no one in here that is bashing others decisions have ever broken the rules or let their children slide on some things...

And again I will say- no one here is BREAKING any rules. They are letting a child ride a ride that they are tall enough to ride based on the written height restriction.s

True, no one is breaking any rules that you know of.

I purposely made a very generic comment to a different poster based on her decision to not fudge rules when it comes to her OWN child. In a subsequent post I started off by saying my comments were not directed to the OP, directly, since I don't know her, but rather my comments were meant to be very general in nature.

On the flip side, you are defending someone you don't even know. For all you know, she knows fully well her child is only 39 inches and she's looking for a way around the rules. Probably not. But you don't know her motives any more than I know her motives.

Also, like another poster mentioned. doctors and nurses who measure do sometimes make a mistake.

Whatever the case, I find it odd that if this is height problem that big an issue at the park, it has not been corrected yet. I don't think Disney has a morning staff meeting and reminds all the CM to be sure to ruin the day of any little kids that are 40-41 inches tall.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Good for you mom. She will also learn to that rules are made to be followed.

If my child were plenty tall and a CM told my child he couldn't ride when clearly he's tall enough, I would teach my him to be assertive and stick up for himself, not in a rude way, but just to prove what's right and true. They know just b/c someone is an adult, doesn't mean they are always right and know everything, we're all human. It's the same principle that I teach them to count their change when buying something. If the cashier was wrong, he should speak up, even if he got extra money back.
No way would would I sit there quietly like a putz unless the stick clearly showed he's not tall enough.

 

[MeanestMomEver]

If my child were plenty tall and a CM told my child he couldn't ride when clearly he's tall enough, I would teach my him to be assertive and stick up for himself, not in a rude way, but just to prove what's right and true. They know just b/c someone is an adult, doesn't mean they are always right and know everything, we're all human. It's the same principle that I teach them to count their change when buying something. If the cashier was wrong, he should speak up, even if he got extra money back.
No way would would I sit there quietly like a putz unless the stick clearly showed he's not tall enough.

Good for you. But I thought the issue here was whether a parent, meaning any parent, should look for extra thick shoes and/or jam extra socks inside their small child's shoes to sidestep the rules. Some of us would fudge it. Some would prefer to not take any extra measures and would abide by the park rules. If that makes me a putz than so be it. I've been called worse. Note the screen name.

 

[livndisney]

If my child were plenty tall and a CM told my child he couldn't ride when clearly he's tall enough, I would teach my him to be assertive and stick up for himself, not in a rude way, but just to prove what's right and true. They know just b/c someone is an adult, doesn't mean they are always right and know everything, we're all human. It's the same principle that I teach them to count their change when buying something. If the cashier was wrong, he should speak up, even if he got extra money back.
No way would would I sit there quietly like a putz unless the stick clearly showed he's not tall enough.

Why would a CM tell your child he is not tall enough if he is "clearly" tall enough?

 

[tinkabella627]

True, no one is breaking any rules that you know of.

I purposely made a very generic comment to a different poster based on her decision to not fudge rules when it comes to her OWN child. In a subsequent post I started off by saying my comments were not directed to the OP, directly, since I don't know her, but rather my comments were meant to be very general in nature.

On the flip side, you are defending someone you don't even know. For all you know, she knows fully well her child is only 39 inches and she's looking for a way around the rules. Probably not. But you don't know her motives any more than I know her motives.

Also, like another poster mentioned. doctors and nurses who measure do sometimes make a mistake.

Whatever the case, I find it odd that if this is height problem that big an issue at the park, it has not been corrected yet. I don't think Disney has a morning staff meeting and reminds all the CM to be sure to ruin the day of any little kids that are 40-41 inches tall.

Well I guess being that the OP said the child was 40'', I gave them the benefit of the doubt that they were being honest. Some people don' do that I guess?

I think everyone is taking this way out of proportion. I aree with the PP that says they would teach their child to stand up for themselves.

OP- do what you're gonna do. It is your business and if your son (I believe you said it was your son) is legitimately tall enough- he deserves to ride the rides.


Here is a pic of the heelys-

Here are a pic of DC shoes (a very popular shoe with children- I even have a pair)

They are considered "skater" style.. thicker, wider shoes. Look pretty similar to me, if you just take out the wheel.

 

[tinkabella627]

double post sorry...

 

[Mickey_for_President]

Wow... odd. My youngest son (5 years old) is STILL not yet 40" tall and he never had a problem getting on rides when we went to WDW in June and August. I remember when we considered going on BTMR for the first time and we just assumed that he wasn't tall enough. When he stood next to the required height sign, he was considered to be within the "range" of acceptible heights. After that, we had no problem getting on anything that had a height restriction of 40" or taller.

As for taller shoes, my other son (7 years old) has a pair of Sketchers that light up like a police car. They are pretty substantial on the bottom and may add a half-inch to your child's height. My son loves them and says that they are "really bouncy" like Tigger.

 

[kpadalik]

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.

 

[cinderlexa's mom]

Whoa! This thread really took an interesting turn.

Again, DS has been 40" since our June trip to DL. I'm not asking how to cheat WDW's system.

WDW states guests must be 40" to ride certain rides, and depending on who the CM is measuring...sometimes they "decide" a guest isn't 40", when, in fact, they are.

Haven't you seen the numerous threads on the DIS about CM's disagreeing with each other (1st and 2nd measurer) on the same ride, managers being called, CM's pushing the kid's head down, etc.???

People make mistakes. (Even CM's )

As I stated before, I will buy him some Skechers as an "insurance policy"...he is 40". No CM should be able to tell him he cannot ride because he doesn't meet the 40" height requirement.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Why would a CM tell your child he is not tall enough if he is "clearly" tall enough?

I was responding to the PP who praised this comment:

I agree with a PP...I have a DD and she is 41" tall but if they tell us she is not tall enough to ride then so be it...I want her to be safe. It may not make her happy at the time but at least she will be safe...

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?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Good for you. But I thought the issue here was whether a parent, meaning any parent, should look for extra thick shoes and/or jam extra socks inside their small child's shoes to sidestep the rules. Some of us would fudge it. Some would prefer to not take any extra measures and would abide by the park rules. If that makes me a putz than so be it. I've been called worse. Note the screen name.

I guess I'm a fudger then. I think anything less than 1/4" is no biggie. I just don't see how that tiny amount would suddenly make the ride not safe for one child, but safe for another who is 1/4" taller.

 

[123SA]

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.

I agree with this. At the barnstormer, my little guy (very little 3 yr old) kept ducking away from the measuring stick. It was hard to keep him still enough to see that he is in fact greater than 35 inches in height. First time through, he got in no problem. 2nd he was too excited to stand still and we got denied. We politely asked them to measure again and DS cooperated and on he went.

 

[christa112]

My DD is 41 inches and she made all the 40 inche rides. The CMs did stop her everytime to double check her height, but they did let her ride.

 

[RMulieri]

I firmly believe that all the height restrictions are higher (by several inches) then they NEED to be. Disney is not going to get itself sued over something dumb. I'm also sure that the Imagineers factored in the height of moderately large shoes. Your child will be fine as long as they're not wearing stilts to make the height requirement.

People sueover anything these days, and I mean anything.Whether they win or not is a diifferent story though.

 

[rick_ivnik]

During the last trip my DD was 40" by our measurements but when she went to Soarin' she was just under the pole. So when we went back the second day we brought her thick soled shoes and was just tall enough, no questions asked. Just remember they may measure again right before you get on the ride.

 

[cinderwannabe]

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.

BOLOGNA!!! Measurement is regulated! You can make certain that your doctors instruments are identical to mine or hers. Time is a different story but there is an offical time!

 

[izzyzoeybear]

I was responding to the PP who praised this comment:


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?

Let me just tell you I would think that the CM would know better since they work the ride everyday if it would be safe for my child or not! My DD is a very loud 3 yr old and she does speak her mind...I am not willing to take the chance on losing my child on a theme park ride if one of the CM does not think it is safe for her to go on....I was taught that my children are my most precious works of art and a park ride at 3 is not worth a lifetime with her....Would anything happen? Probably not but I am not willing to take the chance with it. I am sure that if this situation arises my DD will have plently to say about it...but if putting the safety of my children before a ride makes me a putz THEN BY GOD SO BE IT!!!!

 

[itchin2go]

If you have to put your child in special gear to get him/her past the CMs, that's absurd.

Safety is the most important concern here. Setting a good example is a close second. "Fudging" is not a lesson I want to teach my child.