four-year-old on 44 inch rides?

[Baklava]

Does anyone know how strict they are on the height? I understand the height requirement is 44" for safety concerns, but we just measured my son at 43 5/8" this past weekend. With normal shoes, he's easily at 44". He loves all things space, so it would be great if he could ride Space Mountain.

I suppose it's possible he could grow another 3/8" in a month. He's grown 6" since his birthday in December.

Very. If when he stands under the measuring bar his head does not hit it, he won't be allowed to ride. Best to talk in terms of "maybes" just in case.

 

[angierae]

Kids are not going to "slip out of" a ride they are big enough for. Even with a shared lapbar. If they're tall enough, they're safe. If kids could "slip out" it'd be happening constantly.

 

[Grand Admiral]

Very. If when he stands under the measuring bar his head does not hit it, he won't be allowed to ride. Best to talk in terms of "maybes" just in case.

Yeah I haven't staked any fastpasses on it, because I understand it's done for safety.

 

[Funfire240]

It's hard to tell how a kid will be until you are there. My DS5 was the same height as my Niece6 last November and they are completely opposite. DS freaked out on Goofy's and 7DMT while my niece couldn't get enough of Space Mountain and EE. They still are completely opposites too - my niece at Cedar Point rode the Millenium Force (and was mad that she's not tall enough for some of the other main coasters) and loved it while I can barely get DS on kiddie coasters!

 

[BrianL]

Yeah I haven't staked any fastpasses on it, because I understand it's done for safety.

Bear in mind that they measure a child's height in shoes, so if the normal shoes put him over the requirement then he's all set. They are very strict though when it comes down to it.

 

[memo10]

My 4 year old is a thrill seeker too! She loves every ride she's tall enough for. Her first ride on TOT everyone eyed her apprehensively expecting her to melt down. At the end of the ride she said "Can we do it again?!" and everyone died laughing!

Our 2 year old is finally tall enough for barnstormer and he loved that one too. I think we have a lot of thrill rides in our future.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

My fondest Disney memory is chasing my then 3-year old daughter back to the entrance of Space Mountain moments before midnight with her screaming "One more time Daddy" all the way. I think a 4-year old should be fine on the thrill rides.

 

[KrazeeK120]

For the people putting their arms/hands/whatever on their kids - you aren't actually going to be able to hold them in the ride. However, if they're over the height limit, they're safe, and Disney is strict about not letting too-short kids ride.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

So, at a doctor visit for my son today, I measured my daughter and she is just bumping the 44 inch mark. I think she might be exactly 44 inches when we go next month. So now I'm wondering how she'll do on the 44 inch rides--I think that includes Everest and Mission Space, right? She's pretty adventurous and is excited about Mine Train, Tower of Terror, Soarin'. Has anyone taken a four-year-old on the "big" rides? She just seems so little to me, but now I'm wondering how she would do! She'll be five in December.

DS5 rode Tower of Terror last May at 4 years 4 months. He actually rode it a few times as it's my favorite ride ever. He did ok. After BTMRR he blurted out this quote: That ride was awesome. I think I'm gonna puke. Let's go again! He still isn't tall enough for Everest yet but hopefully he will be by December 2017

 

[mistysue]

Just want to say how jealous I am. We go yearly. My 5 1/2 year old got on Barnstormer and 7 Dwarves (barely) for the first time last month. That kid will be lucky to get on 44" rides when he's 7 or 8.

 

[angierae]

To put Disney rides in perspective: Riders only have to be 48" tall to ride Millennium Force at Cedar Point, which is a roller coaster that goes 310 feet into the air and hits top speeds of 93 miles per hour. And kids aren't falling out, even if they're skinny.

 

[crayon3448]

Just want to say how jealous I am. We go yearly. My 5 1/2 year old got on Barnstormer and 7 Dwarves (barely) for the first time last month. That kid will be lucky to get on 44" rides when he's 7 or 8.

DS is 4.5 and juuuuust hitting 39" in shoes. There's no way he'll hit 40" by our Nov trip. He's so adventurous and would love the 40" rides. Kinda stinks as it'll be the last long Disney trip for a while since he'll start Kindy next fall. But it is what it is!

 

[ArielSRL]

My 4 year old is not adventurous and doesn't like any of the "thrill" rides.

 

[Heidi K]

Just want to say how jealous I am. We go yearly. My 5 1/2 year old got on Barnstormer and 7 Dwarves (barely) for the first time last month. That kid will be lucky to get on 44" rides when he's 7 or 8.

That was me as a kid! So I married a man who is 6'3" so that I could have kids who are at least average height

 

[merrick]

my boys were 7 and 9 when we went and both on the tall side. older DS was so nervous about the rides, i was able to cajole him into trying flying carpets, dumbo, pirates of the caribbean, toy story, peter pan, it's a small world and little mermaid. while they were all fine, and not scary, he has finally "forgiven" me about the small drop at the beginning of POC.

as we got on IASW, he asked the CM if there were any sudden drops. the CM very nicely stated: "it's a ride for everyone, including small babies in their parent's arms. we can't have sudden drops with babies in their parent's arms.".

i am grateful the height business has never been an issue for us as even younger DS, who is a bit braver, also took a pass on space mountain, expedition everest, etc.

personally, i think rules are rules for a reason. teaching your child that rules don't apply to them is not really doing them any favours.

 

[DisTXMom]

Our strategy was to start small and work our way up.

 

[KalamityJane]

I had a 2yo that went on Space Mountain at Disneyland (40") and LOVED it. Same with Radiator Springs Racers (so Test Track, basically in terms of speed). Just depends on the kid's personality.

 

[momto2js]

Roller Coasters are my families "thing" except for my youngest. He has ABSOLUTELY no interest in doing anything bigger than space mountain likely ever. He is now 54 " which is a magic number for coaster riders. It makes my oldest (10) absolutely crazy because he can't wait to go but isn't tall enough. You really just don't know.

 

[Heidi K]

Since my thread was revived, I thought I'd report back that my four-year-old was a solid 44 inches and therefore able to go on everything! (Rock & Roller Coaster was closed while we were there). I said no to Space Mountain because of the individual seating. She liked Seven Dwarves, didn't like Splash because she got soaked (although she was was fine on Kali, I think because she was expecting to get wet). She didn't like Tower of Terror, LOVED Mission Space (less intense version), was OK with Soarin, hated the indoor part of Test Track but loved the outdoor part, and didn't like Expedition Everest. Dinosaur and Big Thunder were also closed. So, a mixed bag of reactions.

 

[ttintagel]

They're *very* strict about height, because the height minimums are tied to safety standards.