Getting kids measured at parks.

[mattsam1]

Just wondering if the parks do some kind of measurement for the kids and then give them a wristlet to wear so they don't have to get measured at every ride? When we were at Dollywood last summer, we got the kids laser measured and then bypassed all of that at the rides. Anyone know of anything like this?
Thanks!!

 

[brymolmom]

Nope - they get measured on every ride (guess they figure people would abuse it and wear 2 inch heels just for the measurement and then changes shoes) and sometimes TWICE on the ride - at the entrance and just before you get on. And, in my experience, they are very strict. My dd was just 40 inches at home and did not make it on Splash Mtn at the park - and we tried 2 different times with two different CM's. SOOO, my advice is that if you have a child who is 'close' to a cutoff- do NOT get their hopes up about riding anything at that limit just in case they get turned away.

 

[ChelleinNC]

As a matter of fact, there was a Mom & child in front of us at RnRc last week and as they were about to get on the ride, that CM double checked the boys height and said no. The mom was very upset, as they had been in line for quite some time. So I would say, make sure your child clearly meets the height requirement before getting in line.

 

[rt2dz]

DS#2 is tiny for his age. He was measured at every ride, sometimes twice, just like the pp stated. Without shoes he is 39 3/4 ", with shoes he is just 40". He made it on all the 40" rides we tried to take him on without problems--frequently with "Congratulations!" He rode Splash Mountain, BTMRR, Star Tours, and Dinosaur. I always told him though that chances were he wouldn't get on; it was always a pleasant surprise.

I worry more about weight than height. DS#1 who is very tall for his age weighs next to nothing and we've found that rides he hits height with by several inches can sometimes be a problem since he doesn't have weight. He almost slipped out of a roller coaster at Sea World since he did not have any weight even though he was four inches taller than the minimum height.

 

[mattsam1]

Thanks everyone. I apprecaite the response. I really liked the kids being laser measured at Dollywood. There was no guess work at each ride and once they got their colored bands, it was easy to identify what rides they could enjoy. Maybe something Disney will consider in the future!

 

[Super]

ahhhh that brings back memories, my family racing around the rides early in the morning hoping not to be checked for our height each time we went through =)

 

[PA Princess]

I wish Disney did the same as Dollywood with the laser measure and the wrist band. We have found Disney measuring to be rather inconsistent, and that can be really upsetting to a kid. One trip our dd was the required height for the big rides...she was not over or under, but just the exact height. At most rides she was fine. They do a bracelet at AK at EE and she measured and rode that ride 6 times that trip!

We did have a difficult evening at Epcot one night. DD had ridden Mission Space on orange several times over the trip. We went for one final ride. She measured okay at the ride entrance, but then a CM said she was too small right as we entered the ride area. What a big disappointment for dd!!! I mean, explaining to a young kid after a long tiring day that she cannot ride a ride she has ridden several times and is only feet from entering - no easy task!

I did take the time to speak to a ride manager (forget the exact title, but someone in a supervisory level position). I explained that I was all for safety, but that the inconsistency in measuring was a real disappointment and casued our lovely day and trip to end on a sour note. I was not looking for anything...just wanted some one to about the problem.

 

[SueM in MN]

I wish Disney did the same as Dollywood with the laser measure and the wrist band.

Disney did trial the laser measuring and wrist bands, but stopped it after a short time.
I have not heard an official reason for them not doing it, but I have read rumors that one of the reasons was parents somehow removing the wrist band from an older child, putting it on the younger child and then taking the older child to be measured for a second time.
I don't know if that is true or not, but it is what I heard.

 

[TexasTodds]

I know what you mean. My DD is 3, and turning 4 at the end of March, and we go a the end of January. I have been measuring her alot, and hoping that she measures 40" at the park. With farely flat tennis shoes, she is 40 1/2 ". The sad thing is that she is my fearless child. DS 8 1/2 doesn't want to ride anything fast or plunging!

 

[turnlisa]

I know what you mean. My DD is 3, and turning 4 at the end of March, and we go a the end of January. I have been measuring her alot, and hoping that she measures 40" at the park. With farely flat tennis shoes, she is 40 1/2 ". The sad thing is that she is my fearless child. DS 8 1/2 doesn't want to ride anything fast or plunging!

This is the problem we had. My youngest is a complete daredevil and willing to ride anything. His favorite ride is ToT. My oldest will only ride something after being challenged or after my youngest rides it. After my oldest has ridden it, he always loves it but it is that initial getting on thing. I just measured my youngest and he is 44". Things should be smoother this year!

 

[MyZoeJane]

Disney did trial the laser measuring and wrist bands, but stopped it after a short time.
I have not heard an official reason for them not doing it, but I have read rumors that one of the reasons was parents somehow removing the wrist band from an older child, putting it on the younger child and then taking the older child to be measured for a second time.
I don't know if that is true or not, but it is what I heard.

Exactly what I was told by a Cast Member in June.

 

[hematite153]

Disney did trial the laser measuring and wrist bands, but stopped it after a short time.
I have not heard an official reason for them not doing it, but I have read rumors that one of the reasons was parents somehow removing the wrist band from an older child, putting it on the younger child and then taking the older child to be measured for a second time.
I don't know if that is true or not, but it is what I heard.

That's just sad!

Why not just try a stamp then?

Anyway, this thread is making me aware that we need to be careful how we discuss this issue with my DNeph in a couple of weeks. He was 47" (without shoes) in early Oct. So, he's likely to be just about 48" with his shoes on by the time we hit wdw. But, it will likely be a "just on the line" 48". I'll have to remember to ask his parents to measure him again this week.

 

[PilotWife]

I completely agree with inconsistancy.....my DS is a short 5 yr old. and was right on 40 inches. It was a gamble every time we took him on something with a height limit. He rode Splash Mtn. 3 times before I took him on and was turned away (all attempts were measured also). Epcot was much more "strict" on their entrance of him...But the same happened there as it did MK.

Jennifer

 

[scoochie75]

Oh I am glad I read this post we are heading down next week and my ds will be turning 6 while we are there. He is so excited to go on the rides b/c he is very short for his age and he finally just hit 40" (at least according to our measurements) - I am going to make sure he understands that they could measure different which would put him below 40" still - he is going to be so sad if he can't try all the rides he wants to. Oh I really hope this doesn't blow up in our faces!!!! I pray he is really 40"

 

[SueM in MN]

Oh I am glad I read this post we are heading down next week and my ds will be turning 6 while we are there. He is so excited to go on the rides b/c he is very short for his age and he finally just hit 40" (at least according to our measurements) - I am going to make sure he understands that they could measure different which would put him below 40" still - he is going to be so sad if he can't try all the rides he wants to. Oh I really hope this doesn't blow up in our faces!!!! I pray he is really 40"

A couple of other things:
- practice standing up straight and tall
- practice putting something on his head to measure; a lot of kids 'shrink' from the measuring stick because they don't like it hitting the top of their head
- do the rides with height requirements as early in the day as possible. As the day goes on and people get tired, they tend to slouch and measure smaller.

 

[jessica52877]

That is very sad about switching the bracelets. I can't imagine that. DS4 at the time was right at 44 inches. He was quite excited to get to ride Space Mountain, after we had him measured at the beginning and said are you sure! I didn't want to wait and have an issue. Well, you guessed it, got up there and NOPE, not letting him on. Thank goodness he wasn't phased by it, what got me more was the time we waited and someone telling him yes, and then no. They need to be more consistant, even if stamping at the first stick and all CM's need to measure well. The line was LONG! and it irritated me.

I am all for safety and that was why I asked are you sure. Space mountain is one of those rides that to me is a bit different as far as they aren't next to you!

 

[hammie59]

I'm always a little shocked when I read how some parents try to beat the system with the height thing. The whole reason for measuring is for the safety of the child! I would never purposely risk injury or death with my children. I totally understand the frustration of posters who were told yes then no, especially after waiting in line, but I just don't get the people who know that their kid is too short and still get mad and try to sneak them on. Just my opinion.

 

[tadamom]

The height thing is always soooo tricky. I'm glad they measure but they do need to be more consistent. When we took my son for his first trip (he was fixing to turn 3) we were getting in line for Kali River Rapids and their wasn't anyone at the front measuring and the line was super looooong. We all really wanted to go on the ride and I knew he would love it but there was no way I was going to put him in line and then have them tell me that he couldn't ride -- I knew that it would be too much heartache. Thankfully we saw some of the CM's for the ride and they came to measure him. He was the exact height and they even kept mashing his hair down to make sure it was sticking up to make him taller (his hair is really thick). We rode that ride 3 times!!!!!