Grizzly Run vs Kali Rapids Height Restrictions?

[nlm74]

My son absolutely loved the Kali Rapids ride at DW and the height requirement was 38". We're headed to DL and I noticed the height requirement for the Grizzly run is 42" and sadly he is not. Why the difference? Just curious...

 

[figment_jii]

The most common reason I've seen is that the different states where the parks are located have different safety requirements/regulations.

 

[GatorChris]

Welcome to California - land of over-regulation. The Indy ride is the same exact set up as Dinosaur at AK, but it's 40 inches in Orlando and 46 inches in Anaheim. After years of going, my youngest just got to ride it for the first time a few weeks ago. And that's just because she's a tall kid.

 

[bumbershoot]

On the other side, I find it insane that Kali and dinosaur are so lax. For Dino/indy it's the scare factor and for the raft rides, that's just a lap belt. If a too-immature person wants to get off during the ride it's hard to stop them but devastating if you can't.

I'm all in favor of raising the height for the Florida versions.

 

[Malcon10t]

I'm glad the restrictions are in place. Yes, Florida is more lax than California. I haven't gone on Kali, but I can't imagine letting my granddaughter go on Grizzly at 2. She was 3.5 when she first rode on Grizzly and we were cautious where we sat her even then (but she did love it!)

In California, ride restrictions are set by the type of restraints and how they hit a person. The Matterhorn was previously 36", but with new restraints, it changed to 42".

 

[SMD]

I think Disney should be stricter in some cases. Other local parks don't allow people who don't have the muscle control to hold their head against the headrest or face forward to ride coasters. But Disney does, and even on rides like BTMRR, which doesn't have any kind of headrest. I don't know how that can be safe.

 

[alvernon90]

I had never really worried about the safety of the rides, thinking the safety margins were big enough that if they say 36 inches that will be just fine.

But then I rode for the first time on Tower of Terror at WDW, back when they did not have individual seat belts but instead a lap bar going across an entire row. Our row had three adults and a kid about 3 years old. We watched that poor kid grip the bar in a bear hug and hold on for dear life, because it did nothing whatsoever to restrain him. The on-ride photo was me and my wife watching him gripping the lap bar with both arms, look of terror on his face, while his oblivious mother was laughing with her eyes closed and her arms in the air.

Fortunately they realized how dumb that was and changed the restraints. After that, I am no longer inclined to give the Florida safety rules the benefit of the doubt.

 

[agamble]

Grizzly River also has bigger drops. Overall it is a better ride than Kali, sorry your kiddo isn't tall enough to ride yet.

 

[nlm74]

Thanks All! I'm all for height restrictions, and understand and accept, it's just a bummer for us shorties. My son is the fearless one, and he's 5years but only 40". Kali River was about the only "big kid" ride he could go on at WDW when we were there last year and he absolutely loved it, so I know he'd want to go on Kali. That being said we're going in January so it might be WAY too cold anyways! It's ok, there's always next time.....maybe.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Thanks All! I'm all for height restrictions, and understand and accept, it's just a bummer for us shorties. My son is the fearless one, and he's 5years but only 40". Kali River was about the only "big kid" ride he could go on at WDW when we were there last year and he absolutely loved it, so I know he'd want to go on Kali. That being said we're going in January so it might be WAY too cold anyways! It's ok, there's always next time.....maybe.

My DD is a shortie, so I understand. She was an 8-year-old very strong swimmer and couldn't go down the waterslide at the local pool because she wasn't 48 inches. She loved heights and couldn't go on the ropes course at the local zoo...or even through an inflatable obstacle course. It was very frustrating for her. I did find that height restrictions motivated her to eat her vegetables, in the hope that she would grow enough before our next visit.

 

[starshine514]

Thanks All! I'm all for height restrictions, and understand and accept, it's just a bummer for us shorties. My son is the fearless one, and he's 5years but only 40". Kali River was about the only "big kid" ride he could go on at WDW when we were there last year and he absolutely loved it, so I know he'd want to go on Kali. That being said we're going in January so it might be WAY too cold anyways! It's ok, there's always next time.....maybe.

On the flip side, he'll be tall enough for Space Mountain here (I believe the HR in Florida is 44" for that one). So, I'd concentrate on that, and not the fact that he's too short for a water ride. And who knows, he may still have a growth spurt and make the three 42" rides (Grizzly, Matterhorn, and Goofy).

 

[nlm74]

My DD is a shortie, so I understand. She was an 8-year-old very strong swimmer and couldn't go down the waterslide at the local pool because she wasn't 48 inches. She loved heights and couldn't go on the ropes course at the local zoo...or even through an inflatable obstacle course. It was very frustrating for her. I did find that height restrictions motivated her to eat her vegetables, in the hope that she would grow enough before our next visit.

HA! I've totally been using that since last year "Eat your vegetables Ky so you can grow taller and go on the big kid rides at Disney!" lol.

 

[nlm74]

On the flip side, he'll be tall enough for Space Mountain here (I believe the HR in Florida is 44" for that one). So, I'd concentrate on that, and not the fact that he's too short for a water ride. And who knows, he may still have a growth spurt and make the three 42" rides (Grizzly, Matterhorn, and Goofy).

Here's hoping, but considering it's taken a year to grow 2 inches, I say it's probably not happening in 2 months! Ugh, Goofy is another one...! I have a feeling it will be cold anyways, that's my mantra!

 

[starshine514]

Here's hoping, but considering it's taken a year to grow 2 inches, I say it's probably not happening in 2 months! Ugh, Goofy is another one...! I have a feeling it will be cold anyways, that's my mantra!

If he doesn't make the Goofy HR, count it as a blessing. That ride jerks you around so much, it's very uncomfortable. Any parent who is able to dodge having to ride that one is lucky!