Height leniency for rides!!!

[cjlemoine]

How strict is the height policy on the rides?? My youngest DS is 39" and is scared of very little things. I was wondering if him standing on his tip toes would suffice the CM @ the ride. This would bring him to 40". Fingers crossed he'll grow a little the next 2 months.

 

[Robo]

How strict is the height policy on the rides?? My youngest DS is 39" and is scared of very little things. I was wondering if him standing on his tip toes would suffice the CM @ the ride. This would bring him to 40". Fingers crossed he'll grow a little the next 2 months.

Very strict.


The CM's at the attractions with height restrictions check TWICE for each small rider.
Once, at the entrance to a ride queue and again, just before boarding.

It is possible for a child to pass the measurement at the entrance to a ride queue and then be refused
when (s)he is measured again just before boarding.

There is no way to know for sure if a child who is near a given height will pass the measurement or not.
There are many posts here about children being allowed to ride a given attraction in the morning, and then
being refused on the same attraction, if they return to ride again later in the day.

Considering these various situations, it might help if you prepare your child for the possibility of being disappointed.


MOST attractions at WDW do not have a height restriction.
Here are some links to the ones that DO have a restriction-

http://allearsnet.com/tp/rr.htm

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/height.cfm (enter "2 inches" to get ALL restrictions)

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/restr.html

 

[tallen429]

The height requirements are very strict and there are sometimes two places per ride line that CMs will check.
No, standing on tiptoes is not allowed nor is any other artificial means of making your child taller.
It is better to prepare your child for the probability of not riding certain rides this time around.

 

[Reddog1134]

I've heard stories of CM's denying entry if they were able to slip a piece of paper in between the child's head and the height bar.

Sounds a little extreme but if it's true, it shows you how serious they are.

 

[goofy4tink]

Height restrictions serve a purpose..they are put in place for safety reasons. If your child tries to 'work the system' they aren't going to be completely safe on a ride/attraction. Safety restraints need guests to be a specific height in order to protect that guest.

 

[iamadisneynut]

We just got back from a trip and when I measured my DS at home in bare feet he was about 39 1/2 inches, so I figures he'd be good in shoes at the park, nope!

They are strict, he was so super close to the line, but was denied. He even cried at Star Tours and the girl felt really badly, but he still couldn't go on.

There is lots of stuff he could do though, he was happy he was tall enough for Kali River Rapids and for the Tomorrowland Speedway!

 

[cjlemoine]

Thanks guys for the replies. I would never want to jeopardize his safety, thought I would ask, I couldn't remember from our trip in '09. Think he'll have to hope that his daily milk 'rations' will kick in and give him that extra inch. One thing about Disney though, even though he can't go on some of the 'bigger' rides, he'll have plenty to do.

 

[vickalamode]

 

[t_catt11]

Thanks guys for the replies. I would never want to jeopardize his safety, thought I would ask, I couldn't remember from our trip in '09. Think he'll have to hope that his daily milk 'rations' will kick in and give him that extra inch. One thing about Disney though, even though he can't go on some of the 'bigger' rides, he'll have plenty to do.

This is the perfect attitude to have.

DS4 is excited that he'll be 40 inches and able to ride Splash and Big Thunder this trip. Was very bummed about still being too small for Everest (we have a great home video of daddy giggling like a lunatic on it), but we've pushed the positive, and he's accepted that Everest is out for this trip... and that he'll still have plenty to do.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

And like we always told our youngest - "there's always next time!" When he finally measured up to Splash Mtn, he was the happiest kid!

 

[SnipsNSnails]

With 2 months to go, anything can happen. My son has grown 1.75 in. in the last two months, 5.5in. in the last 8 months! Last December he was 40 in. and really enjoyed BTMR (we were in MK for just one day) and he's been super excited to ride things like TT and Soarin' which he hasn't been able to do before. I was shocked when he measured in at 43.75 in. in June and realized that he might be tall enough for EE this time around which would absolutely make his day! I've kept quiet about it even though at that point I was pretty sure with a little over 3 months and shoes he would be good to go. He just had his 5 year check up last week and measured in at 45.5 in. without shoes LOL so I guess he is definately good to go! Hopefully your son will have a little growth spurt. GL!

 

[goofy's_gurl]

Height restrictions serve a purpose..they are put in place for safety reasons. If your child tries to 'work the system' they aren't going to be completely safe on a ride/attraction. Safety restraints need guests to be a specific height in order to protect that guest.

I agree, it is only for your child's safety nothing more.

 

[crostorfer]

 

[torinsmom]

Someone here once posted that they give out special cards to kids who are not quite tall enough to ride. Not as good as riding, but it may take the sting out if he is denied.

I saw a CM do the paper test on a kid at Star Tours when we were there and the mom was really upset that he didn't make it. Poor CM.

 

[kshattuck]

I think you've got the right attitude! It's disappointing when they are sooo excited to ride and are just shy of the requirement, but parents often make it so much worse by complaining or carrying on about it being "unfair" -- so THANKS for setting a good example!

(But I still hope he "makes" it!)

 

[happygirlagain]

in 2005 my DS was 3 - we rode ToT - he fit outside and inside, BUT, the CM still took him off after we were already seated and getting ready. They said they had to make certain he was tall enough. They brought him back and said he was indeed tall enough. Everyone clapped for him. He was so proud.

He kept calling it the Tower of Terr - lets go ride again. And yes I did purchase the ride photo on every ride that year to prove that he rode all the BIG rides at 3 years old (went in Nov, he turned 3 in Aug.)

 

[bumbershoot]

I found that black beans were excellent for growth spurts. Nice, pure protein, with no problematic calcium-leaching issues (in dairy).


If he does have a growth spurt, be sure to get the most important rides in during the morning, first thing. The course of the day will cause a normal human to get a bit shorter (the fluid in the discs of the spine changes in volume as the day goes on), and riding rollercoasters, etc, will enhance that natural process. Hydrate all day long, and have good sleep, and ride the important rides in the morning when he's tallest.

And DS did indeed have the *piece of paper* trick done to him. At Star Tours in Disneyland...I wasn't there but DH wasn't savvy enough to tell the CM to *stop pushing on DS's shoulder*, so DS was pushed down a bit, the CM got the slip of paper between measuring stick and top of head, and ST was denied to DS that day. TOTAL bummer, though the result was that DS wants to measure for every ride, and never takes a ride for granted!

 

[Oglet]

They are strict with very good reason, however.

If it comes down to having to slide a piece of paper for a yes or no, what difference does that really make?

Call me a bad parent however if my child was denied because of the width of a piece of paper they would be returning a few minutes later slightly taller.

 

[neoavatara]

Very strict.

My son last week was 44 1/2", and was measured EVERY TIME. Once he was even denied; I had to fight a little to get him into a ride he rode three times earlier that day.

As for leniency...bad idea. How would you feel if something happened?

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

Just hang him up by his ankles for a couple hours every day...he'll be fine.

On a more serious note, on one trip on our way into Mission Space, we saw a CM at the first height checker with a tape measure measuring it. Seems like some youngster might have made it through the first checker and didn't make it through the second one. Not sure what the resolution was, but it seems their system is not infallible. But erring on the side of caution/safety is a good policy.