Height markers account for shoes?

[KalamityJane]

Refresh me, I have a 2yo kid that is ~39" barefoot and a tidge over 40" with tennis shoes. We leave Wed for the parks, do the height markers account for shoes (so they are set over 40"?) or are they at 40" even? I know jumping jellyfish is taller. I'm mostly thinking RSR.

 

[Congo Queen]

I am not sure about this, someone with the definitive answer may chime in, but my assumption has always been that the height markers do not account for shoes. How could they know how much to account for as different shoe types have such different thickness in the soles? My own experience from looooong time ago (my son is now 18) is that his shoes made him tall enough. We had measured him barefoot, and he was just under 40" and so I had already prepared him for the fact that he was still not going to be tall enough for Big Thunder. But when we were in the park and he was wearing his walking shoes (which happened to be those sort of trail hiking/running hybrid shoes) I thought heck maybe. So we said lets just see how close you are to the height bar, and miracle of miracles his head bumped into the bar and he could ride.

 

[Babydreamz]

40" is 40". If your child is over 40" with his/her shoes on, you'll be fine.

 

[KalamityJane]

Oh good. I wasn't 100% sure what it was and we will prep him accordingly but if there was no way he'd hit it, I'd take him on another ride while hubs stood in line with the older 2. I suppose it's worth a try in the morning

 

[superme80]

I want to say they do. My son according to Disney is 32". I do not think he was 32". He was checked 3 times and allowed on Mater's Junkyard Jamboree. If he didn't have his shoes, I don't think he could ride.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I've watched because I wondered the same thing and they never ask kids to take their shoes off.

 

[lalasmama]

One of the regulars here measured, and they all were at the appropriate height except Jellyfish.

A good thing to remind the child is that, in this case, he's stretching to hit the bar, not trying to avoid it.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I've seen CM's ask kids to remove their shoes (But that's been when its really obvious that the shoes are increasing the kids height by quite a lot..) and then parents throw a fit when they can't go on the ride. I've also seen kids try to avoid hitting the height marker when they clearly are taller enough but they don't want to hit their heads.
If your kid is so close to being 40" chances are with regular tennis shoes they'll be fine. Also try to ride in the morning, because I guess it's been said that you are taller in the morning (and don't slouch as much compared to being tired towards the end of the day)

 

[bumbershoot]

A good thing to remind the child is that, in this case, he's stretching to hit the bar, not trying to avoid it.

Yes. Stand straight and tall and TRY to touch that bar with your head.

Don't forget that there will be TWO height checks, so he shouldn't slouch in between. Also, they tend to check extra carefully if you're carrying the little one in line.


The forces of gravity on our upright bodies, as well as dehydration, cause us to shrink during the day. The fluid inside the intervertebral discs is reduced, which causes us to be smaller.

Think about how you likely have to adjust your mirrors and seat in the car at the end of a long, hard work day, vs after a lovely yoga class in the morning. (or just in the morning after a nice rest)

 

[DizMe]

We once managed to get DD on Indy due to the fact that she was wearing a pair of those flips that have the elevated foam sole. They must have measured her 4 times and again as we were entering the vehicle, but they still let her on (she was about 5 or 6). I thought they wouldn't and regretted that we didn't have her in regular shoes because (a) it was a hassle, (b) it made her think there was something extra scary about the ride, even though she loved scary and (c) she didn't enjoy the experience because of it. Well, that and the fact that she was terrified of the giant snake! I had wondered why Indy was a different height requirement than ToT, Splash, Space, etc. Turns out there are some good reasons.

On the other hand, I have a different issue with my grandson. He is almost 6 and is very small for his age. He's dying to go on RSR but he isn't quite tall enough yet! If I could get him on with a little higher tennis shoe, I would be tempted. He's old enough and ready for the ride but he's too small. I don't know if that poses a safety risk or not, but he's so disappointed every year that he still can't ride it.

 

[Malcon10t]

I personally measured the various height sticks, and with the exception of Jellyfish, everything was right on the number.

My granddaughter was 40" by the time she was 2.5yo. I took her on Racers and Soarin'. Later in the year daddy took her onSpace, Star Tours, and Splash. At 3.5 she was long Grizzly and Matterhorn. And Goofy;s Skyskool. "Best ride ever." SHe rode it 10 times in a row when there was no wait. We only let her ride TOT last trip (4.5) and she liked it. She should be tall enough for Indy next trip. We do not use tall shoes, we figure there will always be a ride to look forward to.

 

[Winnowill]

My daughter just barely skimmed the underside of the bar at California Screamin', wearing Skechers with fairly thick soles. She wouldn't have made it, otherwise, but no CM contested her eligibility to ride. Some friends of ours have a daughter who was too small to ride Indy one day wearing fairly thin sandals, but allowed the next day wearing thicker-soles shoes.

 

[MICKEYFIL]

A couple things to keep in mind from someone who just went through height requirements with four kids. If the requirement is 40 inches it is 40 inches with the shoes. Make sure your kids "stand tall". Some kids try to almost duck underneath the bar and almost try to avoid it. Encourage your kids to try and tap the bar on their head. Also remember that we shrink throughout the day, even a little bit and I have seen kids pass in the morning and not in the evening.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Make sure your kids "stand tall". Some kids try to almost duck underneath the bar and almost try to avoid it. Encourage your kids to try and tap the bar on their head.

This.

Work with your youngster ahead of time on how to "stand tall" when being measured if they are on the edge.

 

[McNs]

A good thing to remind the child is that, in this case, he's stretching to hit the bar, not trying to avoid it.

Unless it's my 6yo and we are trying to get her to go on Indy (she didn't want to). She was most disappointed that no matter how much slinking she did she was still tall enough!