Height of Child

[cisco911]

Okay, so my 3 year old is 38.5 inches tall. There are many cool rides that are 40 inches as a minimum. Should I avoid trying to get on any of these due to safety and will they actually not let her on due to an inch difference?

 

[chartle]

They won't let her on due to a 1/16th of an inch difference. Some CM's even less.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

they will not let your child on if she is a centimeter too short, much less an inch.

 

[disney world dreamer]

first is she that height with shoes on or off?
they measure with shoes on.
if that is her measurement with shoes off then i'd put on a good pair of sneakers which is really what she should be wearing to the parks anyways and then measure her.
if by the time you go she is still not 40" with shoes on then don't even bother trying to get in line.
they are strict. they check you prior to getting in line. if you are JUST tall enough you bet your sweet cheeks they will measure again prior to getting on the ride just to make sure.

 

[disnut8]

They won't let her on due to a 1/16th of an inch difference. Some CM's even less.

And - the child will be measured not only at the entrance to the queue of the attraction but then also right before the boarding area. And yes, anything, and I mean, anything, below 40 inches and the child will not be able to ride. It's about safety and there are tons of things an under 40 inch child can do and the entire family will have a good trip.

Just as a note - our over 40 inch granddaughter, on her first trip, did NOT want to do anything that was 1) in the dark 2) had any fire in it 3) had any water that went into your face and 4) was too loud. Magic Kingdom was a bust but she loved Epcot and Animal Kingdom and most of the Studios.

 

[staceyrhood]

At Soarin a few years ago they made my son take his flip flops and hat off...no riding for him that day. They are very strict, but it is all for safety.

 

[Kathryn777]

Most of the 40" rides scared my 4 year old pretty badly. Looking at the list it is Epcot (test track and soarin) that she loved from her height range. She adjusted to splash and did eventually like it. I'd measure her in thicker soles shoes that she might actually wear and see how tall she is

 

[chartle]

My DN4 at the time loved ToT. Went on it multiple times in a row.

 

[cisco911]

Thanks guys! Good to know that they check. Can't fault them for putting safety first. My kid is very adventurous! She loves going fast and spinning and noise. Dark is definately not a problem either. Guess she will have to wait for next time. Funny story. When she was about 2 were were out at a fair and we were on the carousel and she looked at me with a serious look and said " Daddy, why are we going so slow? Can you make it go faster?" Also when in the car and I stop at a redlight she asks "Why are we stopped?" I say because its a red light and we have to stop at red lights. She then proceeds to scream "There are no red lights in car chases! GO GO GO!" Weird kid! Gets it from her mom.

 

[tlmadden73]

I hear you OP.

I guess it is all about the safety harnesses/seats (which makes sense .. they would have their pants sued off if a 39" child got even a bruise on a rough ride).
I guess I don't understand how a roller coaster can be 38" (Barnstormer, 7DMT) (albeit a gentle one), yet a ride that just rocks you about like Star Tours are 40".

My son (turning 3 on our trip in August) is at about 38" right now with shoes on.

I would love for him to be able to go on Star Tours .. it rocks about yes, but he would probably enjoy the space adventure more than a "scary" dark ride with no height requirement like Haunted Mansion. Heck .. I wonder if I should take him on 7DMT .. he is scared of the witch from Snow White.

 

[chartle]

I guess I don't understand how a roller coaster can be 38" (Barnstormer, 7DMT) (albeit a gentle one), yet a ride that just rocks you about like Star Tours are 40".

It all depends on the forces and how they effect the rider. An intense ride that only pushes you into your seat will have a shorter requirement then a "Less intense" ride that pushes from side to side. It also has nothing to do with how high the ride goes unless there is a fear factor.

The only attraction that has an odd requirement is Stitch and its because its easier than an age requirement due to its scare factor.

 

[chris1212]

This winter my 3.5 year old went on all the 40 inch rides expect TOT (wasn't sure how she would do on that). She loved all the rides and wanted to go on BTMR repeatedly. We did see lots of people turned away for height issues. I was riding SM and saw a little boy turned away right at the boarding area... he had passed the first check, but not the second. If your child is quite a ways off height wise I wouldn't even try, best not to be dealing with a dissapointed child all trip!

 

[maltdizzy]

Thanks guys! Good to know that they check. Can't fault them for putting safety first. My kid is very adventurous! She loves going fast and spinning and noise. Dark is definately not a problem either. Guess she will have to wait for next time. Funny story. When she was about 2 were were out at a fair and we were on the carousel and she looked at me with a serious look and said " Daddy, why are we going so slow? Can you make it go faster?" Also when in the car and I stop at a redlight she asks "Why are we stopped?" I say because its a red light and we have to stop at red lights. She then proceeds to scream "There are no red lights in car chases! GO GO GO!" Weird kid! Gets it from her mom.

Less than 13 years until she's on your car insurance!

My son is the same. Out at DL, the Space Mtn height is 40". He had been been riding the smaller Gadget's Go-Coaster (kinda like Goofy's Barnstromer at MK), and then at age 3, the day he measured 40" in shoes and did Splash Mtn, BTMRR, and finally talked us into Space Mtn Ghost Galaxy, which we assumed would scar him for life. He loved it.

Ever since, he has measured growth not by age or grade, but by which coaster he'll be tall enough to ride next. More than once, adults and teenagers would be shocked to see this little boy waiting for some intense coasters.

One note...she'll measure taller in the morning than in the evening (we all do)...but not 1.5" taller.

 

[bumbershoot]

At Soarin a few years ago they made my son take his flip flops and hat off...no riding for him that day. They are very strict, but it is all for safety.

Taking off flipflops for measuring is crazy and annoying. Hat ok. But flipflops?

yet a ride that just rocks you about like Star Tours are 40".

Have you been on it with a 40"er yet? They don't just rock. Kids can end up sliding down out of their seats under the lap belt from the ride. I'm a shrimp and if I don't plant my feet and hold onto the arm rests I'm flopping around like a fish.

On DS's first ride a stranger recommended that DS sit up, hold on, and crisscross his legs in the seat to stay up better. It worked. When he did it different he slipped down the whole ride and we've seen other small kids do the same.

 

[scrapquitler]

Okay, so my 3 year old is 38.5 inches tall. There are many cool rides that are 40 inches as a minimum. Should I avoid trying to get on any of these due to safety and will they actually not let her on due to an inch difference?

They are very strict about the height requirements and don't allow for any leeway. She will be measured even before you get into the line, and if she measures as tall enough, after you go thru the line, she will be measured again right before getting on the ride. So no leeway, and they double check to make sure.

 

[disney world dreamer]

Taking off flipflops for measuring is crazy and annoying. Hat ok. But flipflops?



Have you been on it with a 40"er yet? They don't just rock. Kids can end up sliding down out of their seats under the lap belt from the ride. I'm a shrimp and if I don't plant my feet and hold onto the arm rests I'm flopping around like a fish.

On DS's first ride a stranger recommended that DS sit up, hold on, and crisscross his legs in the seat to stay up better. It worked. When he did it different he slipped down the whole ride and we've seen other small kids do the same.

i guess for soarin i can understand because the child would have to take of the flip flops during the ride.
i guess that should teach people to have their kids in sneakers.

and yeah i agree star tours does not just rock.
that thing whips me around and unless i am firmly holding onto the arm rests the only thing thats keeping me in my seat is the seat belt and let me tell you its not fun to have all your weight being held in by a seat belt. its pretty painful actually.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay, so my 3 year old is 38.5 inches tall. There are many cool rides that are 40 inches as a minimum. Should I avoid trying to get on any of these due to safety and will they actually not let her on due to an inch difference?

She will be measured and not permitted in if she is not tall enough. You can use rider swap if you like. If it is only you and she, then you will need to skip rides that require a height of 40 inches or more.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

On and my daughter finally measured tall enough at the entrance but was turned away before boarding when she failed the second check. We weren't trying to sneak her on--she was very close and I even warned her of the possibility. She was sooooo close. But not close enough. Less than 3 weeks later, she was definitely 40 inches.

It so all for safety and they do insist they measure properly.

 

[mesaboy2]

On and my daughter finally measured tall enough at the entrance but was turned away before boarding when she failed the second check. We weren't trying to sneak her on--she was very close and I even warned her of the possibility. She was sooooo close. But not close enough. Less than 3 weeks later, she was definitely 40 inches.

It so all for safety and they do insist they measure properly.

I know it happens, but I hate it for the kiddos when it does.

 

[Aggieamy5]

I've always heard they are very strict too, but what's so odd is that they never once checked my then 3.5 yr old when we went in June. He's tall for his age and was just barely over 40 inches with converse sneakers on when we went. I figured they would check his height, but he rode Soarin', Test Track, 7DMT, BTMRR, etc without them ever checking even once. This was over multiple days at these parks too! Maybe they were just slipping that week...lol