Height question

[tikkipoo]

DD is about 1/4'' too short with her shoes on to ride the big rides. With only 2 weeks to go, doubtful that she is going to grow tall enough. She will be completely devistated if she doesn't get to ride the Hulk. I know that the height restrictions are there for safety's sake, and I am usually very particular about this. But it is 1/4''! What do you think? Will it be unsafe if we put lifts in her shoes or double up on the socks?

 

[macraven]

i can only say what i did when my son was a hair too short.

i gave him my kleenix to put in his shoes.
he met the requirements.


please do not ask where my kleenix came from...



the height requirement is for the safety of the guest.
the restraining belts need to hit at a certain level in order to protect the rider.

my son was average height from the waist up.
he was short legged. just the way he was built so i knew the shoe stuffing wouldn't affect his body where the strap came across.

at 21, son is still short legged. he is 5' 11" and 30 " in seam.

 

[NotAmused]

Well, I have read that the posted height requirement is actually a few inches higher than the actual safety requirement. Wether or not that's true, I'm not positive but I would think it is true because Universal would not risk the safety. So, I would say go for it. Some people actually try to make their children 3 or 4 inches taller so I think 1/4" off is close enough

 

[KLAIT]

tikkipoo

I have the exact same dilemma for my son...about 1/4" too short! I cannot believe it...I am hoping for a growth spurt in the next 2 weeks..we leave for Florida on the 27th and will be doiing Universal the 5th through the 8th....keeping my fingers crossed...he has been hungry the last few days and eating like crazy so hoping we are heading into a growth spurt.

Also torn about the 1/4 inch and a kleenex in the shoe ......I know if it was even a half an inch, it would be an easy decision for me, but 1/4 and I am really torn.

 

[bubba's mom]

IMHO, 1/4" is not a big deal. I would feel (and have in the past) comfortable putting Dr. Scholl's For Kids in my kids' shoes. I told him they were to make his feet more comfortable while walking around all day....they had about 1/4" of thickness to them. With shoes on, he was 53.75" last year....we went to Dorney Park about 3 weeks before we went to UO...i knew he'd be close. He was SO close at Dorney, the same ride (different operator) wasn't going to let him on again! (We eventually had to go to GS to get him "officially" measured and get a wristband stating he WAS indeed 54" --in shoes anyway!) Anyhow, i put the Dr. Scholls comfort things in his shoes, told him they were for his comfort (which, i lied to him cuz when i forgot them at Dorney, i wanted to stuff tissues in shoes and he got bent outta shape saying that i was "cheating" and it "was wrong" (taught him too well i guess!)) and he had no problem w/ them OR getting on DD and Hulk...which, he loved! (DS is a big coaster dude, and i knew he'd be disappointed if he "just" missed height requirement.

You will have peeps here agree with you AND flame you.....you know your child and you do what you feel is right and safe. If that means stuffing napkins or tissues, do it....nobody but the two of you are any wiser. Will he be safe? Most likely....1/4" isn't that big a deal....the sole of a shoe really..... I know requirements are requirements, but it's your decision....if you're not comfortable with 1/4" of stuffin', don't do it. IMHO, i'd do it and have a ball!!!!!

 

[macraven]

at the local six flags park near me, you can go to guest services and have him measured and given some id/wrist band for passing height requirement. that way he wouldn't have to be measured at each ride.

don't know if universal has that same system.

why don't you send an email to gs and ask?

might give you peace of mind.

i would never debate or flame anyone for the kleenix thing.
my guys were short legged and i knew the safety restraints would fit appropriately on them.

it's a parent's decision on how to handle this.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Ds10 had this problem in Sept. In our many trips to Orlando I always promised him I would plan a trip just for him becoming 54". Too bad the Jewish holidays off from school didn't really coincide with him reaching the 54" mark. He was about 1/4" too short.
My neighbor suggested getting him Heelys and keeping the wheels removed but then ds6 would want them too. (They really do give them a boost.)
Finally, I borrowed slightly too large shoes from my neighbor's son (and ds's best friend) put in double-thick Dr. Scholl's pads and took an extra pair of crew-length socks, folded them in half so that he stood on double thickness of socks too.
Worked fine. We stayed onsite and used our room key to go on the Hulk 4 times in a row. We even began posing for the photo!
Awesome memories!!

 

[yaytezIOA]

Heelies do give a big boost, wheels in. 1/4 inch not that big of deal. Now if you can stick your hand under the measuring bar and have two fingers, yeah....dont want to risk it.

 

[tikkipoo]

I'll think I'll start the the Dr Scholls pads first (much cheaper the Heelys!) We'll see if that gives her the "boost" she needs!

 

[tikkipoo]

Okay, I think I going totally insane. Is it possible that DD Could shoot up 1/2'' in 1 month??? I'm going to have DH measure again when he gets up, but I just measured this morning....54 1/4'' !!!! Ain't life grand!

 

[damo]

That is cause for celebration!!! I bet he is so excited.

 

[macraven]

Okay, I think I going totally insane. Is it possible that DD Could shoot up 1/2'' in 1 month??? I'm going to have DH measure again when he gets up, but I just measured this morning....54 1/4'' !!!! Ain't life grand!

it's all in the mummy dust here i tell you.

everything is possible with it

 

[tikkipoo]

We are totally pumped now! We were waiting to take DD to US/IOA until she was big enough. Last summer, we went to Kings Island in OH and she rode all the big rides except one she wasn't tall enough for. So, I guess DH and I didn't consider her not being big enough to ride them at US. Mummy dust it is!

 

[xviclx]

To be honest I wouldnt worry about safety with a 1/4,, however its you who knoes your kid best so decide from there,, When I was younger I stood on tip toes quite a few times whilst being measured and it worked! there proberly stricker bow though. Tissues is a good idea in shoes though!

 

[bubba's mom]

also "newer" shoes with the bottoms NOT worn down will help too!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

at the local six flags park near me, you can go to guest services and have him measured and given some id/wrist band for passing height requirement. that way he wouldn't have to be measured at each ride.

don't know if universal has that same system.

why don't you send an email to gs and ask?

might give you peace of mind.

i would never debate or flame anyone for the kleenix thing.
my guys were short legged and i knew the safety restraints would fit appropriately on them.

it's a parent's decision on how to handle this.

They *HAD* a system like this. It was poorly executed and confusing to a lot of TMs.

 

[bubba's mom]

They *HAD* a system like this. It was poorly executed and confusing to a lot of TMs.

it is a "poorly executed" system at Dorney Park too...... some TM's told us the wristband "overrides" any measuring stick they have....others say it doesn't and others said it means they have to check closely ....frankly, what is the point of getting measured "officially" if it's useless???

(i understand that UO and WDW are rather large in size to do this, but with the amount of kids it attracts, they really should do something or come up with a plan.....)

 

[macraven]

They *HAD* a system like this. It was poorly executed and confusing to a lot of TMs.

glad you told me.
i won't post to email gs to find out anymore.

i hate to give suggestions if it has already been hashed out years before.

great america is a small park and mostly manned by teens for the rides.
and, it's only open during the late spring summer months into fall.
the 16 year old ride operators don't have to think or know how to use the yard stick if the littles have the s.f.g.a. child wrist band to denote height met.

universal is way bigger ( and of course, better)
it would be a problem the way you said it. the ride tm's should be able to make all decisions for the rides as they know what they are doing.
universal rides are not operated by 16 year olds. glad they hire qualified tm;s.

note i am not trying to say 16 year olds are not suited for ride jobs, if they do hire younger people, i am sure they are well trained.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

glad you told me.
universal rides are not operated by 16 year olds. glad they hire qualified tm;s.

note i am not trying to say 16 year olds are not suited for ride jobs, if they do hire younger people, i am sure they are well trained.

Wrong, partially. During my tenure, MANY under 18 y/o were hired to work on attractions. especially for weekends/seasons. Slowly, though, Universal instituted that TMs had to be 18 to work coasters & Doctor Doom. Now, though, I believe it's 18 to work an attraction. 16-17 can still do foods, merch, and whatnot.

 

[t-and-a]

Here's my DS in 2005, you can see that the top of his head touches the bottom of the red line; he got on Hulk twice, but was denied twice:

Here he is in 2006, happy to be "legal"