Height requirement differences

[Muskegon78]

Is there any noticeable difference between the heights shown at the parks and how the kids are measured at home? Is 40" actually 40" or is it adjusted for shoes. Our daughter is exactly 40" right now without shoes

 

[Dan Murphy]

She should be fine. 'Normal' shoes count, so she should be a bit over 40".

 

[tink9702]

I swear not only are the rides not actual measurement, but they seem to vary between rides that say 40"!!! My advice would be to ride those rides first thing (before her spine compresses throughout the day), teach her to stand up tall & be prepared to be told she's not tall enough.

good luck!!!!

 

[Muskegon78]

I swear not only are the rides not actual measurement, but they seem to vary between rides that say 40"!!! My advice would be to ride those rides first thing (before her spine compresses throughout the day), teach her to stand up tall & be prepared to be told she's not tall enough.

good luck!!!!

Maybe she can grow a bit too in the next 64 days. I sure hope so because if she can't do BTMRR or splash, we're going to hear about it

 

[tink9702]

Maybe she can grow a bit too in the next 64 days. I sure hope so because if she can't do BTMRR or splash, we're going to hear about it

good luck!!!!! DD didn't make the cut-off last trip (about 1/2" too short) and she was really pissed about Test Track. She was okay with missing BTMRR, Splash & Soarin'. In all honesty I bribed her with shopping & candy to keep her happy during TT because of how upset she was. It's tough when they are old enough to understand and want to go on the ride but are short for their age. *sigh*

In your case I really would hit BTMRR & Splash at ropedrop for the best chance of making those rides.

 

[Timmy Boy]

I swear not only are the rides not actual measurement, but they seem to vary between rides that say 40"!!! My advice would be to ride those rides first thing (before her spine compresses throughout the day), teach her to stand up tall & be prepared to be told she's not tall enough.

good luck!!!!

That's weird because it's part of the checklist for each attraction to physically measure each height stick to make sure they're the correct height. Or just make the Cast Member feel bad for doing their job. It's up to you.

 

[hakepb]

That's weird because it's part of the checklist for each attraction to physically measure each height stick to make sure they're the correct height. Or just make the Cast Member feel bad for doing their job. It's up to you.

It might be the I level ground, but in practice it sure seems sometimes a child has an extra 1/2" on some rides, but barley passes the "card test" on others.

 

[Accident]

Also to note, CMs may ask for the child to remove their shoes (especially on RnR). Don't pick sneakers that help your child be taller it will backfire and for good reason.

 

[bumbershoot]

Our daughter is exactly 40" right now without shoes

Then she should be fine for a 40" ride.

My advice would be to ride those rides first thing (before her spine compresses throughout the day), teach her to stand up tall & be prepared to be told she's not tall enough.

This, always.

We do shrink during the day. Keep the hydration level up and make sure she's getting good rest at night. Those will help out. For those big important rides, DO do them at the beginning of the day, and do NOT do them one right after the other! Practice standing straight and tall, and make sure she understands she *wants* to touch the bar with the top of her head. (or the side, if she's that tall) She needs to practice being straight and tall through the line, because there's a second check just before seating.

Maybe she can grow a bit too in the next 64 days. I sure hope so because if she can't do BTMRR or splash, we're going to hear about it

If she's already 40" in bare feet she should be fine, but letting her know that she needs to eat lots of good veggies and good protein (wanting to ride Indiana Jones at Disneyland is what got DS to finally try black beans) in the next 2 months can help, too. Of course, we can't schedule growth spurts, but we can help the body be healthy!

 

[han22735]

My daughter was right about 40" bare foot on our last trip and with normal sneakers she was fine for all rides. I think they only asked her to be measured a handful of times.

 

[Muskegon78]

Just measured her again....40.5" without shoes, hopefully there isn't that much of a difference between actual measurements and theirs

 

[Mamapapa]

I swear not only are the rides not actual measurement, but they seem to vary between rides that say 40"!!! teach her to stand up tall & be prepared to be told she's not tall enough.

This, exactly. I know Disney and people on this board claim they are all exact, but I claim bull on that. I have twins, so I tested this with two kids. Both were measured at home, at school, at the doctor and every measurement was slightly off averaging around 42". I can't tell you how many rides the stick had them BARELY reaching the 40" mark!! That's a two inch difference making my kids shorter then they are! And I'm sorry, I know the heights are there for safety, but I fail to see how 1/2" is going to save/endanger my kid on Soarin.... For the record, before I get flamed, we followed the rules every time and only rode the ones Disney "claimed" my kids were tall enough to ride. I'm just saying I 100% disagree with anyone who says those height sticks are accurate.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not a guarantee, but I think if she is 40 inches now, she will be good to go in 2 months.

My daughter was borderline one month (I would have to check my posts--it was April, I think or early May). She actually made a checkpoint at BTMRR but then was turned away at the second. At home she was sort of almost there but not quite.

By our trip just befor Memorial Day weekend (within a month later), she was fine. She has enough of a growth spurt to be a smidge over 40 and easily cleared.

Not sure much of a shoe they take into account--but what she missed by at BTMRR was consistent with what we saw at home and then a month later, no issues.

My daughter is a pipsqueak. Once she cleared one ride, she cleared them all.

So while we can't guarantee anything, it quite possibly will be a non-issue in 2 month's time.

My daughter is still not at 41 inches and had no issues.

 

[disnut8]

Just measured her again....40.5" without shoes, hopefully there isn't that much of a difference between actual measurements and theirs

BUT - the only measurements are "theirs" when you are at the parks. So using "true" measurements will get you no where at the parks. Just a lot of frustration if she doesn't pass. Also note that there will not only be the first check point but another one later on. She can pass the first and not pass the second. So, be prepared.

And, as always, my advice. If she doesn't pass the first check point, get some ice cream for her (and you). If she passes the first check point but not the second check point, get some ice cream for her (and you). If she passes both check points and goes on the ride, when it's done, get some ice cream for her (and you).

 

[ktlm]

She should be fine. When my DD was 3 years old, she was 40 inches in bare feet. She clearly was taller than the height stick each time. It was not even a close call, and her shoes were just normal soles- nothing overly thick and no heels. I recall that DD was scared to try Test Track and we were trying to bribe her on. As she went past the first height indicator, she tried to crouch down so that she did not meet the height. The CM starting laughing and said- sorry, but you are definitely tall enough to ride!!

 

[jormom1030]

In June my daughter was tall enough at Magic Kingdom ALL DAY and then the next day was tall enough for Test Track but must have shrunk in the walk to our next ride at Soarin' because they wouldn't let her on. I wholeheartedly believe those measuring posts are not all at the same height.

 

[brandyleeann]

I had this question. My guy is 43.5" tall right now and we are heading to Magic Kingdom for one day before our Disney Cruise in February. I am certain he will be over 44" in shoes, but wasn't sure if the measurements account for shoes or not. Do they? Seems to be a mixed bag. I am less concerned about disappointing him because I know I can manage expectations, and more concerned about potentially wasting a fast pass on Space Mountain if he won't hit the 44" mark. What would you do?

 

[Muskegon78]

I had this question. My guy is 43.5" tall right now and we are heading to Magic Kingdom for one day before our Disney Cruise in February. I am certain he will be over 44" in shoes, but wasn't sure if the measurements account for shoes or not. Do they? Seems to be a mixed bag. I am less concerned about disappointing him because I know I can manage expectations, and more concerned about potentially wasting a fast pass on Space Mountain if he won't hit the 44" mark. What would you do?

Do you have other kids or anyone else in your party? If so, worst case you could do rider swap if he can't ride

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Is there any noticeable difference between the heights shown at the parks and how the kids are measured at home? Is 40" actually 40" or is it adjusted for shoes. Our daughter is exactly 40" right now without shoes

re
In my experience last year 40" was 40". I measured my DGD barefoot at home and she was 40". She was able to go on every 40" ride. The only problem we had was she was a month shy of 3 so they kept wanting to check her FP+ and she wanted to look up at the measuring stick while being measured. You should definitely have her practice standing for the measurement.

 

[kohlby]

40" without shoes shouldn't be an issue on any ride with shoes. We didn't think my daughter was 40" so we had prepared her not to be tall enough. WITH sneakers she was too short at home. However, we had her measure at Test track "for next trip" and she made it! She was measured twice. Then did it again and measured twice. And then got in line a third time in a row and made it successfully through the first measurement but was told she was too short at the next - yet she had just been there. (This was during the old TT and they we having us miss the pre-show so really just 15 minutes earlier). So - do prepare your child that might happen too - though 40" without shoes shouldn't be an issue if accurately measured at home. Also, do the borderline rides first thing in the morning. We learned that one on that trip. Then she had a 44" trip and a 48" trip where she was tall enough only in the morning. We just got back from Universal a couple weeks ago and there's a coaster there that's 51". And she was too short in the afternoon. We came back the next morning and she made it - as she did twice more during our trip since we stuck to mornings.