Height Requirements 'Official' Measurement?

[Imagineer22]

My 4yo daughter is pretty much RIGHT at 40" when we measure her at home (no shoes on). 40" seems to be a magical height requirement at Disney. Is there a wrist band or something that we can get for an 'official' measurement from guest services once we arrive at the park so we don't have to go through potentially getting a 'bad' measurement from ride to ride?

She has a lot of hair so I am worried there could be some potentially bad measurements causing her to miss out on a ride (my measurements at home included). We would never try to 'trick' the measurement system knowing how close she is as we know it is in place for HER safety. So on the flip side of the discussion if we get an 'official' measurement below 40" we know up front and don't have to hold our breathe every time we walk up to an attraction.

She loves rides and has been on many a log flume and kiddie coaster at our local amusement parks. So our plan is to not get her 'hyped' up about a ride until we KNOW she is tall enough to ride it by a cast member's measurement. Trying to avoid having the devastated kid we have all seen at the front of many attractions...

 

[mom2rtk]

Disney doesn't do wristbands. They will measure her at the ride entrance, then might choose to do so again at the loading platform. You need to prepare her for the fact that she could get the go-ahead and enter the line, only to be denied at the loading area.

Tips:

1) Go early in the day. Kids shrink a little over the course of the day.

2) Tell her the idea is to actually hit the bar. Some shy away from that.

3) Tell her she might be cleared one day but not the next.

Good luck! I hope it works out.

 

[mesaboy2]

There are 2 measurements at all rides with height requirements, one at entry and another at boarding. They must pass both on every attempt. A common strategy is to do the ones where there is a question early in the day, as we shrink slightly through the course of the day.

No wristbands as mom2rtk mentioned, that opens the process for abuse.

 

[maxiesmom]

No, Disney measures at each ride. Sometimes twice. They tested wrist bands a while back, and too many parents were taking them off one child and putting them on another.

When you measure, make sure you are measuring her head, and not her hair. The CMs will measure from the top of her head, and push her hair down. Also, measure in the shoes she will be wearing, if that is possible. Most of the measuring sticks at WDW are shaped like upside-down Ls. Tell her she needs to hit the bar! Many kids try to shrink from it.

Good luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

3) Tell her she might be cleared one day but not the next.

She might clear one time through the line and not the next, depending on the forces of the ride. We all shrink during the day; ever have to readjust the car's seat when driving home from work after a long day?

Stand straight and tall; practice it at home. For both measuring sticks in the ride and for any re-rides.

Lots of sleep, plenty of hydration!

 

[AP1209]

Too bad people would probably cheat the system, but it would be cool if they could have your height linked to the magic band. They could have measuring stations in the park where you could get your kids measured. Too easy to switch bands, though.

 

[disnut8]

Too bad people would probably cheat the system, but it would be cool if they could have your height linked to the magic band. They could have measuring stations in the park where you could get your kids measured. Too easy to switch bands, though.

Exactly. Which is why wristbands aren't used either. And for linking kids with the wristbands, a kid could use the same wristband several times in a year (like with AP holders) so that data could change at any time.

When my then just turned five year old granddaughter went to Disney World for her first time, we explained ow the procedures worked and told her she's be measured twice and she could "fail" (we used a different term) at the second one. We told her that if she didn't make the first measurement, we'd do something she wanted to do and if it involved ice cream, that would be great. If she made the first measurement and didn't make the second one, we'd do something she wanted to do and if it involved ice cream, that would be great.

We also explained why she wouldn't be allowed on the attraction as it was for her safety.

 

[han22735]

If she measures 40" without shoes on I don't see how there would be an issue with shoes on that will give her at least another 1/2 inch of height.

 

[JZCubed]

My experience was that when our child was about 40", she was 40" in her shoes.

But be advised - don't cheat!

Some Cast Members are looking for kids who may have stuffed their sneakers…..which I found to be odd, since they measure with the sneakers on.

Best advice - sneakers, not flip-flops. And teach your child to stand tall and straight up - no slouching.

Unfortunately, be prepared for disappointment.

 

[Isatricia]

I have issues with using standing height for seated rides. It really should be seated body height since that is the part that has to fit in the seat belts/restraints. As all parents know, each child has a different body length. Leg length has no impact on how kids fit in the restraints.

Things we were advised to do to help by CM at DLR:
* Wear sneakers (I would buy thick soled)
* Stand up tall
* Take a deep breath
* Raise arms above head

 

[mesaboy2]

I have issues with using standing height for seated rides. It really should be seated body height since that is the part that has to fit in the seat belts/restraints. As all parents know, each child has a different body length. Leg length has no impact on how kids fit in the restraints.

Things we were advised to do to help by CM at DLR:
* Wear sneakers (I would buy thick soled)
* Stand up tall
* Take a deep breath
* Raise arms above head

I recommend contacting WDW Guest Communications with your suggestion.

 

[Tod&CopperFan]

When we went last year, my son was just at the height for Rockin Roller Coaster, I believe it was 47", I don't remember. Anyway, he "passed" the first measure at ride entrance but "failed" at the car loading. The CMs were very thorough in their measurements! They tried "take a deep breath", making sure he was standing tall, etc. His hair reached the bar, however they ran a card (like a credit card type) between the top of his head and the bar and if it slid in between, then he couldn't ride. I was amazed at how thorough they actually were. I knew before the trip that he would be close to that measurement and I tried to prepare him, but there was still disappointment. Good luck OP!!

 

[joannamet]

She might clear one time through the line and not the next, depending on the forces of the ride. We all shrink during the day

Huh?

 

[Alesia]

Huh?

http://orthopedics.about.com/b/2005/05/31/do-people-actually-get-shorter-late-in-the-day.htm

 

[maxiesmom]

I have issues with using standing height for seated rides. It really should be seated body height since that is the part that has to fit in the seat belts/restraints. As all parents know, each child has a different body length. Leg length has no impact on how kids fit in the restraints.

Things we were advised to do to help by CM at DLR:
* Wear sneakers (I would buy thick soled)
* Stand up tall
* Take a deep breath
* Raise arms above head

Watch it that you are not buying shoes with an obvious thick sole. CM can and will ask them to be removed for the measuring.

 

[lauraleh]

We went through this last year with our daughter. She was right at 40 inches with no shoes on. With shoes, she passed each measurement just fine, early or late in the day. I would suggest though are practicing with your child to stand up straight and tall. Their head needs to touch the bar. The cast members that we encountered were great with her and honestly even being so close to 40 inches, she really didn't get measured that often.

Also on the shoe thing, if you just do a regular pair of tennis shoes, you will have no issues. They are not nit picky about how thick the sole can be. I mean of course if you buy platforms, then you may have an issue, but who wants to walk around on those all day?! Not my four year old!

 

[Colleen27]

As others have said, be prepared for the worst. We had one experience where DD was cleared at the first check point and then not at the loading zone (after a relatively short but not negligible wait). She was 41" barefoot at her doctor's office before the trip but with sneakers on she couldn't hit the 40" bar to ride Splash. Fortunately that was a big family trip so I was able to take DD to my mom while DH & DS rode, and then I used the baby swap pass the CM gave us to ride with DS, but if I'd been solo with both kids it would have been a major headache.

All of the tips you've gotten above are good ones - buy good shoes, teach her to try to touch the bar with her head, and prepare her for the process. But be warned that one some rides she might not be able to ride. Honestly, we don't even try just-barely-tall-enough rides with DD6 now (and she's a peanut - she was 5 before she was big enough for the 40" rides) but we go often enough that we have that luxury. I don't want to deal with the wasted time or unnecessary drama of having her turned away at the loading platform after waiting in line for who knows how long, especially since now I'm usually on my own with my kids. The older two just ride without me, or one of them (teens) does something with their little sister while I ride with the other.

 

[bigherosix]

My girls are 41.5 inches tall with no shoes on. With shoes on they are are pretty much 42, maybe a hair below. We had them measured for Kali Rapids Rivers by the entrance CM and by my first look I was SURE he was going to say no because of how close they were to the limit, but he said they were good to go. I was quite surprised. We didn't end up going on because of the wait time, so I don't know what the second CM would have said. But I guess they don't have to be obviously over the limit to go on.

 

[IrishNYC]

We recently rode EE three times in a row, and were recognized by the CM at the entrance the second and third time. He still made DD get measured, even though he had seen her go through the line already. I suppose we could have been denied boarding and gotten back on line because she just made the height, but it just shows you how vigilant they are.

 

[Tgrgrl]

We just went last weekend and our dd is 4 and right at 40" (confirmed at Pediatrics two days before the trip). She was wearing sandals so the CM's all had her stand right in the middle of the measuring stick, feet together, and looking straight ahead. She met every measurement so I am sure you will be fine.