Height Requirements question...

[raidermatt]

I don't think this one has been asked before. I could be wrong but didn't find anything on search...

I just measured DS and he is EXACTLY 40 inches tall now. My question is, on the rides where the requirement is 40 inches tall, is that 40 INCHES or OVER 40 inches?? I know he won't be able to ride very many of them (the 40 in ones) due to the scary factor and his age. But there are one or 2 that I think he would enjoy.

Thanks for any info.

Did he have shoes on when you measured him? If not, that might be enough to get him in.

That aside, I wouldn't promise him anything. Just let them measure him when you get there and have a plan either way.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

Yes, he had his tennis shoes on. They are some good Stride Rite walking shoes, in other words the shoes he will be wearing at WDW. The soles are not thick or thin, just normal. But, like I said, he's grazing that 40in line. If they make him take his shoes off he'd be a little short. But the way he's growing right now, he may end up at 40 with his shoes OFF by the time we leave.

He IS tall for a 2 year old. I'm only 5' 3" and DH is only 5' 10". DH actually got his height from Uncles because his mom and dad are both really short too. My mother is my height and my dad is 6 foot. So, I guess he's getting it from my dad. As far as this subject goes, I've posted on another thread about having a big 2 year old and having problems getting into the parks without a ticket. I've read where some mom's have gotten really hassled! I have a copy of his birth certificate and a police kid photo ID, so I hope we don't have problems. That is really going to upset me!

 

[MJMcBride]

I agree with raidermatt. Plus, my 4 year old loved Soarin, Test Track, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder and he was 42 inches. I wouldn't dream of putting him on Space or ToT

 

[shmoogrrrl]

I don't think this one has been asked before. I could be wrong but didn't find anything on search...

I just measured DS and he is EXACTLY 40 inches tall now. My question is, on the rides where the requirement is 40 inches tall, is that 40 INCHES or OVER 40 inches?? I know he won't be able to ride very many of them (the 40 in ones) due to the scary factor and his age. But there are one or 2 that I think he would enjoy.

Thanks for any info.

He can ride at 40 inches, but beware the evil measuring stick. My Daughter was 40 inches on our last trip in August and she didn't have any problem (They will measure him with the stick) riding TOT, Star Wars, or any of the other 40 inch rides until we got to Stitch. Even though it was 40 inches, their stick was taller or something because they said she wasn't 40 and wouldn't allow her to ride (No big loss from what I've heard!).

We also had a problem on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We were at MG when the park opened and went straight to BTMR. She measured fine and so we rode it. There was no line, so we decided to ride it again. We actually did it three time. The FOURTH time, we discovered a new CM who measured her again and said she was not tall enough. I started to point out that the other CM said she was fine and that she had just been on the thing three times when the other CM came back and waved her through. IT was actually kind of funny!

 

[disneyfan2]

what is the height requirement for Soaring? My dd is just under the 40" and looking forward to this, i hope that 40 isn;t the minimum on this ride??

 

[Blueyed Girl]

what is the height requirement for Soaring? My dd is just under the 40" and looking forward to this, i hope that 40 isn;t the minimum on this ride??

Actually, it is. That's the reason I was hoping he would be 40 in by our trip. I know he'd love this ride.

You can check height requirements here: http://allearsnet.com/tp/rr.htm

 

[U2_rocks!]

Soarin is the one I'm most bummed about too. My 4 yo won't be tall enough for it unless she goes through a major growth spurt in 3 months! I'm not sure why the height requirement is 40 in, as it's not much of a thrill ride - no jerking, just a little height and a feeling of movement. It must be the way the seats are designed - they may not be safe for someone under 40 in. I truly wish they had designed them for 36 - 38 in, because I think that a slightly younger child can handle Soarin than can handle Big Thunder or Splash. Oh well. We'll have to do baby swap, but DD will be so disappointed not to be able to join her siblings, and we will be disappointed that we can't all ride together (that's probably the only ride I can get both my parents on!).

 

[kribit]

Wow, my kiddos must be short. They were a little over 40 inches when we visited and they had just turned 4!!!

They enjoyed all the rides, but we chose not to take them on ToT. My son loved Test Track, but he was so little that you couldn't see his small head over the seat back. They were totally fine on Thunder and Splash and had a great time.

I will note that even though your child meets the height requirement, you have to go with your gut on whether or not he/she is ready for the ride. We chose no on ToT, because we've ridden it ourselves and consider it an intense ride. We also passed on Dinosaur, but will probably do that next time when they are 5. My son would have been fine on both, but we still thought they were too young.

Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[marciemi]

I will add that on TOT, most rollercoasters, and even Haunted Mansion (which I know doesn't have a height requirement), it can really ruin it and/or terrify a young child if there are people screaming - even in fun. We actually took youngest DS on TOT when he was 3 1/2 and he really enjoyed it. We went back later and the rest of the family was riding RNR (which he was too short for) with child swap. Well, he wanted to do TOT while we were waiting so we went over there. Ended up in a car with a couple teenage girls who SHRIEKED at the top of their lungs the entire time (before we even dropped) . I understand a scared yell by anyone, but constant screaming isn't necessary. Anyways, he had no interest in ever riding the ride again after that experience. Guess my recommendation is look at the people around you and if they're being exceptionally loud and/or obnoxious, just step back or ask to wait so they don't make your child any more scared than they already are!

 

[kribit]

I will add that on TOT, most rollercoasters, and even Haunted Mansion (which I know doesn't have a height requirement), it can really ruin it and/or terrify a young child if there are people screaming - even in fun. We actually took youngest DS on TOT when he was 3 1/2 and he really enjoyed it. We went back later and the rest of the family was riding RNR (which he was too short for) with child swap. Well, he wanted to do TOT while we were waiting so we went over there. Ended up in a car with a couple teenage girls who SHRIEKED at the top of their lungs the entire time (before we even dropped) . I understand a scared yell by anyone, but constant screaming isn't necessary. Anyways, he had no interest in ever riding the ride again after that experience. Guess my recommendation is look at the people around you and if they're being exceptionally loud and/or obnoxious, just step back or ask to wait so they don't make your child any more scared than they already are!

I agree, DH thought he was doing the right thing and showed our twins one of the youtube videos of the Haunted Mansion before our last trip, and they absolutely refused to go on it as a result. We didn't ride...so putting the information out there for them ahead of time was a little too much. I have to be honest, I was a scared of the HM when I was younger and still get a little nervous in the graveyard section. Our next trip we won't miss the ride, we just told our kiddos that we would cover their eyes. Most of the ride is actually quite comical, but it is dark and people do scream in there. They will be 5 our next trip and we're still up in the air on ToT. DH and I LOVE this ride, and I know my son will have a blast. It's my dd that is a little more on the conservative side.

 

[Tess'smom]

Maybe I should get my flamesuit ready, but, I think that if your child is within the height range required, great. Trying to find creative ways to make them taller is IMO dangerous. I have got to assume that the height requirements are there for a reason. I understand being tall, short, big, small for your age may be a problem, but it concerns me that parents might find artificial ways to make their child appear taller.

 

[maxiesmom]

No flames from me, Tess'smom.

I don't get how so many parents will take a risk, however small, with their child's safety. Disney has its reasons for the height restrictions. They don't just pick a number out of thin air. If your child is not tall enough, don't let them ride. How could it be more simple? You can always use it for an excuse to go back to Disney.

 

[Disnewbie_N_MO]

He's 2 and will be 3 in March. The very top of his head is skimming the 40 in mark right now so he probably won't be allowed to ride. That's ok, though. This is definitely NOT going to be our last trip. He's got plenty of time to enjoy all the other rides as he grows.

Thanks for the info! We are soooo ready to go!!

LOL, this thread got me curious, so I measured my 4 yr old. He's the exact same height. He just reaches the 40'' mark. His mother did make sure to point out to me that he will be wearing shoes at WDW, so that should make the difference.

 

[perdidochas]

Ahh, Gotcha!! Thanks for the info. Unless he grows a few centimeters in the next week, he won't make it.

Unless he wears tall shoes.....

 

[marciemi]

I agree, DH thought he was doing the right thing and showed our twins one of the youtube videos of the Haunted Mansion before our last trip, and they absolutely refused to go on it as a result. We didn't ride...so putting the information out there for them ahead of time was a little too much. I have to be honest, I was a scared of the HM when I was younger and still get a little nervous in the graveyard section. Our next trip we won't miss the ride, we just told our kiddos that we would cover their eyes. Most of the ride is actually quite comical, but it is dark and people do scream in there. They will be 5 our next trip and we're still up in the air on ToT. DH and I LOVE this ride, and I know my son will have a blast. It's my dd that is a little more on the conservative side.

I agree as well with you. On that same trip, DS (then 3.5) didn't want to go on Haunted Mansion (after he'd been on TOT). He understood it wasn't real, but didn't want to do it. We compromised and he wore a hooded sweatshirt (it was December), pulled it down over his face, and just curled up on my lap. I can understand that. I don't like horror movies. I know they're not real. But if I watched one, I wouldn't sleep for weeks, months, forever! Last one I saw was "The Shining" probably 25 years ago and if I'm home alone it can STILL stress me out!

I don't know what to recommend for your daughter. Maybe have her come in line with you with the promise that she can leave at anytime. I'd talk to her beforehand and see if it's the atmosphere or the drops that she's scared of. If it's the atmosphere, there is a Disney movie called Tower of Terror. It's not really scary and might make her feel more comfortable with it (playing up the "Look - there's the girl from the movie!" type comments). If it's the drops, I'd probably pass on it for this time and just child swap. You really can't "prepare" her for the drops and if she doesn't want to do it, it's going to seem worse than it really is!

 

[2002Disneybride]

My DS who will be 3 in July is 39.5 inches...I started looking into which "big" rides had 40" mark as our trip is in May...then I started to think about him and his maturity level and what I know the rides are like.
I think it really depends on your child and what you know they like etc...that being said, kids change and they have fears one time they may not have another... Our DS falls asleep every time on Haunted Mansion without fail from the 1st time we visited with him when he was 3 months old...who knows what will happen when we take him this time!

We might try Soarin', Star Tours and Test Track with him...(provided Disney's measurement makes him 40"--I am not going to "make" him taller! We will visit the World again!)
I think Dinosaur and the Mountains will be too much for his age eventhough he will probably be tall enough...

I was glad to see this discussion...