Height requirements - with shoes or without shoes?

[SSR]

Are the height requirements for children with or without shoes? I don't want to take any chances as our DS is on some of the height limits with sneakers. I would think it means with shoes as that's how the child will be measured by the CM, but want to make sure.

 

[bleeps]

They measure kids with their shoes on, but they look at the shoes when the measurement is close and make a judgment call about whether the child is actually tall enough for the ride. They'll also, for example, gently put a hand on a child's head (or ask that a hat be taken off) to make sure that they are measuring the child and not the height of their hair, etc.

The measurement sticks/bars are pre-made and stand at each attraction with a height limit, and they serve the purpose of assessing safety but aren't necessarily to-the-millimeter accurate.

The best bet, and we went through this when our son was growing, is to say to your child that you'll just have to wait and see if he makes the height requirement(s) or not -- that only the CM at the ride can decide, and if the answer is "no" it is for safety's sake. We went through counseling him through tears when he wasn't tall enough and celebrations the following year when he was (turned out to be a great incentive to eat up those vegetables so he could grow!).

 

[SSR]

Great advice, thanks!

We have avoided conversations about rides precisely for this reason. Thankfully, our DS5 is so "go with the flow" that he doesn't obsess about what he can or cannot do. Also, we're DVC members, and he understands we'll be going once or twice every year for a long time. I think the height issue might be more traumatic if our trips were more sporadic.

We'll have him wear his regular sneakers and come what may...

 

[cuchu2005]

With shoes. I've read some reports here stating the contrary, but my last year experience was without a doubt with shoes. Don't know what may happen if you try shoes that make him look higher, though.

Mx

 

[chesterpdt186]

with the rise of platform shoes, that give the child to much added height you have a problem.

if the child is close to a certain height, within 1 inch. standing tall (with feet still flat), and a little wedge of paper in the shoe is not unheard of. O and have the child look straight ahead, looking up you are shorter.

 

[seashoreCM]

Measure him at home without shoes and, when you get there, pass up (pass on by) rides with long waiting lines for which he is not tall enough as the notice outside that ride states.

 

[SSR]

Measure him at home without shoes and, when you get there, pass up (pass on by) rides with long waiting lines for which he is not tall enough as the notice outside that ride states.

We're going next week, so there won't be any long waiting lines. Why measure without shoes? Won't the CMs be measuring him with shoes on?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The normal measurement is with shoes on. However, it is up to the judgment of the CM to require the measurement with shoes off. This usually will be done only if the CM thinks that the shoes are "artificially" increasing the height, such as what appear to be extra-thick soles.

And note that the CM will always win if there is a disagreement. This is one thing that supervisors will always support the CMs in as Safety is the prime consideration.

 

[dqpowell]

Yes, with shoes. They are actually never supposed to ask a child to remove their shoes.

David

 

[SSR]

The normal measurement is with shoes on. However, it is up to the judgment of the CM to require the measurement with shoes off. This usually will be done only if the CM thinks that the shoes are "artificially" increasing the height, such as what appear to be extra-thick soles.

And note that the CM will always win if there is a disagreement. This is one thing that supervisors will always support the CMs in as Safety is the prime consideration.

Agreed and understood. He'll be wearing his regular sneakers; nothing thick. He's literally at 44 1/10" as accurately as I can measure it. We'll just have to wait and see...

 

[mastermind307]

We were just there and our DD4 was only measured once. She had her 4 year check up before we went and she was exactly 40 inches barefoot. A cast member measured her on Test Track...the second time we rode it.

 

[ktjohn]

Last year we took our fairly tall 4 year old DD to Thunder Mountain twice. The first day she was wearing sneakers and just barely made the height requirement. The last day she was wearing flip flops and did not make the height requirement. She was pretty bummed out, and I felt bad that I hadn't realized the shoes made her taller. I would have put her in the sneakers every day

 

[Jemmi1218]

When I took the little one I nanny for in January he was 4 and measured at home barefoot he was 39.5 inches with a tape measure. on go the shoes and 39.75 inches. he was HEARTBROKEN because he wanted to ride star tours and test track more than anything. We went out and bought him a pair of nikes-after measuring in the store. He was able to ride and nobody blinked an eye at his shoes! They did measure him at the entrance of EVERY ride he tried to get on, and he was exactly 40 inches. Those nike's were worth MORE than the $70 we paid for them! Too see the happiness on that boys face to test track was priceless! and yes I understand the safety reasoning behind it, but 1/2 inch was not going to stop that little guy! (who is a PEANUT and always been really small!)

 

[Hemlock]

In 2009, my daughter wanted to go on the Crush 'n' Gusher at Typhoon Lagoon. The height requirement was 48 inches, so we had her measured at the bottom of the ride were they hand out the tubes, and she just made it. We waited in line and when we arrived at the top, another CM re-measured her and told her that she could not ride. We explained that the CM at the bottom of the ride had said she was o.k., but this CM was adamant that she could not ride. The top of her head just touched the 48 inch mark, but they denied her anyway. So, we all had to walk back down the steps with one very disappointed little girl. She still talks about this day when we look at our Disney pictures.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I do know of someone who bought their child platform type sandals so they could make the height requirement. They were turned away by the CM due to the fact that the child just made the height with the shoes on. They were not asked to remove the shoes just told the child was not tall enough to ride.

 

[Traveliz]

The normal measurement is with shoes on. However, it is up to the judgment of the CM to require the measurement with shoes off. This usually will be done only if the CM thinks that the shoes are "artificially" increasing the height, such as what appear to be extra-thick soles.

And note that the CM will always win if there is a disagreement. This is one thing that supervisors will always support the CMs in as Safety is the prime consideration.

This is SO TRUE. I can't believe how many people have hassled my daughter when she has ruled them (their child) too short (and she is fair).

Liz

 

[jdcthree]

Also, on some rides your child may be measured more than once. I know my son was measured at least twice in line for Space Mountain, and I believe they measure more than once on other rides as well. I've never seen it happen, but I've read other people on here talking about having a child go through the line only to be turned away after the 2nd CM measured!

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Another tip -- Everyone is taller in the morning -- as much as 1/2" taller. Something about the vertebrae decompressing during sleep and then recompressing as the day wears on. If your child is close, you may want to try those height-restricted rides as early in the morning as possilbe.

 

[2disneyboys]

Somewhere on Disney's website is a list of all the rides and thier height requirments. Measure your child @ home in the shoes they would wear most likly (keep in mind if they have thick soles to use something else when measuring them) Once you have an accurate measurement, you can compare it to the list and then "talk" up the rides your child CAN ride .. don't even really discuss the rides your child can't ride. It does stink when your child is just a little too short for a ride they really want to ride, but the good news is even little peanuts grow eventually


my youngest son is a daredevil and always has been on the short side. Our last trip to WDW (April 2009) he was too short for several of the rides and yea, he was bummed, but he got over it... this summer we visited our local amusement park several times and he is now tall enough to ride almost all rides there (which is the same for WDW now) so he is very excited to ride the ones he missed last time on our upcoming trip.

Enjoy your Trip!

 

[SSR]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. We measured him yesterday, and he must have been subconsciously trying to grow because he's now a conservative 45" with regular sneakers on. So, fingers crossed, we should be good!