height requirements?

[PrincessAnnabell]

My daughter is 39" tall. How strict are the height requirements for rides? I would love for us to ride together and not have to do a swap. Do they check each kid?

 

[staci]

if she is really that close would some tennis shoes with semi-thick soles get her up to 40''?

 

[my2princessgirls]

How soon is your trip? Any chance for a growth spurt? I found that they check at each ride at least once. Last year my DD was about 39 1/2" bare foot, and was BARELY tall enough in tennis shoes. The rides we took her on with a height requirement were Soarin', BTMRR, and Splash. Now our youngest is wanting to ride Kali River Rapids (38" requirement) and she is 37.25" bare foot. We have 7 1/2 weeks left, so I am hoping for a growth spurt so it's not so close.

 

[all4fun]

They check the kids that look close to the limit. Even on or last trip ds was 44" and they still checked his height a lot of times at the 40" rides. Some rides they will check at the beginning of the queue, and then right before you get on the ride, they may check again. If she's 39" w/out shoes on though, she may be tall enough when you go with shoes on. Just prepare her for the fact that when you get there they will measure her and if the top of her head doesn't at least touch the top of the stick then she won't be allowed to ride.

hth

 

[karajeboo]

Not only do they check height if the child looks close, but keep in mind that the height requirements are in place for a reason. I don't recommend "lifts" or anything like that. When our DD was just over 40" in 2006, one CM actually had her take her shoes off for Splash Mtn.

 

[snugglepeas]

Not only do they check height if the child looks close, but keep in mind that the height requirements are in place for a reason. I don't recommend "lifts" or anything like that. When our DD was just over 40" in 2006, one CM actually had her take her shoes off for Splash Mtn.

I second that, we just got back and my 6 year old got checked 3 times going through the line for MS.

 

[tjmw2727]

We found them very strict so prepare your child to be measured every time, sometimes more than once. We started making a game out of it by telling my neice to stand proud and show the CM how big you are.

The first measure is usually at the beginning of the line to make sure a child dosen't wait the line only to be found short at the boarding. The CM's will often measure again at boarding if a child looks anywhere close just to make sure. If your child measures too short at boarding they will not be able to ride.

My advice is to prepare the child to be measured and that they may have to skip some attractions. Also teach them how to get measured, the CM will use an upside down L shaped stick and if it can move over the head at all - they are too short. Instruct the child to stretch for the top - they tend to shy away from it.

Hats must be removed and the CM will measure to the head not ponytail. Shoes with reasonable soles can help but make sure the child will be comfy in them all day.

We spent alot of time measuring last trip as my neice was just over 40" and saw alot of "interesting things" as well.

FWIW I have seen the CM ask for obviously high shoes to be removed on three occasions. Twice it was girls with very high platform sandles and one was a boy with heelies.

Good luck -
TJ

 

[tzolkin]

i second the "when is your trip" question.

my DD was 39" in december and we were hoping she would grow before our may trip. she's already 40" without shoes, so she certainly should have any problems 2 months from now.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

Some measurements (I don't remember which) even seem to have shoe height built into the measure. We had measured DD at the doctor's office in October and she was a hair or two over 42" barefoot. I had them measure twice to be sure so we wouldn't be disappointed at WDW in January. When we got to WDW, she measured too short for a ride with a 42" requirement. I know she didn't shrink, so my conclusion was that they assumed "tennis shoe" height for January and built it into the stick - she had been too short in flat sandals on a warm day. She got on later in the week wearing her usual sneakers. Remember she had been over 42" barefoot as measured twice at the doctor's...
We have also been asked to remove shoes to measure a "questionable" height, so in addition to safety issues, you could get "caught" wearing extra height. That being said, we did once wear thicker than normal soles in hopes of getting on Space Mountain because the restraint would actually fit shorter DD who had some meat on her bones better than tall DS who was too skinny for the bar to keep him from sliding around... Really, if DH and I (over)analyze it, we come to the conclusion that some of the industry's attempts to make ride restraints "idiot proof" have actually made them less effective! ...but that's another topic...

 

[Joanna71985]

They are very strict with the heights. It is for safety reasons.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Also have to agree that they are REALLY strict with the height requirements. On one ride, they actually held my DD's heels down to make sure that she wasn't standing on her tip toes. Part of our Disney planning every year is preparing DD for which rides she can ride this year. She is a hair under 44 inches right now (over 44 with shoes on). And our trip is still 5+ months away so she will most likely be over 44 inches bare foot. However, we have already warned her that she may not be able to ride Space Mountain yet. It's much better to prepare them that it might be a NO and surprise them if it's a yes!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Not only do they check height if the child looks close, but keep in mind that the height requirements are in place for a reason. I don't recommend "lifts" or anything like that. When our DD was just over 40" in 2006, one CM actually had her take her shoes off for Splash Mtn.

Cute avatar!!

 

[DevilDuckie]

My daughter is 39" tall. How strict are the height requirements for rides? I would love for us to ride together and not have to do a swap. Do they check each kid?

In order to keep your child safe, Disney is very careful about making sure their height restrictions are complied with. Yes, it can be disappointing or inconvenient, but safety first, right?

 

[SueM in MN]

Another thing to remember is that people will actually measure taller in the morning than they do in the afternoon after a day of walking around. As the day goes on and you get tired, you don't stand as straight. Quite a few people have posted that their child was tall enough for something in the morning, but went back in the afternoon of the same day and were too short.

So, if you have a child who is close to the requirement, it's best to ride as early in the day as you can.