Height requirements

[midorimouse]

I was wondering how strict they are about height requirements. My son is 39", but the height requirement for Star Tours is 40". I read that I should bring him to Guest Services to get measured and get a band. Do you think they'll give him a band if he's really close? We're going to Disneyland in a month, so I told him that he has a month to grow an inch. Will it help if he sings them the Darth Vader theme?

What are other people's experiences?

Thanks!

 

[mickeymo]

This past week, we saw cast members double checking children who appeared to be close. First check at the entrance and then again at the gates before boarding. They were also offering a child swap pass for the fast pass line in order to child swap if the child did not meet the requirements.

I would guess the band is official and would save the continued measuring at each ride with a height requirement.

ETA - no personal experience - just based on observations - 6 foot ds13 and 4 ft 9" dd11 -

 

[TheZue]

Star Tours seems pretty tame, but we took our son when he "just" hit the height req. He almost slid out of his seat! So if he does make it and he's skinny make sure you are watching him really closely. We were lucky we were.

 

[mickeymo]

I should also add (very tongue in cheek) a height maximum would have saved me from listening to my disappointed whiney 6' 6" dh when he couldn't sit down in the seat in Space Mountain.

He didn't say a word of disappointment to the CM who was quick to offer some sort of compensation for waiting (DH declined it - so, we never knew what it was - guessing a gift shop coupon... ) I just had to listen to him whine - it's his favorite ride - he could fit in the single line configuration at WDW in '04...

 

[tortugaverde]

I asked this same question before our trip in March... as my son was about 39 inches as well. The response was, they are VERY strict and they no longer give out bands at city hall. You must be measured at each ride... and it is at the discretion of each CM.
We only had him measure once, and it was a no go... as we figured!

 

[midorimouse]

I asked this same question before our trip in March... as my son was about 39 inches as well. The response was, they are VERY strict and they no longer give out bands at city hall. You must be measured at each ride... and it is at the discretion of each CM.
We only had him measure once, and it was a no go... as we figured!

I'm going to get him his milk right now!

 

[bumbershoot]

No bands.

Very strict. My son was measured outside of Star Tours and was told "OK". Then when he and DH got to the very last turnstyles well inside the line, when you're sent to your star freighter or wherever, the CM measured him again. Slid a piece of paper between the post thing and DS's head, the paper went through, he was booted.

However, he did get a cute card with Stitch on it saying that Stitch understands what it's like being small, but when he's big enough to come back and he and his family can ride.

We took it to Star Tours on this trip (b/c we forgot to last trip) and were sent straight to the front of the line, after they wrote the date on it and gave the card back to me. Nice moment, and nice scrapbook item!

DS got measured for Grizzly twice this time (he wouldn't believe us that he wasn't 42") so now he has two of those cards for Grizzly, though it's not Stitch on the card.

Practice with your son to stand up tall, and to NOT let anyone put anything above his head (my son was truly tall enough but he slouched down when the guy was trying to put something on his head...he was only 3, he was trying to be nice and compliant with employees of Disneyland, ya know?).

Being big for Star Tours (and know being big for Grizzly) was a great way to get him to eat proper food. I'd shy away from the cow's milk though, it actually robs your body of calcium and makes it harder to grow bones (digesting the protein takes more calcium from your body than it's fortified with, so we end up at a negative CA amount when we eat dairy). We focused on whole foods, veggies, that sort of thing.


Based on our experience at Star Tours, and knowing that not all the measuring sticks are necessarily exact, but at the same time they are Disneyland LAW (you can't argue with it, they don't care), never EVER tell a child that they WILL ride something, not even if you're in the line. OK, once they are 42 inches you can tell them they can ride a 40" ride, but until then, it's not a good idea. Always talk about "let's see if we can ride this this time". Otherwise you're just setting up a child for disappointment when the measuring stick is weird, when they are slouching, when they get a paper-wielding CM, etc etc etc. Or if they went on BTMRR 4 times that morning, they'll squish their spines down a bit, and they might not BE 40" by the time you want to go on star Tours that afternoon!

 

[disneychrista]

Unless you child is at least a full inch taller than the height requirement I would assume that he would not be able to ride.

We went the summer after Indy opened and my 5yo DD wanted so much to ride with her two older cousins. I swear she got measured at least once each day for the 5 days we were there. She just wouldn't take no for an answer.

 

[Sy-]

Get him some shoes that provide a little assistance

 

[lg3]

They are very strict about height requirements in general. They measured dd5 three times before she got on Indiana Jones. (She was BARELY tall enough!) I would suggest wearing tennis shoes for certain and practice standing up straight. It does help! Good luck!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

However, he did get a cute card with Stitch on it saying that Stitch understands what it's like being small, but when he's big enough to come back and he and his family can ride.

We took it to Star Tours on this trip (b/c we forgot to last trip) and were sent straight to the front of the line, after they wrote the date on it and gave the card back to me. Nice moment, and nice scrapbook item!
-----------------
ours didnt have stitch on it idk what it had but not stitch.
I hope hes big enough for grizzly rapids and indy
we went in WDW and they said no to him gave him the card said we could when he got taller. took it to DL and the CM didnt know what to do with it and just moved us though the line didnt even acnolage it..my son was bummed but i think i was more bummed. think we lost the card idk but man ya it sucked the first time. he couldnt go and i went alone.

its my familys fav ride since i was 6 or 7 or sometihng like that

 

[dizzyami]

I have to agree that they are VERY VERY strict. When my DS was 40 inches we STILL had a TON of problems. It is all up to the cast member to measure, and then they can measure again before you get on the ride.

My guess is if he is truly 39 inches he will not be able to ride.

If you want to try I would suggest looking into boots - really thick socks (wear two pair). They also sell Buzz Lightyear shoes at the disney store in DL that got my DS on Grizzly (they added a good 1 1/2 inches to him) Another trick is standing up straight - once I taught my DS that if he could hit his head on the bar he would be able to ride things worked a lot better (although this didn't work too well when he was tall enough, I thought the poor kid would have a concussion )

Good luck, and if you do try be prepared to be disappointed every time he gets measured.