Height requirements

shana398

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jul 8, 2013
Messages
308
My DS4 and I are headed to Disney the first week in September. DS is 39 1/2 inches tall without shoes and 40 with. Will he be able to ride the rides with a 40-inch height requirement? He is dying to do Star Tours.
 
He will be measured with his shoes on. But if he's that close, prepare him for the fact that he might make it one time but not the next. He will be measured twice, once at the ride entrance, and once at the loading platform. He has to pass both times to get on. If you prepare him for that, it will make any disappointments easier to take.
 
It really depends. They are very strict and sometimes measure at the beginning and end of each line. He will have to hit his head on the measuring bar.
 

Take him on first thing in the morning. We all shrink a little as the day goes on because our spines compress a bit.
 
My DS4 and I are headed to Disney the first week in September. DS is 39 1/2 inches tall without shoes and 40 with. Will he be able to ride the rides with a 40-inch height requirement? He is dying to do Star Tours.

I would not count on it.

My now 5yo was close. A few weeks before her birthday, she even got into the line at BTMRR only to be denied at boarding.

If he isn't 40 without shoes, I would not set his hopes up that he will her to ride.

We measured frequently, btw at home.
 
He will be measured with his shoes on. But if he's that close, prepare him for the fact that he might make it one time but not the next. He will be measured twice, once at the ride entrance, and once at the loading platform. He has to pass both times to get on. If you prepare him for that, it will make any disappointments easier to take.

I warned my daughter.

She was as moody as all get out when escorted from the ride. My one and only time ever bribing with a souvenir of choice because she was quite upset. But I did warn her she may not get on the ride even though they let her in line.
 
This makes me so nervous!!! my 4yo boys are 39.75 inches without shoes. They have until Sept to break the 40 inches. They hadn't grown at all in 6+ months, which was stressing me out, but finally grew .5 inches this month. I really hope that they can make it on Test Track and BTMR.
 
My DS4 and I are headed to Disney the first week in September. DS is 39 1/2 inches tall without shoes and 40 with. Will he be able to ride the rides with a 40-inch height requirement? He is dying to do Star Tours.

We will just have to hope that our boys grow!!!!
 
When our youngest daughter was right on the cusp of 40 inches, sometimes she got on and sometimes she didn't. It really depended on the CM. You just need to prepare your son in the event that he is not allowed to ride.
 
We have seven more weeks! I am hoping he makes it at least for Star Tours, Test Track and Soarin!
 
Have your son wear thick-soled shoes and stand tall. My friend's son was just 40 inches (per previous doctor visit) and was only allowed on the 40 inch rides about 75% of the time.
 
I made a tester with a 2x4 and a piece of wood coming out right at 40". That way my dd3 can practice trying to hit her head on the wood. She's just 40" without shoes and with it rests on her head without touching the floor.
 
Does anyone have a picture of what the measuring stick at the rides looks like? My sister will be right on the edge of 40" and I'd like to show her what to expect. Thanks!
 
They are very strict and there is a good possibility he may not make the cut. I would try to hit those rides first thing in the morning, when he's a little taller. It is possible for him to be let in at the entrance and then denied right before boarding. In general, I would just attempt to avoid the disappointment or do your best to not get his hopes up. If he mentions it, I'd try to redirect him or tell him, "we'll see if you're tall enough."
 
I will just prepare him for maybe not being able to ride. He is really excited because our pediatrician told him he is officially 40 inches tall. I hope this isn't setting him up for disappointment!!
 
When our youngest daughter was right on the cusp of 40 inches, sometimes she got on and sometimes she didn't. It really depended on the CM. You just need to prepare your son in the event that he is not allowed to ride.

More to do with her and how she was presenting herself while walking past the CMs. If she was straight and tall and looked like she was at or above the mark they hiding have measured her again. If not, if she had slouched or asked to be carried in the line, they likely would have measured her again.

If they measure and she didn't make it its because of gravity and the forces of the day, or she was slumping, etc. anyone I has had to adjust the driver's seat at the end of a long day understands that we shrink down as the day goes on.

Does anyone have a picture of what the measuring stick at the rides looks like? My sister will be right on the edge of 40" and I'd like to show her what to expect. Thanks!

Upside down L. The mark is at the underside of the short side and the kid needs to touch or be taller than that short side with the top of the head. Young kids don't want to hit it. But they really need to touch it or they'll appear to be to short.

When my totally tall enough kid didn't meet the mark before seating on star tours we were disappointed. We took it as an opportunity for him to mature. If he didn't understand the need to stand straight and tall then what would he have done in the case of a ride stop? Or if he hated the ride?

If he makes it onto star tours, consider having him sit crisscross on the seat rather than with legs dangling. The ride is rocky and can pull a smaller kid slowly out of the seat despite the seat belt. Crisscross gives them a little control to stay upright. :)
 
The 40 inches vary depending on the ride. My DS was 40.25 in shoes last trip and was able to get on Star Tours and Soarin, but not BTMRR. I echo the advice to prepare them for the possibility they may not get on.
 
I will say, we knew my niece was at least 52" when we took her to Cedar Point a few years ago. That was without her shoes on, at the Dr's office. We were SHOCKED she was 54" (just barely) and they measured her at each attraction even though we had it done as you entered the park and she had a bracelet.

When she was 3 and at DL she was just over 36" and at the Matterhorn she was measured 4 times (over 2 rides). So it's true they check them as you enter and before boarding.
 


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