Height requirements

[shananigin3122]

My 3 year old son is *exactly* 40 and 1/8" with his shoes on - normal sneakers, no suspicious big soles. I'm sure this is a long shot, but is there somewhere he can get measured and get an officail "I'm 40"!" sticker!? I am envisioning dozens of measurements all day (I hear sometimes multiple times for one ride!?) and with it being so close, might we get turned away? Might he have to take his shoes off? Many of our FP revolve around attractions you have to be 40" for. Just a little worried with all the planing and $ I have into this trip that a measurement snafu might push me to insanity...

Funny note: We have told him he has to eat his vegetables to grow tall enough for BTM and it is the ONLY thing that has ever motivated this stubborn boy to eat his vegetables. Disney Magic at its finest.

 

[Robo]

My 3 year old son is *exactly* 40 and 1/8" with his shoes on - normal sneakers, no suspicious big soles. I'm sure this is a long shot, but

1. is there somewhere he can get measured and get an officail "I'm 40"!" sticker!?

2. I am envisioning dozens of measurements all day

3. (I hear sometimes multiple times for one ride!?) and with it being so close,

4. might we get turned away?

5. Might he have to take his shoes off?

1. Nope. **
2. Could be.
3. TWICE (at 2 different locations) for all rides that measure.
4. Could be, yes.
5. Less than 10% chance, if that.

** Disney does not do that.
They tried it and some parents slid off the "X inches" wristband of a taller child
and put it onto a shorter child. A "sticker" would be disaster.

 

[Kelly014]

I posted about this a while back and some suggestions were:

Prepare your child for the fact that they might not get to ride.

Prepare them for two measurements at a ride with a heigh requirement, and that they have to pass both.

Teach them to stand up tall and hit their head on the bar, don't slouch.

Take them to those rides early because we all shrink a little during the day.

If your child gets turned down, go get ice cream. If your child passes and can ride, go get ice cream. Just go get ice cream and HAVE FUN! I have a child on the 44 inch line so I understand the feeling, but there is so much other fun to be had than the few rides she's close on. Have a great trip

 

[wilkeliza]

Practice with him now. Let him know the goal is to stand up tall and straight and he wants his head to hit the pole. Most kids will try to duck under the pole because they are afraid of hitting it.

Also when are you measuring him? Is it first thing in the morning, right after nap time, at the end of the day before bed? After laying flat for a period of time you gain a slight amount of height so if you are measuring him right before bed all good but if you are measuring him in the morning plan for him to possibly pass in the morning but not as the day goes on.

 

[shananigin3122]

Wow, people never cease to amaze you (with the switching wrist band stuff) I guess. Maybe the sticker plan wasn't the most well thought out
These pointers are great, thank you so much. I've measured a couple times after work, so maybe he will be ok in the morning. He is a shy kiddo though, so I can see him shrinking down away from anyone measuring him. Practice is a good idea. Maybe I need to start preparing for getting turned away as well. Now I'm envisioning a massive "but I ate my vegetables!" meltdown. Backfire.

 

[amerikiwiroo]

All good advice above. I also think confidence and how he (and you) approach the rides has something to do with it.

The first ride my son was measured for he had to get measured 3 times (he was pulled off after boarding for a 3rd measure but still made it). We as parents were not confident about it and he was not used to the measurement system yet. I'm sure the CMs read that body language from us. By the second day, DS would stride up to measuring stick with his head held high announcing "look how tall I am" and was getting waved through by the CMs without even measuring him.

We also used the veggie encouragement before our trip. Since returning home a few weeks ago, he now initiates the veggie roller coaster association. Nearly every night he says "Look I ate all my veggies. Next time we go to Disney World I'll be able to ride Everest!"

Have a great trip!

 

[summerw]

I don't know if you like Disney family vacation videos, but your thread totally made me think of this video. Also it might help to show your son what he has to do. Check out the video 5:56 and 6:15.

 

[shananigin3122]

Oh my gosh, this video is amazing. Thanks for sharing. It also shows me exactly what to expect on the measurements. Props to the dad for all that amazing footage. Wish I had the dedication! Maybe he go-pro'ed a lot of it? I hadn't even thought of that, but what a great idea. Makes me even more excited to go, and can't wait for my 1 year old and 3 year old to be able to enjoy it together when the baby is older! Thanks again to all.

 

[DisneyOma]

Caution about the video - they mention 'thank god we did a pony today' - if a ponytail is at the height measuring spot, the CM may measure from another angle, flatten the spot down, etc. They know the tricks.

 

[Canuck16]

I don't know if you like Disney family vacation videos, but your thread totally made me think of this video. Also it might help to show your son what he has to do. Check out the video 5:56 and 6:15.

Thanks for sharing this video. When we were planning our first WDW trip 2 years ago we found this family's videos on YouTube and enjoyed watching them have so much fun. I watched this particular video again and it brought a smile to my face as I thought about the fune we had on our trip.

If you know where I could find this family's videos again I would like to find them again to watch.

Thanks again for posting

 

[Dug720]

Caution about the video - they mention 'thank god we did a pony today' - if a ponytail is at the height spot, they CM may measure from another angle, flatten the spot down, etc. They know the tricks.

I agree. If I was the CM and I heard a parent say that, I'd be remeasuring in a heartbeat.

 

[summerw]

Thanks for sharing this video. When we were planning our first WDW trip 2 years ago we found this family's videos on YouTube and enjoyed watching them have so much fun. I watched this particular video again and it brought a smile to my face as I thought about the fune we had on our trip.

If you know where I could find this family's videos again I would like to find them again to watch.

Thanks again for posting

Here's a link. I agree the 2nd year where the kids are giggling on the floor and they are all teary from being Family of the Day is just too sweet.

https://vimeo.com/user13167797

Caution about the video - they mention 'thank god we did a pony today' - if a ponytail is at the height spot, they CM may measure from another angle, flatten the spot down, etc. They know the tricks.

For sure! Good thing the pony doesn't actually matter since she's tall enough without it. I totally agree for any kids that are close, they will often move them all around and check them out thoroughly. I think the other kid being measured and not making the cut is more helpful for how it goes. Not even any neck stretching will help.

 

[Canuck16]

Here's a link. I agree the 2nd year where the kids are giggling on the floor and they are all teary from being Family of the Day is just too sweet.

https://vimeo.com/user13167797




For sure! Good thing the pony doesn't actually matter since she's tall enough without it. I totally agree for any kids that are close, they will often move them all around and check them out thoroughly. I think the other kid being measured and not making the cut is more helpful for how it goes. Not even any neck stretching will help.

Thanks for this.......i love watching their videos.

The part with the Anna and Elsa running of the bulls was hilarious

 

[Jimsig]

Thanks for this.......i love watching their videos.

The part with the Anna and Elsa running of the bulls was hilarious

Wait what? Where is that attraction at WDW and how tall so you have to be????

 

[summerw]

Thanks for this.......i love watching their videos.

The part with the Anna and Elsa running of the bulls was hilarious

I know. The guy with no shoes just slays me, like wiping away tears of laughter slays me.

Wait what? Where is that attraction at WDW and how tall so you have to be????

The video shows people running from rope drop for the Anna & Elsa meet & greet when it was in Norway at Epcot (it's in MK now). However, it will be moving back to Norway along with a Frozen ride "Spring 2016" whatever that means.

All the measuring had to do with other rides since the video is from their whole trip.