height requirements

Lauren Williams

Earning My Ears
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
8
My 4 year old is really short for his age. He measures about 39 inches tall. Do you think we can get him on some of the rides that require he be 40 inches? Like Splash mountain, Thunder Mountain, etc.. How strict are they about this policy.
 
Nope. If he's not 40" tall, he won't be allowed on the rides that require that height. The requirements are VERY firm, and I've even known CMs to ask girls to take off their platform shoes or their hats before being measured so that the heights are not "artificial."

The requirements are there for safety reasons, which is why they're so strict.

:earsboy:
 
Originally posted by WDSearcher
Nope. If he's not 40" tall, he won't be allowed on the rides that require that height. The requirements are VERY firm, and I've even known CMs to ask girls to take off their platform shoes or their hats before being measured so that the heights are not "artificial."

The requirements are there for safety reasons, which is why they're so strict.
B]

We had a very unpleasent experience last year on the dinosaur ride (I think it was). Ds had been measured at the entrance to the ride (he'd ridden it the day before, after being measured), was then measured half way through the line. We got to the front, got in, at which point an over zealous cast member demanded that we get out so he could measure ds. We duly climbed out with the whole boat watching, cast member measured ds, only to declare that he was too short. I'm all for absolute safety, but this castmember was the only person in 4 weeks to say ds was not the required 40". I'm sure he denied ds entry because he didn't want to look silly infront of the waiting boat.
This left us with a very nasty taste in our mouths. Ds was obviously extremely upset. The cast member couldn't have cared less. Spoilt the day unfortunately.
This year he's 43", so no problems this time, unless Disney have changed how high 40" actually is!
Ian
 
Unfortunately for you ,I have to concur with WDsearcher,if the child even looks close they will measure them & no amount of cajoling will make the CM change their mind! On the brighter side if he is anything like my DS an inch on one growth spurt is nothing!
SD:sunny:
 

Our 3 yr old DD is also 39". We visited WDW in early April.

We only tried to get her on a 40" ride once (Body Wars in Epcot). the CM asked to measure her, she was 1 inch short. He politely told us she could not ride for her own safety, and offered to explain child- swap to us.

From what I understand this is the norm. I would say try it - see what happens, but expect to be turned away.

You may have better luck taking him through the fast pass line - the CMs may be paying less attention to height in that line.
 
Originally posted by jl3614
Our 3 yr old DD is also 39". We visited WDW in early April.

We only tried to get her on a 40" ride once (Body Wars in Epcot). the CM asked to measure her, she was 1 inch short. He politely told us she could not ride for her own safety, and offered to explain child- swap to us.

From what I understand this is the norm. I would say try it - see what happens, but expect to be turned away.

You may have better luck taking him through the fast pass line - the CMs may be paying less attention to height in that line.

Just a word of warning - if you should get by the first CM at either the entrance to the standby or FP line don't assume your going to get a child who dosen't meet the height requirement on the ride. Most times they will re-measure at boarding to be sure. My dd was about 41" one trip and she was so used to being measured 2-3 x at each 40" ride she would just march up to the stick and "prove" herself. She loved that she was tall enough to ride and didn't mind the duplicate measurings.

If your child just meets the requirment don't assume they will ride, in fact assume they won't be able to. The height sticks are adjusted to allow for shoes and hats. They will measure to the flat head and make you take off obviously high shoes.

TJ
 
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Originally posted by jl3614
You may have better luck taking him through the fast pass line - the CMs may be paying less attention to height in that line.
Keep in mind, though, that the ride requirements are there for a reason. I know an inch doesn't seem like much, but the people who manufactured, tested, and certified the ride said 40" was the minimum height for safety, and I tend to think that they know a lot more about it than I do. So, if you do manage to slip by, I'd be darn sure that those restraints and safety measures really fit your child and that he's snug and secure before that ride takes off.

:earsboy:
 













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