height requirements

[sassydisneymom]

hi
I am a newby, we are taking our first wdw vacation at then end of June this year. I have read several guide books and tip boards on the subject. One of the greatest tips I read was getting your child lift shoes so he or she can reach the 40' riding requirement. Only problem is I live in rual east Texas town, I can't find them anywhere. I have been to a shoe repair place, they said they could do it, but to the tune of $70, yikes!!!
Does anyone have any idea where to go from here? or any other suggestions?
My son is 38' flat footed. And I know he would definitly enjoy those 40' rides.
Thank you for all your help
Karen

 

[noodleknitter]

SDM, see other thread! This is a scary subject around here, for some good reasons! Have a great trip!

 

[cheyennemama]

This is unsafe! The height requirements are for safety reasons. Don't get him lifts! You're only putting your child in danger!

 

[Disneyolic]

I agree about not getting the lifts. There is definitely a reason why they put the height restrictions there. I had to deal with a very upset little boy last time we went because he didn't meet the 40". However, I was a little taken aback when the CM who measured him said to go invest in a pair of cowboy boots so he could meet the requirement. I actually thought about for a minute then decided it was unsafe (and too expensive).

~DawnMaree

 

[PlutoPony]

Hmmm... so you'd need 2 inch lifts to get your child up to 40" - right? Aside from the safety factor, can you imagine how uncomfortable it would be for a child to have their heel raised 2 inches for the time they're waiting in line? It would be like having your kid in 2 inch heels ! Think most CM's would pick up that, don't you...?! Am hoping this is a tongue-in-cheek post.....

 

[sha_lyn]

this is a joke right? You really wouldn't consider adding 2 inches to your child's height to try to get them on a ride.

 

[sassydisneymom]

Hey there, hi there, ho there, hope your as happy as can be!!!
Ok, Ok, I can see this is a really sore subject around here. I'm sorry if I made any of you angry at me. I have discussed with my husband, and this being our first trip to WDW we just wanted our DS to have the best time. But you all are right, and we never considered the saftey side to this. We never considered the straps and bars on the rides. Sorry, like I said it is our first time.
Thank you for pointing this out to us, we realize now that lift shoes are a bad idea.
Thanks again
Karen

 

[tjmw2727]

hi
I am a newby, we are taking our first wdw vacation at then end of June this year. I have read several guide books and tip boards on the subject. One of the greatest tips I read was getting your child lift shoes so he or she can reach the 40' riding requirement. Only problem is I live in rual east Texas town, I can't find them anywhere. I have been to a shoe repair place, they said they could do it, but to the tune of $70, yikes!!!
Does anyone have any idea where to go from here? or any other suggestions?
My son is 38' flat footed. And I know he would definitly enjoy those 40' rides.
Thank you for all your help
Karen

Wow - what guidebook did you read that in because WDW would not be to pleased with that "tip". If your son is only 38" then your best bet is to plan another trip in a year or to to ride the rides with height requirements. Most of them are pretty intense for a child under 40" in addition to being unsafe - thus the height restriction.

WDW has sooooo many great rides and attractions that don't have height restrictions that you really shouldn't worry about what he can't ride and concentrate on what he can. For example at MK only 5 attrations have a height restriction and one of them, the barnstormer is 36". Rather than taking a chance save the other four for the next trip.

FWIW - If the height restriction is 40" then the measuring stick will likely be about 41-to allow for hats and shoes -

Have a great trip.
TJ

 

[tlbwriter]

Wow - what guidebook did you read that in because WDW would not be to pleased with that "tip".

The Unofficial Guide has a quote from a parent who put her daughter in platform shoes and gave her a "tall" hairdo (ponytail on top of the head?) to meet the requirements. It really bothers me that they chose to print that one.

 

[sha_lyn]

the CM's know to measure the top of the head and nto the top of the hair. I've also read post here that say that they will make a child take off very thick shoes.

Hack I've been known to get thicker shoes for DD when she was right at 40 inches because I knew from reading here that the sticks were around 41 inches. However I couldn't imagine planning on putting my DD in 2 inch heels or lifts to get her up to a height. Not only would I worry about her safety on the ride, but about her safetly walking around in heels.

 

[Disneyolic]

FWIW - If the height restriction is 40" then the measuring stick will likely be about 41-to allow for hats and shoes -

Are you sure about that? My son, who measured 38½" at the doc's office prior to going, was able to meet the height requirements at all the 40" rides. We were shocked (and happy) and in no way did we use lifts or have his sneakers 2+ heels. I think the the height checks are pretty much right on.

~DawnMaree

 

[all4fun]

I think Disneyolic is correct. My ds is right at 35", which is the height requirement for Barnstormer, and the CM let him ride. (I was amazed my dh could get him to stand still for long enough to be measured, LOL). I think the height requirements are probably already padded for extra safety anyway. Also, I read that they increased the height requirment for Stitch's Great Escape from 35" to 38" because too many younger kids were getting upset, so apparently they use height to also help exclude younger kids from certain attractions too, even if the attraction isn't technically a "ride".

 

[tjmw2727]

The Unofficial Guide has a quote from a parent who put her daughter in platform shoes and gave her a "tall" hairdo (ponytail on top of the head?) to meet the requirements. It really bothers me that they chose to print that one.

Wow - that is amazing.

FWIW my dd's have always been measured to the top of the head, not the hair and asked to remove hats. I have also seen CM's ask a child to remove "obvious" tall sandels and sneakers, not just the popular sketcher type but some of those really thick soled shoes.

I posted about the 40" being 41" or so because my dd was about 41" at the dr without shoes one trip and just barely made the measuring stick. I guess I just assumed they bumped it up a bit for shoes - assumption on my party not fact!! Sorry

TJ

 

[averysmom]

My ds is 40 1/2 inches tall - but he's not quite 3 yet - Even with him meeting the "height requirement" he won't be going on most of those rides - too intense / scary!

 

[sha_lyn]

I posted about the 40" being 41" or so because my dd was about 41" at the dr without shoes one trip and just barely made the measuring stick. I guess I just assumed they bumped it up a bit for shoes - assumption on my party not fact!!

They have at least in the past.... as reported by CM's and by those who have experienced it first hand.