Height Requirments

[Ally&Alec's Mom]

We are visiting MGM and Magic Kingdom and my son will be four in September and he is exactly 39 1/2 inches tall so with sneakers he will most likely be 40 inches, which makes him eligable for most rides...which rides do you think would be okay to let him ride..hes not afraid of much...loves to ride motorcycles...and anything with an engine! I am thinking should be okay to let him ride splash mountain, thunder mtn., but maybe not space mnt. since its in the dark. And at MGM not sure about the tower of terror or rock n roller coaster? Any advice?

 

[AnaheimGirl]

My not-so-adventurous daughter enjoyed BTMR and Splash Mtn when she was 4, so I think your adventurous son would probably love them. I haven't been on Tower of Terror, but it seems like the theme may be frightening for a 4yo, even if he loves the drop.

He'll still be too short for Space Mountain and Rock-n-Rollercoaster.

Have fun!

 

[chilihead]

My daughter was 4 last year when we went to DW. She LOVED Splash Mtn and thunder mtn. She is also very adventurous and loves motorcyles, etc. My son who is much more reserved (and was 6 at the time) also loved those. DD was not tall enough for RnR or SM. Took DS on SM and he didn't like it much b/c it scared him that we couldn't ride together side by side.

I have other friends who have taken their 4yo on TT. The 4yo did not like it at all. I think the backstory is the scary part for them.

Just my .02.

Chilihead

 

[MonkeyPants]

ToT & Rock N Roll (even if he meets the height requirements) are pretty intense, I wouldn't let a 4 yr old ride them. Though when I was 4 I am sure I would have begged to go on them had then been there

 

[momsully]

If he likes motorcycles he might like Test Track if you make it over to Epcot. DS3 also loved Soarin.

Beware different shoes add different heights. DS3 easily made 40 inches in his sneakers but just missed when wearing his Teva's. We had to go back to the hotel and change shoes!

 

[missygayle]

I've found Splash Mountain to be pretty particular on height. The first time we tried to ride, my sone was in the same boat as yours, and they turned him away. Be prepared for that. Make sure he stands up straight. If there is any room under their measurning device, the answer is no.

Just thought I would share my experince.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Don't try to boost your child's height by resorting to thicker soles, hats, tall hair, etc. These height requirements are for the safety of the kid. If they don't meet the height requirement, they cannot safely sit in the seat and be protected. Even 1/2" could mean a difference in your child's safety.

Make it up to them some how. Sometimes the CM at the attraction will have a certificate or card to give to the child to let them know that as soon as they ARE tall enough, they can get a front of the line pass (or something to that effect).

 

[Ally&Alec's Mom]

Thanks for all the advice...I guess we will play it by ear and see what he "really" wants to do and what we think looks to intense. I even wonder about my DD (8) wanting to do ToT! The theme is scary! There are plenty of other things that we can do that he probably wont even blink an eye if he misses a couple of rides! Thanks again!

 

[campingcorgi]

Our 4-year-old loved ToT and rode it repeatedly! I explained that there were dark parts and a little lightning and she was prepared and gave it a try.

 

[isyt]

My 4yr was in the same boat, 39 1/2 inches tall but with his sneakers 40 inches ( not his sandals however). He loved TT, Soarin and BTMR. My kids see the drop on Splash and wont go on, My daring 6yr still has not gotten the courage to do ToT so I don't push her. However if I was not able to sit with (like Space) or didn't feel safe I would never put him on the ride. All of the above rides we sit together with my arms on him. My 6yr loves Space and I don't because I can barely reach her and she is way above that height.

 

[Nicolepa]

My DD started riding TOT when she was 3 and she loves it. It's her favorite ride of all the parks. We are going next week and my son may or may not make 40 inches, but we will allow him to ride any of the 40 inch rides he wants. Now at 44 inches, that's when I start questioning whether a 5 yo should be on the ride. We've already told DD that she cannot ride a certain rides, even though she is 44 inches.

 

[aspcamhreditor2]

Thanks for the info. We have a 3 & 1/2 yr. old who we think should be right at
40" when we go in Dec. We're hoping she is tall enough anyway. The kid is
FEARLESS and LOVES all rides. Just tonight at the local county fair she was
the first kid to put her hands in the air on the little roller coaster while 7 & 8 yr.
olds where changing their mind and getting off. Don't know what we'll do if she
doesn't qualify for some "big kid" kind of rides.

Guess we shouldn't have started our girls on rides when they were so young ....
they are regular ride fiends now.