Height Restriction Sign . . . anyone else's child HATE to stand there?

[maman_et_fille]

First, I have no problem with the height restrictions. Also, I am totally in favor of keeping kids safe on rides. So, please, let's not go there.

BUT . . . my daughter is tall enough to ride the 40" rides. She ENJOYS the 40" rides. But she HATES to stand next to the sign to check her height. I think it's a combo of being singled out and told what to do (she is 3.5) . . . I'm talking knock-down, drag-out hysterics that seem to last forever as dozens of people pass us and add to the line. We've tried preparing her in advance, cajoling, reminding her of how much fun she'll have on the ride, standing next to her, threatening, etc., to no avail.

Has anyone else found a way to successfully deal with a/o avoid these meltdowns? Thanks so much.

 

[Hannathy]

yes it is simple SHE DOESN'T RIDE!!!! There is no way in this world I would tolerate any of that nonsense, period. That is crazy ! If she wants to ride she stands there or else she doesn't ride. And mean it, kids know when you are fooling.

Tell her she has to stand there and if she doesn't then leave and sit on a bench while the others are riding, don't do anything else fun but sit or stand waiting. If she does it at the next ride then that's it for the day, no more even trying. And if she has to sit there times two because you want to ride after the others it will have twice the meaning.

As Barney Fife said in the old episode we were watching "you have to nip it in the bud, Andy, nip it in the bud!"

 

[Briarmom]

yes it is simple SHE DOESN'T RIDE!!!! There is no way in this world I would tolerate any of that nonsense, period. That is crazy ! If she wants to ride she stands there or else she doesn't ride. And mean it, kids know when you are fooling.

Tell her she has to stand there and if she doesn't then leave and sit on a bench while the others are riding, don't do anything else fun but sit or stand waiting. If she does it at the next ride then that's it for the day, no more even trying. And if she has to sit there times two because you want to ride after the others it will have twice the meaning.

As Barney Fife said in the old episode we were watching "you have to nip it in the bud, Andy, nip it in the bud!"

The word 'no' works wonders.

 

[sunnyday123]

yes it is simple SHE DOESN'T RIDE!!!! There is no way in this world I would tolerate any of that nonsense, period. That is crazy ! If she wants to ride she stands there or else she doesn't ride. And mean it, kids know when you are fooling.

Tell her she has to stand there and if she doesn't then leave and sit on a bench while the others are riding, don't do anything else fun but sit or stand waiting. If she does it at the next ride then that's it for the day, no more even trying. And if she has to sit there times two because you want to ride after the others it will have twice the meaning.

As Barney Fife said in the old episode we were watching "you have to nip it in the bud, Andy, nip it in the bud!"

You MUST be a mind reader!! That would happen exactly one time, and one time only.

Get measured, or sit in the hotel room,no tv, no swimming.

We've solved this, now on to world peace.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

yes it is simple SHE DOESN'T RIDE!!!! There is no way in this world I would tolerate any of that nonsense, period. That is crazy ! If she wants to ride she stands there or else she doesn't ride. And mean it, kids know when you are fooling.

Tell her she has to stand there and if she doesn't then leave and sit on a bench while the others are riding, don't do anything else fun but sit or stand waiting. If she does it at the next ride then that's it for the day, no more even trying. And if she has to sit there times two because you want to ride after the others it will have twice the meaning.

As Barney Fife said in the old episode we were watching "you have to nip it in the bud, Andy, nip it in the bud!"

Exactly!
Why on earth would anyone even put up with that behavior?

 

[Magic Mom]

You're the parent. You run the show, not your three year old! As you approach the sign, calmly tell her she has to get her height checked. She has two choices. Stand infront of the sign, or don't ride. If she throws a fit, don't bargain with her. Do the child swap and make her miss the ride. Period. She'll get the message quick.

 

[maxiesmom]

First, I have no problem with the height restrictions. Also, I am totally in favor of keeping kids safe on rides. So, please, let's not go there.

BUT . . . my daughter is tall enough to ride the 40" rides. She ENJOYS the 40" rides. But she HATES to stand next to the sign to check her height. I think it's a combo of being singled out and told what to do (she is 3.5) . . . I'm talking knock-down, drag-out hysterics that seem to last forever as dozens of people pass us and add to the line. We've tried preparing her in advance, cajoling, reminding her of how much fun she'll have on the ride, standing next to her, threatening, etc., to no avail.

Has anyone else found a way to successfully deal with a/o avoid these meltdowns? Thanks so much.

But have you ever followed up on any of the threats? My guess would be no. I don't think it will take your daughter long to learn that if she throws a fit when it is time to be measured, she doesn't get to ride. Don't plead with her, and don't threaten. Either she acts like a big girl, or she sits out.

 

[Caropooh]

As the others have said, just tell her if she doesn't get measured, she doesn't ride. Pretty darn simple. Then stick to it. As soon as she starts the fussing, pick her up and remove her from the area. Don't say a word, just do it. You warned her, now follow through.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

But have you ever followed up on any of the threats? My guess would be no. I don't think it will take your daughter long to learn that if she throws a fit when it is time to be measured, she doesn't get to ride. Don't plead with her, and don't threaten. Either she acts like a big girl, or she sits out.

This is a very simple fix. If you throw temper tantrums, you aren't big enough to ride. We took DD to her first WDW trip when she was about 3. We were in a long line for Dumbo and she pitched a fit for some reason or another. I quickly let her know that if she didn't stop crying, we weren't going on Dumbo. She kept at it. I got out of line with her and left my SIL and nephew in line to ride. All it took was seeing her cousin waving up in Dumbo while she was on a bench with me and we had no more issues. If you threaten it, follow through.

 

[maman_et_fille]

LOL. You are right - I forgot about the ride switching! (Although I barely tolerate most of those rides anyway, so maybe we'll just let DH go by himself.)

And I LOVE the dancing giraffes!

 

[LWatson]

My 4yr old is just 40in, so he HAS to stand there. The only time that we had a problem with it is when he got measured at the entrance to Test Track, Got measured at the Ride, rode, wanted to go on w/ me so got measured again at the entrance, and then when he got up to the top they measured him again and that is when the breakdown happened. He was just done w/ all the standing under the bar/having his head pushed down on/ being moved around etc. At that point I would have been irritated too, esp since they decided the 4th measurment he was too short. Other than that he knows he has to stand there to ride, and oddly most of the time feels proud to stand there...kind of like a "Hey yeah see I'm big enough."

 

[winjos]

At the local amusement park they gave out a colored wristband stating what height level my DS had passed. Basically all the workers had to do was look at the wristband and that was that.

Maybe you could see if they have something at Town Hall (maybe a pin that says something about being 40" tall --- I'm 40" today!!).

Before everyone jumps all over seeing all types of pins, I wanted to offer another idea to the OP. Hey, I don't know if she has tried all the previous suggestions and it turns out that approach didn't work. I have a very stubborn DS and the I'm the parent and I wouldn't let my child do or the child sits out solution doesn't always work for him. He could care less --- Big whoop! I didn't get to go on the ride (but then you didn't either!!!). Heck, I've missed out on some cool things using the above approaches. You have to pick your battles! I'd rather come up with an alternative where everyone comes out a winner!

P.S. We didn't accept temper trantrums and yes I used the above approach and it did curb a lot of the drama. However, there are times it didn't work and everyone was miserable!!

O.K. ... off soapbox!

 

[maxiesmom]

At the local amusement park they gave out a colored wristband stating what height level my DS had passed. Basically all the workers had to do was look at the wristband and that was that.

Maybe you could see if they have something at Town Hall (maybe a pin that says something about being 40" tall --- I'm 40" today!!).

Disney will not do that. The CMs at the rides are the only ones who can say who rides that ride, and who doesn't.

From what I understand they did test wrist-bands at one point, but too many parents tried to cheat and put them on kids who were not the correct height. A pin would be way to easy for someone to switch, and then they would have to re-measure anyway.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

At the local amusement park they gave out a colored wristband stating what height level my DS had passed. Basically all the workers had to do was look at the wristband and that was that.

I can see people trying to cut and tape on a wristband so their child can ride TOT or something. Disney trips work people up into a frenzy and some people would try to cheat the system for what could possibly be the child's only chance to ever ride this ride. I'm glad the CMs measure. It's the child who needs to change.

 

[Magic Mom]

It's the child who needs to change.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

At the local amusement park they gave out a colored wristband stating what height level my DS had passed. Basically all the workers had to do was look at the wristband and that was that.

Maybe you could see if they have something at Town Hall (maybe a pin that says something about being 40" tall --- I'm 40" today!!).

Before everyone jumps all over seeing all types of pins, I wanted to offer another idea to the OP. Hey, I don't know if she has tried all the previous suggestions and it turns out that approach didn't work. I have a very stubborn DS and the I'm the parent and I wouldn't let my child do or the child sits out solution doesn't always work for him. He could care less --- Big whoop! I didn't get to go on the ride (but then you didn't either!!!). Heck, I've missed out on some cool things using the above approaches. You have to pick your battles! I'd rather come up with an alternative where everyone comes out a winner!

P.S. We didn't accept temper trantrums and yes I used the above approach and it did curb a lot of the drama. However, there are times it didn't work and everyone was miserable!!

O.K. ... off soapbox!

Sooooo........don't correct the child's behavior, instead reward their tantrum with not making them do what they are told? Really? I don't really know who the winner is here except a parent who uses this approach is going to have a heck of a time when their child has to function in the real world where not everyone thinks it is okay to act like a beast. JMHO.

ETA- sometimes as a parent you do have to miss out on things to teach your child.

 

[Disneyadore]

Maybe you could see if they have something at Town Hall (maybe a pin that says something about being 40" tall --- I'm 40" today!!).

Wow a new hot item for Ebay.

 

[Magic Mom]

Wow a new hot item for Ebay.

You don't need Ebay, I'm going to start a swap.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Why not take a different approach -- make it a game -- "Hey, Susie, are you as tall as Jiminy Cricket? Let's see!" or "Who can stand still longer, you or me?" or a quickie game of follow-the-leader: "Can you jump from here to here? Great! Now, can you stand tall like a tree right here?" etc.

Yes, I'm a believer in what boils down to, "Because I'm the parent and I say so." But sometimes you gotta pick your battles, and for something as simple as standing next to a stick...uh, don't see what's wrong with making it matter-of-fact but lighthearted. Worth a shot, anyway. Toddlers like a challenge -- turn it into a fun one.

 

[maman_et_fille]

Why not take a different approach -- make it a game -- "Hey, Susie, are you as tall as Jiminy Cricket? Let's see!" or "Who can stand still longer, you or me?" or a quickie game of follow-the-leader: "Can you jump from here to here? Great! Now, can you stand tall like a tree right here?" etc.

Yes, I'm a believer in what boils down to, "Because I'm the parent and I say so." But sometimes you gotta pick your battles, and for something as simple as standing next to a stick...uh, don't see what's wrong with making it matter-of-fact but lighthearted. Worth a shot, anyway. Toddlers like a challenge -- turn it into a fun one.

Thanks for the good idea. It's worth a try.