Height restrictions- so close-?

[lworts]

I searched this forum and got conflicting infor, so I will try myself!

My youngest is 47.5 inches. She can pretty much ride everything with very few exceptions. My question is...Do they measure with shoes on or do they make the kids remove their shoes? When we measured her in her shoes she is well over 48 but without is 47.5.

Does anyone know? Some threads said yes for one day and then no the next. It varies. I dont want her to be disappointed.

 

[dizluvr71]

When we were there May 2004 they measured my DS7 with shoes on.

 

[BrerMama]

I thought they measured them with shoes on, but included a 1/2" or so in the measurement to allow for shoes. So if the limit is 48", the stick is 48 1/2" (or whatever they use for shoe allowance).

 

[dletz]

They do measure with shoes. I've noticed that some rides my daughter would be able to ride and others she wouldn't when she was right at the height. Also I would notice that one time she would be fine, and the next time she wouldn't. I remember having to sit off one time because my daughter wasn't standing up tall (she had just woke up) and they wouldn't give us a child switch pass because they didn't think we'd be able to get on before the park closed. We sat right next to the entrance, and when the others came up, I told them, okay you're still letting people in, let me on, and they did.

 

[boosmom96]

We were just there last week, and they always measured my youngest with his shoes on. He is just 40 in., so we were pretty glad they didn't make him take them off. He would have been really upset!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

One thing you'll realize that not all heights are equal nor are the CMs who measure

40 at one ride may not equal 40 at another and a CM whose very anal with heights vs one whose not as strict-

Generally if the shoes are not "obvious height adders" they wont be asked to be removed ie if they are basic sneakers, sandals etc you'll be fine but if they are platform type ones with an obvious 2-3 inch heal you'll prob be asked to remove them-

One thing to do is measure the kid in ALL the shoes he/she might wear during the trip to make sure they are tall enough- Because if they barely make it in Sneakers but wear flip flops one day... They'll prob not make it

If the kid is RIGHT on the border- Be prepared to be checked at EVERY height board (it shows the CMs are doing their job correctly) and remember that *EVERY* CM at the attraction can deny your child riding if they feel he doesn't make the height so even if one lets ya go another may override it- They don't do it to be mean-They do it because they care.

Be also prepared that if you ride height requ later at night there is a greater chance of denied boarding for borderline kids- As most kids get tired they dont stand up as straight and its also proven that you are a little taller in the morning than at night and for some kids- barely making it in the morning may mean barely missing it at night

Basically until a kid is 42-42 inches you'll have fun with height checks et all

-em

 

[LucyKate]

One trick I heard is to slide lifts into shoes just before rides, and then remove then once you are on.

We also found the measuring very haphazard - sometime they didn't bother, and at other times on the same ride they were very strict about it.

If you just missed out on a ride I'd come back later or next day and see if a different CM will pass you.

 

[Lagoongirl]

My daughter is 45" with shoes and I would really like to ride Indiana Jones with height requirement of 46". Where do you get lifts and is it very uncomfortable and obvious?

 

[Redcon1]

My son is 39 inches, but was allowed to ride Splash Mountain(40' minimum). The CM's didn't even stop to measure him. It may have been because we had fastpass and he just waved us on.
We tried the same thing at Soarin'(40' also), but the CM there did take the time to measure him and unfortunately didn't allow him on.

 

[Michelle2]

We will be in the same predicament with our youngest son this coming trip in about a month. I am very prepared for the inconsistencies that can arise from him being very close to 40 inches.

When we went awhile ago when our daughter was on the border, we were measured and let in by one CM, then not let on by the last CM right before the ride loading. The outside measurement bar was a little lower than the inside one, hence she couldn't ride. So I will be prepared for anything, so we won't be disappointed.

 

[Alice's Mom]

Does anyone know what happened to Goofy's Magic Measure?

 

[speedi-deedi]

Am I just an overly anal mom?? - I would never consider shoe lifts. I'm with you on getting on the ride just as soon as they're at the requirement, but the height requirements are generally related to safety issues and physical consistency with the restraints and how they work. My 7yo stood up tall at Indiana Jones last week, he thought he had to be over 46, and I'm okay with that too - just not obviously playing outside the rules that are put there for our protection.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

^ You are right- The requirements are not only for just height but maturity and for some part age. What may seem minor and non-intense to adults may seem major and intense to kids

Personally there is no way I'd risk it and I haven't yet. My son was a solid 47 inches when I worked at WDW at R n R Coaster and he never rode. He knew why and knew that it wasnt safe for him to ride until he was tall enough.

-em

 

[LucyKate]

Lifts are those foam inserts you can slide into shoes.

I think Disney imposes height measurements because it is easier to verify than age limits - which is what they are really measuring.

I have a 10 year old taller than some 12 year olds - which means she can ride things that perhaps are not suitable, but a 6 year old in size 5, which means she misses out on stuff she's fine for.

I don't think there's any ride at Disneyland that is not safe for anyone - but some are clearly not suitable for certain ages. I mean, for example, Splash Mountain has height limit but no restraining bars or anything esle, so why does it need a height limit? No one, whatever their height, is any more or less safe on that ride.

In short, if you think it's sutiable for your child take them on it. If not don't - and perhaps do as I did, and ride a few on your own first to make your own assessment. (I did GRR, and decided it was great for my kids, that Indiana would be suitable for my then 9 year old but not the 6YO, and that ToT would not suit either.)

 

[cmwade77]

Actually height does come into play on Splash, it involves the angle of the big drop and lots of engineers figuring out what is safe, but that's besde the point.

A word to the wise, virtually all measuring posts are about 2" taller than what they claim they are (I have seen people pull out tape measures, like those used for sewing, quite a funny sight to see when they point this out to the CM, now I have also pointed this out to Guest Relations at DCA, as I think the if sign says 40", then it should be 40 inches period, so maybe they'll fix or have fixed it since I last saw this, I don't know for sure.)

 

[kmsandrbs]

A word to the wise, virtually all measuring posts are about 2" taller than what they claim they are (I have seen people pull out tape measures, like those used for sewing, quite a funny sight to see when they point this out to the CM, now I have also pointed this out to Guest Relations at DCA, as I think the if sign says 40", then it should be 40 inches period, so maybe they'll fix or have fixed it since I last saw this, I don't know for sure.)

I find this hard to believe. We went with our 6 YO (who, by the way, loved all of the rides except Indiana Jones, including TOT), who measured at home 47.5, and could get on everything except Cal. Screamin', which she was just short for. measured both at home and in the park with shoes on.

 

[cmwade77]

As I said they may have fixed it since I last saw this, as thie was quite some time ago.

 

[Lagoongirl]

I worked at an amusement park for 10 years here in Utah and I was one of the employees that had to enforce height restrictions on rides. I sat through many safety/training meetings and know full well the whys and wherefores for height restrictions. They are required by OSHA and insurance companies based on manufacturer's recommendations as well as put in place to protect the park from lawsuits.

But...when they are very close to the height restriction (i.e. within an inch) I see absolutely nothing wrong with trying to find shoes or lifts that would put them over the edge. Having worked at an amusement park for so long, I know that rides are very, very, very safe. Their safety record is impeccable if you consider how many people ride them. The problem is...the one time in a million when something does happen everybody hears about it and the amusement park is usually sued right and left by people that can't accept that accidents happen. They have to have a cutoff somewhere, but an inch isn't in any situation going to be the maker or breaker of an accident.

With that said...I would never argue with a CM if they said my daughter could not ride because I've been there many times in my former job and it's not a comfortable place to be, and I would never blame the park for any accident, under any circumstances, that would happen to a member of my family. I'm just anti-lawsuit and I know the unnecessary expense that results to the park (and is passed on to the consumer) as a consequence of lawsuits.

We put our children in cars everyday and don't even take a second thought to the danger we put them in when we do which is much higher than an amusement park ride.

Plus, sometimes manufacturers are very inconsistent. Dinosaur in WDW has a 40" height restriction and the make up of the ride is the same as Indiana Jones which has a height restriction of 46". Plus, if Disney roller coasters were placed at the park that I worked at in Utah, they could never get away with their 40" height restriction. The park I worked at has a ride very similar to Mulholland Madness and the height restriction is 50" in Utah and it is 42" in CA.

Sorry so long. I guess I had a lot to say on the matter, and I felt my integrity and judgement of how to care for my child was being unfairly attacked. I would never purposely place her in danger and based on my experience as middle management level at an amusement park, I felt it was safe.

 

[deedeetoo]

We found the height requirements to be right on. Before we left home we measured my daughter at 46" exactly and my son at 40" exactly. They wore normal sneakers in the parks and both made it onto the rides they were borderline for. We prepared the kids that they might not make and not to get too upset if they didn't. Fortunately this did not need to be tested.

 

[MateasMom]

I LOVED when they used the do the little height bracelets. I wonder why they stopped doing that???? It was great to get the little bracelet and know (and have your kid know) EXACTLY what they can and can't go on that day.

When my kids are almost to the next size, they were their 'Disneyland shoes' to Disneyland. Really just regular shoes...but with higher heals. My DD went on Soarin one day then went and played in the water at flicks and changed shoes (from her 'Disneyland shoes' to flip flops) and then went back to ride Soarin again and they wouldn't let her on. Ever since then, we always make sure to bring our 'Disneyland Shoes' (Skecher Shindigs) just incase.