How accurate are CM's measuring sticks?

[Rivermonster]

My daughter is right at 40." Last night marked our 60 days. I'm wondering if we are wasting FP+ on rides she may or may not be able to ride. What's everyone's experience been? Is WDW right on with measurements, or do kids need an extra inch or two to make the 40" rides?

ETA: corrections to grammatical errors lol

 

[han22735]

Id say they are very close to accurate. No way are they an inch or two off.

 

[slford00]

Our experience is that it's fairly accurate BUT that they are also very strict on what constitutes "tall enough." It seems like I've heard that if the CM can pass a sheet of paper between the child's head and the horizontal part of the stick used for measuring, that the child doesn't ride. I could be making that up.

But I do know that when my son was 4, he was right at 40" and it absolutely came down to that moment of being measured at the front of the line before we knew if he'd be let on or not. In fact, he was both allowed and not allowed to ride the same attraction (Tower of Terror) at different times, based on whether or not he made the cut (can be affected by CM, angle of the stick, posture of the child, tilt of the head, etc.).

SO, if you're right at 40"... I'd stuff shoes to make the child 40.5

 

[Robo]

SO, if you're right at 40"... I'd stuff shoes to make the child 40.5

I'd not want to even joke about that.

VERY touchy (and serious) subject.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The measuring is quite accurate. And as for trying to bypass the safety aspects that are there for the good of the children (stuffing shoes), not really smart.

 

[heywagners]

My daughter was right at the height requirement one year and she passed on some measuring sticks and didn't pass on others. She often had the CM's doing the "pass a paper over her head" test. One day, I had put her hair up in a bun on the top of her head and she passed the measuring much more often on that day. Also, she passed when wearing sneakers vs. thin sandals. While I realize that this is a safety concern and that the height requirements are there for a reason, if the kid is so close to the height, then 40.0 or 40.5 isn't going to make a difference (safety wise).

 

[karibritt01]

My daughter was denied BTMRR because the CM could slide a business card between her head and the measuring stick! She was wearing cute sandals without much sole. The next day in her tennis shoes she was able to ride. Don't forget shoes can add an extra inch from when we are measuring barefoot in the kitchen! lol

 

[danny1649]

Safety is going to be trump card on this issue.To ny knowledge Disney measuring devices are accurate.

 

[123SA]

I think this sounds strange, but I swear my little guy shrunk as the day wore on. When he was right at the mark, he made it through just fine in the morning, but in the afternoon, it was sometimes yes, sometimes no.

 

[Robo]

I think this sounds strange, but I swear my little guy shrunk as the day wore on. When he was right at the mark, he made it through just fine in the morning, but in the afternoon, it was sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Actually, that is a very commonly-discussed phenomenon on these boards.

Bodies tend to measure "taller" at the beginning of a day (after a night's sleep lying in bed.)
As the day of walking erect for several hours with gravity pulling down wears on, the spine (etc.) will compress a bit and the overall height will measure shorter.

 

[LOL!]

A simple search of these forums will show this topic has been discussed, debated and hated many times before.

 

[Karin1984]

A simple search of these forums will show this topic has been discussed, debated and hated many times before.

If the search option would be used more often, half the threads could be removed ;-)

It's 2 months from now. Children's bodies are weird, you never know when they will grow. I would prepare her though, and as mentioned above, schedule measuring rides in the morning when she's at her tallest.

 

[Nohal]

We told DS that he was to short to ride Space Mountain for a few years because none of us wanted to go on it. I think he may have been around 9 or 10 when we finally told him he was tall enough.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Actually, that is a very commonly-discussed phenomenon on these boards.

Bodies tend to measure "taller" at the beginning of a day (after a night's sleep lying in bed.)
As the day of walking erect for several hours with gravity pulling down wears on, the spine (etc.) will compress a bit and the overall height will measure shorter.

This makes sense for adults, as we are heavier - the weight of our bodies compresses the soft disks in our spines as we remain vertical. Children 40" tall should not be impacted by spine compression at all over the course of a day - they simply don't have enough body mass. However, as they grow tired they will not stand as erect. Their posture changes. This would seem to be the more likely "culprit".

ETA - Now that Disney is using the Magic Band technology, it would be very easy to have a one time measurement of each child associated with their MDE account. Child gets the MB scanned and it comes up blue if he/she is not tall enough. Why keep measuring at every ride all day long when WDW has this technology. Heck, many parks measure children at the start of the day and give wrist bands to kids colored to indicate the rides for which they are tall enough. Expectations set at the outset - no heartbroken kids at a ride entrance.

 

[disnut8]

My daughter is right at 40." Last night marked our 60 days. I'm wondering if we are wasting FP+ on rides she may or may not be able to ride. What's everyone's experience been? Is WDW right on with measurements, or do kids need an extra inch or two to make the 40" rides?

ETA: corrections to grammatical errors lol

As a PP noted, you still have two months to go. Make the FastPasses and don't think about it again.

The only thing I mention on this topic when it comes down to "my child is right at the X" mark" is - that's YOUR measurement. You could measure your daughter at 39.5" inches and take her to the doctor and he measures her at 40". So which one is "right"? The doctor because he's a doctor?

The only measurement that counts at Disney World is what the Cast member measures. Not you or your doctor.

Kind of like the old saying, "a man with two watches never knows the correct time."

 

[tiggergal15]

Its a medical fact you are taller when you wake up. Fluid builds in your spinal column between vertebrae naturally as a cushion when you sleep. When you go about your day..even for children ...the fluid slowly disappates through movement and compression of your spine. Thus making you shorter slightly by bedtime. I would schedule questionable rides in the am and see if your child can ride. If not just plan those rides for next time.

 

[HulkBuster]

This makes sense for adults, as we are heavier - the weight of our bodies compresses the soft disks in our spines as we remain vertical. Children 40" tall should not be impacted by spine compression at all over the course of a day - they simply don't have enough body mass. However, as they grow tired they will not stand as erect. Their posture changes. This would seem to be the more likely "culprit".

ETA - Now that Disney is using the Magic Band technology, it would be very easy to have a one time measurement of each child associated with their MDE account. Child gets the MB scanned and it comes up blue if he/she is not tall enough. Why keep measuring at every ride all day long when WDW has this technology. Heck, many parks measure children at the start of the day and give wrist bands to kids colored to indicate the rides for which they are tall enough. Expectations set at the outset - no heartbroken kids at a ride entrance.

Children shrink too and bands can be swapped very easy otherwise great post

 

[ammag]

Measuring once should be done, such a pain for everyone the way they do it now, but alas it's what we have.
My son is 40.5 barefoot so I didn't think he would have a problem but it sounds like he might possibly! Will keep this in mind, luckily we are not doig. Thrill rides, the ones we care about are star tours and soarin, etc. Hoping he makes it!

 

[Robo]

Heck, many parks measure children at the start of the day and give wrist bands to kids colored to indicate the rides for which they are tall enough. Expectations set at the outset - no heartbroken kids at a ride entrance.

Disney tried that.
Guests swapped bands.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Disney tried that.
Guests swapped bands.

My point is that there are better methods, and bands that cannot be "swapped out".