how accurate are the "height sticks" at rides?

[Laneyg]

When I measure my kids against a wall in our house and use a tape measure, I come up with around 43 inches. However, we have a local theme park and there are some rides where they need to be 42 to ride. Sometimes they are allowed on and sometimes not. So I assume that what they claim is a sign that measures 42 inches is just not completely accurate.
I was wondering if Disney World was the same way. We are going in May and I am so hoping that they can grow a little so we can ride the 44 inch rides! But if their measuring sticks aren't quite accurate then I want to be prepared.
Thanks!

 

[Robo]

if their measuring sticks aren't quite accurate then I want to be prepared.

Be prepared.

Often kids will be measured TWICE for the same ride...
by two different CM's with different "sticks," once at the entrance to the queue
and again at the boarding area.

If the measurement is "close," it is quite possible that the child will be cleared at the entrance, only to be
denied at the boarding area, even after standing for what could amount to a substantial time waiting in the line
with the rest of the family.

So again, be prepared.

 

[Laneyg]

Darn. Thanks!

 

[jayandstacey]

So...question...

Prepared for what? To argue the stick's accuracy? Or to say to the kids that the ride isn't safe for them?

 

[Laneyg]

I'm not sure if you were asking me, or Robo, but as far as I'm concerned, it's be prepared to tell the kids that the ride isn't safe. Safety first!
I was just wondering if all theme parks have height requirements with a little extra "padding" like our local park.

 

[mesaboy2]

So...question...

Prepared for what? To argue the stick's accuracy? Or to say to the kids that the ride isn't safe for them?

I'm pretty sure the OP means they want to be prepared to explain to their kids. A completely fair question.

 

[Laneyg]

I'm pretty sure the OP means they want to be prepared to explain to their kids. A completely fair question.

Exactly - I would hate to measure them at home and have them be 44 1/2 inches and tell them, "hey look, you're totally tall enough for Space Mountain" and then we get there and find that they're not. This way, I will say no such thing and just tell them, "we'll just have to see when we get there."
Thank you for the info!

 

[mesaboy2]

Exactly - I would hate to measure them at home and have them be 44 1/2 inches and tell them, "hey look, you're totally tall enough for Space Mountain" and then we get there and find that they're not. This way, I will say no such thing and just tell them, "we'll just have to see when we get there."
Thank you for the info!

I'm going back on Thanksgiving Day with a nephew that I'm told was 44" two months ago. I'm still not completely convinced he will make the Space Mountain height-o-meter, so I'll give the parents the "be prepared" spiel too.

 

[LaurenT]

My personal experience is that the WDW measurement gives you a tiny bit. When Becky was just over 39", we were fine for 40" inch rides...with just her regular sneakers on...so, if tour child is measuring a bit over 43"in bare feet, I think he will measure up to the 44" rides with his regular shoes on, and I do think they take shoes into consideration when determining the height restrictions...because when a kid barely makes it, unless they are obviously stuffing their shoes, they are not asked to remove them....I personally have never seen a child asked to re ove his shoes...though I have seen reports of it. They never asked Becky to remove her sneakers.....
And I wouldn't worry about safety if your child is that close to the requirement..as I said, I think the restrictions are created with shoes in mind....

 

[AnjieNet]

And if they are close on measurement, be aware that just because they rode once (or twenty times) the next time you get in line they may not be able to ride. Had this happen to DD on Test Track, Space Mountain and California Screamin' at DLR. Rode multiple times earlier in the day only to be told later that DD was too short to ride.

 

[watkinsme]

a little over two years ago my son was 41 inches barefoot. He passed all the height checks except one - at TOT the cast member held the stick thing, grabbed his head and pushed it (sorta sideways) under the stick and said he wasn't tall enough. Hubby was ticked off - not because he was deemed too short, but that he forcefully shoved his head under the stick...I stayed while DH rode it and we went on about our day - we tried again at Star tours a few hours later and DS was again about an inch taller...

So there is some variance between sticks and the operators I am guessing.

 

[jayandstacey]

I'm pretty sure the OP means they want to be prepared to explain to their kids. A completely fair question.

I was pretty sure but also thought my question was fair - and I was sure to present it as a question. Can never be too sure here on the dis

 

[Tara922c]

So...question...

Prepared for what? To argue the stick's accuracy? Or to say to the kids that the ride isn't safe for them?

OP probably wants to be prepared that if his/her children are measured 44 inches at the doctor that they still might only be 43 inches in Disney standards. My dd measured taller at her doctor than she did at Disney. I would imagine that the OP doesn't want to get the kids hopes up thinking they can ride Space Mountain because they measure 44 inches at the doctor, but according to Disney, they are only 43. The question is legit.

To the OP, I would just be prepared that your kids might not be able to ride. Tell them that you will see when you get there.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

ds finally hit 40 inches last month- hes so short- we leave in 41 days, you guys are worrying me!

 

[jayandstacey]

OP probably wants to be prepared that if his/her children are measured 44 inches at the doctor that they still might only be 43 inches in Disney standards. My dd measured taller at her doctor than she did at Disney. I would imagine that the OP doesn't want to get the kids hopes up thinking they can ride Space Mountain because they measure 44 inches at the doctor, but according to Disney, they are only 43. The question is legit

As is mine. When the OP says "But if their measuring sticks aren't quite accurate then I want to be prepared." - it is fair to think there's at least the chance the OP might focus preparations on the accuracy of the sticks - as the OP's post did - instead of the simple yes/no of being allowed to ride.

So I asked, and the OP answered. We're all good.

 

[jcemom]

We've found them to be pretty darn accurate. The CMs at Soarin' have always seemed more diligent about checking and re-checking DD's height than CMs at the other attractions. However, we visited when DD was 39 1/2" in bare feet, and with her regular sneakers on she was able to ride all the 40" rides with no problem. On our last trip she was just under the 48" line at home, in bare feet, and she made it on RnRC in sneakers (not crazy-thick-soled Sketchers or anything either, just normal sneakers).

Now, if your kid isn't tall enough in his/her shoes, or is just barely the "right" height in shoes, then I wouldn't expect to make it onto all the rides. If they're within 1/4-1/2" barefoot then they should be fine once they're wearing shoes.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I find that measuring against the wall at home doesn't give very accurate results. Here's the method I use, and when my kids have "measured up" to the proper Disney height, they have not been turned away.

I take a sheet of paper and, using a ruler, I make inch-lines along one side, and count the bottom one as, say, 38". Then, using my measuring tape, I tape that paper to the side of a bookcase so the bottom mark is that number of inches above the floor. (Most walls are not completely square, that's why I don't use the wall.) To measure, I hold a clipboard or hard book at the 40" or 44" mark, and ask my child to stand under it. If his head bumps, I know he's good to go. If it doesn't, he'll be too short.

That's just how I do it, so that it mimics the Disney height sticks and it conditions my child to know how to stand under them. Many kids will shrink away from bumping their heads and won't pass the height check. This gives them practice in how to be measured.

Hope this helps!

 

[Laneyg]

So I asked, and the OP answered. We're all good.

Yep, all good!

And again, I really appreciate the advice! Please send my trio some growing vibes! hehe

 

[summerrluvv]

Our personal experience was this back in February. My DD measured 40" at home. At WDW she was 40" for Splash and Thunder, but not for Test Track or Soarin'.

I thought I read you could get officially measured at guest relations, but I could be confused with another park. I'm sure someone will chime in about it.

 

[deegack]

Our personal experience was this back in February. My DD measured 40" at home. At WDW she was 40" for Splash and Thunder, but not for Test Track or Soarin'.

I thought I read you could get officially measured at guest relations, but I could be confused with another park. I'm sure someone will chime in about it.

Hershey does this. Disney tried it but parents were taking the bracelets off the tall kid and putting them on the kid that was too short. So they stopped it.