How Strict Are Height Requirements?

[matthewhavens]

I laid DS3 on he floor and pulled out the measuring tape...39.5 inches.

He's so close to so many great rides at Disney. I know socks and shoes will get him closer and we've got 29 days until our trip, so he could always pick up a quarter inch.

The trip is for me, DW, DD5 and DS3. We don't like to split up and have never done any rides with height restrictions. We really just want to do Splash Mountain and may not get back to the World for a number of years.

Just how strict are the CMs with the height requirements? Are they more lenient with certain rides? Do they measure at more than one point in the line? I know I'll get burned with this one but do you have any tricks for getting that extra half inch?

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

Strict. Height requirements are a safety concern. Being too short means you are too small for the restraints to properly hold you in.

 

[soulmates]

In a word...VERY! When we took our youngest at age 5, she was fairly small for her age. EVERY ride she was asked to stand by the height chart. She was able to ride everything but Space Mountain. When in doubt, they'll ask to see them stand by that chart.

 

[surferdave]

If there's one way to push some of the threads everyone's tired of down the list, it's by stirring up an old sensitive topic!

Let me summarize some of what you'll hear:

First, you will be scolded

1) How dare you
2) It's for your child's safety you monster

You'll get some more objective advice

1) They will measure at front of line and end, if you skirt the front one but get stopped on the second then you have wasted your time.
2) CMs will vary just like they do in every job
3) CMs can and have asked children to remove shoes to measure
4) They can and have looked for unusually high heeled shoes

Generally you probably will be fine if he is tall enough in normal looking shoes. Be sure he knows to stand straight up (there is a tendency to slouch as if to get under the bars, but the goal is to touch it) and not stand on his tip toes.

 

[Ashlander]

Yes - they definitely will not let the kids ride if they are too small. Our youngest is finally able to ride most of the rides and loves them all! Now it is my oldest that does not want to ride!

 

[Sco]

I have never seen anyone have to take their shoes off but they do check pretty well. If it is close, most CM's will work to have the child stand up straight and a few will let hair count if it is not poofy. Just check when you are there. Shoes can make a difference as long as they are not high heels or anything they will be fine.

 

[wiigirl]

In a word...VERY! When we took our youngest at age 5, she was fairly small for her age. EVERY ride she was asked to stand by the height chart. She was able to ride everything but Space Mountain. When in doubt, they'll ask to see them stand by that chart.

exactly...

 

[matthewhavens]

Strict. Height requirements are a safety concern. Being too short means you are too small for the restraints to properly hold you in.

Does Splash Mountain have restraints? I thought you just sit in a log?

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

Yes. There is a lap bar.

 

[LilyWDW]

Very strict, as they should be. Height restrictions are due to safety concerns as to how well a restraint systems will work on the rider (or the lack there of). These restrictions are actually made by the company who made the restraint system or ride system and are then adjusted by the company using it. Not all restrictions are due to just restraints though, but other mechanisms of the ride.

Disney will check multiple times on a rider who is close to the restrictions. This is to prevent someone from doing something to get their child past the first person and then them getting on the ride when it would not be safe. They know the tricks and have seen it all. So there is no point in trying to beat the system (plus, discussions of such tricks often get deleted and posts locked since discussing ways to get around Disney policy is not allowed on the boards).

 

[smitch425]

Practice good posture, and ride the height requirement rides first thing in the morning. Your spine settles throughout the day, so you get slightly shorter as the day goes on. Good luck!

 

[matthewhavens]

If there's one way to push some of the threads everyone's tired of down the list, it's by stirring up an old sensitive topic!

Let me summarize some of what you'll hear:

First, you will be scolded

1) How dare you
2) It's for your child's safety you monster

You'll get some more objective advice

1) They will measure at front of line and end, if you skirt the front one but get stopped on the second then you have wasted your time.
2) CMs will vary just like they do in every job
3) CMs can and have asked children to remove shoes to measure
4) They can and have looked for unusually high heeled shoes

Generally you probably will be fine if he is tall enough in normal looking shoes. Be sure he knows to stand straight up (there is a tendency to slouch as if to get under the bars, but the goal is to touch it) and not stand on his tip toes.

I hadn't even thought of the possibility of having to take his shoes off. He definitely wouldn't make it without the shoes.

I don't blame the kids from shying away from the bars. When he was finally tall enough for Barnstormer the CM whacked him in the head with the bar and we almost didn't ride because he was crying from being hit in the head with a wooden bar. Then when we came back for a second ride we almost didn't make the height requirement because he kept ducking under the bar. Hmmm....I wonder why?

 

[princessmocha]

In our experience they are VERY. There was a tiny gap with my daughter (where the day before there wasn't) and it was a no go for that day. I think it was the different shoes she had on. But they have been very diligent in my experience, so be prepared that your child may not be able to ride some of the things.

 

[minnie mum]

I laid DS3 on he floor and pulled out the measuring tape...39.5 inches.

Sorry, OP, but I couldn't let this one pass. And am surprised no one has asked yet. WHY are you measuring height by laying him out on the floor? Height is (accurately) measured while standing. Give that a try and see how tall he really is. The measuring sticks are not laid out on the ground, after all.

 

[mom2rtk]

Sorry, OP, but I couldn't let this one pass. And am surprised no one has asked yet. WHY are you measuring height by laying him out on the floor? Height is (accurately) measured while standing. Give that a try and see how tall he really is. The measuring sticks are not laid out on the ground, after all.

I was just about to post this. He will be measured standing up, and I'm guessing there's a chance he could lose half an inch or so when standing. After all, they say people actually lose a little height over the course of the day.

OP, the best thing you can do is to explain clearly to him in advance that he might be turned away. He also needs to know he might make it into the line at the beginning, only to be denied by the CM at the ride itself. Tell him there are 2 height tests he has to pass. He will take his cues from you on how upset he should be if he is turned away. Remind him how many other fun rides he gets to do and they you'll look forward to it on your next trip. So prepare him for the worst, and hope for the best.

 

[Tramp68]

I hadn't even thought of the possibility of having to take his shoes off. He definitely wouldn't make it without the shoes.

I don't blame the kids from shying away from the bars. When he was finally tall enough for Barnstormer the CM whacked him in the head with the bar and we almost didn't ride because he was crying from being hit in the head with a wooden bar. Then when we came back for a second ride we almost didn't make the height requirement because he kept ducking under the bar. Hmmm....I wonder why?

As mentioned, just make sure the shoes are reasonable and you won't have to take them off. If he is wearing those shoes were the sole is 3 inches thick, then they may ask him to take off the shoes.

Do not have him wear thin soled shoes or flip flops, they do not add enough height. Brand new normal sneakers work best to get the most out of height without circumventing Disney policy.

Also teach him to stand tall, but dont go up on his toes. I do see a lot of kids fail becaus they try to look up at the bar which curves the spine. Look straight ahead and pull back the shoulders, chest out, all of that...

 

[Autumnslight]

On our trip in September, the CMs were very strict about the height requirements. However, they did also take the time to make sure my daughter was standing up very straight, had her feet against the measuring stick, etc. Basically, they did everything they could to legitimately see if she could meet the height requirement.

There was only one ride where she didn't quite measure up, and the CM let it slide, which was Stitch's Great Escape. And honestly, I don't even know why there are restraints and a height requirement on that ride anyway, as it's indoors and doesn't really move. It's more of a show than a ride, and there's no concern about someone going flying out of a ride vehicle or something.

 

[JMW123]

OP, we were in your exact same situation last year with our DS 3 who was basically the same height as yours. We were there for 7 days, hit all parks, and rode almost every ride with a 40 inch requirement.

1. We were never asked to take his shoes off
2. They were very strict with making sure his head hit the bar
3. The 40 inch bars are closer to 40.5 or 41 inches
4. Big shoes and double liners are the key
5. Don't listen to all those who will scold you for this tactic, the 40 inch rides are more than safe (It is not like this is RnR or Everest). We did Thunder Mtn, Splash Mtn, Star Tours, etc...

As for shoes, we used timberland work boots.

Kid loved the boots and they look good with pants on. Also used double liners by pulling shoe liners out of another set of boots. Only down side to the boots is they hurt when the kid kicks you, so if you plan on carrying him a lot or doing shoulder rides (or method of kid movement) be prepared.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

My DS claims that studies show if you try to stand up taller you actually shorten yourself a tiny bit. He advised his sisters to stand normally but don't slouch. DD also claims that crocs add half an inch, but they may be more likely to ask for them to be removed than sneakers. Just don't have your child wear thin soled sandals. And prepare them for disappointment. Measuring can be very inconsistent. My kids have gone on attractions at various carnivals and theme parks, only to be turned away when the next person comes on duty.

You can tell this a common topic of conversation in our family full of short people. We don't hit 40 inches until around age five. Disney is actually very fair with their height requirements, imo. It has been at other places that we've run into situations where a child really wanted to ride and couldn't...like at LEGOLAND or the summer my eight-year-old excellent swimmer couldn't go on the waterslide at the local pool because she was 47.5 in.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Is the 'take shoes off' thing an urban myth? Wouldn't that be a violation of policy: to be in a park without shoes?

Anyway, my daughter has twice needed her heels to cross a ride requirement threshold. When she was 3.5 (2010), she was a touch under 40 without shoes, and this summer and fall was a touch under 48 without them. On both of these trips her being in shoes got her over the threshold.

As someone said earlier, you'll encounter CMs who do things differently. There were times at test track she was measured twice. Other times not a all. When she rode Primeval Whirl last week, she was measured once at the queue entrance, but not again.

One time this summer riding the Mummy (at Universal) a ride operator there did this thing forcing a card between her head and the measuring bar to show she wasn't tall enough...six or so other times her head hitting the bar was enough for those operators.