How strict are they about the height requirement for Soarin?

[girlpenguin]

Hello all. My 3 year old is currently about 39 inches tall (either 38 1/2 or 39, have not measured her in a few months). Soarin is a 40 inch requirement. My question is, how particular are the CMs about this? With shoes on, she will likely be *just about* there - maybe 1/2 an inch off. I know she would like this ride and I am actually kind of surprised at the 40 inch requirement, given its tame nature.

What has your experience been?

 

[fairestoneofall]

They are strict because of safety reasons.

However, I will say that nobody measured DS on our last visit and he was exactly 40".

 

[AJKMOM]

They have a standardized measuring stick and they make kids who are close stand under it. I have seen them turn kids away, so I guess it depends on how tall she is at that time. Others have suggested you go in the morning, as people shrink as the day goes on. The ride might be tame, but it's a long way down if the child gets out of the seat. Because each person has their own seat, that's probably why the requirement is 40 inches.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

It depends on the CM... some just eyeball the kids and some make each kid measure up. DS was measured last December (even though he had been riding it for close to a year) when he was 43 inches tall.

 

[girlpenguin]

Let me stress the only ride I'm even interested in trying her on with a 40 inch height requirement is Soarin. I don't want to attempt the rides with the big drops. Soarin was really tame though. Like I said, I'm genuinely surprised at the height requirement there.

It is hard - how do they enforce this? With a pair of shoes on she'll probably meet the requirement without problems, but I'd also hate to get all the way up to the front and have her be upset if they tell her she can't ride.

 

[SpoiledDisFam]

They are strict but you can always have taller shoes on. My DD when she was 4 was half an inch too short for Screamin at DCA. I went and bought her taller shoes (being a girl it is much easier to do this) and she got onto it with no problems.

 

[Schmeck]

She shouldn't get to 'up front' without being measured, as they measure at the entrance first, and then before boarding the ride vehicle as well, so you'll know before waiting if she's tall enough to go on.

 

[AJKMOM]

Let me stress the only ride I'm even interested in trying her on with a 40 inch height requirement is Soarin. I don't want to attempt the rides with the big drops. Soarin was really tame though. Like I said, I'm genuinely surprised at the height requirement there.

It is hard - how do they enforce this? With a pair of shoes on she'll probably meet the requirement without problems, but I'd also hate to get all the way up to the front and have her be upset if they tell her she can't ride.

The measuring stick and CM are at the entrance to the ride.

 

[ppony]

Very strict in our experience. Our DS was right at the limit (48 I think??? can't remember now) on our last visit and more often than not, he was measured. He didn't have much hair to "fudge" the line either. Buzz (Lightyear) cut. In fact, only a couple times did they not measure him and come to think of it. that was because they recognized us form before. Only once did they almost say "no" but they ended up letting him on.
It really is for their best so don't feel bad if he can't. Just say "next time!"

 

[jenb1023]

On our first trip DD was allowed on some 40" rides and not allowed on others on our first trip so every ride and every CM can be different. She at the time was about 39 1/2" or so in her bare feet so 40" with shoes on. The only 40" ride we went on without being measured was Stitch. At Star Tours, I specifically had her measured before we got in the FP line. She was okayed there and at the loading area they measured again and said no because they could cram a little stack of paper between the top of her head and the bar on the measuring stick. I would be prepared for the answer to be no and if she is allowed on it will be a nice surprise.

 

[ppony]

The measuring stick and CM are at the entrance to the ride.

This may have changed since we were there but I can think of a few rides where they had them at the entrance AND at the loading station and our DS was often measured at both places.

 

[Traveliz]

Mu daughter works at Soarin and often measures kids. There is a stick at the entrance and then closer to the ride although I don't think its standard to measure there (although I am not certain) - its just if they look really close. I know my daughter knows where on her 40 inches is so she can usually tell before she actually measures if they are going to make it.

They are strict though as I know she has turned kids away to have the parents complain to management who in turn will remeasure. She has also had some parents really be beyond rude (as in really bad language yelling at her) when she has turn kids away.

That said she doesn't like to have to turn anyone away so she recommends that they practice standing straight and tall at home and to not be afraid to follow the directions of the CM. If they are close they need to standing with their back all the way against the stick to make sure they are tall enough.

It is a mild ride but the height thing is due to the way the seatbelts fit etc.

Liz

 

[nroush313]

or the height requirement is because the ride vehicles go 60 feet in the air and if the child is not tall enough the seltbelt will not properly restrain them and they could slip out. I never understand why parents want to try and beat the height requirement and endanger their children.

 

[ppony]

I never understand why parents want to try and beat the height requirement and endanger their children.

They'd be the first to sue for millions though despite THEIR insisting the rule be bent for poor little Timmy. No personal accountability.

 

[Ashley Kees]

In my experience, they are VERY strict. Last Thanksgiving I took my DD4, we measured at home with the sneakers she would be wearing and she was EXACTLY 40 inches on the dot. They measured her once at the queue entrance, she passed and they sent her through. At the end of the FP queue they took her out of the line and another CM measured her again with another stick, and she passed. When we got inside the ride room, ANOTHER CM took her aside AGAIN (by this time she was crying from embarrassment) and measured her again, and let her go on. I asked the second and third times why it was necessary, and they said it was really important they make sure she's big enough to not slip out the bottom.

I'd like to say I was understanding, but by the third measurement she was, like I said, crying from embarrrassment and I was pretty ticked off. They gave her another FP to make up for it, and once the ride started, we were both fine. Especially since she really does think that we flew to California, and that Tink REALLY DID come up close to her.

 

[nroush313]

It is important to measure several times because I have seen parents smuggle children in under coats and such. The third person has no idea what has gone on from you walking thru the beginning of the queue, waiting in line, and then going on the ride.

 

[kathie859]

They'd be the first to sue for millions though despite THEIR insisting the rule be bent for poor little Timmy. No personal accountability.

The OP just politely asked for information about others experiences with how kids are measured.:

To the OP's question, when DGS was just a little south of 40" we practiced standing up nice and straight and as tall as possible. That worked for us.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

As PP's have said, they are very strict. They measure you at the entrance and again when you get to the end of the FP lane. We rode it twice when my youngest DS was barely tall enough and he was measured each and every time:

 

[tlenzendorf]

DD5 is 40.5", they never even looked at her. And we weren't hiding her to sneak her on. She's very short for her age. We were expecting her to be measured for everything and the ONLY ride they checked her for was BTMRR.

 

[owensamo]

They're strict - and I'll second the suggestion of going in the morning. When my DD was 40" tall, we went to Epcot on 2 different days. The first day, we rode Soarin' in the morning and had no problems. The second day we got fast passes first thing, used them to ride in the morning and got more fast passes for later in the day (my DD *loves* this ride). By the time we got back, she was too short to ride!

I think we rode this 3 times successfully on that trip, and twice she was too short. I think she was only ever measured twice at most, though. My DD's been 5th percentile in height at best, so we've practiced measuring her against the height requirement sticks since she was really little (yet old enough to want to ride) to get her used to the idea and to understand why she has to wait.

Now she's just over 46" in her stocking feet and is looking forward to tackling Everest on our next trip!

Amanda