How Strict Are They ON Height Requirements?

[djandmissb]

My 4 yr. old daughter is 39 1/2 inches with her shoes on. I know that alot of the rides have a 40 inch height requirement. How strict are they with height requirements? I can already see the meltdowns coming if she can't get on Soarin and Test Track

 

[SciGirl]

Well, I can only really comment on one ride-my nephew was about 3/4 inch from the requirement and they did not let him on the Star Wars one. But he didn't try to ride Soarin' or Test Track.

I bet it depends on the CM when its only 1/2 inch. I hope she can ride all the rides!

 

[Booyakasha]

If they measure her and she is not tall enough she wil NOT be let on the ride no matter how close. It seems that the measurments vary from ride to ride so if she is real close she might get on one and not another. It is a tough one but I would prepare her for not getting on then if she gets on then it will be a nice surprise.

B.

 

[BraveMom3]

VERY! I have three children and remember measuring them a hundred times to get to each height requirement. It is my experience that they will not fudge at all on meeting the height requirement. Now they are all almost as tall as me and we ride everything and joke about the days when they couldn't get on certain rides. Gives them something to look forward to! Enjoy what you can do and don't stress over what you can't.

 

[djandmissb]

Hmm, maybe I will try to find some wedge sandals for her and let her wear them when she is line and put her tennies back on after the rides

 

[CanadianGuy]

Agreed. The answer is "very strict" ...

And I would point out that suggestions about ways to 'get around' Disney policies and procedures are not permitted here - so please don't make 'em.

 

[ilovecoasters]

We've encountered cm's that if they could slide a piece of paper between ds9's head and the measuring column, he could not ride. They are strict. I don't know if they still do it, but they used to give out certificates to the kids that weren't tall enough. The certificate said to bring it back when they were tall enough to ride and it worked like an instant fastpass.

 

[jel0511]

Hmm, maybe I will try to find some wedge sandals for her and let her wear them when she is line and put her tennies back on after the rides

They do take shoes into consideration. I've seen them ask children take them off, and recheck height. So it may not work. These regulations are there for YOUR child's safety in mind, so trying to get around them by buying higher shoes, might be putting your child at risk to "not deal" with a melt down.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Very strict and they will re-measure if there is any doubt.

I saw one family that was very very upset at RnRC. The little girl "got thru" the entrance to the line, but when they got up to the boarding area the CM looked at her and insisted on measuring again. Little girl wasn't tall enough. The mom threw a fit, a manager was called out and in the end the mom & little girl did not ride.

The CM's don't want to ruin a little girl/boy's day but it's a matter of safety.

 

[Ladysunflr]

the height restrictions are there for a reason. Safety. I'd rather have a sad but ALIVE child, then a phyiscally hurt ( or worse!!!! ) child all beacuse the parent didn't want to hear the kid whine that they aren't tall enough to get on the ride. If the kid isn't tall enough for a ride now, look at is as an opportunity for another trip next year. do not try to get past the rules. They are there for a reason. ::cop:

 

[jpolak]

 

[Schmeck]

I've seen CMs ask for kids to step out of one shoe, remove hats, and measure on the side of a ponytail. CMs are very savvy about this kind of thing.

One thing you can do is to practice the measuring procedure at home. Have your child stand next to a measuring spot, and hold a ruler at the 40" mark. Teach him/her not to shrug under/avoid the spot, rather they should try to feel the ruler on the top/side of the head. Standing tall (but not on tiptoe) can make all the difference for that last 1/2"!

 

[AButrcup1]

From personal experience,I know they are very strict on height requirements.My son was measured 3 times for space mountain,he passed the first 2 height checks,and on the third(right at the front where they load you onto the cars )he was denied.He was upset,but he got over it,we just told him we would go on Buzz next.He did not get a piece of paper to come back when he made the height requirement.The next year was no problem,he made the height and it is now one of his favorite rides!

 

[leenbean33]

As has been stated, the CMs are very strict. When we were there a couple weeks ago, my 3 yr old made the 40 in requirement at Test Track & for Soarin' but then was told no for Splash Mtn which also has a 40 inch requirement. He had a meltdown of epic proportions. My husband thought the difference was that they measure on a wooden platform at Splash and that can warp or give a little as opposed to measuring with a child's feet on concrete or another more solid surface. Measurements definitely can vary from ride to ride so have you child prepared.

 

[summermac]

I have no problem with the height requirements b/c I know they're for safety. I do take issue with the child getting through the first check, waiting in a 15-20 minute + line and then getting turned away before boarding. I'm sorry but that's really awful for the kid and for the family.

I don't understand WHY Disney doesn't have a height check station right at each park entrance. Each height level for rides gets a certain color paper bracelet or whatever and they wear it in the park. CMs, families and child would then know immediately whether the child is tall enough without all this measurement error BS. Most amusement parks I've been to have this service and there's no reason WDW can't do the same.

 

[delmar411]

We've encountered cm's that if they could slide a piece of paper between ds9's head and the measuring column, he could not ride. They are strict. I don't know if they still do it, but they used to give out certificates to the kids that weren't tall enough. The certificate said to bring it back when they were tall enough to ride and it worked like an instant fastpass.

They still do but you have to ask for them now.

 

[jennipooh]

I've seen kids cry before. I have not seen them take off their shoes. They are allowed to stand tall, but I've seen them remind the kids to keep their heels down on the ground. It is always exciting to see someone pass.

When ds turned 4 and less than an inch shy to ride, he pitched a fit to ride TOT, ..."Okay" I said and marched him right up to the cm who measured him and said "sorry, buddy, Maybe next time!" I was very thankful, because they make the rules for a reason. (also, he did not get a certificate, like a previous poster thought they handed out...that would have been special)

I know it is disappointing to not be able to ride something when you have your heart set on it, especially when you are young and do not fully understand. No one wants to see their little one cry or feel disappointed. Imagine the horrow, though, if something went wrong with someone too little to ride? As parents, we can't imagine this. That is why Disney has imagineers, lawyers and insurance underwriters do the thinking for us and they have their cm's enforcing their decisions. It is really for our own good and Disney's.

Adding...
OMG I just remembered (I am such a bad mother) at 4yo ds WAS tall enough to ride TOT, but I told him he wasn't because I knew he couldn't take it....I am so mean! (maybe he could take the ride itself, but not the suspense building up to the ride...the back story....his imagination was and is way too vivid for his own good and he would have only ran away screaming!!!) Space Mountain was where he was "so close, but no cigar"!! That's where I had the CM check him and he didn't pass. Later when we went over to MGM (HS), I told him it was the same height requirement as Space Mountain... To this day he doesn't know I did that to him!!! OOOps, mommy blocked out a lie (maybe I feel guilty about that!)

He pitched a fit to ride so many things that trip, so it took a few moments for me to remember which ride I let him "test" for!!

By the way, he would not ride Splash Mountain, which he was tall enough to ride!!! He was afraid of the giant briars in the briar patch. From a 4 year old's perspective it looked like the people in the log might actually get caught by the briars and he was having none of that!!!!!!!! Man, I almost pitched a fit trying to talk him into that one..oh well!

 

[ktlm]

I have done some work with amusement parks in the past. The reason that the height requirements are there is that it can be very dangerous for the child if they do not meet the requirements. The height restriction is usually based on either the safety restraint, or the seat, seat back, and sometimes sides of the ride. It usually comes from the manufacturer of the ride. The safety restraint may not sufficiently hold a child in that is not of a certain height. The seat and seat back may not be designed (i.e. the padding and head rest) for someone of a shorter height so that head and neck injuries and sometimes even broken bones can occur if your body is not being cushioned in the right place. When they design the ride cars, they look at the forces a ride puts on the body and cushion and pad it to absorb the force and protect you. It is hard to tell a child they can not ride something they really want to ride, but the height requirement is very important to their safety.

 

[tinkabella627]

I have already planned that when I have kids, we are waiting until they are definitely tall enough to ride before we take them. It will give us time to save/plan and ensure there are no ride meltdowns due to height. Plus my cousin went when she was younger and never even remembered it... same with my fiance. He went so young he couldn't remember a thing when we went back 2 years ago. I know how it feels to not be tall enough... I was always small when I was young and it took a long time before I was allowed to ride rollercoasters at a local amusement park. We didn't go to Disney until I was almost 10 years old and tall enough for whatever rides I wanted.

 

[swanwed6206]

We were in line once for ToT and noticed the two kids in front of us in line with ridiculouly manipulated soles on their sneakers; the risers probably added 3-4 inches to their height. I definitely think that was wrong of the parents to do because it compromises their own children's safety. That said, we were in the park with my DN9 and he couldn't get on a ride one day, and the next day we tried it again (he had Heelys that day) and he got on. I think someone else posted this sentiment: don't try to manipulate or game the system because that is unethical- just deal with what the height is on that particular day at that particular ride.