How Strict Are They ON Height Requirements?

[WDSearcher]

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.

This is the part most people don't realize. The height requirement is not an arbitrary number set by Disney, it's set by the ride manufacturer. And while there is "wiggle room" on either side of the requirement (if you somehow "fix" your kid's shoes by 1/2 inch to get them on the ride, that 1/2 inch probably won't cause them to be unsafe), the number has to be set somewhere. But it's the manufacturer who sets it, and Disney must comply. Because, on the off chance that your 1/2-too-short child is the one child injured on the ride, you (the guest) are probably going to end up suing Disney for that injury. But the ride manufacturer will end up suing Disney too. With the possibility of double-sided lawsuits out there, yes ... Disney is going to be very very strict.

 

[ShannonMB]

If your little one is very close to the height requirement, I would suggest teaching them to stand up as straight as possible if getting on the rides is a priority. Take a deep breath in and extend the chest.

My DD was less than a 1/2 inch shy of measuring for Primevil Whirl (I think that was the one) on our last trip. The super friendly CMs told her to stand up straight and take a deep breath, but the poor kid just stood there like normal and they had to turn her away. I would have felt like an idiot coaching her on how to stand up as straight as possible right then, but if I had taught her ahead of time, she would have gotten on.

Just a suggestion! I know height restrictions are for safety, but as long as they aren't on tiptoes and are just standing up straight and tall, it's fair!

Have fun!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Like mentioned, the height restrictions are for the safety of the child. The child should know that. So, they don't just think someone is being mean to them for being little. DD6 is small for her age. She is finally tall enough for Space Mountain. She wasn't tall enough the trip before. She was so happy riding it. Her quote, "That was awesome!" Now, she is still too small for RNR and Primeval Whirl. She is counting the inches down until she is tall enough. She didn't have a meltdown when she came up a few inches short. She knows eventually that she WILL be tall enough. If you think it would become an issue with your child, don't take them near the ride/split up with your party and take your child on a ride they are tall enough for. JMO.

I don't know if they do it at MK (I believe they do it at DLP in CA), take your child to Guest Service, have them measured and they are given a wristband to confirm they have been measured. Also when home, measure your child in the shoes they plan to wear at the parks for an accurate measurement. The CMs don't care if your child was an inch taller at home.

 

[sorul82?]

What really stinks is when a height requirement increases from your last visit.

I guess when the cars were replaced at the speedway, they increased the height requirement to drive alone. DS9 was able to drive solo back in May when he was still 8, but in December he was about 3 inches too short. The really stinky part is that his twin sister was still tall enough to drive solo.

For our very first trip, we knew there were rides that all of us couldn't ride so we just avoided them altogether.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

They are very strict and they should be. It's for our children's safety.

Oh and to the Disboards!

 

[SueM in MN]

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.

They did try that idea with measuring kids at a central point an giving out bracelets that showed the child's height.
I don't know if this is true, but the reason I heard that they stopped the trial was a number of parents were having their taller child measured, taking the bracelet off and putting it on a smaller child, then taking the older child to be measured again and get a new bracelet.

 

[Scrubba2]

My DS is pretty much measured on all of the attractions! He has gotten used to slowing up and being measured at the entrance. I admit that on one visit, the first CM deemed him tall enough on one attraction, (he was really close) and when we went to ride it again, the next CM said he didn't quite make it. I thought he was tall enough...barely..., but I certainly won't dispute for his safety! On a recent trip, he was bummed that he still wasn't tall enough for RNR...so close, but not tall enough. It was fun on our last visit that he was finally tall enough! He was so excited and he loved it! Now my DS is rather tall for his age, and my DH thinks that just because he is tall enough and he wants to go, doesn't exactly mean that he should go! I think that if he's tall enough and he wants to go...ride on!!Woohoo!!

 

[soarintotower]

Height requirements are there for your child's safety. If they do not meet the height requirement they do not ride, no matter what. The CM's aren't being mean, just doing their jobs and ensuring your child's safety. As other posters have said, there are cards children can get if they are not tall enough, and can use as a fastpass the next time they come and are tall enough. I'm not sure if all attractions have them but many do. As long as they are in stock you should be able to get one.

I always recommend having your kids practice standing tall before the trip, that way the CM's have an easier time measuring and you and your child don't get stressed at all.

 

[ShannonMB]

I don't know if this is true, but the reason I heard that they stopped the trial was a number of parents were having their taller child measured, taking the bracelet off and putting it on a smaller child, then taking the older child to be measured again and get a new bracelet.

Good gracious!!!

 

[buffettgirl]

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

I can't even fathom why there would be a meltdown. You simply say "sorry honey, you're not tall enough for these rides yet." and then you walk away.
It helps if you explain ahead that there are some rides for bigger kids and some rides for everyone. And because of safety she won't be able to ride.

if she's taking a fit over something that she's not even old enough to do you've got a lot more trouble coming when she's 15 and thinks she's "old enough" to drive or when she's 20 and thinks she's "old enough" to drink.

::cop:

 

[dklam]

We were at AK last weekend, and saw a young child being measured at the Dinosaur ride. After watching Mom and Dad coaxing him to "stand up straight and tall", his spiked hair just touched the line, so the CM let them through. He looked to be maybe about 4 years old - tops. Well, don't you know that they sat behind us and the poor little guy screamed his head off in total fright the entire ride. I could hear Mom yelling at Dad to make sure he was holding his hand. He was hysterically crying when they got off, and I said to Mom: "maybe you should have rethought this one"!

 

[nilla]

Truth be told, if the minimum height a kid could ride and still be safe were 40", the height restriction would be 44". They undoubtedly put a little buffer in there.

My daughter is in the same situation. She wants to go on Splash Mountain, but it will take a monumental growing effort to get her to pick up that inch by May. We did get my son on RnRC one year by stuffing napkins in his shoes. He wimped out when we got to the actual loading area, but still

I worked at a theme park in my younger days, and you need to be to-the-letter with the height restriction. If you let one 39 1/2" kid on a 40"-restricted ride, you need to let them all on, or you'll really have a problem. It's much easier to deny kids with the backing of park policy than on your own discretion. Also, if you do that, then you start having the 39" kids' parents complaining.

 

[carmiedog]

They did try that idea with measuring kids at a central point an giving out bracelets that showed the child's height.
I don't know if this is true, but the reason I heard that they stopped the trial was a number of parents were having their taller child measured, taking the bracelet off and putting it on a smaller child, then taking the older child to be measured again and get a new bracelet.

Curious what kind of bracelets they were using. At other parks/museums/places, they use a paper bracelet that can't be removed without shredding it unless scissors are used (and then it can't be refastened unless you happen to have a roll of scotch tape in your pocket). The only way to switch the bracelets from person to person is to put them on really loose - if the CM measuring puts them on the child, that wouldn't be an issue (although it would add a few extra seconds for each child in line).

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Being at Disney is very stimulating to a child. Even the best and most polite child can and does have a meltdown at WDW. If you know they are too short ... Avoid the ride!!!! We lucked out that DD6 didn't freak out. With younger kids like DS3, we try and find a place for him to play while the older kids are riding (like Laughin' Place near Splash Mountain/BTMRR or the playground in ToonTown while they're riding Space Mountain. Also, it lets the little ones unwind and run around for a bit.) I did see other poor parents battling with children at ride entrances. I didn't scowl at the parents like I saw other people. I actually felt bad for the parent as WDW takes a toll on everyone with the heat, crowds and non-routine.

Jennifer

 

[stephgles]

We have had a few meltdowns cause of my dd height at the time we went. We were going on the rapid ride at AK. You could but a piece of paper by what my daughter missed it by (wearing flip flops). She lost it, cause she wanted to ride the ride - after seeing it. The next day we went with her sandles on and there was no problems. They are strict regarding it. I remember last trip (sept 08) my daughter was 40". Each time we rode Splash Mountain she was measured. Our last day there the CM asked my daughter to stand by the measuring post. He wait awhile before stating she could go - in which my dh was telling the CM that we have rode this ride over 10 times this trip and on our last day you are going to tell her no.

 

[RMulieri]

You know, My DD was too short to ride alot this past trip.. including Splash..which incidentally she had a meltdown about...you know what? She got over it.The sooner kids learn that disappointment is a part of life , growing ,and learning, the better person they will be because of it.I simply told her she was too short, it was not safe and maybe next time.We then went on something she was tall enough for.She got over it quickly.I would never fudge her height for safety reasons, and so she knows life does not always bend to her whim.

 

[hannah_03]

In my own personal experience they had always been strict about it. My daughter was approx 1/2 and inch too short for a ride and wasn't allowed on.

 

[Ladysunflr]

Truth be told, if the minimum height a kid could ride and still be safe were 40", the height restriction would be 44". They undoubtedly put a little buffer in there.

My daughter is in the same situation. She wants to go on Splash Mountain, but it will take a monumental growing effort to get her to pick up that inch by May. We did get my son on RnRC one year by stuffing napkins in his shoes. He wimped out when we got to the actual loading area, but still

I worked at a theme park in my younger days, and you need to be to-the-letter with the height restriction. If you let one 39 1/2" kid on a 40"-restricted ride, you need to let them all on, or you'll really have a problem. It's much easier to deny kids with the backing of park policy than on your own discretion. Also, if you do that, then you start having the 39" kids' parents complaining.

wow. This is terrible. Really really terrible.

 

[SueM in MN]

Curious what kind of bracelets they were using. At other parks/museums/places, they use a paper bracelet that can't be removed without shredding it unless scissors are used (and then it can't be refastened unless you happen to have a roll of scotch tape in your pocket). The only way to switch the bracelets from person to person is to put them on really loose - if the CM measuring puts them on the child, that wouldn't be an issue (although it would add a few extra seconds for each child in line).

From what I had read, they were using the paper/Tyvek wristbands that they uses for EMH. I know from experience that they put the EMH ones on tight enough that they could not be slipped on and off.
What I had read was that the people who were switching them had come prepared with scissors and tape because they knew what to expect and were planning to get around it.

 

[Suellen]

Well I think switching wristbands on your kid is stupid. If you child isn't tall enough ~ they aren't tall enough.

My DD(3.5) is approaching 41" barefoot and EVERY morning when she wakes up she says "Mama ~ I dreamt I could ride the Mama rides!" LOL! I am hoping that she doesn't have issues with Disney 40" inches not being real world 40" because we talked about her maybe not getting to go on and she said to me, little hand on her hip and the other hand finger pointing, I will just tell them "I AM tall enough to ride this ride and you WILL let me on!"

LOL ~ she is so funny. Of course she would never actually do that or pitch a fit ~ mostly cuz she knows better.

I am happy to hear people think that they allow some wiggle room on those because I have been worried about the skinny little thing sliding out of the seats... like on say TOT.