How Strict Are They ON Height Requirements?

[TheTXTaylors5]

In case anyone needs the ride height restrictions at WDW:

MK
Splash Mountain - 40"
Big Thunder Mountain - 40"
Space Mountain - 44"
Stitch's Great Escape - 40"

Epcot
Soarin' - 40"
Mission:Space - 44"
Test Track - 40"

DHS
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster - 48"
Tower of Terror - 40"
Star Tours - 40"

DAK
EE - 44"
Dinosaur - 40"
Primeval Whirl - 48"
Kali River Rapids - 38"

I hope that helps.

Jennifer

 

[kaytieeldr]

We did get my son on RnRC one year by

I worked at a theme park in my younger days, and you need to be to-the-letter with the height restriction.

Interesting juxtaposition

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Interesting juxtaposition

Okay, I'll be the first to admit ... I Googled juxtaposition. I learned a new word today.

Jennifer

 

[2girlsR2good]

In the shop after the Star Wars ride, there's a pin you can get. It's Yoda, and he's saying "judge me by my size do you?"

I bought one to console my 39" daughter while her dad and twin (yep, the horror!) sister were riding. She got over not getting on and we've promised not to go back until she can ride it

She wore that pin the rest of the trip, and still likes to wear it sometimes around here. We're not into the pins in general, so I think that makes it even more special.

 

[DisneyMom14]

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.

This sounds awesome. I wish Disney would do that. Waiting in a long line b/c YOU think your child is tall enough and then to be turned away...

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.

And the good have to suffer for the bad...That's a shame.

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.

I would be too scared to try to get my kids onto a ride that they are not tall enough to ride. Sometimes things happen even when your child is the correct height. No biggy but my daughter's first roller coaster at DW was BTMR and poor thing hit her cheek on the side of the seat. She needed ice and had a pretty little bruise as her proof that she had ridden it. I didn't even know she had hit until I noticed she was holding her cheek as she is smiling ear to ear saying "Can we go again?!"

Interesting juxtaposition

Now that's a new one for me - Thanks Webster!

 

[Schmeck]

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.

You do know that Heelys are not allowed in the parks?

 

[Leajess99]

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.

It is such a paper waste and believe it or not people can get around this sort of system. I have seen it done at Holiday World in Indiana. Thankfully they got smart and still re check height for most.

As a parent of a child who has had a neck injury to the point it was causing headaches and they thought they were going to have to go to migraine meds, it really is better to be safe than sorry in the end.

 

[Leajess99]

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:

This is all I had to do with my dd when we went in October. She is not tall enough for RnRC and her sister is. SHe started to act upset but we went and walked around and took her picture in front of the guitar and she was fine.

 

[fairestoneofall]

We had prepared DS for disappointed before our last trip. He measured exactly 40" at the doctor two weeks before we left. He mostly wore Crocs. I think the only place where he was measured was BTMRR (I think), and only once of the many times we rode it. I was surprised he was not measured more often. We rode Test Track, Dinosaur (he insisted, DD7 skipped it), Splash Mountain, BTMRR and Soarin'.

 

[carmiedog]

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.

*thud*

I thought the idea of bringing along supplies was so ridiculous that no one would actually do that. Seriously? I don't know of any ride worth that much trouble. I don't know if I find that ridiculously funny or just plain sad.


back to the OP...
My daughter will probably be border-line 40 inches when we go in another few months. I'm not hyping up any of the rides to her so she won't be too disappointed and I'm crossing my fingers that she'll be happy as usual going off to do something with mom while her brothers ride. She'll only be 4 so I don't think she'll care if we don't make a big deal of what she's missing. I'm going to do one casual measurement on a height-restrictive ride. If it's under but really close, we won't try again - not worth the potential upset. I don't know if it'll help with your child, but my suggestion is to say something like "let's see how big you're getting" rather than "let's see if you're tall enough to ride this."

 

[maxiesmom]

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).

They used to use those kinds of bracelets at some bars around here. Trust me, you CAN get them off without ruining them.

 

[Yoshi]

The good thing about Disney is at least their height requirements are low compared to other parks. What is really annoying is how the same ride at different parks can be a different requirement. Mine trains (made by Arrow) are typically 36" to ride, at Cedar Fair parks it is 48." When Cedar Fair bought Carowinds for example, they changed the height requirement from 36" to 48" (the ride had been 36" for I believe 30+ years). Now explaining that to a kid must be difficult especially since they could have ridden the ride for years and then wouldn't be allowed to if they were under 48"

 

[carmiedog]

They used to use those kinds of bracelets at some bars around here. Trust me, you CAN get them off without ruining them.

I feel so incompetent - the bracelet beats ME every time! I really, really hate those things.

The good thing about Disney is at least their height requirements are low compared to other parks. What is really annoying is how the same ride at different parks can be a different requirement. Mine trains (made by Arrow) are typically 36" to ride, at Cedar Fair parks it is 48." When Cedar Fair bought Carowinds for example, they changed the height requirement from 36" to 48" (the ride had been 36" for I believe 30+ years). Now explaining that to a kid must be difficult especially since they could have ridden the ride for years and then wouldn't be allowed to if they were under 48"

100% agree. We did Cedar Point after our trip to Disney and ds did have a tantrum after being told he's too little too many times. It wouldn't have been as big a deal if he hadn't already ridden similar rides at WDW. And on the opposite end, they have rides at other parks that have restrictions on older kids/adults who are too tall. My oldest son is too chicken for the adult rides so there's not a whole lot left for him. I don't think anyone can argue that WDW wins on being family friendly.

 

[Disney Dreams]

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

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.

...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!

I really don't understand why a parent would do ANYTHING to try to trick the system, muchless get angry at a CM that does not allow a child to ride because they are not tall enough (no matter how close).

The requirement is there for a reason. Safety.

If something were to happen and it was discovered that the child was too short, I don't believe for a second that a parent would not blame the CM who let the child ride. The rules are there for safety. Sometimes, there are things you just aren't for in life yet. Why parents would endanger their kids by trying to make them taller than they really are will always be a mystery to me.

- Dreams

 

[TwoRoos]

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 agree with this completely. On our last trip, our dd (6) was really hoping to be able to ride Primevil Whirl. The year before she had been too short. We had her measured at the ride entrance. The CM told her to stand up straight and tall...she was right at the required height and they let us in line. Then we get to the boarding area and there is another measuring pole. (They told us at the bottom that she would probably be measured again before loading.) I was so nervous that she would suddenly be too short. The loading CM measured her again and she passed. I commented to him about how nervous I was that he was going to say she was too short after waiting all that time in the line (about 30 minutes). That CM told me that the measuring pole at the loading dock is a little shorter than the one at the entrance. So if the kids pass the first measurement station, then there should be no problems at the second one. He said that was by design to prevent getting turned away at the last minute.

Now, I have no idea if this is accurate or not, but that's what that CM at least believed. If in fact that is the case at PW, it doesn't seem to be the same at other rides because pp have reported being measured once or twice and then turned away at the last minute...which really stinks for the kids and parents.

 

[bytheblood]

Perhaps you should let you child know the rules ahead of time so that you can avoid a tantrum.

 

[MentalVacation]

I confess I want to take my son on all the rides he is able to go on...but he isn't close to ANY of the height requirement rides yet. And won't be for a while.

But I find it really questionable for parents to switch armbands, stuff shoes, etc...in order to get their kid on a ride. We all assume that there is a built-in cushion of a few inches....I agree, that is likely....but what if there isn't? Or what if your child's 1/2 inch plus her slight frame or his slender build are just the *wrong* combination and something happens b/c they were smaller than the ride was designed to protect? In what universe is this 'worth it'?

I find the parents' behavior in these situations highly objectionable. I am not saying I won't have a meltdown on my hands if I ever have DS turned away from a ride he really wants to ride...but I will deal with that. (B/C I'm the adult, and the one charged with making responsible choices).

This, to me, smacks of the "entitlement" attitude....I don't care about your rules, my kid is going to get on that ride no matter what you say. What are you teaching your kids when you act this way? I've seen the moms pitch fits when their kid (who was of course tall enough "last time" or "at home" or at "Ride X") can't ride. I think these parents are the same ones who are saving 10 seats at a show b/c their group as a whole doesn't need to be subjected to...gasp....*waiting*. And I'd bet that if their too-short child was God Forbid injured on the ride...they'd sue!

 

[Timmy Boy]

Parents would try to get past the height requirements because they were raised to think that they were superior to everyone else and that the rules do not belong to them. If little Jenny were to fall out of the train on Big Thunder Mountain, be crushed and mutlilated, those would be the parents to sue Disney making the claim that "the evil cast member forced my kid to ride!" Of course the parents would never say it was their own fault, they're superior, remember?

 

[silmarg]

they are strict... no doubt about it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, I'll be the first to admit ... I Googled juxtaposition. I learned a new word today.

Jennifer

And my mission here is complete Actually, I could probably have come up with a more exact word if I'd given it some thought.