How strict are they when it comes to height restrictions?

[lindamac30]

My 3 1/2 yr old DD is 38.5 inches with regular sneakers on. I am hoping to take her on Splash Mountain, but none of the other height restriction rides. I'm wondering if its worth it to try to get her some shoes with some height and do her hair with some clips and pony tails high on her head to give her some extra height? I hear they are strict, so I won't go to any bother if they are going to say no way. That will break her heart if she thinks she's going on!

Any ideas? I'm leaving 2 weeks from tomorrow!!!! YAY!

 

[Alesia]

Don't bother. It won't work.

 

[aubriee]

As the previous poster said, don't bother. The CMs have seen all the tricks. If the shoes look like they have any kind heels to make the kid look taller they will ask the kid to remove the shoes. If their hair is up in a tall ponytail, they'll mash it down.

A few years ago we saw both of these at Triceratop Spin. The little girl in front of us was wearing flip flops with really thick soles and had her up like Pebbles Flintstone. The CM had her take her shoes off and mashed her hair flat, then told the parents she wasn't tall enough. Both parents got very angry and tried to bully the young CM. She wasn't budging and even said it was not worth her job and definitely not worth their child getting hurt. The parents kept insisting they'd be responsible, but the CM wouldn't budge. I had my 8 y/o grand daughter with me at the time and she looked at me in a panic. I had to reassure her that she really met the height requirements.

 

[Lexi221]

Agree w/ previous posters... the CMs are very strict with the height requirements... I don't even bother when I know my 4yo won't make it... save the heartbreak. We go to WDW several times a month, as we live nearby, and CMs check over and over again. I don't mind, simply b/c it is their job, and they are doing the right thing. There are many rides he is brave enough to handle, but just not tall enough yet...

 

[RMulieri]

I understand a broken hearted too short child...I had one last year. But the fact is the restrictions are there for safety. DOn't even bother trying to put a taller shoe on or the hair high on the head. Cms look at the shoes and literally will squash down ponytails and buns to have the stick come to touch the top of the head.They are very strict and even if she managed to get by one CM , you are measured again before you board.Which would be far more upsetting to you and your child if you wait all that time and get denied anyway

 

[lindamac30]

That's all I needed to know. I will let her know beforehand we won't be going on it. I totally understand the safety issues, and wouldn't dream of arguing with a CM. Thanks for the info.

 

[mrodgers]

My question is, when do they measure the kids? Do you stand in line for an hour and a half only to be let go at the ride because of the height check?

I don't think I have anything to worry about, my little one is 43 inches. I hope that their inconsistencies aren't that inconsistent. My degree is in Metrology which is the science of measurements. It makes me cringe when measurement inconsistencies are so stupidly huge.

 

[2Tiggies]

That's all I needed to know. I will let her know beforehand we won't be going on it. I totally understand the safety issues, and wouldn't dream of arguing with a CM. Thanks for the info.

You are very wise. You also did well to measure her BEFORE the trip so that you don't get her hopes up and then dashed again right at the attractions. So many people try and do their kids a favor, with the best possible intentions, only to end up with an upset little one who is disappointed. Well done.

Another thing is that thy measure them twice if they look to be too near the minimum mark - once before you enter the line and then again near to entering the attraction. No one would want to get past the first one, line up for an hour and then be told no way...! When are you going? Maybe she will hit a growth spurt. You can't pin your hopes on it but my DD shot up over an inch the week before we went this year and was unexpectedly delighted when she measured "just to see, Mom" at RnR and was actually tall enough. Then it was me questioning whether they were sure!

 

[shanab99]

My son is just a hair under the 40" mark in bare feet(like 39 and 7/8 inches). We'll be going next Monday. He is 4 1/2, just short for his age, and he's been dying to ride Splash Mountain since he first saw it (we've been 4 times since he was 2). Does anyone think he would have a problem? The only ride we've ever been on with height restrictions were the Indy cars and the Barnstormer and he was always way above the limits for those, so I never noticed how strict they are. I don't plan on putting him in tall shoes or spiky hair. Should I?

 

[lindamac30]

You are very wise. You also did well to measure her BEFORE the trip so that you don't get her hopes up and then dashed again right at the attractions. So many people try and do their kids a favor, with the best possible intentions, only to end up with an upset little one who is disappointed. Well done.

Another thing is that thy measure them twice if they look to be too near the minimum mark - once before you enter the line and then again near to entering the attraction. No one would want to get past the first one, line up for an hour and then be told no way...! When are you going? Maybe she will hit a growth spurt. You can't pin your hopes on it but my DD shot up over an inch the week before we went this year and was unexpectedly delighted when she measured "just to see, Mom" at RnR and was actually tall enough. Then it was me questioning whether they were sure!

We are leaving in 2 weeks. I think she had a growth spurt recently, so I don't have my hopes up. I will measure her again a day or two before we leave, just in case. Good tip! Thanks.

 

[tzolkin]

My question is, when do they measure the kids? Do you stand in line for an hour and a half only to be let go at the ride because of the height check?

Another thing is that thy measure them twice if they look to be too near the minimum mark - once before you enter the line and then again near to entering the attraction. No one would want to get past the first one, line up for an hour and then be told no way...!

They measure them at the entrance to the line, so you shouldn't have to wait and then be turned away, but it happened to us twice this trip. Our first day DS was told he was tall enough by the CMs at the entrance to Test Track-- they gave him high-fives and he was jumping up and down with excitement. When we went to board the attraction, the CM couldn't decide if he was tall enough or not, so other CMs were called over who kept moving his head and trying to shove their fingers in between his head and the bar. This went on for several minutes-- it was embarassing and ultimately disappointing. DS was able to ride the other 40" attractions several times throughout our two week trip. The only other one we had a problem with was Soarin-- one day he rode with no issues; two days later he was too short.

We've had kids very close to the height requirements the past two trips. We told them before the trip that we're not sure if they would be able to ride or not, so they wouldn't get their hopes up. When we approached an attraction, we would say, "let's see if you're tall enough this time". Fortunately, DS never got upset when he was turned away this trip even after waiting through the line, but DH and I were very frustrated.

 

[nothnbutherainsir]

I've never understood why people think putting a high ponytail in a girls hair will make them look taller. They're still going to measure their head. No offense to the OP, I hope.

 

[lindamac30]

I've never understood why people think putting a high ponytail in a girls hair will make them look taller. They're still going to measure their head. No offense to the OP, I hope.

If I put 1-2 hair bands around her ponytail on top of her head, that might be enough of a buffer between her head and measurement stick. If she's that close, then that 1/4 inch might put her over. But she's not that close, so I'm not going to bother!

 

[DonnaL]

I remember many years ago when our youngest son was 4 yrs old (we were actually there for his 4th birthday) and he wanted to go on Splash Mountain in the worst way, but, unfortunately he wasn't tall enough either. He's now almost 21 and has been on Splash many, many times since, but, still remembers when he wasn't tall enough.......we're going to possibly be facing a similar situation in January...we're taking our 8 yr old grandson with us and he wants to go on the new "The Sum of All Thrills" at Epcot's Inoventions.... design your own roller coaster simulator. The height requirement for an inversion simulation is 54"......and of course, since he's going to be with his 2 twentysomething uncles.....he's decided he must design an inversion rollercoaster. He's 54 1/4" now and that may be subjective.....depending on who's measuring. So we're hoping he grows another 1/2 inch so there will be no doubt!!!!

 

[RMulieri]

My question is, when do they measure the kids? Do you stand in line for an hour and a half only to be let go at the ride because of the height check?

I don't think I have anything to worry about, my little one is 43 inches. I hope that their inconsistencies aren't that inconsistent. My degree is in Metrology which is the science of measurements. It makes me cringe when measurement inconsistencies are so stupidly huge.

They measure 2x..Once at the entrance of the ride and then again before you board the ride. It IS POSSIBLE to pass check point one and not 2.They do it this way to get people that manage to sneak by Cm #1.It happens alot and I have seen it personally.

 

[seashoreCM]

When you come to an attraction that has a height restriction your kid would not pass, walk on by.
This is where measuring your kid back at home, barefooted and with nothing in his/her hair comes in handy.

Another way of putting it is, if it were safe for a kid of a certain height to ride then the attraction would not have a restriction against that height.

>>> the CM made her take her shoes off

And you thought that having to take your shoes off at the airport security checkpoint was annoying!

 

[cmskok]

I am right there with you!

My daughter is 47 inches and she needs one more to ride R n RC...We have 49 days to get there!!!!

But yes, they measure twice and they are strict!

 

[PurpleTurtle]

They measure 2x..Once at the entrance of the ride and then again before you board the ride. It IS POSSIBLE to pass check point one and not 2.

I can confirm this. It's happened to us several times when our kids are close to the limits. Our kids are short for their ages, too, so it takes us a while to get to the point where they can ride!

 

[smithmom]

We had some experience with this also... we just went in September and my boys (3&4) were dying to ride splash mountain as soon as they saw it. They are both pretty tall for their ages so we gave it a shot. My 4 yo went in without a problem... seeing as how he's 47 inches. But my 3 year old was measured... the CM was very thorough... measured him about 4 times because he was that close. The last time he measured him, Fin, My son, was sad cause he thought he wasn't going to make it, so he was slouching a bit. It was a no-go. He was so upset... so we waited a bit and I explained to him he needed to stand tall and we tried again. We walked up, got measured, he stood tall and they even had him take his baseball hat off and we made it! He got measured again when we got to the ride and he made it through there too...

so if they are close - stress the importance of standing tall (though not on their toes) and good luck!

 

[nobull]

We have noticed even thought they are strict about height requirements it still depends on the CM at the beginning of the ride.There has been times when my daughter didn't make the line one day and a couple of days later was able to get on.So it also does depend on how generous the CM feels..Good Luck