How strict are they with height measurements? (For children right at the mark)

[Bibbidi_Boo]

There are way too many kids to do that and also wristbands can fall off or be shared.

Dollywood does this and they right the the color and type of shoes on the band. And they put them on tight enough they can't be slipped off. Plus they have the right to re check at the rides if they they think its questionable.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Dollywood does this and they right the the color and type of shoes on the band. And they put them on tight enough they can't be slipped off. Plus they have the right to re check at the rides if they they think its questionable.

Respectfully Dollywood and Disney World are completely different in terms of volume of visitors. It isn’t even in the top 20 theme parks in the US according to Wikipedia.

 

[kdka421]

Nope, all 3 of my kids hit height markers .5 inches shorter than the posted height barefoot. Every single ride every time. Just wearing normal sneakers. Same at other theme parks also.

I guess YMMV, we had the exact opposite experience, just barely under the height requirement barefoot but still didn't make it with shoes.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Respectfully Dollywood and Disney World are completely different in terms of volume of visitors. It isn’t even in the top 20 theme parks in the US according to Wikipedia.

Things can be done if they want to , sorry I don't buy it , it is just something Disney chooses to not do. Abuse happens either way.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I guess YMMV, we had the exact opposite experience, just barely under the height requirement barefoot but still didn't make it with shoes.

Weird never once had an issue, the literaly would just hit it, sometimes the CM would do the slid a card thing but were always cleared to go.

 

[fatmanatee]

Things can be done if they want to , sorry I don't buy it , it is just something Disney chooses to not do. Abuse happens either way.

They don't want to because it's tedious and the system they have works. It's unfortunate that a child might miss out and there's some inconsistency in the measurements but this is a massive liability risk if something goes wrong, which is why they're so strict about this.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

They don't want to because it's tedious and the system they have works. It's unfortunate that a child might miss out and there's some inconsistency in the measurements but this is a massive liability risk if something goes wrong, which is why they're so strict about this.

Things go wrong with the current system. They don't have to want to but it isn't fair to say it won't work either. But I have also always been a firm believer there is already cusion built in to the heights for when something goes wrong and a kid gets missed or a parent abuses the system. Plus ever body type is different so there has to be.

 

[DisneyMom93]

They are strict. If you have a couple of weeks try monkey bars (swinging on them) and pediasure shakes. If not, just make the best of it if he gets denied. Our son tends to do that and even when he was 40 inches tall the CM would be remeasuring him at rides that were 38 inch min. He got off ROTR and then was measured repeatedly at MFSR (they could see the LL on his account).

Monkey bars? Wouldn't that just make his arms longer? lol

 

[lanejudy]

If you have a couple of weeks try monkey bars

Monkey bars? Wouldn't that just make his arms longer? lol

Wasn't that a Brady Bunch episode?

 

[Disturbia]

Wasn't that a Brady Bunch episode?

Not sure, but I tell you it worked. Took 3-4 weeks but our son grew by 1/10 of an inch (he was missing the mark by that much). If not anything else it will make them stand up taller vs slouch.

 

[ambula603]

Not to be a downer, but I wanted to give my story. My daughter just barely made the height for a major roller coaster once (NOT at Disney). She ended up getting a busted lip while riding and was sobbing when she got off. My husband said he felt like she was too small for the restraints, as she was bobbling all around.

I can't tell you the pit in my stomach thinking that we may have pushed for her to ride too soon. I know it stinks to be unable to ride, but if your gut tells you they could be too small, listen to it!

 

[DisneyMom93]

Wasn't that a Brady Bunch episode?

Yes! Bobby... and then he saved Greg by being small enough to fit through the butcher's freezer window. Ha ha

 

[Disturbia]

Not to be a downer, but I wanted to give my story. My daughter just barely made the height for a major roller coaster once (NOT at Disney). She ended up getting a busted lip while riding and was sobbing when she got off. My husband said he felt like she was too small for the restraints, as she was bobbling all around.

I can't tell you the pit in my stomach thinking that we may have pushed for her to ride too soon. I know it stinks to be unable to ride, but if your gut tells you they could be too small, listen to it!

We had that feeling on BTM. I lay my hand on our DD the entire ride and grabbed the other side (like a belt) because she is really skinny and I was worried about the gap. Thankfully most rides push the rider back into the seat. I wish they would have individual bars but that would slow down people exiting.

 

[DisneyMom93]

I remember when Tower of Terror had one lap bar for everyone in your row and I was sitting next to a pretty large woman. I'm 5' tall and was about 98 lbs at the time. The lap bar was about a foot higher than my thighs when sitting. lol. I was flying up and down. I was hanging on for dear life. But it was fun! lol. Now that I have kids I'm glad each passenger gets their own lap belt.

 

[Jacksonian]

They don't want to because it's tedious and the system they have works. It's unfortunate that a child might miss out and there's some inconsistency in the measurements but this is a massive liability risk if something goes wrong, which is why they're so strict about this.

Respectfully, the system does not work if someone is allowed to ride one time, but not another. It's not fair to the child or the parent who has to deal with a disappointed child. There needs to be some consistency across the board.

They don't want to because it's tedious and the system they have works. It's unfortunate that a child might miss out and there's some inconsistency in the measurements but this is a massive liability risk if something goes wrong, which is why they're so strict about this.

 

[bdrex28]

Things go wrong with the current system. They don't have to want to but it isn't fair to say it won't work either. But I have also always been a firm believer there is already cusion built in to the heights for when something goes wrong and a kid gets missed or a parent abuses the system. Plus ever body type is different so there has to be.

Height is height. Body type won't affect height.

Now their posture could affect it if they aren't standing tall. But again, that's the child not their body type.

I don't understand why anyone would want to try and get through if the child doesn't meet the height requirement. I'm not saying that's you, I'm just talking in generalities. It's safety and there's other rides, better to be disappointed than injured or unsafe.

 

[pens4821]

When my nephew was younger I took him to a local park. He was just a fraction too small. The lady that measured him said to make sure your feet are all the way back then take in a deep breath and hold it. That inhale helped give him the little bit extra to be able to ride.

It’s not going to buy a lot of height, but it does indeed help. I don’t think doing so is risking any harm personally, but everyone is different in their thoughts in that.

 

[fatmanatee]

Respectfully, the system does not work if someone is allowed to ride one time, but not another. It's not fair to the child or the parent who has to deal with a disappointed child. There needs to be some consistency across the board.

The system is fine. The system you recommend is ripe for potential abuse and major liability issues, which is why they prefer to have a check up front. If there happens to be some inconsistency and one CM happens to be uneasy about how close a child is to the limit, that’s a small price to pay for protecting themselves.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

My daughter was just a little too short to ride some of the bigger rides we went the first time. On our first park day she wore her flip flops, was not tall enough for the rollercoasters. She had thick soul tennis shoes that she wore the next day. Stood up straight. The cast members looked at her feet every time the let her on the roller coster but let her through every time.

 

[BK2014]

Way back when, I was a roller coaster operator at a Six Flags. The worst was when we had to tell a kid they couldn't ride and the parent would argue with us and say "I am their parent and I am okay letting them ride." "They have been looking forward to this ride all day." Inevitably, the kid would start crying and and asking "why won't they let me ride?" I was always tempted to get down to the child's level and say "because I don't want you to die, but mommy/daddy don't seem to care."