How strict are they with height requirements?

[Traveliz]

From my experience, they are very strict. When DD was 6, she decided it would be okay to ride Primevil Whirl (the kid will not ride ANY thrill rides). She was just a hair too short, literally. The CMs with the sticks were encouraging her to stand up as straight as she could, but she didn't get it, so they couldn't let her ride (now I think she might have been slouching a little on purpose ).

I don't know about the 1/2 inch, but if anyone is bringing a child who is right around the height limit, I would encourage them to practice standing up super-straight and tall before they go. It really makes a huge difference! I don't think that is trying to get around the rules at all, just maximizing that height!

BTW, DD did end up riding Primevil Whirl on our next trip, and now that's off the list again, too. Sometimes I WISH I had a daredevil who was just too short. The inches will come!

Standing up straight and with your back all the way against the stick is not getting around the rules at all - my daughter works a height restricted ride and she encourages people to "practice" that at home so to speak. She said its really hard when she can tell they are close or probably going to make it if the child won't cooperate. They are suppose to stand up straight - that is the best way to get a accurate measurement (and I agree all Disney measurements are not equal).

Liz

 

[rustyharleton]

Practice with your child before you go. A lot of younger kids duck or slump to avoid the bar on the measuring stick. If your child wants to ride, they need to know to stand tall. Understanding how the measuring works will allow a child who is barely 40 inches to ride the rides that he qualifies for.

 

[allyphoe]

At 39.5 with shoes, I wouldn't anticipate that he'd be able to ride. When my DD was 40 even in bare feet, she was examined extremely closely, measured multiple times on most rides, and was barely tall enough with fairly thick-soled shoes.

When she was nearly Kali-height (so 37.5 barefoot?), she was never allowed on Kali, regardless of the shoes.

I'm hoping she grows another 2 inches this year, so I can ride the 48" rides. It aggravates her that she's not yet tall enough.

 

[Vipper of Vipp]

My boy is 40" without shoes depending on whether or not he's chin up, chin level or chin down (the highest point of his head and all that).

With shoes we have about 1/2" to spare.

But my big concern are these comments that not every stick is the same. That's bunk if you ask me. 40" is 40". Shouldn't be based on some stick that may or may not be 40".

 

[RMulieri]

My boy is 40" without shoes depending on whether or not he's chin up, chin level or chin down (the highest point of his head and all that).

With shoes we have about 1/2" to spare.

But my big concern are these comments that not every stick is the same. That's bunk if you ask me. 40" is 40". Shouldn't be based on some stick that may or may not be 40".

It may not seem right or fair.But the bottom line is it is Disneys park, and if say your child can't ride, it is the end of the matter.There is no way around it.I have seen posters say that they were allowed one day and denied the next, or they made it first thing in the morning,but were denied later in the afternoon.Disney has the final word in the decision, and I have seen parents go nutso on the Cm that made the decision.The only thing the parents got was embarrassed and escorted out by security.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

My boy is 40" without shoes depending on whether or not he's chin up, chin level or chin down (the highest point of his head and all that).

With shoes we have about 1/2" to spare.

But my big concern are these comments that not every stick is the same. That's bunk if you ask me. 40" is 40". Shouldn't be based on some stick that may or may not be 40".

ITA, but I can tell you from experience not all sticks are created equal.

We went to another amusement park this summer (not disney), and my DS was exactly 48". He was allowed on every ride, and then we went back to ride one a second time, and he wasn't allowed on. Even though he had already rode it a couple hours earlier. He was so upset, and I felt really bad.

 

[siskaren]

The only thing I don't understand is why they measure 2 times. It is so unfair for a child to get stopped at the second measurement after you have already waited in line, and he was already told he could go.

I've heard that it's in case a child bypasses the first CM doing the measuring, whether intentionally or accidentally.

 

[RMulieri]

I've heard that it's in case a child bypasses the first CM doing the measuring, whether intentionally or accidentally.

Exactly.

 

[whitneyNC]

Height restrictions are important and in place for safety. The problem is at WDW, we have seen lots of inconsistency. This is frustrating for parents and kids. If my kid can't walk under the bar without hitting it, he's tall enough.

I also remember a physician friend saying we can lose as much as a 1/2" of height after being on our feet all day. Ride those important rides first thing in the morning, when your child is tallest!

 

[Hannathy]

Not all sticks are created equal nor are all the CM's! It depends on the stick who is measuring and where (like on a slope, or crooked spot) some of them hold the stick tight against the ground some don't. My DS was just on the mark one trip and at BTMRR he rode it 3 times and then when he went back for the 4th time that CM said he was too short.

They measure twice because when it is busy people will carry a child past the first CM or just meld into the mass lining up and the first CM doesn't have a chance to pick out the too short child. I do think the 2 sticks should be the same but they aren't.

They are very strict and if you have a child who is right on the money at the parks and you go to a waterpark remember they won't have shoes on! We forgot this at TL and after getting on all the rides all week he couldn't go on the slide that you needed to be 48 for because his head just touched the bar and that CM said he had to be over it, it was that close he was touching the bar but she wouldn't let him on;

 

[NotUrsula]

ITA, but I can tell you from experience not all sticks are created equal.

We went to another amusement park this summer (not disney), and my DS was exactly 48". He was allowed on every ride, and then we went back to ride one a second time, and he wasn't allowed on. Even though he had already rode it a couple hours earlier. He was so upset, and I felt really bad.

Whether or not the sticks are created equal, you actually do get a teensy bit shorter in the course of a day, especially if you spend it on your feet. Your weight compresses your spine a tiny bit over the course of a day, so with a child who is JUST AT the height requirement, go for the tall rides first thing, because later in the day he may be a hair too short.

Also, for those JUST AT or less than 1" over the required height -- do not carry your child in the ride line. Over the years I've observed that CM's tend to go a bit more conservative on the measurement if they see a child carried in vs. walking up on their own feet.

 

[GhostLady]

The only thing I don't understand is why they measure 2 times. It is so unfair for a child to get stopped at the second measurement after you have already waited in line, and he was already told he could go.

I had a similar situation at another theme park (not Disney). They didn't have any staff at the beginning of the ride but they did have a sign where you could measure your own child. I think my DS was 3 at the time. I measured him and he was right on the line so I knew it was close. The line for the ride was VERY long and it was really hot that day. My youngest was only a few weeks old and my parents were sitting with him while DS and I rode. I didn't want to make either of them wait in such a long line in the heat to just get turned away so I went to the exit and asked if they could measure him before we waited. They were happy to do so. He was measured with a metal stand that looked kind of like a scale. He stood on the platform and they slid the bar to measure him. The bar wouldn't go over his head at all so they said he would be fine. We went back to wait in the long hot line. This was to be his first roller coaster so I spent the time in line getting him excited and telling him what a big boy he was to be riding his first roller coaster.

When we got to the ride, they measured him again. This time it was with a stick that had tape around it. They said he wasn't tall enough. Both of our hearts were broken. I told her that he had been measured before the ride with the metal stick and was more than tall enough so the two measuring devices must be different. I asked if she would measure him with the metal one or at least check to see if they were different but she refused. I was a little upset. I understand the need for height requirements and if they had told us the first time that he couldn't ride, we would have been disappointed but went on to something else but after waiting in line with an excited child only to have to try and explain why he couldn't ride, I wasn't very happy. To make matters worse, she acted like she didn't even believe that he had been measured before. I told her that there was no way I would have waited in that long hot line unless I had double checked to make sure he could ride.

I didn't have any problems at Disney. I found them to be very fair. I also think their height requirements are great which is one of the reason we decided to visit in the first place. My kids are all small for their ages so I always check height requirements before we go anywhere. When I checked our local theme parks, DS7 couldn't ride any of the roller coasters (which he loves). At Disney he could ride everything except RnR. He's hoping to be able to ride it this year.

 

[rudy7696]

What everybody is saying is correct. Disney is VERY STRICT when it comes to rides and height requirements. Basically it's a safety and liability issue, the requirements are there for a reason. Also trying to "alter" your childs height by buying taller shoes, putting on multiple layers of socks, even witnessed somebody stuffing match books inside their child's shoes to make them a few inches taller . Needless to say it didn't work. These CM's are "atuned" to finding things like that. I can guarantee it wasn't the first time it was tried and definetely won't be the last.

 

[tjmw2727]

I'm worried about this now with my 7 year old. He is 48 1/2 inches with shoes on. I've heard a lot of people say the measuring sticks they use aren't all the same. My DS wants to ride rock n roller coaster so bad, but I keep telling him we will see. He has 3 more months to grow a little more.

The only thing I don't understand is why they measure 2 times. It is so unfair for a child to get stopped at the second measurement after you have already waited in line, and he was already told he could go.

They measure twice in case the cm at the entrance is busy / distracted or otherwise doesn't notice a borderline child enter the line. The CM who boards the child is responsible for safely boarding guests so if they see a borderline child they will re-measure just to be on the safe side.

I have seen more than one family blatantly sneak a child past the outside CM only to have the child re-measured at boarding. Even though the family knew the child was too small to ride they still complained about having to wait and not ride ???

FWIW - we have visited often with kids just at and just under the various height limits and its hard somtimes. If you use FP and rider switch you can make it fun for everyone without unecessary waiting.

As for strict they measure with an upside down L - the head must stop the L from moving across the head. They will ask for hats and obviously high shoes to be removed and measure to the head not a ponytail.

Make sure the child knows they want to stop the stick, some get fearful and shrink down. Instruct them to stand straight and tall but not tippie toe and try and make it fun for the kids to show the CM how tall they are!!

Have a great trip.

TJ

 

[dipity]

Get some thick insoles for his shoes. Last year our 3 year old was just under 40" in his shoes, so we put in some insoles. He was always measured but never turned away.

Last year I read all the scary talk about sticks being different heights and was worried. In our experience, it's just people trying to scare you away from getting your son to ride. The sticks were all consistent. We never had a problem or had any CM look twice. I'm specifically referring to the 40" sticks, here.

My biggest worry was getting him to wear the shoes while all the rest of us were in sandles. But it worked out just fine.

 

[dipity]

Make sure the child knows they want to stop the stick, some get fearful and shrink down. Instruct them to stand straight and tall but not tippie toe and try and make it fun for the kids to show the CM how tall they are!!

TJ

This is the best advice. We made a practice stick in the garage. It really helped.

 

[princesssfws]

I posted this in another height requirement thread but will do so again here. My dd was measured at the beginning of RNR, passed, waited in line - measured again and passed and rode. Next time through measured at beginning and passed, measured again at end and the CM said she was too short. I nicely argued w/ the CM that she was measured and passed and had already ridden it. This particular CM kept pressed down on her head. He said I could speak to mgmt and took us into the back where there was another stick, which she had no trouble passing.

If you know your child is too short don't try to bend the rules. If you know your child is tall enough nicely ask to have them remeasured using another stick/CM. I'm not sure if all the rides have them available but RNR does.

 

[allyphoe]

Also, for those JUST AT or less than 1" over the required height -- do not carry your child in the ride line. Over the years I've observed that CM's tend to go a bit more conservative on the measurement if they see a child carried in vs. walking up on their own feet.

I second that. DD was 46 inches this last trip, and I was asked to set her down for measurement at EE when I carried her in the line. At 42", she was always measured for 40" rides when I carried her, and never when she was walking on her own.

Also, don't put anything on their heads. DD wore a tiara on ToT when she was borderline 40", and there were 2 CMs (one holding down her feet, one squishing down her head) that time past the measuring bar. (They didn't make her remove her shoes, though.) She got much less scrutiny bare-headed.