How to make my kid 48 inches tall?

[sandym718]

I know how you feel also, both my kids are on the shorter side (odd b/c DD and I are both totally average), but especially my DS. He's not and hasn't been on the growth charts for a long time. I always feel bad for him - b/c he's a daredevil when it comes to rides!! He wants to do everything!! The good news is- Disney is probably the best place when it comes to this!!! There's very little they can't do!!!

We have many more issues at parks, etc. closer to home. I especially notice the difference at water parks. At Blizzard Beach, they can do almost EVERYTHING (except the two speed slides) from 36" on. My DD was barely 36" and had such a blast doing all the big stuff. Now, here at home, she's continually disappointed that she can't do that stuff - like at Kalahari where we went just 2 weeks ago. She's 39 1/2" now and was restricted to the baby slides and 2 medium-sized ones (which she did love). She didn't care too much, but it meant our family was split most of the time (DS is now 44" and could go on many, but not all). That's what great about Disney- so much of it the entire family can do together!!

Even our summer pool - kids have to be 48" for the slide, no exceptions. DS's friends have ALL hit that mark this year (some could do it last year) but he obviously won't. It could be an interesting summer at the pool- I feel bad for him.

Anyways, nothing to be done about it - but there's lots of us who deal with it! Hugs!

 

[TinkandAriel]

thanks for all the responses. I know, and she knows, that she won't be going on anything that requires her to be 48" or taller. I'm not that irresponsible (nor is my dh) of a parent to "fudge" her height. We'll just ride Big Thunder Railroad to our hearts content, she loves that.

 

[ConcKahuna]

thanks for all the responses. I know, and she knows, that she won't be going on anything that requires her to be 48" or taller. I'm not that irresponsible (nor is my dh) of a parent to "fudge" her height. We'll just ride Big Thunder Railroad to our hearts content, she loves that.

She'd probably love Expidition Everest then as well. It's got a 44" requirement, and is kind of a combination of BTM and Splast Mountain.

 

[Harley-Mouse]

My DD had on a pair of sketchers once and first CM said she was good when we got in side that said the shoes had to big of a sole. Thay didn't let her ride. Mw sister in law put napkins in her sons shoes and he got on. You might try insoles but 1 inch is a lot. Also at TOT dd was ok out side but when she was checked inside she was 1 inch short don't know how that worked but looked like hight on sign inside was higher then the stick outside.

 

[maxiesmom]

news flash: you are not risking your childs life by trying to fudge an inch or two. if you are close, get out the shoes with heels, and get that hair up.

news flash: CMs know the tricks that people use to grow their children. They measure to the child's head, not where the hair is. And as far as the other bright suggestion of stuffing napkins in your child's shoes, if a CM catches you stuffing napkins into your child's shoes, you will not be allowed on the ride.

Unless you designed the ride, and KNOW what the reasons are for a certain height being the rule, how can you possibly say your child will be safe if you get them on a ride they really shouldn't be on? Do you think it is just some arbitrary number that Disney chose out of a bag? And as a former CM posted on another thread, how tall you are affects how the restraints fit. And if the restraints don't fit properly, you could be banged around quite a bit. So if you are not placing your child's life on the line, you are risking them getting tossed around and possibly injured. If you think the few minutes of joy you and your child get for riding a ride is worth the risk of them getting hurt, then that is very sad.

 

[Tomh]

Four inches isn't going to happen, and I would have to say that anything you could do to fake that much of a difference would likely cause some sort of safety concern. I have used boots with a bit of a heel, as well as a small bunch of napkins in the heel of a sneaker for both my DD, and my DS when they were just a little bit too short to get on a ride, but those were a matter of a quarter of an inch, or less. I certainly wouldn't try to fudge anything more than that.

 

[synclair11]

my daughter was tall enough to ride tot at age 4 and while we were in line for the 3rd time , a group of young guys were are mouthing saying things line this has got to be weak look at that little kid blah blah. and i just smiled and then when it was over they came up to her and said man you are a brave girl lol! and when she plays on playground and stuff like at chuck e cheese we always get stares because they think she is too old because she is soo tall. so either way short or tall i think everyone has issues

 

[Disneyonmymind]

We went there last summer and my DD4 could only ride BABY rides. They have very harsh height requirements. We also went to a little water park near VA Beach on the same trip and it was the same way. Only the BABY area for her. We were surprised and she was very disappointed. We were spoiled by our local amusement parks and water parks where there is a more graduated offering. She hasn't had to ride all BABY rides for a couple of years.

I am psyched for our trip to WDW this summer because DD will be over 42 inches so she will only be too short for Space, Mission Space, RnRC, EE and PW. That's only 1 (or 2 at AK) rides per park she can't go on. We can deal with that. And she's not so close to the line that she may get measured differently by different CMs for the 40 inch limit. (VERY frustrating for kids and parents).

 

[Nii Lamptey]

I admit we once fudged our child's height, she was less than half an inch off being able to ride Rhino Rally so we put her sun hat on but left it a tad high and they let her on - and she survived to tell the tale

 

[dj2]

so either way short or tall i think everyone has issues

this is very true. years ago on my kids' first trip to wdw, we were at river country. boy do i miss that park. my girls (6, 4, and 1) were not adventurous. we were playing in the kiddie area and my DD who was just barely 6 and had just finished kindergarten. she was like a whole head taller than many kids in her class, and after playing in the kiddie area for a few hours and thoroughly enjoying the baby slides, she got measured by a real stickler who banned her from the slides for being too tall! there were no "medium" level slides, just tiny kiddie ones or the real biggies. and she was not a rough-housing type of kid, just a quiet, tall, little girl. it was a real disappointment, especially since the other cm's there that afternoon who'd previously measured her had let her play there. we pleaded with this cm and he let her go down one last time and we left. that was 10 1/2 years ago, but still a vivid memory. thanks for listening....

 

[sandym718]

Yes, friends of ours have the same issue - the exact opposite of ours. It's funny, our boys are 6 days apart, we actually had the same due date, so sort of the EXACT same age. My son is super small, their son is VERY large. Very tall for his age, and, unfortunately, significantly overweight, which makes him look even "bigger". My son, as I said before, is a daredevil for rides, their son is not. He just doesn't like the big stuff. They get tons of comments and looks when he rides the "kiddie" or baby rides/slides. REALLY rude stuff, usually b/c of his weight. I don't know if he's ever been denied access to anything, though. Guess you just can't win -if your child isn't nearly exactly "average", there's issues to deal with!!

Here's a question - for rides with restraints, etc - I'm sure height is definitely a factor for safety. But for water slides, how much is it really? Isn't swimming ability a bigger factor (for slides that end in deeper water)? I think that's why BB allows smaller children on so much - they don't end in deep water, they also allow life vests. That's what bugs me at water parks here - both my children have become quite good swimmers, I don't get why DD (and even DS for some) can't go on some of these slides. I'm sure she's a better swimmer than many kids who are 46". Maybe maturity level factors into it also - for the "fear" factor- but isn't that more of an age or family decision vs. height? I'd love to know if anyone has more information on water slide height requirements and how they factor into safety. Not really a Disney issue, though, as I mentioned. BB was great!!

this is very true. years ago on my kids' first trip to wdw, we were at river country. boy do i miss that park. my girls (6, 4, and 1) were not adventurous. we were playing in the kiddie area and my DD who was just barely 6 and had just finished kindergarten. she was like a whole head taller than many kids in her class, and after playing in the kiddie area for a few hours and thoroughly enjoying the baby slides, she got measured by a real stickler who banned her from the slides for being too tall! there were no "medium" level slides, just tiny kiddie ones or the real biggies. and she was not a rough-housing type of kid, just a quiet, tall, little girl. it was a real disappointment, especially since the other cm's there that afternoon who'd previously measured her had let her play there. we pleaded with this cm and he let her go down one last time and we left. that was 10 1/2 years ago, but still a vivid memory. thanks for listening....

 

[Timmy Boy]

news flash: you are not risking your childs life by trying to fudge an inch or two. if you are close, get out the shoes with heels, and get that hair up.

Wow, I honestly can not believe you just said that. That is wrong and will not be tolerated. Let me guess, you're one of those parents who think you are above the rules? If the height is 40 inches, and you believe that 2 inches will not matter, why don't they just make the height 38 inches? Nope, it's for a reason, and I'm sorry but the rules still apply to your perfect child.

ATTENTION FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS: Do not listen to the above quote. It is not the right thing to do.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Here's a question - for rides with restraints, etc - I'm sure height is definitely a factor for safety. But for water slides, how much is it really? Isn't swimming ability a bigger factor (for slides that end in deeper water)? I think that's why BB allows smaller children on so much - they don't end in deep water, they also allow life vests. That's what bugs me at water parks here - both my children have become quite good swimmers, I don't get why DD (and even DS for some) can't go on some of these slides. I'm sure she's a better swimmer than many kids who are 46". Maybe maturity level factors into it also - for the "fear" factor- but isn't that more of an age or family decision vs. height? I'd love to know if anyone has more information on water slide height requirements and how they factor into safety. Not really a Disney issue, though, as I mentioned. BB was great!!

Having worked at a water park, I can tell you that the height matters on slides too (as does weight). The slides work off of simple physics, and they try to make them so anyone can use them, but that's not always the case. If they are too small, they tend to "float' on the water instead of slide down the slide, and they can go right over the edge.

 

[kaytieeldr]

news flash: you are not risking your childs life by trying to fudge an inch or two. if you are close, get out the shoes with heels, and get that hair up.

Yeah, that's a good suggestion - the Cast Members won't realize that four inches of someone's 'height' are provided by artificial means.

 

[belle1627]

My ds has the same problem, he just got on primival whirl at 8 years old. We went one time and the CM literally took a piece of paper between my sons head and the height stick and said sorry not this time. We didn't argue or pout, we said will try next time, and our next trip he was tall enough. I have seen parents get into arguments with the CMs

 

[agoofylover]

Wow some people seem to get pretty heated (and a little rude)when it comes to this issue. I think that the op was just making conversation...and some have taken it to a whole other level!! In general, you do have to be a responsible parent. I know that I would never put my kids safety at risk for a ride. That being said, my ds 6&1/2 is at 47&3/4 inches without shoes currently. I don't think him wearing shoes that push him up past 48 inches is a crime. I also don't think that 1/4 of an inch is going to jeapordize his safety. My ds 4&1/2 is already over 44 inches and yet there are some rides I will refuse to put him on at this age...even if he wanted to....like EE. Neither of my kids will be going on M: S. I know of adults that didn't feel right for a few days after that ride. It just is common sense people!! A ride is a ride, but a child's life/health is a forever thing. Obviously if you are a hair shy...and plain old shoes do the trick ( not heels) than you are probably safe, but if it's more than 3/4 of an inch that you're short...probably not the smartest thing to try to fudge. This is just my opinion of course. If something were to happen, it's you that would be responsible. The CM's are just trying to do their job.

 

[CanadianGuy]

The height restrictions that Disney posts are meant to include shoes. You're not cheating by putting your child in shoes.

Four inch heels with napkins -- that's probably another story!

Knox

 

[sandym718]

Having worked at a water park, I can tell you that the height matters on slides too (as does weight). The slides work off of simple physics, and they try to make them so anyone can use them, but that's not always the case. If they are too small, they tend to "float' on the water instead of slide down the slide, and they can go right over the edge.

That does make sense! Though it sure would seem that Weight would be a more important factor in this case and no one checks for that (good thing, we'd still be in trouble b/c DS is SUPER skinny as well as short) I'd guess they have to figure out what weight makes it safe and then determine a corresponding height rather than weighing everyone -eek!! Thanks for the info!!

 

[agoofylover]

Yes, but the difference between flat sandal types and tennis shoes is amazing!! DS(4) was just 3 on our last trip...and was barely 40 inches. One day he wore sketcher sandals and was checked and re-checked very carefully each time(even when we repeated the same ride right away. The next day he wore tennis shoes and was easlily checked and moved on quickly. much nicer!

 

[collcass]

At GW Lodge, my nine yr old was not permitted on several rides without another person.

Originally Posted by ConcKahuna
Having worked at a water park, I can tell you that the height matters on slides too (as does weight). The slides work off of simple physics, and they try to make them so anyone can use them, but that's not always the case. If they are too small, they tend to "float' on the water instead of slide down the slide, and they can go right over the edge.

He is just shy of 49 inches and only 49 lbs. When we checked in that morning the concierge had the head lifeguard greet us an explain it so that we could talk to DS about it. They thought he was six and felt so bad for the mistake that one of the younger lifeguards took him around and on all the rides he wanted to go on but couldn't

My four yr old is the same way. He won't make any of the HR in WDW. Even if I wanted to - I couldn't fudge it simply because he's too short.

My dd, however, grew 5 1/2 in between physicals. The doc said he hadn't seen such a growth spurt at her age in years!