How to make my kid 48 inches tall?

[Laurabearz]

FYI all rides have at least an inch or two leway worked into the safety system... so while the ride may require you to be 40 inches tall, you would infact be perfectly safe if you were 39 inches and rode it.


But I agree with others the OP has no intention of trying to boost her childs height by 4 inches...

 

[lrab1126]

Regarding the weight being an important factor on water slides...i can attest to that. When I was 12 and well above the required height regulation for one of the slides at River Country, because I was such a string bean, the speed and rushing of water on the slide caused me to go up the side of the slide and land face first on the slide knocking out my 2 front teeth. Needless to say I am very careful about my kids on water slides and any ride for that matter... even if they meet the height requirement...if I feel it is unsafe for their build or their development (weight etc) I will not let them go. That kid that died on mission space...he was tall enough but personally I would never let my 4 year old on a ride like that knowing full well the intensity of it. I will not even let my almost 6 year old do space mountain because of the jerking motions in it which can cause serious damage to a youngster. I do not question other's though... you know the right decision for your own kiddo.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Blasphemy!

If Steven Tyler could hear you he'd be turning over in his tanning bed.

LOL! OMG! That is the funniest thing I've "heard" in a while.

 

[Dawn414]

I can see the point about not pushing the child's height (by big shoes like we do) IF the child isn't ready to go on a ride. We're talking an inch or two. But to say my (almost) 5 year old isn't ready for Soarin' when she's done Rollercoasters and loved them just seems silly to me. Ditto on Splash Mountain. My DD was on a water flume with a far greater dip than SM with no issues. I'm sure Disney has their rules for a reason, but who knows their children better than we do? If it were something that would be dangerous, I would absolutely not push them to be 'tall' enough.

 

[Deb & Bill]

.... I'm sure Disney has their rules for a reason, but who knows their children better than we do? ....

And who knows their attractions better than Disney does? Thus, the height rules.

 

[kaytieeldr]

: Deb & Bill! I was just about to post the exact same response! So, in order not to waste space I'd like to add that a ride's engineers and designers have a great deal of input on the height requirements.

 

[letthewookiewin]

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.

We've had the same problem with my DS9. He just got to 50" and 50 pounds this year. We just avoided the rides he couldn't ride, and he didn't even notice. The way I explained it was that since he wasn't tall enough to ride some rides, we would just have to come back.
Have a magical trip

 

[traceym]

We are having the same height problem with our DD. She will be 6 in July and is only 39" tall!!
So there are several rides that she won't get to make it on.
I guess we will be doing some waiting on DH and DS too.

Tracey
ASMovies May25-May30 2008

 

[Robo]

I guess we will be doing some waiting on DH and DS too.

to your first posting on the DISboards, Tracey!

Have a magical trip... coming up so SOON!

 

[JenLynn]

I completely respect the CM's decisions regarding the height restrictions. My only beef was last year when the CM at the entrance said DD was tall enough to ride Primeval Whirl and so we got in line and waited for 40 minutes only to get to the ride loading area and that CM told us DD could not ride. (We quickly moved out of the way to the exit while another parent and child argued with the CM after the same experience. A manager came to talk to that guest and DH mentioned to him (calmly) that it was disappointing for DD to wait for 40 minutes thinking she could ride it but then not be able to at the last minute. The manager apologized for that part of the experience and gave DH a set of fastpasses). I follow Disney's height requirements, but don't tell a child they can ride a ride and then at the last minute tell them they can't.

 

[Laurabearz]

I follow Disney's height requirements, but don't tell a child they can ride a ride and then at the last minute tell them they can't.

Yes I agree...

I wish they would do wristbands.

Also to all the CM's who feel the need to slide a piece of paper... Like the width of a piece of paper is going to make them not safe on a ride...

 

[haley123]

Trying to cheat the height limits with high shoes and big hair are generally not good ideas. The attractions are normally designed with people of a certain height range in mind, and the lower center of gravity on smaller people could cause serious injury to them.

To joke about it is fine, but people DO try and get around the height. Is it really worth your child's life to let them go on Mission Space a year early?

Ride restraints are built with a leeway of a couple of inches. No one is going to get hurt by being slightly under the height requirement.

With that being said Disney needs a better system of meausuring children. I have heard lots of stories of a child being tall enough for one ride and then being told there to short for another though both rides have the same height requirement.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Ride restraints are built with a leeway of a couple of inches. No one is going to get hurt by being slightly under the height requirement.....

That may be true, but if someone gets hurt and someone else finds out they were slightly under the height requirement, I can just see the ambulance chasers out there ready to sue Disney. Disney's rules. If you don't like them, don't go until they don't apply anymore.

 

[haley123]

And I'm sure that the parents of that kid who died on Mission Space figured it was just a few minor medical issues, nothing to worry about.

The child who died on Mission Space did meet the height requirement. That had nothing to do with the childs death.

 

[haley123]

That may be true, but if someone gets hurt and someone else finds out they were slightly under the height requirement, I can just see the ambulance chasers out there ready to sue Disney. Disney's rules. If you don't like them, don't go until they don't apply anymore.

The thing is is that a height requirement is only supposed to be the approximate height you have to be. The fact that children wear shoes is built into the height requirement. They also take into consideration the ground where the child being meausured not being even or the meuasuring stick being off.

 

[preschoolmom]

Here's hoping!

We just returned - and our girls are JUST at 40 inches (a touch below, per measuring at home). They wore normal, velcro gym shoes - and they squeaked on Test Track and Big Thunder Mountain! (They LOVED both rides). One twin is a touch taller than the other - and I held my breath every time they measured (and remeasured - and they did measure them twice, for each ride - even when we had already ridden) - but it worked out fine.

That said, I also held them in on Big Thunder - and I put my arm over my daughter when she rode in the middle of Test Track (I was so surprised they let her just use a lap belt! I would think all three spots would have a shoulder harness!).

ETA: It was obvious they were small/young - because whenever our car returned, so many people in line would notice them and point! They are real ride junkies - preferring rides to parades and characters our entire visit - I'm going to be in trouble in a few years!

 

[cheerforchelsea]

At least there won't be too many things that she can't ride.....RNR is too scary even for me Just put her in "tall tennis shoes" and hope for the best!!

 

[Grumpy's_Gal]

I don't doubt that there is some room for error built into the height restrictions as far as children's safety is concerned. But what amazes me is that so many parents posted that they are teaching their children that it's okay to bend the rules to get on a ride! It seems so simple to me...if you don't meet the height requirements, you can't go on the ride. Sure, there are going to be some disappointed kids, but that's a lesson they're going to have to learn anyway.

Lori

 

[sandym718]

Regarding the weight being an important factor on water slides...i can attest to that. When I was 12 and well above the required height regulation for one of the slides at River Country, because I was such a string bean, the speed and rushing of water on the slide caused me to go up the side of the slide and land face first on the slide knocking out my 2 front teeth. Needless to say I am very careful about my kids on water slides and any ride for that matter... even if they meet the height requirement...if I feel it is unsafe for their build or their development (weight etc) I will not let them go. That kid that died on mission space...he was tall enough but personally I would never let my 4 year old on a ride like that knowing full well the intensity of it. I will not even let my almost 6 year old do space mountain because of the jerking motions in it which can cause serious damage to a youngster. I do not question other's though... you know the right decision for your own kiddo.

OMG, OUCH!!!! Definitely common sense has to factor in too, especially if you have an unusually tall child I'd guess.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't doubt that there is some room for error built into the height restrictions as far as children's safety is concerned. But what amazes me is that so many parents posted that they are teaching their children that it's okay to bend the rules to get on a ride! It seems so simple to me...if you don't meet the height requirements, you can't go on the ride. Sure, there are going to be some disappointed kids, but that's a lesson they're going to have to learn anyway.

Lori