I think my son will be too small...

[aprilfoolwed]

We're taking our first trip as a family in June. My youngest will be 38 months old at that time - and I really REALLY don't think he'll be 40" My daughter was 40" at 3 years, but my boys are not as tall as she was.

All he talks about is riding Runaway Train. I don't know what I am going to do if he can't ride the train. It's serious all he talks about!

Any suggestions for another attraction that may keep him happy - something someone under 40" can ride? I think I need to start pushing other things on him now - or else we are going to have the biggest meltdown when we get to Disney and he finds out he's not big enough to ride RT!

 

[RMulieri]

Try goofys barnstormer in toon town.I had the same issue with my very petite 4 yr old this past Sept.I simply told her she was not big enough to ride this time but will be next time we go.Just prepare him ahead of time in case.

 

[MNdisneymom]

I feel your pain...or rather, your DS's pain...My DS was 38" when we went when he was 3.5. Of course, he would have loved to ride everything, but I explained to him before he went which ones he couldn't do, and made a big deal about what he *could* do. The Buzz ride at MK was huge, and Kali River Rapids at AK, too. That one had a limit of 38"--and they sit in a special seat with a lap bar--and the ride operators made a big fuss over him, which DS really liked. Oh, and I thought of something else--if he's a pirate sort of kid, ride POC and try to see the pirate tutorial, while everybody else is off riding the big rides.

He is still short and daring at 5.5...His favorite ride, he claims, is Space Mountain--which he can't ride yet because he's only 43.5 inches. Poor kid, it's tough being short and daring .

 

[tjmw2727]

Since he is probably not going to be 40" by the trip and they measure pretty strictly I would prepare for that possiblity. Maybe you can separate when the older kids are going to ride the mountains and have one adult take the younger child to do some of his favorites.

It's not really runaway but he MK has a great steam train he can ride, maybe he won't notice He will be tall enough for the barnstormer and that is a great first coaster, my dd's still love to ride it.

I know he has his heart set on the runaway train but hopefully since there is soooo much else he can do it won't even be an issue once your there.

TJ

 

[AnitaDisneyVacation]

June is 6 months away - he'll probably grow close to an inch between now and then.

I've been able to help get my kids on the rides as long as they were within about 1.5" of the height requirement.

I take them to payless right before the trip and get the sneakers with the thickest soles they have. I also put gel inserts in their shoes to get to our target height. The gel inserts that are just for heels work well with their small feet. I brought the inserts and a tape measure to the store to see if the shoes worked (didn't want to get their hopes up without knowing for sure).

The big thing is to explain to the child that this is only for certain rides. I would never cheat their height to put them on a ride I didn't feel was safe.

 

[Schmeck]

June is 6 months away - he'll probably grow close to an inch between now and then.

I've been able to help get my kids on the rides as long as they were within about 1.5" of the height requirement.

I take them to payless right before the trip and get the sneakers with the thickest soles they have. I also put gel inserts in their shoes to get to our target height. The gel inserts that are just for heels work well with their small feet. I brought the inserts and a tape measure to the store to see if the shoes worked (didn't want to get their hopes up without knowing for sure).

The big thing is to explain to the child that this is only for certain rides. I would never cheat their height to put them on a ride I didn't feel was safe.

But you cheat anyways, right? That's a lovely thing to teach your children.

Please close this thread!

 

[TommyTutone]

Ignoring the woman putting her kids at risk above, I too recommend Goofy's Barnstormer. My nephew loved it, and your son likely won't know the difference. Because of the nature of the ride, however, I would recommend getting to Toon Town sooner, rather than later. It's right next to Fantasyland, so maybe take the time to ride Dumbo (another ride known for notoriously long lines), and you'll make his day.

 

[puffkin]

I also went to the store and bought my "very close to 40" son the thickest soled regular sneakers I could find. His regular sneakers have very thin soles. These were the light up sneakers that you can get a walmart/kmart and not overly thick soles or platforms or anything like that. I did not let him wear them before our trip and pound them down. We did practice standing up straight though and how to measure. At the parks I would put these on him right before the ride and he would walk himself into line (carrying is a big give away) and stood real straight. He was EXACTLY 40" and we didn't have any problems, in fact we were only measure once the entire week and that was on Goofy's Barnstormer which has a 35" requirement.

We did try to prepare him that he might be too small for some of the rides but I don't think a 2 1/2 year old can comprehend that. So we really practiced standing tall and used the "special" shoes to ensure he could get on the rides. I personally would not do the gel inserts or things like that, but I think getting thicker soled shoes is a viable strategy.

 

[geogirl0626]

I personally would not do the gel inserts or things like that, but I think getting thicker soled shoes is a viable strategy.

That's essentially the same thing though, isn't it? Either way, the child does not really meet the height requirement.

Just wait until your child is tall enough. There are plenty of rides they can go on in the meantime!

 

[puffkin]

That's essentially the same thing though, isn't it? Either way, the child does not really meet the height requirement.

Just wait until your child is tall enough. There are plenty of rides they can go on in the meantime!

The shoes I bought him are regular sneakers that thousands of kids wear every day....they are not platform or heelies or anything like that with overly thick soles. The brand of sneakers I prefer for my son have very thin soles and it is silly to deny my son the chance to ride for a cm or so. I am NOT talking about shoes that aren't NORMAL sneakers......they just happen to have thicker soles than the brand I prefer. I think it is a LOT different.

 

[scottish mum]

If your son doesn't grow enough its just a good excuse to go back when he is tall enough .
My dd was nearly 3 when we were there once and she was tall enough to go on but she did get measured everywhere and they even have a card that they try and put between there head and the measurement bar. . If the card fits their not allowed to ride.My dd was just in beach shoes but i have seen cm's asking kids to take off their shoes if the soles are very thick Very strict but they need to be. The height restrictions are there for a reason.

 

[asoko]

My DS 5.5 is small too. I took him for his 5 year check up and when he was measured I remember thinking he'll never be tall enough to ride anything at Disney when we go in Sept. So it must have been over an inch. He's not a daredevil, so it's not a big deal, but I did want him to have the opportunity. Anyway when we got to Disney, we decided just to see if he was tall enough. He just made it. He rode Star Tours and GM Test Track. He grew at least an inch in 2 months.

Your trip is a few months away, so he still has time. If he doesn't grow tall enough there are still tons of rides. My kids love the Indy cars, the regular train ride, Buzz Lightyear, and the boats bumping on Small World. Any ride is as much fun as you make it. My favorite ride is the Pirates of the Caribbean because I remember riding it with my dad narrating and singing throughout the ride. He even made the Mexico boat ride exciting.

 

[DannysMom]

Any suggestions for another attraction that may keep him happy - something someone under 40" can ride? I think I need to start pushing other things on him now - or else we are going to have the biggest meltdown when we get to Disney and he finds out he's not big enough to ride RT!

You know, it's more than 6 months to your trip. I'd say worry about it a lot closer to trip time. Last trip we were waiting to see if my son would make the 44" height requirement to give EE a go. I swear he hit a growth spurt & grew and inch and a half in about two months. So be aware that anything is possible.

That being said there is a ton of stuff for kids shorter than 40" to ride. Goofy's Barnstormer. The WDW Railroad (steam train). My son still loves the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (and I still have no idea why.) Buzz Lightyear. Haunted Mansion. POC etc etc etc

 

[RMulieri]

before we get into the dreaded "cheating the system debate"., and get this thread locked..Disney institutes height requirements..for a safety reason, not to be mean to your kids or to damper anyone getting their rides worth.What may look safe by cheating just an inch or so may work out fine, but what if something were to happen to your child?How would you feel then? My dd was just shy of the height requirement and was devastated that everyone else got to ride...you know what ? she got over it quickly, and knows that next time she can ride. I prepared her ahead of time.Was she disappointed? yeah sure she was, but like i said she got over it quickly.Sometimes a little disappointment for kids is a good learning and growing experience.

 

[aprilfoolwed]

I wasn't looking for ways to cheat the system - I was looking for alternatives to Runaway Train that may keep my DS happy. I will start pushing other rides - like Goofy's Barnstormer - and hope he just sort of forgets about the Runaway train . Somehow, I doubt he will - but I'll hope.

Poor Grandma - she's the one who is going to get stuck watching him while we ride with the bigger kids.

But I am thinking he may get an extra ice cream treat out of this situation.

 

[aanderson5]

When we go in March my DS will also be 38 months and we have little to no hope he will be 40 inches. According to growth charts only about 10% of kids would be 40 inches or taller at 38 months so it is not an unusual situation.

There are so many rides you DS will love. There are more things that he can go on than he can't. Here is a list of the height requirements and it looks like there are 10 that 40" is the magic number for. There a few on the list that I don't think I would put my newly 3 year old on even if he hit the requirement (ie Dinosaur and TOT). LOL


Animal Kingdom - Dinosaur - 40"
Epcot - Wonders of Life / Body Wars - 40"
MGM Studios - Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith - 48"
Blizzard Beach - Summit Plummet - 48"
MGM Studios - The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - 40"
Animal Kingdom - Primeval Whirl - 48"
Blizzard Beach - Downhill Double Dipper - 48"
DisneyQuest - Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam - 48"
Epcot - Body Wars - 40"
Magic Kingdom - Tomorrowland Indy Speedway - 52"
MGM Studios - Star Tours - 40"
Typhoon Lagoon - Bay Slide - 52"
DisneyQuest - Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlaster - 51"
DisneyQuest - Cyberspace Mountain - 51"
Epcot - Test Track - 40"
Magic Kingdom - Space Mountain - 44"
Magic Kingdom - Stitch's Great Escape - 40"
Typhoon Lagoon - Humunga Kowabunga - 48"
Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest - 44"
Epcot - Soarin' - 40""
Magic Kingdom - Splash Mountain - 40"
Magic Kingdom - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - 40"

Have a wonderful trip. You will have a fantastic time.

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

I wasn't looking for ways to cheat the system - I was looking for alternatives to Runaway Train that may keep my DS happy. I will start pushing other rides - like Goofy's Barnstormer - and hope he just sort of forgets about the Runaway train . Somehow, I doubt he will - but I'll hope.

Poor Grandma - she's the one who is going to get stuck watching him while we ride with the bigger kids.

But I am thinking he may get an extra ice cream treat out of this situation.

Exactly. Just check out the website for the rides with height requirements and show him what he can ride. We had this problem with our oldest but she was ok with it shes not into most of the older rides. its our Almost 3 yo (that is very small for her age. her 1 yo sister is almost looking her in the eye) that we have the biggest issue with. She was so mad she couldnt ride the Go Gadget coaster in Disneyland. I think she missed it by an inch or so. But she got to sit with me and the baby and have a snack. so she was fine with it. I say good luck and dont stress over it (too much)

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My DS was also very tall for his age. He was riding all the 40" rides from the time he was 2 1/2 yo.

DD is little. She went on many WDW trips where she could not ride the "big" rides like her "big" brother. We just explained to her, that she is too little .

This October (at 5yo) she finally made 40". She was so darn excited. It was nice to ride everything as a family. Your son will get there eventually.

Good Luck

 

[DawnM]

Ride the regular train that goes all around Disney.....my kids LOVE that! I would also explain that Thunder Mountain Railroad (I assume that is what you are referring to) gets very dark and scary in places.

The thing is, this is life.....you have to grow into things....we don't always get what we want when we want it.

My kids had to grow into rides.....they understood that. They did fine.

Dawn

 

[RMulieri]

I wasn't looking for ways to cheat the system - I was looking for alternatives to Runaway Train that may keep my DS happy. I will start pushing other rides - like Goofy's Barnstormer - and hope he just sort of forgets about the Runaway train . Somehow, I doubt he will - but I'll hope.

Poor Grandma - she's the one who is going to get stuck watching him while we ride with the bigger kids.

But I am thinking he may get an extra ice cream treat out of this situation.

I know you weren't I was responding to people buying thick soled shoes.