If they are 40.5 inches with shoes on...

[cjparker0110]

I can't speak for how WDW does things, but I used to run rides at Busch Gardens Williamsburg so I am well versed in measuring kids under their policies. We only ever asked kids to remove shoes to be measured if they were riding an inverted roller coaster where their feet hang freely (no floor) and they had on something like flip flops which could easily fly off during the ride. With footwear like that all riders had to take them off and sit on them in the extremely rare case of needing to evacuate the ride so their feet weren't torn up on the steps.

My advice for measuring is this: teach your kids to stand tall and straight. A lot of kids that I measured would slump over because they were worried about being hit by the stick. They need to stand tall if they are close in order to fit. My practice this with them with a make shift measuring device of your own. I agree with PP about measuring them later in the day as well. Otherwise, make sure you get all the must dos out of the way early so you don't have to worry about it.

Are height requirements annoying? Yes. However, they are for safety. Remember that it is not the people working the rides who set the requirements. Those come from the engineers who create/build the rides. I think WDW is awesome because a lot of their rides are at the 40 inch mark. The typical height requirements for more exciting rides in most parks I've been to are 44/48. So 40 is a good number.

One more thing: make sure you buy good shoes for the trip. Maybe take some time to compare the bases of shoes you are considering. Some are a little thicker than others. If you are worried about being close, don't buy the flattest shoe out there.

 

[disnut8]

One more thing: make sure you buy good shoes for the trip. Maybe take some time to compare the bases of shoes you are considering. Some are a little thicker than others. If you are worried about being close, don't buy the flattest shoe out there.

I'm going to issue a caution on this advice. I'm not a big fan of buying anyone new shoes right before a trip. Everyone does a lot of walking at Disney World so a non-broken in pair of shoes can cause a lot of issues during the day. Your child(ren) might be able to ride the few attractions with height requirements so they don't whine about missing those few things. But, they could complain all day about feet hurting.

To the OP - if your kids measure at home with their regular and worn shoes and they are above 40 inches, then you shouldn't stress over it that much. Have your kids practice, as mentioned, with a bar on the stick so they aren't nervous when a Cast Member measures them. Also, Disney World will measure them twice - once at th entrance to the queue and then again closer to where you board. Yes, children have been OK at the first point and not OK at the second point. So, prepare your children for that situation (it has happened but the only times I have seen it happened was when the child was obviously too short and got past the first measurement somehow which is why the second one is there).

Just realize that when your children are measured at the attractions, it's Disney measurements, not yours and not your doctor's. The sticks are 40 inches.

 

[momtosam]

Isn't there a place to go to be measured for a wrist band or something instead of playing the Russian roulette at every ride? I've never dealt with this so I don't know. At Hersheypark you can get an official measurement at one spot and then get a wristband to wear that clears you for rides. That worrying over each CMs decision at each ride would make my youngest son a nervous wreck.

 

[PantherPete]

I'm going to issue a caution on this advice. I'm not a big fan of buying anyone new shoes right before a trip. Everyone does a lot of walking at Disney World so a non-broken in pair of shoes can cause a lot of issues during the day. Your child(ren) might be able to ride the few attractions with height requirements so they don't whine about missing those few things. But, they could complain all day about feet hurting.

A good set of blisters on the bottom of their feet could be the difference in being tall enough to ride or doing the walk of shame after being rejected by a CM.

 

[wdwobsessed]

You could have them hang from the monkey bars like Bobby Brady to stretch themselves!
:-D

I wonder who is old enough to get that reference!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Nope no wrist bands, nothing like that. They are likely worried about guests removing and trading or duplicating the wristbands for kids who would not meet the height requirement, and as the height requirements are about safety, they will probably prefer to leave it up to CMs at each individual attraction.

 

[nmpd]

I know every kid/situation is different, but here was our experience. Last year DD4 measured 39.75 inches (no shoes) at her MD appointment at the end of June. When we went at the end of August almost exactly 60 days later, she was over 40 inches with regular sneakers on. Her head was just over the bar at the 40 inch rides we went on, and she made it on them easily with a quick height check, they never asked her to take off her shoes. For most of them, she was only measured once at the first measuring station, though I certainly wouldn't count on that. The only ride she was really obsessively measured on was Kali River Rapids to see if she was under 42 inches, because you have to sit in a special seat on the raft with an extra safety bar if you are.

I made FPs for the 40 inch rides we wanted to do hoping for the best, and we did tell her that it was possible that she would not be tall enough to ride some things and we would do something else with her if she wasn't. Good luck!

 

[nat8199]

I know every kid/situation is different, but here was our experience. Last year DD4 measured 39.75 inches (no shoes) at her MD appointment at the end of June. When we went at the end of August almost exactly 60 days later, she was over 40 inches with regular sneakers on. Her head was just over the bar at the 40 inch rides we went on, and she made it on them easily with a quick height check, they never asked her to take off her shoes. For most of them, she was only measured once at the first measuring station, though I certainly wouldn't count on that. The only ride she was really obsessively measured on was Kali River Rapids to see if she was under 42 inches, because you have to sit in a special seat on the raft with an extra safety bar if you are.

I made FPs for the 40 inch rides we wanted to do hoping for the best, and we did tell her that it was possible that she would not be tall enough to ride some things and we would do something else with her if she wasn't. Good luck!

This is awesome to hear! It sounds like you were in the exact same height situation we are in. I measured when they put their sneakers on this morning and they are definitely 40.5 inches with shoes. Hopefully we won't have any issues once we are there!

 

[TwoCortWort]

When we took my niece to Disneyland when she was 3 she was just over 36" and they measured her with and without shoes on for the Matterhorn. The second time through, she got upset that they did it again even though she had just gotten off the ride. She was funny when we took her to WDW in 2010, she was tall enough for all the Disney rides, but didn't understand why they didn't measure her. She still remembers having that done when she was 3 apparently.

I have seen kids who just went to BBB and I still can't figure out how this one girl got through the first height check at Space Mountain, but she got into the second part and they measured her and of course your hair being on top of your head doesn't count, and the dad and mom argued with the CM about not letting her ride and it was as clear as DAY she didn't meet the requirement. She missed by like 2"....I am still amazed the parents argued over that.

 

[busymommy2pink]

I'm sorry, but this causes needless worry. I have spent about five weeks a year in Disney for the past ten years. My dd is 12 now. I have never seen anyone asked to take off their shoes. Could it happen? Yes. Will it happen? No.

I wouldn't say it won't happen. It did to us. My DD's shoes appeared to have a thicker sole (was just the design on the outside, shoes were a normal height) and they did ask her to take them off at Splash to measure. We did and she was 40.5" without shoes and we had no issues But saying it won't happen is misleading. However, OP, just teach them to stand straight, back all the way to the wall and they'll be just fine. We practiced at home how to stand

Isn't there a place to go to be measured for a wrist band or something instead of playing the Russian roulette at every ride? I've never dealt with this so I don't know. At Hersheypark you can get an official measurement at one spot and then get a wristband to wear that clears you for rides. That worrying over each CMs decision at each ride would make my youngest son a nervous wreck.

I always wondered this too. Great Wolf Lodge does it, our local amusement park does it. But I guess Disney is so large and they may worry about people swapping it from an older child to a younger one. I'm not sure! Would definitely make life easier for those of us with kids just hitting that magical 4-0

 

[srferson]

I don't even have kids, so I'm just asking this out of curiosity.

What are people's experiences with being told you're okay at the first height check but denied at the second? How often does that happen and how much time do you end up wasting in line?

 

[momtosam]

Going off topic here, but we did have a height measurement work to our favor at universal last year. DS was borderline for the Harry Potter ride. A CM at the entrance measured him, said he seemed okay but sent us into whatever their fast pass lane is called for a "second measurement." The person at the end of the line measured DS again, said he was good to go and we got on the ride in less than 10 minutes. I guess they wanted to spare us waiting in line if DS was denied.

 

[nat8199]

I wouldn't say it won't happen. It did to us. My DD's shoes appeared to have a thicker sole (was just the design on the outside, shoes were a normal height) and they did ask her to take them off at Splash to measure. We did and she was 40.5" without shoes and we had no issues But saying it won't happen is misleading. However, OP, just teach them to stand straight, back all the way to the wall and they'll be just fine. We practiced at home how to stand



I always wondered this too. Great Wolf Lodge does it, our local amusement park does it. But I guess Disney is so large and they may worry about people swapping it from an older child to a younger one. I'm not sure! Would definitely make life easier for those of us with kids just hitting that magical 4-0

What kind of shoes was your dd wearing? Sandals or sneakers? I don't mind my kids having to take off their sandals/flip flops, but having to take their sneakers off a ton would be annoying.

 

[italian alps]

schetcher (sp?) shoes have a bit of a lift in the heel. Got my daughter through several years ago when she was NOT tall enough without shoes.

 

[Kimosabe]

They denied letting him on a ride (it was stitch)

Hard to believe they would deny anyone the "opportunity" to ride Stitch...at this point, you'd think they would be offering cash for people to go in there, regardless of height! My 10-year old daughter absolutely loves Stitch. She rode this for the first time a month ago and came out with the most horrific look on her face.

 

[BethanyRichardson]

I was just wondering this! DD3 is exactly 40" barefoot. She wants to ride Splash, but chances are we won't make it out of Fantasyland before she melts down and has to leave....

 

[gavsgirl]

Hard to believe they would deny anyone the "opportunity" to ride Stitch...at this point, you'd think they would be offering cash for people to go in there, regardless of height! My 10-year old daughter absolutely loves Stitch. She rode this for the first time a month ago and came out with the most horrific look on her face.

The funny part to that is we went on it this past September and the son that so desperately wanted to go on it and was denied HATED IT with a passion and made me promise we wouldn't do it again lol But at the time the kid was devastated!

 

[lroger01]

The double measuring seems a little strange to some. The reason they do it is to keep someone from sneaking a short kid past the entrance CM. I'd be really surprised if the 2" short BBB kid mentioned earlier didn't do that. Since most all attraction positions are rotated between CM's throughout a shift, the second measuring CM isn't likely to be trained any differently and would have rejected the kid at the entrance.

 

[quakechicago]

Like I mentioned, when we were there, I'm betting the reason they don't allow someone back on or do wristbands is probably because bands would get passed back and forth and people would trade clothes. We saw "twins" where one twin was noticeably taller and they were dressed identically. They did rider swap and somehow when they were turned down, the mother thought getting out of line, grabbing both twins, and angrily bringing both kids all the way back to show they were identical would be a good idea. One was both smaller and shorter than the other (& to us and everyone around us, they really didn't look like identical twins as much as maybe close-in-age cousins who dressed exactly alike in Elsa costumes, but hey not my circus).

My other thought is, as someone who randomly has a tall kid (seriously she is off the growth charts and has been since birth. Surprise! Here's your super tall 9#9oz baby! So DH and I are both at best 5'5" but it turns out I had a great grandmother who was 6'8"!) is height-wise kiddo could have done in several parks we've been to (not just Disney) some bigger rides and roller coasters last year at 3 years old. And she's like me with a love of danger and speed plus my DH is a giant chicken, so I'd love a coaster buddy. But honestly, developmentally I was worried to risk it. Kids at that early age have kind of a big old pumpkin for a head. And they don't know how to relax and go with a coaster or anticipate what is coming so their neck and back are protected from shocks and turns. Whiplash (or worse) is not fun.

 

[cjparker0110]

I'm going to issue a caution on this advice. I'm not a big fan of buying anyone new shoes right before a trip.

Totally meant to say don't buy the shoes right before going: they do need to be work and broken in. I'm just saying that when you choose shoes, don't get the flattest ones out there if you're worried about being right on the line.

The double measuring seems a little strange to some. The reason they do it is to keep someone from sneaking a short kid past the entrance CM. I'd be really surprised if the 2" short BBB kid mentioned earlier didn't do that. Since most all attraction positions are rotated between CM's throughout a shift, the second measuring CM isn't likely to be trained any differently and would have rejected the kid at the entrance.

Exactly this. Sometimes a large group comes up at once and it's easy to miss a child in the midst of it. And sometimes a kid slips by while another child is being measured...believe me when I say that sometimes parents even intentionally time it that way. When I worked at Busch Gardens, we had a phone at the entrance that could call the ride operators. If we think someone slipped by, we would call and describe them so they could keep an eye out. This is what usually happens when someone gets measured inside.