Is 1/4" too much?

[Gupsmom]

I am little nervous about this too! My dd is 42 1/2 inches tall. But some of those height measurements are wonky. The whole point of us going back to wdw THIS year is because she is tall enough to go on splash mountain. (by our pediatrician's measurements in fact)

I dont want to seem freakish.. but I have thought about bringing a certified thingee from our doctor that lists her height! lol I just cant imagaine her being turned down AGAIN! Its been two years of waiting for the shrimp to grow! . She would have a major meltdown!

Splash Mountain has a height requirement of 40 inches. If your DD is 42 1/2 inches she'll be fine!! Same with all rides except Space Mountain (44 in), Rock N Rollercoaster (48 in) and Primevil Whirl (48 in). All other rides (unless I'm forgetting something) are open to a child over 40 in. The measuring can be a bit quirky but not 2 1/2 inches off.

Jess

 

[Gupsmom]

I just love these posts - parents trying to get around rules that were put in place for the protection and safety of THEIR children. But then they know their children and know best I guess. Sheesh.

It's not that I don't agree but I highly doubt Disney would make 1/4 inch the difference between safe and dangerous. My guess is that if the ride has a height requirement of 40 inches it's been proven to be safe for a solid inch or 2 below that. Their insurance prices are too high to make such a small margin mean so much.

Again...I'm not trying to say that people should add inches to their child. I'm really not!! I'm just not going to be judgemental over a parent that tries to get a 1/4 inch boost. I understand where they are coming from...they want their child to be able to do everying. They obviously don't feel 1/4 inch puts their child in danger and like you implied...it's their kid. It would stink to try and make Disney liable if something happened to a 39 3/4 in child but that's exactly why I'm sure disney pads their height requirements.

Jess

 

[dopeyone]

I bought my son foam inserts for his sneakers. With them in he was about 1/4 to 1/2 inch taller. It worked on all the disney rides for 40" and even on Back to the future and Star Tours.

I TRIED THAT TOO, BUT INSTEAD OF BUYING THE INSERTS, I USED 1/2 STYROFOAM, FROM A PACKAGE WE RECIEVED. MY SON NEVER MADE IT THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, HE SAID IT WAS HURTING HIS FEET.

 

[Buzz's_girl]

Wow, I didn't mean to start a hugge debate. I know the last time we were there DS was simply too short. No problem. I just wasn't sure how close you had to be to 40". If I remember correctly, the measuring things have a bar at the 40" height requirement. If his head touches that is he tall enough? I do want my DS to be safe, which is exactly why I was asking the question. I am NOT looking for WAYS AROUND the rules. I was simply asking what the rules are...if 1/4" is too small, we'll come back next year, and they year after until he is tall enough. No biggie! (Also, I want to be prepared..If I think he can make it on I will try, otherwise I do not want to get his hopes up waiting in a line for a ride he cannot go on.

Thanks to all those with advice. I will remeasure him in his NORMAL shoes and hope for the best. (maybe he'll grow!!)

 

[232271]

well just to clarify, my daughters NORMAL shoes are skechers and they are probably 2 inches high. she wears them everday. Although she is now 54 inches, it still adds to her height. So, should I feel guilty if she got on ride when she was wearing these shoes? 1/4 inch isnt a big deal now, if he was 2 inches shorter and you were trying to get him on that is another story. But that isnt the case.

When I suggested buying new shoes, I meant normal shoes, just remember some of the normal shoes make the kids 1/2 to 1 or more inches taller.

 

[SoCalKDG]

Ignore the people that give you a hard time over boosting a kid up 1/4". Since Disney requires you to wear shoes in the park, I would imagine the numbers they put for requirements include this. A 1/4-1/2 heel is standard on many shoes. Thus with a standard shoe, if they are 40", you pass.

 

[RyMickey]

Like some others have said, I wouldn't worry about boosting your kid up if you wanted to. However, if your child really is a 1/4 inch short, Disney probably won't let him on. So, if you're not adding any boost to him, I would attempt not to get his hopes up.

RyMickey

 

[RescueRanger]

Ignore the people that give you a hard time over boosting a kid up 1/4". Since Disney requires you to wear shoes in the park, I would imagine the numbers they put for requirements include this. A 1/4-1/2 heel is standard on many shoes. Thus with a standard shoe, if they are 40", you pass.

I totally agree. We are only talking about a 1/4". She isn't trying to raise him up and inch or more. Give me a break. I really wish the selfappointed "Disney Police" would start their own board and quit bugging the rest of us. IT GETS OLD...REALLY OLD. Now back to the OP. I would just go to Wal-Mart and try to find him some shoes with a little thicker sole. Finding one to raise him a 1/4" should be fairly easy.

 

[mrp4352]

This won't help at Disney, but Six Flags Over Texas will let you stop at guest services on the way in to measure your child. Then they give the child a wrist band to wear all day so they don't have to be measured at every ride.

 

[ear_poppin]

This won't help at Disney, but Six Flags Over Texas will let you stop at guest services on the way in to measure your child. Then they give the child a wrist band to wear all day so they don't have to be measured at every ride.

They had this is California Adventure Park in 2002 but when I went there last month I could not see the stand. All rides were colour coded in 2002 and I thought it was a really good idea. Kids had the corresponding coloured wrsitband. Maybe people cheated the system?

I have boosted my DS height by a tiny fraction, with inserts in his shoes, so he could ride Space Mountain! Even the Unofficial guide advocates heel lifts !

We are trying to make sure he gets to 48 inches by October! He has learned to stand tall and knows to eat all his vegetables etc as that will help him grow to that magical gateway to the rides of 48 " !!

Denise

 

[MsLeFever]

Great measuring advice "NotUrsula"!!!

Everytime we measure our kids all they want to know is if they are now tall enough to ride the next size up!

DD has a thyroid issue that is keeping her really tiny so she is especially concerned about just getting to the 36" for Goofy's Barnstormer next trip!

Barbara

 

[jjohnson]

When we went to DL last year. My 7DS got on Screamin no problem. Last day everyone picked their favorite to ride again. His was Screamin. He was right at the line but CM wouldn't let him on. It was great having our vacation end in tears. I wouldn't want this to happen to another child.

 

[Madi100]

We had to deal with this on our last trip. DD was 6, and she was tall enough to go on everything except Primeval Whirl and Rock N Roller Coaster she was sooooo borderline. My stepdad who is the most honest person in the world told us we should take her. The CM actually left it up to us. There were two people measuring. One thought she was okay and the other one gave us a guilt trip. She said that she was too short, but it was up to us. When I say too short, I mean like she fit under the thing to measure, but you couldn't see air.

On Primeval Whirl the first person told us no, but that she could wait at the top of the ride and wait for us with my mom. When we got to the top for the ride the CM up there didn't even question her height.

The way I look at it is that rules are rules, and they should be followed. But, as much as I know that the height is a safety issue, you know that they have to take into consideration that while Sally over here is 40" tall her legs are very long and when she is sitting on the ride the harness doesn't fit as well as it would Bobby who is only 39" and can't ride, but he has a longer torso. Therefore, the harness fits securely on Bobby because it really doesn't matter how long your legs are when you sit down. So, I don't think it is a big deal when it comes to a 1/4" When you are talking inches, you just need to be patient.

 

[TammyC]

Great point about the torso size and leg length - I had been thinking about that too, since the harness restraint, etc is based on when a person is sitting down. Maybe the should do a sitting measurement, or even have a "sample ride vehicle" to see how the child fits in the restaint. Then shoes no longer matter!

 

[DepCor0311]

1/4"....Spike his hair!

 

[siennacrew]

My son was too short for Kali River Rapids...but they let him go anyway. They put a special wristband on him and stamped his arm. He had to sit in a certain spot on the ride. That spot got my hubby drenched twice!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well-to each their own I guess. But I tend to think those height rules are in place for a very good reason.

 

[Leota]

It's not that I don't agree but I highly doubt Disney would make 1/4 inch the difference between safe and dangerous. My guess is that if the ride has a height requirement of 40 inches it's been proven to be safe for a solid inch or 2 below that. Their insurance prices are too high to make such a small margin mean so much.

Again...I'm not trying to say that people should add inches to their child. I'm really not!! I'm just not going to be judgemental over a parent that tries to get a 1/4 inch boost. I understand where they are coming from...they want their child to be able to do everying. They obviously don't feel 1/4 inch puts their child in danger and like you implied...it's their kid. It would stink to try and make Disney liable if something happened to a 39 3/4 in child but that's exactly why I'm sure disney pads their height requirements.

Jess

Well said.

 

[bethbuchall]

My son was too short for Kali River Rapids...but they let him go anyway. They put a special wristband on him and stamped his arm. He had to sit in a certain spot on the ride. That spot got my hubby drenched twice!

There are two height restrictions on Kali. He was not too short to ride, but he had to use certain seating because of the restraints.

 

[jessboo]

most people tend to slouch, so i'd say that if you can teach your son to stand up straight, then he'd probably make the height up anyway.

tell him to imagine a string through his body that comes out through his head, and that its being pulled upwards. then he should stand straight and shouldnt have a problem getting on the ride.