Is there a way to avoid having your childs height checked at every ride?

[BamaFan121s]

Because we say this and agree with this, doesn't make us high and mighty parents, it makes us responible parents. Those who try to "cheat the system" aren't being the best parents you can be.

The same could be said about a multitude of things though. This situation alone doesn't deem a parent as either responsible or unfit. I don't think anyone has the right to make that judgement about other parents. If that's all it takes, I'm sure we've all done things (yourself included) that could label us as not 'being the best parents you can be.'

Sorry, but this is just one of those things that really gets to me sometimes. (This is one of those times.) DD was just at 48" on our last trip--in her sneakers--she slightly missed the mark in her sandles we took. So anytime we went to a park where there was a 48" ride requirement, we made sure she wore her sneakers. They weren't platform shoes...they were just sneakers! THIS is enough to make me an irresponsible parent?!? Give me a break!

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

The height restrictions are their for the safety of the child. It all has to do with the way the seats and lap bars are designed. Taller shoes aren't going to hold your child in on rides that have height restictions.

Please do what is best for your child, put them in shoes they can walk all day in around Disney World, and if they aren't tall enough to ride a ride, don't try to "trick" the CM's.

Put your childs safety first.

 

[fun4disney]

IMHO if you want to go by the lapbar then maybe height restriction should be from the butt up.

Measure from the waist, the butt, the neck the length of an arm for all I care, what ever it is, it is!

 

[PA Princess]

We had an issue with measuring last trip with our then 6 year old dd. She measured at the ped and here at home as tall enough for numerous rides. I warned her that she would still be measured and we would have to go by what they measured at the parks.

That was all fine and dandy for most of the trip. Since she was a good half inch past the requirement in bare feet, we did not have much issue. Yes, they measured her repeatedly, but she passed each time.

We did have one notable exception. One night at Epcot during PM EMH we were finishing with a final ride on Mission Space. DD had already ridden this ride 5 other times during that day, but she just loved it and since it was brand new to her she could not get enough.

She measured out front fine, but as we approached the loading area she was measured again and this time the CM said no. I was so shocked. How do you explain an inconsistency like that to a tired 6 year old??? Heck, this tired 30 something year old had a hard time swallowing it.

So be prepared that he or she who holds the stick is in charge!

 

[Coopsmum77]

Sorry, but this is just one of those things that really gets to me sometimes. (This is one of those times.) DD was just at 48" on our last trip--in her sneakers--she slightly missed the mark in her sandles we took. So anytime we went to a park where there was a 48" ride requirement, we made sure she wore her sneakers. They weren't platform shoes...they were just sneakers! THIS is enough to make me an irresponsible parent?!? Give me a break!

Thank you very much. This was my point exactly. The crocs do not have a decent sole like a NORMAL pair of shoes do. I did not say to staple blocks of wood to his feet.

What lesson exactly is it that you teach your kids when you say "No you can't change your shoes so you can go on that ride." How about if your kid was able to ride the day before in normal shoes, but has on flip flops and realizes he can't ride. Do you say, nope, no shoe changes. Foolish decision. Maybe next trip...

 

[fun4disney]

Thank you very much. This was my point exactly. The crocs do not have a decent sole like a NORMAL pair of shoes do. I did not say to staple blocks of wood to his feet.

What lesson exactly is it that you teach your kids when you say "No you can't change your shoes so you can go on that ride." How about if your kid was able to ride the day before in normal shoes, but has on flip flops and realizes he can't ride. Do you say, nope, no shoe changes. Foolish decision. Maybe next trip...

Why would your child have on flip flops at a Disney Theme park, or any theme park for that matter. Flip flops are for the beach and pool, not for walking around Disney in.

I don't like to carry around sun screan, hats, and what ever else is a nessessaty in WDW, I wouldn't want to carry around extra shoes from my child so they could ride a ride in them. That wouldn't happen in my family. No way, no how!

But really, if you or your child wears flip flops, cowboy boots, heels or sneakers it's not my business and I could care less. I was just trying to explain "why" they don't do what the OP asked.

My advice is to do what makes you comfortable. I can only tell you what works for me, sneakers for all and preparing DS for some ride disapointments if need be.

 

[pixiemel]

Thank you very much. This was my point exactly. The crocs do not have a decent sole like a NORMAL pair of shoes do. I did not say to staple blocks of wood to his feet.

What lesson exactly is it that you teach your kids when you say "No you can't change your shoes so you can go on that ride." How about if your kid was able to ride the day before in normal shoes, but has on flip flops and realizes he can't ride. Do you say, nope, no shoe changes. Foolish decision. Maybe next trip...

So..... you take extra shoes into WDW......so your child perhaps can ride a questionable ride.......... What lesson does that teach?

 

[Coopsmum77]

So..... you take extra shoes into WDW......so your child perhaps can ride a questionable ride.......... What lesson does that teach?

No, you put them in normal shoes to begin with. You are the adult and know better. If they don't measure up with normal shoes on, then they don't go on. No extra measures taken. Simple as that.

My point was VERY simple. If the OP was concerned about a 1/2 inch keeping her son off of a ride, put real shoes on him. Then it turned into me sneaking him past with stilts attached to his legs. I know my height in shoes and crocs are easily a half inch difference.

I actually take a suitcase into the parks, just in case...Teaches preparedness...Also take my go pack, duct tape, and plastic sheeting everywhere as well, you just never know.

 

[BamaFan121s]

I actually take a suitcase into the parks, just in case...Teaches preparedness...Also take my go pack, duct tape, and plastic sheeting everywhere as well, you just never know.

Do you think that being so prepared makes you a more responsible parent than me? Sorry, I just couldn't resist! It always amazes me how blown out of proportion this topic gets and how it always results in parenting skills being challenged. (By people who probbly do the same thing they preach against, just with a whole other set of circumstances.) I think it's a safe bet to assume NONE of us are perfect.

 

[ryrysmom14]

What lesson exactly is it that you teach your kids when you say "No you can't change your shoes so you can go on that ride." How about if your kid was able to ride the day before in normal shoes, but has on flip flops and realizes he can't ride.

I don't know... maybe, life is full of disappointments, there are rules to abide by and you are not tall enough...let's have fun doing something else!!

I'm not judging anyone here... believe me, I'm not a perfect parent AT ALL! I just wouldn't put any time and energy into finding the perfect shoe to make my kid big enough to ride a ride that they actually aren't big enough to ride. To each their own.... really no judgement.

 

[GlendaO]

I think that every time one of these questions comes up, it launches into a good parent vs. bad parent!!

I really haven't gotten the impression anyone has suggested padding a kid's height -- simply that most people (adults too) measure a bit taller in their tennis shoes than crocs.

I think the frustration at WDW would be eliminated if there appeared to be a bit more consistency to the measuring. I mean, seriously, shouldn't 40" or 44" be the same at different rides and surely it should be the same at the start of a line and the loading point of the same ride! My kids are really short and they are measured very consistently (okay, obsessively!) at home and at the pediatricians. I'd venture to say the doc has a better measurement than Thunder Mt or Splash Mt but my youngest measured differently at both rides within minutes and she was definitely tall enough in her bare feet.

I guess my point is that a lot of this hassle would stop if WDW would have the same level at each point. By measuring differently at the beginning of a line and shorter at loading it stands to reason one is wrong. It's a measurement and in most of the world, that actually means something....

 

[Tiziminchac]

Is there a way to avoid having your childs height checked at every ride?

Yeah, wait a few years and then go. Sorry if this has been covered already I didn't read the whole post.

 

[jamstew]

No, the CM's check every child that seems close with a stick. There's no way around it. It's for the child's safety.

And on my past trip last week, A lot of children were just barely above the bar and they let them pass without taking thier shoes off. It might depend on the CM, but it seems like most CM's let them slide. Good luck.

We were at Sea World (San Antonio) last month, and they have a "measurement station" at the front of the park where the kids are measured and get different colored wristbands depending on how tall they are. I realize that this would be a logistical impossibility for Disney, but I thought it was a great idea.

 

[Suzanne74]

Oh - you funny funny moms.

The kid is at the right height in his crocs - nuff said. Why does every darn question turn into a debate here?

To the OP - your child will get a wrist band at Kali Rapids only to let the CM at the raft know to put the extra bar down for him. Otherwise, they check everyone 1 or 2 times before going on. Most of the time, it is right at the front of the line so just have them measure him before you mention what ride you are going on. That is what we did with our dd.

But like a previous poster mentioned. There are scary rides the child might be safe in but might not like so do your research on the rides and get a feel for what he might like. My dd would go on Kali Rapids over and over again but hated Snow White's Scary Adventure. She is now tall enough to go on Dinosaur and Tower of Terror but no way would I put her on either one of those.

Hope your question was answered and I hope you have a magical trip. For now kick back and enjoy the rest of the show, I mean thread.

 

[aubriee]

And yes, if you put a shoe with an obviously high heel/sole on your son, he could be asked to take them off. So I would just stick with the crocs and hope for the best.

We saw this at Primeval Whirl in AK. The little girl in front of us had on these really, really thick flip flops and had her hair pulled up in a Pebbles Flintstone like ponytail (straight up on top of her head). The CM at the loading dock made her take her shoes off and then measured her with the stick pushed flat against her head. She didn't make it. It was obvious what the parents were doing though as they started fussing, as soon as the little girl was asked to remove her shoes.

 

[Robo]

I'm 73" tall in my tennies at 8:30 in the morning.

But there is a ride that I'm so scared of (Tower of ______) that when we go to MGM, I will change into my super-thin-soled shoes that make me just 39" tall (if I wait until my spine has shrunk in the late afternoon,) so I CAN'T ride it.



Signed,

-Elastiguy

 

[auroraarielella]

I have always thought that they should check you at the front gate and issue you some sort of proof of heighth (wristband). I also think that ticket pricing should be based on this as well. Obviously the shorter children will not get to ride as many rides so a childrens ticket should be split between tall enough to ride everything but under 12 years old and to short to ride everything but under 12 years old.

There is a local park here in PA (Knoebels) that does just that. The wristband is for over 48" or under 48" and you pay accordingly. But here, the complaint is, my child is tall, but cautious, and only wants to go on kiddie rides. So I guess there is no easy answer to the question of charging on age or height.

We could go back to the A, B, C, D, and E tickets of the 70s. But paying as you go was a drag too.

 

[tjmw2727]

Disney does take the safety of your children seriously. However, shoes are required at all times inside the theme parks. CMs may not ask Guests to remove their shoes at any time for any reason.

When measuring smaller guests for attraction height checks, the guest must meet the height requirement while wearing unmodified shoes that a) obviously belong to that guest and b) are obviously the guest's primary footgear while inside the park. As long as those criteria are met, platform shoes, high heels, boots, and the like are permissible. Likewise, wheeled shoes are permissible as long as the shoe's wheels are removed or retracted.

This is Disney's policy. I do NOT agree with it, but I will enforce it.

I don't dout you and always find your posts very informative. However I have seen a CM ask kids to remove shoes as I posted prior.

Two were girls, one had thick soled sketchers and the other was wearing very thick platform sandals. The last time was recently and a young boy with heelies. None of the kids made the height without the shoes.

TJ

 

[Lisa Hale]

I don't dout you and always find your posts very informative. However I have seen a CM ask kids to remove shoes as I posted prior.

Two were girls, one had thick soled sketchers and the other was wearing very thick platform sandals. The last time was recently and a young boy with heelies. None of the kids made the height without the shoes.

TJ

Maybe there weren't really checking for height...maybe they were checking to see how heavy the shoes were because there had been a rash of heavy shoes being flung off guests and knocking others unconscious! - Just lightening the moment everyone (for myself as well as everyone else!).

 

[drgreene1096]

Sorry, but IMO putting on a pair of tennis shoes instead of crocs doesn't make it 'unsafe.' Should a new rule be put in place that all kids have to be measured with bare feet to make sure that the tennis shoes aren't giving them a .00047538 in height advantage? I don't think anyone is advocating trying to add several inches onto a kid's height here... I don't think the small fraction of an inch difference that changing shoes can make is going to make it cross over to the 'dangerous' range.

And I WISH that the way a parent chose to handle this situation was all that determined if a parent was 'true and responsible.'

Putting on a pair of regular tennis shoes doesn't make it unsafe, but putting on a pair of tennis shoes with 1-2 (or more) soles does! If your child is 42.5 inches tall with regular shoes, but is 44 with other shoes, it is not safe for the child to ride the ride! And I don't believe that I said anything about this being the only criteria to being a responsible parent.

If you or anyone decides to stuff their child's shoes with toilet paper, or poof up their hair, or wear platform shoes just so they can ride a ride then they are putting their child in danger and teaching that child that it is okay to lie & cheat to get their own way. Oh wait . . . I guess that is responsible parenting! My mistake.