Just shy of 40" ... please help!

[ms.ojo]

DD is shy of 40" when barefoot. However, w/ her sneakers, she's less than 1/2" short. (Probably more like 1/4") I remember reading someplace that some of the measuring guides are signs you stand against...and others they actually move a yardstick type thing over your head and if you head doesn't stop it...you're not let on. She is really hoping to ride a few of the 40" rides:
Specifically BTMRR, Splash, Test Track, Soarin and Star Tours (which she's ridden before w/out motion she's eager to try the regular way).

Last Dec she was only 37" and they let her do the Stitch ride. We had done the 2 preshows and were planing to leave and let ds see it w/ Dad but they never measured her against anything and didn't say anything to us about a height restriction.

Sure hope we have that kind of luck at the above rides! Any recent experiences you can share would be helpful! I don't really want her wearing chunky sandals to make the height as they'd be so uncomfortable. I'm just hoping 1/4" won't raise an eyebrow. kwim?

 

[cheekpatch]

Last year, it seemed to depend on the CM's. She was allowed to ride Star Tours early in the day, and then told she couldn't later on by different CM's
She was also allowed onto Stitch.

 

[tjmw2727]

In my experience the CM's are very strict about making sure all riders meet the height restriction. We had two trips with children right at a cut off point, younger dd just under 40" one trip and older dd just under 48" another. We just reminded them what they could ride and didn't focus so much on the few they would miss.

Most of the measuring sticks are now permanent but they are the upside down L that moves over the head. If the child is tall enough to stop the L from passing over they are tall enough. FWIW, I have personally seen CM's ask children remove obviously high shoes when measuring, this was as recently in May 06. They will also ask to have hats removed and measure to the childs head (ponytail won't help either)").

Be prepared for the CM's to to measure her each and every time on every restricted ride. Sometimes 2x, once at the entrance to the queue and if the child looks borderline they may be measured again at boarding. Help your child understand they need to stand tall (but not on tippie toes) as sometimes they shy away from the bar.

Hopefully your child will grow a bit prior to the trip - and even if not there are only a few rides she can't ride vs the many she can.

Have a great trip.

TJ

 

[Brian Noble]

She was allowed to ride Star Tours early in the day, and then told she couldn't later on by different CM's

That's not surprising; you shrink a bit during the day due to spine compression. If you are right on the line, ride early in the day!

I wouldn't count on Stitch as an example of World-wide leniency, as that "ride" system doesn't actually move---the height requirement is to screen out kids who are likely to be scared, and it started out lower when Stitch first came on line, and crept up after it was open a while.

 

[amyminzey]

Put gel inserts in her shoes!

 

[jlatina32]

My DS5 is soooo looking forward to getting on EE. He is 1/4 away from 44". Probably a little less but I hope the CM we run into isn't as strict about 2 or 3". I remember last year he was shy of 3" of the 40" height requirment for Splash Mountain and they let him on and of course he loved it.

Just hoping with enough milk he will grow the extra two so that I don't have to worry about it.

 

[Max Rebo]

I'm in the same boat as you, with a DS who I expect to be just below the 40-inch mark come next June. (We're hoping for a big growth year)

On this board, you'll see a variety of suggestions, ranging from placing inserts (including folded up napkins) in their shoes, to riding early in the day (when you are supposedly taller) to hanging kids upside down by their ankles to stretch their spines.

You will also see a few folks that take the height restrictions extremely seriously, and don't think too much of any efforts to "bend" the rules. Be forewarned.

As for me, I've adopted a new philosophy. While I hope my DS is tall enough to experience Splash Mountain, BTMR, etc., if he's not, I'm going to view it as an opportunity. It will be an opportunity to more fully explore attractions we would otherwise be unable to enjoy on our short 5-day trip. I'm thinking of attractions like Innoventions at Epcot, Flights of Wonder at AK, or Toontown at MK. I'm thinking of attractions that often end up glossed over for those following many of the touring plans. I figure there's more than enough to see at WDW. And if my kids aren't tall enough (or brave enough) for the thrill rides, we'll just find something else.

 

[Brian Noble]

Probably a little less but I hope the CM we run into isn't as strict about 2 or 3".

If the CMs have been trained properly, 1/10" is the same as 3". Letting an under-height child onto an attraction is a pretty serious offense for a CM---consequences can include being fired.

 

[aztecgoods]

I've seen a lot of real confy shoes that could add a couple of inches of height, just go shopping and fine a pair. Actually those extra thick flip flops to me are extra confy cause they have more padding.

 

[dlaushey]

Get thicker soled shoes and put Gels inside them. We have used the really thick sandals on many occasions and have never been asked to take them off. All of my kids are on the small side but want to ride everything. My 2 yo still doesn't understand why it's never his turn for EE. Only once have we heard a remark about the shoes, the CM said "someone got some new shoes so she could ride RnR." She then waved my DD through. Just know that many folks on this board are going to go off on a safety tangent. You know your child best and if you want to push the height limit I say go for it! We do!

 

[SmileMom]

Don't worry...if she's anything like my DDs she'll grow that 1/4" overnight. She could be 2 inches taller in 30 days.

 

[flortlebap]

My DS5 is soooo looking forward to getting on EE. He is 1/4 away from 44". Probably a little less but I hope the CM we run into isn't as strict about 2 or 3". I remember last year he was shy of 3" of the 40" height requirment for Splash Mountain and they let him on and of course he loved it.

Just hoping with enough milk he will grow the extra two so that I don't have to worry about it.

2 or 3" and you have no chance. 1/4"... just maybe, first thing in the morning, but if you REALLY want them to ride find some sort of insert for their shoes (although most CM's make you take them off)

 

[StephaBabe50]

Like others have said, it all depends on the CM. When RnR opened I think I was about 8 years old, not quite sure but I wasliterally less than a quarter of and inch under the bar and they wouldnt let me on. I cried and cried, a CM working outside noticed I was crying. She came over and asked what was wrong and when I told her she felt very bad. She told us she would be right back and she came back with a Mickey ice cream bar, I was a lot happier

 

[snusnu]

I'm in the same boat as you, with a DS who I expect to be just below the 40-inch mark come next June. (We're hoping for a big growth year)

On this board, you'll see a variety of suggestions, ranging from placing inserts (including folded up napkins) in their shoes, to riding early in the day (when you are supposedly taller) to hanging kids upside down by their ankles to stretch their spines.

You will also see a few folks that take the height restrictions extremely seriously, and don't think too much of any efforts to "bend" the rules. Be forewarned.

As for me, I've adopted a new philosophy. While I hope my DS is tall enough to experience Splash Mountain, BTMR, etc., if he's not, I'm going to view it as an opportunity. It will be an opportunity to more fully explore attractions we would otherwise be unable to enjoy on our short 5-day trip. I'm thinking of attractions like Innoventions at Epcot, Flights of Wonder at AK, or Toontown at MK. I'm thinking of attractions that often end up glossed over for those following many of the touring plans. I figure there's more than enough to see at WDW. And if my kids aren't tall enough (or brave enough) for the thrill rides, we'll just find something else.

This last paragraph is spot on. There are literally thousands of things to do, and the thrill rides will always be there. This is an excellent time to spend time with your small child when she's still young enough to enjoy spending large amounts of time with her parents. That changes all too quickly.

And remember, this isn't about the CMs or the park doing something to ruin your trip. They have to be very rigid about the rules or everyone will expect a fudge on the requirement. You're possibly asking an employee to jeopardize their job or your child's safety so that child can go on a ride. I hope she's tall enough if she indeed want to go on those rides, but don't go expecting it or you may be disappointed. And don't get upset with the CMs if they don't let your child ride. They are trying to protect her safety.

 

[Windy City Heather]

In May we tried to ride soarin. I knew it was close so I had a cm measure her right away. I told her to stand tall. Her head hit the bar but because the cm could move her head they said no.

Also, tell her ahead of time to take a deep breath as she is being measure.

 

[jlatina32]

If the CMs have been trained properly, 1/10" is the same as 3". Letting an under-height child onto an attraction is a pretty serious offense for a CM---consequences can include being fired.

Yeah....I know 2" or 3" is pretty significant. I'm just doing some wishful thinking for my boy.

 

[Ardenne]

Like others have said, it all depends on the CM. When RnR opened I think I was about 8 years old, not quite sure but I wasliterally less than a quarter of and inch under the bar and they wouldnt let me on. I cried and cried, a CM working outside noticed I was crying. She came over and asked what was wrong and when I told her she felt very bad. She told us she would be right back and she came back with a Mickey ice cream bar, I was a lot happier

This is such a nice story

We had a similar experience last year with my 2 year old DS, except that he was much, much too short to ride the ride he was entranced by. (He wouldn't have liked it anyway, but I couldn't convince him of that.) A passing CM asked what was wrong and came back with a lovely 'ticket' for him which said he could ride it someday when he was big enough. He carried it around for the rest of the day showing it to everyone, and it's still one of his favorite things in his Disney scrapbook!

 

[Disney4Drew]

My DS is just over an inch under 40" and I'm not worried about it. If he's not tall enough...he's not tall enough. I'm not going to do anything to make him taller for rides. Just another excuse to go back next year.

 

[mom_of_5]

We just ran into that on our last trip, DS is the same just shy and he was not allowed on most by CM's. One CM (I don't remember the ride) said it's up to you. We probably opted out, he is a little scared of them anyhow. Good luck, tell her to stand up real straight.

 

[Windy City Heather]

My DS is just over an inch under 40" and I'm not worried about it. If he's not tall enough...he's not tall enough. I'm not going to do anything to make him taller for rides. Just another excuse to go back next year.

That is what I said last September and now 4 trips later I think we will hit the 40 inch mark for Soarin. If not we will try again in a couple of months.