Kids getting measured for rides

[amarberry]

Hopefully I won't get flamed for asking this. Just for the record, I would never, ever, ever take my child on a ride that she was not tall enough for and I would never try to slip my child through with tall shoes, etc.

I'm just wondering how accurate the measuring mechanisms are for the rides. We just measured my DD, who is a bit of a shorty, for our trip that is coming up on Saturday. She is right around 35 inches...the minimum height for Barnstormer. Is the measuring for the rides pretty accurate? Do they take into consideration shoes and add a little more because of it or is it 35 inches with shoes? If she doesn't have a chance, I don't even want to bring it up on this trip. She'll, hopefully, have plenty of opportunities in the future to ride Barnstormer, but if she makes it, I think she'll love it!

 

[LBKMAMA]

curious too....my dtr measures exactly 40 in with our measuring tape and her sneakers on. This is a big deal...she'd be able to enjoy Splash with us. That's the only one I know she'd like. My son is coming up at 37 with shoes so we are going to avoid a few of those altogether and stick with ones we know he'll be okay on.

 

[maxiesmom]

One tip that I have read is to do the ride in question first thing in the morning. It has something to do with your spine compacting during the day, I think. They measure with a stick that is shaped like and upside-down L. You child's head must stop the stick from swinging over their head, or it is a no go for that ride. Apparently, with all of the "issues" lately, they are being pretty strict with this. Have your DD stand up tall and hopefuly she will make it. Good Luck!

 

[Hannathy]

They are pretty accurate My son was literally a hairs width below 48 in his barefeet at home and at the parks with normal shoes he was above the "L" BUT at TL for crusher his head just touched the underside of the "L" and she wouldn't let him ride. I mean his head touched it but she said it had to stop the "L".

 

[jordansmomma]

My son is 45'' and last month at WDW the CMs were very diligent in making sure that they measured the kids for rides. He was measured for EE and given a stamp on his hand to show the CM that is seating you he is tall enough. He was too short for Primival whirl, so he couldnt ride. But they will measure them and if they are too short then they are not riding.

 

[Hope73]

They are pretty strict. My daughter was crushed last year because she couldn't ride the kiddie rollercoaster in dino land at AK. If you ask me that ride should be lowered. I bought her some tall sneakers.

 

[MadameMim]

Thanks for asking this question. My 3yo measures right at 40" with barefeet. I'm hoping he'll be just fine with his tennies on. He's such a little thrill seeker.

 

[tadamom]

From a past experience, I think it all depends on the CM. One thing I wish Disney would do is come up with a way to measure a child when they go in and stamp them or something so they wouldn't constantly have to be measured. I have known kids that were right at the 42" mark and be able to walk right on to one ride that they had to be 42" to ride on and then at another ride that the height requirement was 42" as well - be rejected.

 

[DawnM]

The measurments are accurate, but the CMs vary in how they measure. My youngest was measured for a ride and passed through only to have another CM re-measure him in the ride and say he couldn't go.....after 20 min. of waiting in line! I was really mad!

This was at Soarin' over CA at Disneyland.

To top it off, my son had already been on the ride several times!

Dawn

 

[susykt4]

DS was 39 inches without shoes our last trip. He easily made it onto Big Thunder 8+ times and Splash once (only try.) He made it onto Soarin' right at park opening but was denied when we returned a couple hours later for our fastpass. Test Track was closed during our trip and we thought Dinosaur and ToT would be too scary.

To OP- I'm almost positive there's a "permanent" measuring device outside the Goofy coaster line. If your child doesn't make the measurement you could probably distract her with Minnie's house or the character lines without her really understanding she was missing out on a ride.

 

[tiff211]

They seem pretty accurate and the CM's seem to be on their toes. DD3 just measured 40 inches and was checked at the beginning of the cue for soaring and just before we got on the attraction.

DD5 measured okay in her sneaks to ride primeval whirl but when we went back at the end of our trip, she wore flip flops and was too short. I felt bad because we jad let her pick the park for our last day and she had pick AK just so she could ride primevak whirl again!

 

[lg3]

They are very accurate and thorough in measuring the kids in general. DD3, was barely 40", and was continually measured on the rides. Her favorite ride by far was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the CM's were so very patient measuring her as she is very shy around male CM's, and it was difficult to have her stand up straight with them. She was great with a female CM, and would stand up straight just perfectly. Quite frankly, a pair of tennis shoes and a hat do not hurt. I have to admit, that we had a FP to Soarin' in DCA and she was never measured in the FP line.

 

[jnordan]

One thing I wish Disney would do is come up with a way to measure a child when they go in and stamp them or something so they wouldn't constantly have to be measured.

I was thinking this, too. It seems like it would be so much easier?!

 

[LaraK]

My DD was exactly 40" the last time we went (it was a BIG deal in my house and watched carefully over the weeks leading up to the trip). We kept her in sneakers and put her hair up for good measure. She was tall enough each time.

 

[PA Princess]

Like many in this thread, we were watching dd6 very carefully before our trip to see if she would make the height requirement to ride EE. A week before our trip she officially measured 44 inches at the pediatrician and she was thrilled!

At EE she was measured, and as another mentioned, her hand was stamped...made repeat rides SO much easier! I wish all of the rides would adopt this system. She was measured several places with the 44 inch requirement, and we only ever had one issue.

At EMH PM at Epcot we headed for MS for a final ride (she had ridden 3 times prior to this)...it was dd's pick of a final ride. Dh stayed with the youngest dd1, I rode the green side with ds 11 (no spinning for us...once was enough, thanks) and ds 12 and dd 6 wanted orange. There was no line for either side...total walk on. I walked with the kids to entrance, measured her, and the guy said okay, but they will probably measure her again in the line...okay.

I walk the kids to the line splt between orange and green and the gal there measures dd and says no go. I was shocked. She explained that she is the most careful mearurer and she was only trying to keep dd safe. I understand, but does that mean my kid was unsafe the last 3 times she rode and if so, then I am not pleased. She measures dd again (I am right there so this time she makes certain the stick is on the ground), and lo and behold now dd is tall enough.

But now the gal says she cannot ride with ds12 because he must be at least 54 inches to accompany her - what? I tell her he was 57 inches at his last doc appointment, could she measure him again since I did not see her measure him. She says, oh she does not have a stick for that but she knows that 54 inches is at her shoulder. I am only 5 ft 2, and this gal was tall...I look at her and tell her even I am too short to take dd on the ride according to that measurement!

The crazy part is no one had mentioned this 54 inch rule the last time dd6 and ds 12 rode, or when I took all 3 kids on..where did the rule come from??? I mean, I am all for safety, and you can ask my dh...I am a rule follower if ever there was one...but I do not like to feel like rules are being made up???

I asked to speak to a manager at that point. The gal tried to dissuade me, then she tells me ds and dd can ride...I am really annoyed now. Either the ride is safe for them to ride or it isn't, come on. We did not ride MS again that night. I waited 10 minutes to speak to a manager who did not appear, and then I said I would just put my issues in writing when I returned.

There needs to be more consistancy in the measuring at MS...considering the history of this ride, they should be cautious and accurate! Not to mention, I think it is very hard for kids to be told no when they have already been told yes...often more than once. The stamp idea at EE was awesome.

 

[graygables]

When we were there last month, the CM at Space Mtn turned away a kid who was wearing tall sneakers. His head just fit under the measure, but the CM looked down at his shoes and said nope. The mom was maaa-aaad, but he stood his ground.

They are fairly close, but it does depend on the meausuring CM. I had one 3 years ago actually push DDs head down to put his hand between her and the top. She went hysterical (she was 5 at the time) and he refused to re-measure withOUT the hand. We went back the next day and rode (and she was plenty tall).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

When my kids measured right on..with shoes they were just right about on...so I do believe the stick takes in account a modest measurement for shoes.

 

[krismom]

uh oh- now I'm worried that my 40" 4 year old is going to be rejected- He was measured at his last physical and said to the nurse, "now I can go on Soarin'!"

 

[flortlebap]

From a past experience, I think it all depends on the CM. One thing I wish Disney would do is come up with a way to measure a child when they go in and stamp them or something so they wouldn't constantly have to be measured.QUOTE]

I think this has more to do with accountabliity than anything else - the CM's at each ride are responsible for guest safety, and so HAVE to measure for their own peace of mind.

I could be wrong, though

 

[LBKMAMA]

Thanks for all these posts....I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to take our DD with us on Splash...she turns 3 while we are there and is very tall for her age, but we are going to be close. I think I may send the boys on BTMRR first and casually bring her over to CM at Splash Mountain without making a big deal about it. That way if they say "no" she won't see her big brothers rushing forward to ride it without her.