Less than an inch short

[joliesmom]

It would be great if when you first entered the park, small children were measured and given a wristband that would be good for the whole day--color-coded to indicate their height.

That's what Hershey Park does you can get your child measured with a wristband for the entire day. Yes I would still put extra socks in my childs socks to make up that inch. No I'm not the type to sue, and I don't believe that an inch will make a child fall out of a ride. I also witnessed inaccurate measurements between AK and MK so we should all watch out b/c if their measuring sticks are off, imagine the danger we all put our kids in. LOL

 

[Evil Queen]

Yes, imagine the danger.

Sheesh!!

You should KNOW your OWN child's height before going on a ride, wow-what a responsible "parent" thing to do to.

 

[elliemae1192]

The OP didn't mention if the 39 1/2 inch measurement was with or without shoes. If it's without shoes, there's really not much of a problem. Just his normal tennis shoes should bring him up to 40 inches. If it's with shoes, I say no way. It's not worth the risk of something happening to him.

My son was literally maybe an eighth of an inch under the 40 inch mark (with shoes) on our trip last month. It wasn't a problem on most of the rides as I don't think he would have enjoyed them anyway, but he wanted more than anything to ride Test Track. It was heartbreaking to have to tell him no, but on the bright side it gives us an excuse to plan another trip real soon.

 

[Baloo]

C'mon folks do I need get the DIS Guidelines out for this thread? Looks like I do but I would like to be able to let this thread continue without it getting any more nasty!



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I have a dear friend, who has worked at WDW for years behind the scences,he's one of the guys that keeps things safe for all of us when riding attractions at the world. The rules are there for a reason.Not to interfere in our fun or make us come back because we couldn't do it that trip.They are there to keep US SAFE! There are safety rules out there for the amusement industry not even Disney can slide under,unless they want their rides closed completely!

When DS was younger and shorter ,I've personally exprienced Erich being tall enough to ride Dinosaur then go back to ride it again with a new CM measuring and they said he wasn't! We didn't argue ,it was like okay ...we'll try again later if we want to. So I think there is inconsistency in Disney's measuring.

I've heard the wristband thing before and I think it's a GREAT idea! Your child would be measured ONCE and that would be it,no stressing,no fussing .Then there wouldn't be "debating " going on here on the THEME PARKS Board!

 

[Otimon]

As one of those Cast Members who have to measure youngsters for my Attraction, PLEASE consider the safety of your youngster above all else. While a parent may feel it's "ok" (it's not) to stuff shoes or put the youngster in tall heels, it is very serious business to us. Those restrictions are there for good reason.

It has been my experience that very often it's not the under-height youngster who is upset because he/she can't go on the ride - it's the parent who gets upset and can become verbally abusive to the Cast Member. Can't tell you how many times this has happened to me for just doing my job. I wonder what the youngster is learning from their parent listening to this.

Preparing your youngster ahead of time that he/she may not be tall enough to ride (but probably will be next time) can prevent a melt-down and anxiety for everyone. Spend some special time with them while waiting for the other family members.

 

[TLinden16]

I rode on Thunder Mountain with a family who were able to sneak there little girl on when she was a bit too small, and they told me that she slide to the ground mid-way to the ride. Thankfully, the little girl wasn't hurt, but it was a terrifying ride for the entire family.

So if your child is too short, don't take the risk.

Karen

 

[WDSearcher]

Additionally if you check the accidental death history of Disney, you will find none of them have been for ride heights.

Yes. And part of the reason for that is because the heights are set to work around the all-too-often fudging that goes on. Which means that the Imagineers know going in that people are going to try to cheat the system, so they have to set limits to a point where even a child who has "compensated" to get on the ride will be safe. But they shouldn't have to do that.

 

[froggyq]

We just got back !!
My 2 1/2 year old son was just measured by the doctor at 39 1/2 inches in his shoes just before we left.
He did not get on any rides with the 40" requirement.
We took him up to get measured and he missed by a hair everytime.
They said "no" so we left it at that.
He still got to go on Kali and the Barnstormer just as fun may I add.
I decided to wait until he took a nap or I would get a parent swap and go on a different ride with him while my oldest went on with his Grandma and then when they came off I went on with my oldest while Grandma took a turn on the rides with my youngest.
In the end it worked out great and I didn't feel as though he was left out of the fun.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

It has been my experience that very often it's not the under-height youngster who is upset because he/she can't go on the ride - it's the parent who gets upset and can become verbally abusive to the Cast Member. Can't tell you how many times this has happened to me for just doing my job. I wonder what the youngster is learning from their parent listening to this.

Otimon, I've seen this a few times, the worst was two parents who went postal on a couple CM's at RnR. The FATHER had a total melt down. He was screaming at the top of his lungs, face all red, spit flying out of his mouth as he raved about his kid being in more danger riding the WDW buses than riding RnR half an inch under the min height. The poor kid in question just stood there as the parents were literally trying to straighten and stretch her under the stupid measuring stick. Eventually the nutjobs shoved their way past the initial CM and tried to forcibly enter the Fast Pass line. (Do you know the CM, El? He's a little person and was practically knocked on his butt) There the screaming started again with the second CM. It got so bad that other parents in the queue were turning their kids away so they wouldn't have to witness it. It ended when they called security and the family ran off.

But you're right, it's usually the parents with that "I paid a lot of money for this vacation, therefore I can do whatever I want"-attitude.

 

[lsteadman]

My daughter by nature is very tall for her age. However, when we first went to Disney she wasn't able to ride a lot of rides because she was too short. We didn't have the option to parent swap. These are just mother/daughter trips.

So we rode what we could and found plenty of other things to do in the parks. I don't feel like my daughter missed out on anything by not riding all of the rides. I knew we could afford to go back so we looked forward to the "scary" rides on a future trip.

She couldn't ride - so I didn't ride and we still had a great time at Disney.

I love my daughter enough to put her safety first. You would be surprised at how many kids I see making funny faces at my in their parents back window of their car when....THEY SHOULD BE WEARING SEAT BELTS. Those are some of the same parents. If the shoe fits, SAME ON YOU!!!!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

>>(Do you know the CM, El? He's a little person and was practically knocked on his butt) << Yes- He's an awesome CM and what he doesnt have in height he makes up for it in character.

As for the wristband thing- both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom tried this program in 2002 and it didnt work because a) it was only partially rolled out so it never really worked as in not all kids got tagged and b) there were parents switching the bands on their kids so their under 40 kids had an over 40 and their over 40 kid didnt have one or the under 40 which theyd argue that they were just tagged wrong- and so it caused lots of problems over what outranks what- Did the height measurer win out or was it the CMs at the ride (who ultimatly were responsible) and c) not all height sticks at the parks are created equal, which frustrated me beyond belief because I know at coaster there were several that (until fixed in late 01) were up to 1/2 an inch off either way- We had one or two that screwed in that when the summer queue was attached to the side had a way of getting slightly unscrewed that if we didnt think about it would be about a 1/10 of an inch off

-em

 

[wdwoldtimer]

El is a great CM! We always look for him. He wouldn't back down from the raving dad. The last time we saw him he was working Star Tours, but that was a year or so ago. Glad to hear he's still there.

 

[dooley]

I also worked at Rock N Roller coaster.... and the heights are there for a reason.......people do dumb things when on vacation..... one woman sneaked her too short daughter on the ride (with a pony tail/hat combo), then the mother decides not to ride and goes through the chicken door...daughter gets on the ride... as the train leaves the loading area and into the launch area, daughter decides she wants off...NOW....

At the time I was there, three cm's worked the load area... one on each side of the train checking harnesses, and one in the control booth. For awhile when i was there they had an issue witht he fire marshall and had someone outside the chain link fence right as you exited the preshow (they wouldn't let them lock the emergency exit, so a cm stood there). However there was no CM there at the time...

Daughter..who is several inches too short... decides to wiggle out of the harness. At this point the train is dispatched, and the next one is being loaded. I'm in the control booth (pre cameras), and you had to basically stand up to see the launch area... I happen to glance over and see daughter 75% out of the harness, screaming... I managed to hit the estop with on the 2 of the 3-2-1 countdown... a couple of seconds later and who knows what would've happened.

Suprisingly this wasnt the first time it happened, i had seen it happen w/a cheerleader (anyone who'se been down around now knows about the groups i'm talking about) who decided she didnt want to ride and wiggled herself out.

Normally the heights stated, and probably lower, are safe. However, people are morons. They need to be protected from themselves...

As for the height sticks...it is true that there is an issue keeping them accurate...the ones at coaster were themed as giant drumsticks... and the bottoms would wear down unevenly, eventually they put a metal plate at the bottom....

 

[magsmom]

DD is tall for her age and at 5 (2002) was able to ride everything except RnR (primeval whirl was not yet open). She was measured every time for every ride on that trip and is still measured for RnR and for primeval whirl now.

I seem to remember on one of our trips MK was testing a "band" where if you were measured once and passed you were given a band so that you were not measured again. I seem to remember that the test was only for 1 day. I never saw it again after that trip.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Dooley when did you work there? Just outta curiosity

 

[dooley]

Spring of 2k, I was a CP.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

So right before me- I was there Jan 01-Jan 02

Okay back to topic

-em

 

[amshowers]

The bar at TOT is definitely higher,on our 2003 trip son was able to ride Star tours but was off by over an inch at ToT just as some else had posted I would measure at each ride.

 

[sk!mom]

Yes, as said on the thread... Please don't try to play games with the CM's over height!

I picked up an extra shift at one of the attractions, and my first task once I was at the attraction was to go BACK inside and find a manager to talk to a guest who felt her child was old enough to ride this certain ride. Myself, and two other fellow CM's were yelled at when her child was an inch to short. I truly felt bad for the child, but I would have felt a lot worse had the child gotten hurt on the ride.

I, also, feel sorry for that child. Poor kid is stuck with THAT mom.