Little one Tall Enough to Ride??

[raysnkaysmom]

Last year, when we went to WDW, my little one cried for months because she didn't get to ride Space Mountain (she was only 2 at the time)with her sissy. What is the height requirement for that?
My main question is this now..
Now, she is about 41 inches...hoping she'll grow an inch at least by Feb when we plan to go again...do you think if I throw her on some 'clod hoppin' shoes, she can get on those 44 inch rides? I reallly believe she's ready, especially if she's only missin it by an inch. How bout throw a ponytail on the TOP of her head ??

 

[marybet]

I think I read somewhere that the height requirment is based on the saftey of the ride. If your child is to short they could fall out of the seats or slip under the lap bar. On Space Mountain she would have to sit by herself, are you sure she is ready for that? My 10 year old granddaughter rode it once and screamed the whole time and would not go on it again, she also didn't like Dinosaur at AK.

Only you know how brave your child is but I am not sure how a 3 year old would do on Space Mountain, unless they let her sit with you. But I don't know if they do that.

 

[CamColt]

I feel your pain. Last year DS, then 3, had a fit because his brother and his friends went on Test Track and he couldnt. But, he got over it, still had a good trip and this year was able to ride that, Thunder Mt, and Splash Mt. He was still too short for Space, but he understood that and was much better about it at age 4.
I know its tough, but remember it is for otheir safety and its only a matter of time before they are tall enough. They sure grow fast!

 

[Barbday62]

If your little one likes roller coasters try the one in Toon Town. My grandaughter got to go on it (She was 2 years 11 months and I think 36 inches?) Anyway she just measured up to it and she loved that ride.

I dont know if space mountain will be ok.

 

[SueM in MN]

From what I have read, if a child is wearing really "tall" looking shoes, they may ask you to remove them. I have seen kids asked to remove hats and the CMs won't measure to the top of a ponytail; just to the top of the head.
The first time I rode Space Mountain, my DD was either 4 or 6 (can't remember if we rode it on our first or second trip). She was tall enough and was OK with riding it, but once we got going, she hated it. She kept saying "I don't like this. I want to get out." If I had been sitting right next to her, it would have probably been OK, but the ride is set up with one seat behind the other. It was the longest ride of my life and the scariest, since I couldn't be sure she wouldn't try to get out.

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I wouldn't push it (try to make her look talll enough) for safety reasons even if she would totally LOVE it!

But, there are soem thrill rides that you need to 40" for that you could all enjoy as a family -- Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Railroad...(I think I'm right about those...) We have a mark on our wall at 40" inches so my 4 year old can see if she will be big enough during our trip in December with my DD who is 6. And we have a back up plan in case she isn't. She will be shopping for all the candy she wants at a nearby candy shop if her sister gets to ride Spalsh Mountain without her! She already knows that so no big surprises in December. She might still be sad, but knowing the plan will help a bit. She loves candy -- there are other back up plans, based on your kids. When we finish at the candy, we will ride the WDW Railroad for my DS 2.

Good luck!

 

[erinch]

here's the link to all the height requirements:

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/rr.htm

Our brave and very tall DD made 44 inches at age 3, and rode space mountain nonstop on E-Ticket night. At age 5 she was almost 48" tall and ready to conquer RnR. We got her the "platform type" sneakers that they have at walmart and other places (NOT recommended for arch support and a hard day of walking--we took another pair of walking shoes.)

Because we know our little daredevil, our solution has been that when she'swithin an inch of the height requirement, we will "bump" her up a little, and she's never had to have her shoes off. If it is more than one inch, then CMs may or may not do a "real" height check. If it's more than 2 inches, then they almost definitely will not allow the child on.

This year, at age 8, at the beginning of the summer she was a tad under 54" and had to wear her tall shoes to get on the Raptor. 2 months later she was 54" in bare feet, and finally had met all her height goals--and can't take any friends because none of them are tall enough to ride with her.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would NOT push the height restriction on a ride like Space Mt. My son knows that if he's 44" by December he can go on Space Mt and if not he can't (he's 43" without his shoes on, so he'll be fine by Dec). For Space Mt it's a safety issue and like others have pointed out, you're not seated next to them to keep them anchored.

There are lots of rides that shorter children can ride--Splash Mt Big Thunder, Tower or Terror, Dinosaur, Test Track, etc, so it's not as if she'll be continually watching everyone else ride.

T&B

 

[tjmw2727]

They are very strict with the height requirements and even if you "got past" a first CM they often re-measure children who look short at boarding. I have seen many crying kids not allowed to ride after waiting a long line, and ftr they were not even close to the stick.

I have seen children asked to remove high sandles and sneakers on two occasions, they always ask the child to take off a hat and measure to the head regardless of the hairdo. The childs head must actually stop the T stick.

If your child will be upset by seeing some of the family ride when he/she can not it may be better to separate for a while and make it fun for him as well. Perhaps a re-ride on one of his favorites or a treat as an alternative
TJ

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

I wouldn't count on it for Space Mountain. We took our twins when they were 4. DS is about 2 inches taller than DD. Every time we rode they measured both kids. For some reason DD was always tall enough in the Fast Pass line but would always be about 1 inch short in the regular line-and that's with the CM measuring. So, just because you've done a measurement at home doesn't mean she'll meet the requirement in the park-DD was 44 1/2 inches at home. I was upset that she'd be tall enough in one line, but not in the other-go figure-we ended up getting Fast Passes when they wanted to ride. CM's also measured her twice when we were walking up to the cars to get on the ride itself.

 

[erinch]

when my dd was at the exact height requirement, I brought 2 separate tape measures from home--and successfully got her on RnR when they were going to boot her--it's suspect that the "t" sticks are not exact.

This, btw, was successful and she got on. It was quite evident that I was willing to hold up the entire line behind me and demand a park manager if necessary to resolve the discrepency. They let her on. (This was different than "shoe bump"; she really HAD made the height, by about 1/4")

It would be nice if Disney had an official measuring station, for kids that genuinely make the height, but not by much, and a wristband/handstamp verifying height so you didn't have go through this.

Now at the other end of this long journey, mom of a 16 yo ds and an 8 yo DD I can say that I long for the days when the big issue was height.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

So please tell me what you think.... my 4 (almost 5yo) ds is 44 inches in sock feet at the dr office...... do you think he would make it on Space Mountain?? He's really expressed an interest in riding this (probably b/c of 10yo big brother!!!)

Don't want to set him up for a big upset!!

 

[SueM in MN]

When we were at WDW in March and again this year in July, one of the new things we noticed was a sign at the ride entrance with a short description of the ride, an icon to tell whether or not wheelchair users would havce to leave their wheelchairs to board, health warnings and the height requirement for that particular ride. Along with that, there was a themed, permanently mounted measuring stick with a bar across the top (basically a "you must be taller than this to ride").
I didn't go on Space Mountain, so I don't know if they had one of these sign/measuring sticks there, but I noticed them on pretty much all the rides/attractions we did go on.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by BitsnBearsMom
So please tell me what you think.... my 4 (almost 5yo) ds is 44 inches in sock feet at the dr office...... do you think he would make it on Space Mountain?? He's really expressed an interest in riding this (probably b/c of 10yo big brother!!!)

Don't want to set him up for a big upset!!

Assuming that they got a "good measure" at the drs office, you son should be in good shape. Sometimes at the drs office they are in a hurry and don't seem that accurate. I might stick him up against the wall and do it yourself at home. When I'm trying to be accurate at home I usually use a ruler to measure straight across the top of the head and then use a pencil to mark below the ruler on the wall.

Maybe be vague with your son and tell him he might be tall enough to ride and then get the official measure. Good luck!

T&B

 

[ruttie]

I guess I am a big whuss!!! My son is almost 7 and loves thrill rides but I just cannot bring myself to let him ride space mountain!!! I am so worried he might get scared let go loose his grip what have you and slide/fall out.. He does meet the hieght requirements but.. he is skinny small boned and I just have this nightmare that he would slip out... same with roller coasters at Universal.. accidents happen i have seen grown adults that are thin looking like they were gonna slip right out!! so i would not push it too much eventually they will be old enogh and tall enough to ride... and i am not overprotective my hubby is a pilot and my sons have been flying since they were oldenough to see out!! Maybe i will take him this weekend without my 4 year old and let him ride it........

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Thanks so much for the encouraging words!! I was afraid I'd get slammed for tryin to get her on! She will be 4 1/2 on this next trip, I'm just hoping she adds those couple extra inches she needs. She loved Goofy's Barnstormer, but our last trip, only her hair touched the stick at Splash Mountain, and she was devastated...they didn't let her on. I really think she'd have a ball on all these rides...but I DID forget that Space Mtn is a 1 person per seat thing... I'll be a bigger baby about that than she would...LOL