Measuring 40 inches!

[LAH LAH]

how common is the practice of measuring at the door and the ride. I am going to have a big problem if I wait in line with him for 20 minutes after being measured only to be turned away right when we are getting on. I wish they would do the wristband thing or something so it wouldnt be a ride to ride proposition.

Well if you got your wish they would most likely have kids take their shoes off for a measuring just to make sure parents aren't trying to send a kid too short on a ride with chunky heels.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Just a warning--DD was tall enough according to the CM outside a ride on our last trip, but was stopped inside and told she couldn't ride. The stick inside was taller. As for her measurement "in real life"--she was 1/2 an inch taller than needed. I had one very disappointed little girl

This happened to our DD on Test Track one time. I completely agree with following the rules and I don't put my kids in platform shoes to make them taller but if a CM measures them at the start of the line and says they are fine and they wait 45 minutes to get on the ride and then the CM at the end of the line tells them they are too short that is just ridiculous.

 

[design_mom]

We did not practice measuring for our last trip. DD was 3-1/2 but only 38" so she just flat out didn't qualify. She had her 4yo check-up today and measured 39-1/2". She was very excited when I said she only needed to grow 1/2" more until she would be tall enough to ride Soarin'.

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

Now I'm getting nervous!! DD 2 was 36 inches when we measured her at the dr's office in January. She'll be 3.25 when we go in October, so I am hoping that she will be tall enough, really just for Soarin'. But I bet that she will be 39 inches exactly.

I wonder if having a dr's note with her exact measurements would help....!?

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Our daughter was 4 and measuring at around 39-40". She SO wanted to ride the bigger rides with her brother and sister. I looked for, and found, sneakers with a bit of a platform on the bottom. They were even Princess sneakers! They make her easily measure at 40" and she got to ride everything she wanted. Some days, I even just brought them along to change into before riding certain rides.

 

[weesignlanguage]

Yeah...I would be pretty ticked if my ds measured fine at the beginning and waited all that time on Soarin or ToT and then was told no. I guess we will just have to wait and see. I think if ds is easily measuring the 40 inches now that he will be another 1/2 to 1 inch taller in September. I am still amazed at how much he grew since Jan. when he was way toooo short for the 40 inch mark! We shall see! Nice to see I'm not the only crazy who has a homemade measure post. Ours looks just like the WDW ones b/c it's L shaped. Ds is going to paint and decorate it with stickers this weekend! HA!

 

[ERMama]

Last trip our oldest was just about exact 44 inches at 6 yo. (hes now barely 45 inches at 7). They would not let him on EE-said he was like a quarter inch too short. He really wanted to try Space Mt (he had already done an inverted coaster back home) so we stuffed his shoes with napkins for the height check.
New rides for the boys this trip...
Well, this trip he WILL ride EE (with dad first then maybe me if he likes it and wants to go again). We are going to let him try Dinosaur I think (hes matured and I think would do okay now). Plus going to try Mission Space easy version I think.
Our 3.5 yo will probably be 40 inches by then.Weve trialed him on his first "big" coaster here at home at Six Flags.
Kali River Rapids for sure. Soarin is a must. I think he would actually like Test Track. BTMR will be fun. Barnstormer for sure. And maybe Splash. Not sure how he would do with the drop. BTMR is bumpy but not really any big stomach drops like Splash.

Not doing ToT, oldest son did it last time and does not want to do it again. Our 3.5 yo although tall enough is not ready for the ride either. Same with Dinosaur for him.

But yeah, lots of new things for the boys to experience this trip. And since it will be Nora's first Disney trip, of course everything new for her. Although I think Dumbo and Peter Pan will be as adventerous as she gets.

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

oops this was meant to new topic!

 

[NotUrsula]

If your child is *just* at the height requirement, don't carry him/her in the ride line.

Children who are being carried are very likely to get pulled out for a second measurement at the ride entrance, while kids who are walking are more likely go right on through based on the first measurement at the entrance to the line. When the measure is still touch and go based on slouching, etc., you don't want to add that second measurement when a kid is already past the first hurdle.

 

[kellig]

Just a warning--DD was tall enough according to the CM outside a ride on our last trip, but was stopped inside and told she couldn't ride. The stick inside was taller. As for her measurement "in real life"--she was 1/2 an inch taller than needed. I had one very disappointed little girl

We had a similar problem during our last trip. My daughter (just turned 4) measured tall enough (with a little to spare) at the pediatrician. However, we were turned away from several rides due to her not being tall enough. We had one very little girl that shed a lot of tears!

 

[bartleby1]

Just a word of caution to some moms and dads. My older two kids are tall so they were able to ride most rides fairly young. My son was 3 yrs 1mth old when we went to disney one year and he was 41 inches without shoes so he definitely made the 40inch requirement. He did fine on Splash, Soarin, Test track, and TOT. However, if I had to do it over again, I would not have put him on Big Thunder. Even though he met the height requirement, that ride whipped his little neck around pretty good, and he is a tough little boy. Looking back, I don't think his little body was ready for that ride. He was also tall enough to do Space Mountain and Expedition Everest at just over 4 yrs, but I didn't think he was ready physically. Now, my older daughter did fine on Big Thunder when she was 3 yr 7 mths. That extra 6 mths seemed to make a difference for her (and she has always been my weaker, frailer kid).

I do think that some rides should have a height AND age requirement, or at least an age suggestion since I know that would be kind of hard to enforce.

Of course, this was only my personal experience, but I thought I might mention it to other people that have taller children and are trying to decide what rides to take their kids on. My younger daughter will be 3 yr 9 mths when we go. I havent' decided whether I'm going to put her on Big Thunder yet. She is my daredevil, fun-loving kid and will definitely WANT to go, but I'm not sure yet.

 

[bumbershoot]

i have been getting my daughter to eat her veggies based on her
getting bigger to ride the "rockin roller coaster" ever since she was turned away last year.
it works great.

DS's vegetable consumption multiplied after being turned away at the *second* measuring stick for Star Tours in September. By December he could ride it!

how common is the practice of measuring at the door and the ride. I am going to have a big problem if I wait in line with him for 20 minutes after being measured only to be turned away right when we are getting on.

Prepare yourself for it. Prepare your child for it.

My advice would be not to mention to your child what rides he/she can ride based on measurements at home - UNLESS they are at least an inch bigger than the cutoff.

My dd was at home with shoes, measuring JUST 40 inches before a trip last year - NO GO on Splash - and we tried twice. Her head was just up to the bar across the top (to the poster who asked- the measuring sticks at WDW are like wooden, upside-down L's - and your child has to stand under it to see if his/her head hits the top of the L) - but the CM put a piece of paper between her head and the top of the stick and since it got thru - she was not allowed on.

I was happy we told her 'we'll have to see if you're tall enough' instead of saying that she was definitely going to be able to ride.

Agree with your whole post. Don't promise a kid they can ride anything unless they are WELL above the height requirement. Don't promise them they can ride if they make it past the first measuring stick.

DS had the paper trick done on him at Star Tours at Disneyland...hubby was with him and was NOT expecting it, and didn't know to coach DS to stand straight and tall, just let the CM interact with him. DS likes Disneyland CMs, and the CM wanted to put that paper under the stick, so DS let the CM. If I had been there telling him to stand big and tall (with feet flat of course) I bet he would have made it on, but DH didn't do it.

But as I said above, the veggie consumption went way up to grow "big for Star Wars ride".

I wonder if having a dr's note with her exact measurements would help....!?

They won't care about that. It's all about the measuring sticks, both inside and outside.

 

[nyyankeegirl]

My DS is 3 1/2 right now. He'll be less than 1 mth. shy of 4 yrs old when we go at the end of Sept. As of right now, he is just at the 40" mark!!! We've gotten him all revved up about what rides he'll get to go on this time, that he couldn't go on last year. I'm a little concerned about ToT though. He says he wants to go on it, since his big bro went on it last time. But I just don't know if it'll be too scarey for him. DS6 was even a bit apprehensive last year. I guess I'll just have to wait & see about his maturity level. But Dinosaur will defin. be a BIG NO!!! Even I'm scared!

 

[skuttle]

We went in February and DS was measuring just at 40 inches at home with shoes on. He was 4.5 years old. He was above the 40 inch mark for BTMR, just under it for ToT (he was let on), and right at the 40 inch mark for Test Track. Strange.

BTMR was a rough one. We held on to DS during that ride.

Those are the only 40 inch ones we tried. Splash was closed, Dinosaur too scarey, Soarin' I was afraid he was too little, and Star Tours makes me sick!

 

[ERMama]

See, I think ToT is scarier and worse for young tall kids than BTMR.
With BTMR I can at least brace him a bit. Its a bit bumpy but no big drop.

On ToT, there is no way to hold them in their seat.

 

[DisMN]

Our grandson is a solid 39" right now so we're hoping he'll grow that last inch and a bit more by January.
Grampa made us a 40" *L* shaped measuring stick but one problem we're having is convincing the child to stand straight and tall. When we measure him he slouches down and then refuses to make himself taller............no amount of encouragement seems to motivate him. LOL

Any hints/tips would be appreciated.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I measure all the time! DH thinks I am neurotic (and I am ) for doing this. DS is now a smidge over 39" in sneakers (which he will be wearing to each park) so I am hoping and praying that he will be 40" by July 13th when we arrive! I have him practice measuring all the time to get used to it. He knows t stand up straight, flat on his feet, feet up against the wall, look straight ahead and not down or up. It is so cute and so much fun, he loves when we do it!

Rides I would like to take my son on (he will be 3 1/2 when we go):

-Soarin'
-Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
-Splash Mountain
-Star Tours with DH (I don't do rides like that)

DH is excited that DS3 might make the height requirement, and last night we were looking at the map of MK and he said we should head right to BTMRR when we arrive that first day (will be right after lunch), fastpass it and do a few other things before we can return to ride since the line will be huge by then! He said we should do the baby swap (have a 1-year-old son too) so we can both ride and DS3 can enjoy the ride twice! He's not interested in Splash so it will just be me and only once for DS3. Soarin' is for both of us, and Star Tours just DH.

And if DS3 does not make the height this time, no big deal. Plenty to enjoy! But I must admit I just may go on BTMRR to try it myself...looks like so much fun! And DH's favorite ride in all of WDW is ToT so he may go on that. But not DS3 even if he is tall enough...too scary for him in my opinion at this point. I know for sure though that next time we go (already planning it for 2 years from now) he will be tall enough!

-Bonnie

 

[JuliaK+3]

I've been browsing these boards for a few months now but this thread is so near and dear to my situation that it got me to register.

DS will be 3 1/2 months when we go to Disney next month. He's only measuring about 38 1/2 inches. I measure him constantly. I think he knows how to stretch himself nice and tall but even with his sneakers, he might not make the cut off.

Are some rides stricter than others with the height or does it depend on the CM? Thankfully, he's not into rides too much so the only things I think I'll have to cross my fingers for are the Star Tours and TT but I just want to know if he's more likely to get the brown paper test at some over others.

Of course it doesn't help things that his 5 yr old brother is a giant and will want to go on everything.

 

[love__goofy]

Like another poster said, "go in the morning". My son was 38.5 w/o shoes and we went out and bought him some heeley shoes and took the wheels out. They had about a 2" sole. Now, keep in mind that my son was 4.5 at the time. So physically he was able to hold his body, all muscles were developed enough.

He rode star tours in the morning, then was turned away in the afternoon. Same thing happened at Soarin. I think they just start to slouch after they get tired. Good luck to everyone...oh and if your child is under the age of 6, I would not even take them on Dinosaurs...it is quite scary, even for me! Unfortunately, this is one he was able to get on.

All 4 of my children fall in the 5 percentile for height and weight, so I can see how frustrating it can be to see other children be able to ride and they can't. Luckily, all of my kids will be at 49", 45", and 41" at least for our upcoming trip in September. So I should not have any turned down kids for the rides they would expect to ride on.

 

[NotUrsula]

Our grandson is a solid 39" right now so we're hoping he'll grow that last inch and a bit more by January. Grampa made us a 40" *L* shaped measuring stick but one problem we're having is convincing the child to stand straight and tall. When we measure him he slouches down and then refuses to make himself taller............no amount of encouragement seems to motivate him. LOL

Sounds to me like a kid who doesn't think being "big" is all that it's cracked up to be. He quite possibly doesn't really feel ready for the "big kid" rides, but doesn't want to disappoint you by admitting it. DS had no such qualms; when we would talk about a ride he was intimidated by he would just say, "swap me, please." He was tall enough for Splash and TOT by age 3, but he didn't ride them until he was 6 (Splash) and 7 (TOT) -- his choice.