Measuring 40 inches!

[weesignlanguage]

Ok...you guys will think I'm crazy but after our crazy time last time we went to WDW in January, we wanted to know that our son (3 1/2 now) would be able to ride some of the bigger rides this year so we.....yes...crazy...we made a homemade measuring stick just like the ones they use to measure kiddos in the park!! AND ds is measuring just perfect to ride the 40 inch rides like Tower of Terror and Soarin! It's hard to believe but he was probably 38 inches with shoes in January of 08 and now he's an easy 40 inches! We tried soooo hard to get him on the rides last year with no luck not to mention he he wouldn't stand up straight and wiggled all over the place! Now he knows how to stand straight up and this year he will be able to ride some of the "big boy rides!!" Whoo hoo!! Anyone else crazy like us and having their kid practicing measuring before they go to WDW??

 

[gatorfreud]

I am!! My son is just scraping in at 40 inches... someone on the DIS suggested practicing the measurement, and you know we're doing it!!!

 

[WantToGoNow]

Also, if there's anything your just 40" child really wants to ride, do it in the morning. A child that is 40" in the am may be just a little short later in the day.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

We have been measuring every week to see if dd can ride soarin! And yes! Two days ago she finally measured 40 inches! She is a short 4 1/2 year old!

 

[bartleby1]

We just started practicing too! My daughter will be 3-1/2 when we go in August and she is a smidge under 40 right now. With shoes she has it, but without she needs a tiny little bit. I'd feel much more comfortable though if she grew enough so it isn't even questionable since I know that the measuring sticks aren't always 100% accurate. I'd hate for her to be able to go on one ride and then not the next one. My older two were well over 40 at 3 yrs old, but my youngest isn't quite as tall. We're hoping for a big growth spurt, but she won't eat her veggies, LOL!

 

[Crisgw]

Our youngest will be 3.5 when we go and last July he was under the 40" mark by a few inches and right now he stands at nearly 41" He's SO excited to get to ride with his brother (who will be 6 in July and is 45" tall and can ride some of the other "big boy" rides 44"+ now)

 

[puffkin]

My DS was 37" at his 2 year old doctor appointment. We are hoping he hits 40" by October when he is 2.5. He isn't afraid of anything and LOVES the rides (we had him on Barnstormer at 19 months when he was just tall enough and he loved it) and I can't wait to take him on some of the bigger ones.

Yes, he is a tall child though and looks more like he is 4 than 2.

 

[squirrlygirl]

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

 

[goldie_ears4]

Anyone have a picture of the measuring stick? This is our first trip so I am not familiar with how they look. My son is now measuring a bit over 40" in the morning but I did want to show him that he needs to push his head up against the stick instead of squishing and fitting under the stick.

 

[ahoyle]

My 3.5 yr old son is a little over 38 right now (short) in shoes. I'm hoping that by our trip in mid December he grows that extra 2 inches. I'll be shopping for some timberlands or something anyways to give him that extra boost.

And no, I don't want any debates on that!

 

[4winks]

This is my biggest concern for our Sept. trip. Dd will be 4 but right now she is 38 inches. Do they make the kids take their shoes off?

 

[HelenePA]

Yes, he is a tall child though and looks more like he is 4 than 2.

Must be something in the water around us... ds has been 40" for quite some time sadly its not from genes. I'm only 5'3"

 

[onelugnut]

are you kiddin,
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.
we measure all 3 kids all the time and annouce what rides they can go on.
and what to try for!!

 

[ahoyle]

No, my understanding is that it would take an unusual circumstance for them to remove a kids shoes. Thats why I am glad it will be Dec. Not unusual for a kid to wear a hiking boot or something with pants in Dec! hopefully its not 80 that week!

 

[bzzymom]

No they don't make them take their shoes off. DS was just at 40 inches at age 3.5 when we were there. He was measured everywhere. Sometimes even at the start of the line by a CM and at the loading area. DS's fav's then were TT, ToT, and star tours.

 

[4winks]

No, my understanding is that it would take an unusual circumstance for them to remove a kids shoes. Thats why I am glad it will be Dec. Not unusual for a kid to wear a hiking boot or something with pants in Dec! hopefully its not 80 that week!

Does it make me a bad parent to consider a shoe with a chunky heel?

 

[Crisgw]

Does it make me a bad parent to consider a shoe with a chunky heel?

I can see it now, we'll all have kids in platform shoes

 

[ahoyle]

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.

 

[brymolmom]

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.

 

[ahoyle]

Was your child measuring just 40" able to ride anything else? My main hopes are for Test Track, Tower of Terror, BTM Railroad, and Dinosaur.