Measuring 40 inches!

[DisMN]

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.

No, he's just slouchy is all. We haven't talked about rides with him at ALL...we're just trying to be silly and have fun measuring him. LOL

I'm sure if we talked about "rides" he wouldn't know what we're talking about anyway.....he just turned 3 and he's only been on park swings and things like that. We'd never make him ride something iffy but he's a bit of a daredevil so I'm thinking he'll want to try things.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

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.

I agree with you here. Our oldest DS was 40 inches before he was even 3! We did not let him ride BTMRR until he was 5. We would have let him do it at 4 but he was not ready. I will say though that I have held off on other rides like TOT and SM because I was worried that he would not be restrained enough and I am paranoid about him (or any of my kids for that matter) falling out. Next trip I will probably let him ride whatever he choses.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

We measure the kids here. We have a 40" mark on the "measuring wall." Poor DD will be 5 on 6/24 and she is at about 38.5". DS3 is 39.5 inches. We measure at home and then if we dont make it to 40", we say "oh well! Maybe next trip!"

The CM at Splash who measured the kids in the beginning of the month (I knew DD was NOT tall enough, but DS sometimes shoots up all of a sudden) was pretty surprised. DS stood there, he was just shy of 40", and the poor guy gets that look on his face like "Oh no." DS said "Tanks! Maybe next time!" The CM just cracked up and said "ok! See you next time!".

With an exceptionally short DD, we just decided to prepare them ahead of time that they might not get on some rides. It has worked beautifully.

We did graduate to Kali River Rapids this trip. DD refused to go on (royalty HATES to get wet), but DS3 LOVED IT. Since it was 94 degrees, I was happy to ride several times with him.

By October, DS should be tall enough for all the 40s. DD, probably not. Fortunately, she is the more timid of the two and really only wants to go on Test Track and Soarin. The rest, she can take it or leave it.

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

The only ride I think my little one will want to try is Soarin' and I pray that she makes it! She is only 36 inches w/out shoes now. But we still have about 5 months to go, so you never know.

 

[bumbershoot]

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.

Oh that is too cute.

My guy refuses to believe he's tall enough for Space Mountain (it's not that we are trying to get him on, but we try to be accurate when talking about what he can and cannot ride due to height) and Soarin'. TOT, on the other hand, he's looking forward to if he hits the mark. But bring up SM and he says "I'll do that when I'm OLDER". And if we talk about Matterhorn (obviously I'm talking DLR here), which he has been on b/c it has a limit of only 36 inches and he really didn't like it, he just says "You and Papa can go and I wait for you".

 

[TheRider]

That is really good to know about Big Thunder Mountain. We are going there the week of Sept 14th this year. I am glad that I don't have to worry about the height requirement for 40" since my son just measured at 40.5" w/o shoes. We also get a little discount because he does not turn 3 till Mid-December. (Yeah he's a lil big for his age with a size 10 shoe but my wife and I are 6' and 6'4" respectively.) It's kinda funny sometimes because people think the poor kid is just a slow 4-5 yo when they hear him speak. Anyway, I'll probably layoff Dinosaur but still not sure about Test Track.

 

[las3888]

I am sorry I didn't have time read all the posts, so maybe this has been mentioned...I felt like the bar at Disney was a tad bit higher than the board we have at home (or maybe ours is a tad too low???)...DS did not have to take his shoes off and to me his head was clearly touching the board but the CM was having a hard time deciding. Didn't really matter....DS won't even ride 'it's a small world'...it was wishful thinking!!! Good luck and have a great time!

 

[Munchkin'sMommy]

My son just turned 2 two wks ago and is already over 40" tall and wears a size 8.5 shoe. He looks 4 but he still has a baby face. By the time we go next May (hopefully), he will be much taller. I might have a tough time convincing people he is about to turn 3.

I am guessing by some of the posts that they actually measure the kids?

 

[JuliaK+3]

My son just turned 2 two wks ago and is already over 40" tall and wears a size 8.5 shoe. He looks 4 but he still has a baby face. By the time we go next May (hopefully), he will be much taller. I might have a tough time convincing people he is about to turn 3.

I am guessing by some of the posts that they actually measure the kids?

Over 40 inches and he just turned 2? I think you need to change your screenname because your son is no munchkin

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Over 40 inches and he just turned 2? I think you need to change your screenname because your son is no munchkin

I am guessing by some of the posts that they actually measure the kids?

Just for the rides that have height requirements, i.e. Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Soarin', Kali River Rapids, etc.