Minimum Height Requirement

[mince]

Greetings, my youngest son is 5. But he is really short at only 39". Unless he grows an inch in the next couple of weeks it looks as if he'll miss the 40" cut off for many rides. I was hoping he'd be able to ride Soarin' and Star Tours. Does anyone know if they measure 40" with shoes? Or do they add an inch or so on for them? Thanks

 

[Missytara]

Greetings, my youngest son is 5. But he is really short at only 39". Unless he grows an inch in the next couple of weeks it looks as if he'll miss the 40" cut off for many rides. I was hoping he'd be able to ride Soarin' and Star Tours. Does anyone know if they measure 40" with shoes? Or do they add an inch or so on for them? Thanks

They measure with shoes unless it is noted the child has elevated shoes in order to register taller. In that case, the CM will tell them to take them off.

 

[red15sox]

They measure with shoes. But go during the morning, since your spine gets smaller as the day goes on. So he'll be taller in the morning

 

[disnut8]

Also be aware there are usually two measurement spots and it's possible he could be fine at the first one and denied at the second one. It's also possible he could be fine to ride one day and too small the next day. I would highly recommend you prepare yourself and your son to be happy if he gets to ride but to accept the consequences if he can't.

 

[WDSearcher]

Also ... make sure he knows he's supposed to hit the bar. Lots of kids shy away from hitting their head on the bar, and that's the actual goal.

 

[Donn2n]

When my son was younger, we had the same difficulty. I took a pair of gym shoes to a shoe repair shop, and they added 1 inch to the soles of each. Apparently, there are many people that need to add height to one shoe because of one longer leg (who knew)...

Anyway, it was only one inch added, so, it never "raised suspicion" - since he didn't look like he was wearing gene simmons sized shoes!

It worked, we rode everything we wanted (safely).

Best wishes for a fun trip!

 

[butterfly71076]

When my son was younger, we had the same difficulty. I took a pair of gym shoes to a shoe repair shop, and they added 1 inch to the soles of each. Apparently, there are many people that need to add height to one shoe because of one longer leg (who knew)...

Anyway, it was only one inch added, so, it never "raised suspicion" - since he didn't look like he was wearing gene simmons sized shoes!

It worked, we rode everything we wanted (safely).

Best wishes for a fun trip!

OP, I would NOT recommend doing this. The height restrictions are there FOR your child's safety, not to put a damper on their fun. Just prepare him for not being able to ride some rides. No big deal, there is always something else to do.

 

[Schmeck]

When my son was younger, we had the same difficulty. I took a pair of gym shoes to a shoe repair shop, and they added 1 inch to the soles of each. Apparently, there are many people that need to add height to one shoe because of one longer leg (who knew)...

Anyway, it was only one inch added, so, it never "raised suspicion" - since he didn't look like he was wearing gene simmons sized shoes!

It worked, we rode everything we wanted (safely).

Best wishes for a fun trip!

This will get the thread closed down fast!

 

[Cafeen]

Not directed at the OP, but the range of posts that will likely follow...

Yes, they're strict. Yes, they'll double measure. Yes, there's a chance that even if your kid makes it one ride, they may be denied the next (or a different ride). Yes, if there looks to be something "up" they may request specific things (hat off, shoes off, etc). Yes, sometimes people slip by. Yes, sometimes a CM let's a child by when they shouldn't. Yes, some people cheat the system. Yes, there are sometimes inconsistencies. No, your child will not die if they're an inch short and get let on. Yes, there are tolerances built in. Yes, a CM may be terminated if they are caught letting a child that doesn't hit the bar get on. No, they are not trying to ruin your day by not letting your little one on. Yes, they'd love it everyone could ride perfectly safely!

I think I got them all

 

[MoonFaerie]

FWIW, we were at Dollywood a couple of weeks ago. DD was absolutely begging to ride the Wild Eagle, but I wasn't sure if she was tall enough or not. It has a 50" requirement. It had been a year since her last Dr visit, so I wasn't sure how tall she is. I knew it would be close, so I told her we'd go try. She just barely, and I do mean just barely, was given the all clear at both measuring stations. The next week she was in at the Dr, and her official height is only 49". She was just wearing lightweight running shoes. Nothing with a big sole or anything.

 

[Missytara]

When my son was younger, we had the same difficulty. I took a pair of gym shoes to a shoe repair shop, and they added 1 inch to the soles of each. Apparently, there are many people that need to add height to one shoe because of one longer leg (who knew)...

Anyway, it was only one inch added, so, it never "raised suspicion" - since he didn't look like he was wearing gene simmons sized shoes!

It worked, we rode everything we wanted (safely).

Best wishes for a fun trip!

You were darn lucky.

I will reiterate all of my previous posts. The rule of 40" tall is the best possible scenario of a person sitting in a harness that is carefully designed based on the overall experience of the ride. They choose a standard and make it consistent. A child with lifts does not prevent them from slipping out of the harness, because their body could potentially slip out.

Posts like yours make me angry, because it shows disregard for those people who work so hard to maintain a safe environment through our hard work.

 

[mince]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't want him to ride Big Thunder or Tower of Terror. Really just Soarin' and Star Tours. In 2006 we rode Soarin' with our 3 yo at the time. I know he wasn't 40". Perhaps they changed the height requirement? I don't see either of these rides compromising his safety.

We definitely will be prepared for being denied as it's expected. Thanks again everyone!

 

[deegack]

You were darn lucky.

I will reiterate all of my previous posts. The rule of 40" tall is the best possible scenario of a person sitting in a harness that is carefully designed based on the overall experience of the ride. They choose a standard and make it consistent. A child with lifts does not prevent them from slipping out of the harness, because their body could potentially slip out.

Posts like yours make me angry, because it shows disregard for those people who work so hard to maintain a safe environment through our hard work.

agreed.

 

[Hannathy]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't want him to ride Big Thunder or Tower of Terror. Really just Soarin' and Star Tours. In 2006 we rode Soarin' with our 3 yo at the time. I know he wasn't 40". Perhaps they changed the height requirement? I don't see either of these rides compromising his safety.

We definitely will be prepared for being denied as it's expected. Thanks again everyone!

If he wants to ride TOT i would let him. It is very safe because even if you got out of the restraints and sat on the floor you wouldn't go anywhere, you are in a cage. Plus for the longest time the back middle seat only had a thin loose seat belt. Thunder mountain also isn't very bad if he wants to ride it, it is a very mild coaster.

My DD was also very short for her age and we just made sure she wore her normal sneakers with the full sole and good sized heel VS her thin sandals.

An inch can be a bit to make up consistently, 1/2 isn't usually much of a big deal but an inch is usually the upper limits of normal sneakers or sandals.

 

[kshattuck]

I would highly recommend you prepare yourself and your son to be happy if he gets to ride but to accept the consequences if he can't.

You might be my favorite person! This is, hands down, the best advice.

Good luck, OP! Have fun!

 

[mesaboy2]

Not directed at the OP, but the range of posts that will likely follow...

Yes, they're strict. Yes, they'll double measure. Yes, there's a chance that even if your kid makes it one ride, they may be denied the next (or a different ride). Yes, if there looks to be something "up" they may request specific things (hat off, shoes off, etc). Yes, sometimes people slip by. Yes, sometimes a CM let's a child by when they shouldn't. Yes, some people cheat the system. Yes, there are sometimes inconsistencies. No, your child will not die if they're an inch short and get let on. Yes, there are tolerances built in. Yes, a CM may be terminated if they are caught letting a child that doesn't hit the bar get on. No, they are not trying to ruin your day by not letting your little one on. Yes, they'd love it everyone could ride perfectly safely!

I think I got them all

All except the wristband thing.

 

[lizard1]

FWIW, we were at Dollywood a couple of weeks ago. DD was absolutely begging to ride the Wild Eagle, but I wasn't sure if she was tall enough or not. It has a 50" requirement. It had been a year since her last Dr visit, so I wasn't sure how tall she is. I knew it would be close, so I told her we'd go try. She just barely, and I do mean just barely, was given the all clear at both measuring stations. The next week she was in at the Dr, and her official height is only 49". She was just wearing lightweight running shoes. Nothing with a big sole or anything.

I would at least have him measured there and see. Something similar to this is what happened a couple of weeks ago with my 5 year old. Unless she grew 2 inches in the last 2 months, she should have been too short for SM, but she hit the bar (in the evening too!) both times she was measured for the ride. Although I didn't think she would be tall enough, I'm glad she was because she loved SM even more than BTMRR!

 

[Timmy Boy]

If he wants to ride TOT i would let him. It is very safe because even if you got out of the restraints and sat on the floor you wouldn't go anywhere, you are in a cage.

Wouldn't go anywhere? I'm sorry, but if someone were to be sitting on the floor, they would float upwards when the vehicle dropped, then when it would start to slow down, they would slam into what's under them. Repeat that 6 or 7 times. No, the kid won't go anywhere, but he/she will be bruised and bloodied.

It sucks that a lot of parents think they're above the rules and won't even let a Cast Member take 4 seconds and double check their height. They throw a hissy fit and use the phrase "Oh come on, she was already measured once!!!" Or they'll say "Yeah she's too short, but she's with me, so it's fine." The problem is, is that these are the people who would sue the minute little boy or girl slipped out of the Soarin seatbelt because he/she was too scared and fall 50 feet to cement claiming that it was Disney's fault.

 

[Missytara]

If he wants to ride TOT i would let him. It is very safe because even if you got out of the restraints and sat on the floor you wouldn't go anywhere, you are in a cage. Plus for the longest time the back middle seat only had a thin loose seat belt.

Wow, really. Your statement is the epitome of either the downfall of our public education system or your total lack of regard for those of us who work so hard to create safe environments.

Have you ever heard of Isaac Newton. Every reaction has an opposite reaction.

Mostly, his experiments were done in the horizontal position, but his theory also works in the vertical position.

A person sitting on the floor in a "cage, unrestrained" can be dropped very quickly and stopped short, will suddenly go upward. On the upside, that person will basically be hurled upward in the opposite direction, hitting their head on the top of the cage and snapping their neck.

Hence, restraints.

 

[Hannathy]

Wow, really. Your statement is the epitome of either the downfall of our public education system or your total lack of regard for those of us who work so hard to create safe environments.

Have you ever heard of Isaac Newton. Every reaction has an opposite reaction.

Mostly, his experiments were done in the horizontal position, but his theory also works in the vertical position.

A person sitting on the floor in a "cage, unrestrained" can be dropped very quickly and stopped short, will suddenly go upward. On the upside, that person will basically be hurled upward in the opposite direction, hitting their head on the top of the cage and snapping their neck.

Hence, restraints.

First of all it isn't that violent of a reaction! you don't go all the way up to the ceiling for heavens sake!! Geeze do you know how much force you would have to be under to go all the way to the ceiling? I have ridden that with the seat belt completely loose and you raise up about 4 inches, tops. Remember the old seat with just the tiny belt? you really think if it was such a forceful ride that you would "go to the ceiling" anybody in this lawyer society would have been basically unrestrained.

My point was TOT takes place in a cage, there is no way to fall out of the ride as some people think, as in falling all the way out of the ride.