Minimum Height Requirement

[Cafeen]

All except the wristband thing.

I thought about it, but then figured I might be going overboard

Speaking about going overboard...here I go!

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.

Actually, this has nothing to do with Newton's 3rd law. This is all about inertia (1st law). Inertia is why you feel like you're floating when dropped, and why you feel crunched into your seat when it goes the other way. At the point between the two, there is not nearly enough force to throw you up in the air (never mind the 10 feet or so from floor to ceiling). Both objects (the boy and the ride) would have to be traveling far faster than the ride is capable of. Now, if the boy was made out of rubber (e.g. a superball) it may be possible since the energy would be stored in the rubber better (compression then decompression), but humans are pretty squishy and most of that energy is absorbed by our squishiness (crumple zones on cars have the same effect).

The fact that those in the seats aren't pushed up against the seat belts at this point proves this entirely, we're pushed against the seats instead (due to inertia and our crumpley-bodies). The boy would simply stick to the floor. It also doesn't really "stop short". The cushion of air that collects below the vehicle slows it down and allows for quite a bit of energy absorption there as well. It may not be that noticeable on the ride, but it's certainly there.

Now, if the speeds WERE high enough, it would be a concern, but at that point there'd be concerns about everyone, not just the boy on the floor.

I'd venture to guess that, barring balance issues, the entire ride could be theoretically experienced without belts and with handles instead. However, lots like to let go, so belts enable them to do just that. Plus it keeps them from doing stupid stuff (same reason Splash has bars now, it's not because you may fall out on the drop). In fact, thinking about it, it's probably why most of the restrained rides have restraints...at least at Disney. (RnRC & Dinosaur are the only ones I can think of where restraints would really be needed for mechanical reasons...)

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.

If the ride were that forceful, lots of people would be walking out with broken or badly bruised legs and passing out from the positive Gs when it goes back up. I don't think that's happened (well, on that ride, MS is different )

 

[elfbo]

+1 to cafene. Thanks for taking the time to explain the physics, I didnt want to have to drag out my old texts books to do it.

But on that note, even though there is extra (weight, height) limits built into the stated limits, a person really would be taking their own, or their child's health in their own hands by ignoring or trying to get around the limits. It may not seem like a big risk to some, but it still is a risk.

 

[kevw67]

Missy.....I dont want to turn this into a debate on public education but your comments show your ignorance. Public Education is as strong as ever. If you take into account the that we educate ALL children and not just kids without special needs, our graduation rates and test scores rank up near the top countries in the world. By percentage, not much has changed since the beginning or the 20th century in regards to graduation rates. Do some real research and dont just listen what big business wants you to believe about public education. With that said, I too cannot understand why anyone would jeopardize their childrens safety. My son was 2 inches to small for Primeval Whirl the first time we went so we decided that none of us would ride. He eventually decidedm it was ok and we went back but there was no stuffing his shoes or putting him in high heels to get through the gate.

 

[disnut8]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't want him to ride Big Thunder or Tower of Terror. Really just Soarin' and Star Tours.

To get this BACK ON TOPIC - my five year old grandson was insistent he would ride Twilight Zone. His 13 year old sister absolutely refused to do it. And then the grandson rode Soarin'. And hated it. So, no Twilight Zone for him. Nothing that didn't have a very good restraint system that HE felt comfortable with. And his sister ended up riding Twilight Zone and loving it (she had tried it when she was seven and hated it).

So, if the OP is still reading this - do things you and your son feel comfortable with. Don't rush into things. Disney always, always, always, has the alternative exit if someone doesn't want to ride at the last minute. It's YOUR vacation. Don't let what anyone here says deter or encourage you. You will only know what you are going to do the minute before you do it.

 

[Suellen]

Missy.....I dont want to turn this into a debate on public education but your comments show your ignorance. Public Education is as strong as ever. If you take into account the that we educate ALL children and not just kids without special needs, our graduation rates and test scores rank up near the top countries in the world. By percentage, not much has changed since the beginning or the 20th century in regards to graduation rates. Do some real research and dont just listen what big business wants you to believe about public education. With that said, I too cannot understand why anyone would jeopardize their childrens safety. My son was 2 inches to small for Primeval Whirl the first time we went so we decided that none of us would ride. He eventually decidedm it was ok and we went back but there was no stuffing his shoes or putting him in high heels to get through the gate.

So OFF topic... but our public school system in Maine.... well...it sucks.

Anyway.... yes they measure... yes 1 inch will keep you child off the ride...be prepared to be measured a LOT! Really.

Don't height alter your child with shoes, hair or hat. It teaches them to cheat and that rules don't matter. Go home and plan another trip! It made all our trips exciting that they finally got to ride "x" ride!

Are my kids the only ones that measure themselves in Disney height? Tower of terror tall, space mountain tall... etc.?

 

[mince]

To get this BACK ON TOPIC - my five year old grandson was insistent he would ride Twilight Zone. His 13 year old sister absolutely refused to do it. And then the grandson rode Soarin'. And hated it. So, no Twilight Zone for him. Nothing that didn't have a very good restraint system that HE felt comfortable with. And his sister ended up riding Twilight Zone and loving it (she had tried it when she was seven and hated it).

So, if the OP is still reading this - do things you and your son feel comfortable with. Don't rush into things. Disney always, always, always, has the alternative exit if someone doesn't want to ride at the last minute. It's YOUR vacation. Don't let what anyone here says deter or encourage you. You will only know what you are going to do the minute before you do it.

Right Disnut. Our older son is 9 and was very ride shy until he was 7. Now he loves coasters. I won't push them to ride anything. When they are ready, they're ready. And if kids never want to ride Headliners, there is plenty at Disney for them to enjoy.