My 3 year old hit a growth spurt...

[Hope Soda]

I have been planning this early-December trip for my family of four, which includes a 3 year old. Just under two months ago, he measured 38" with his shoes on. Today, the pediatrician measured him at 39" barefoot. So he probably grew as much as an inch and a half in under 2 months. Or someone measured wrong.

Anyway, my question is about fastpass+ planning. I've already made reservations that account for the little guy not being tall enough for BTMRR, Splash, and Soarin', all rides I'm sure he would love if he could ride them.

Do you think it's better to make FP+ reservations as if he were 40" tall, at the risk of him not actually being able to use them, or under the assumption that he won't make it? Something else to consider is that we have some fastpasses booked for two with the intention of rider swapping. Obviously, rider swapping may not work so well if he continues growing at the same pace.

Either way, we've got our FEA and 7DMT booked for four, so at least there's that.

And, yes, this is a first world problem.

 

[Accident]

That week tends to be very low crowd. Keep your plans how they are. You can get in lines for those rides and it's usually not horrible. He's also still 3 and while you'll know him best, he may not be ready for them.

 

[Hope Soda]

He is definitely ready for them, mentally. He went on a 40" roller coaster a few days ago. The person handing out height wristbands measured him with the stick very slanted, so we took advantage of the opportunity to take him on one of my old favorites (that I knew would be safe for him). He LOVED it. He is a total adrenaline junky and he will love any ride he is able to ride safely.

I do hope the lines aren't too bad. My five year old is not the most patient.

 

[bumbershoot]

Unless you've got some crazy shoes for him, 39" barefoot won't get him to 40". Just continue as you meant to go.

My five year old is not the most patient.

FWIW...very few 5 year olds are patient. You'll be surrounded by impatient 5 year olds; s/he'll have company. Disney is what taught my son to deal with lines. "Want to ride that? Gotta wait in line."

 

[mom2rtk]

One of many reasons I am not a FP+ fan. Regardless of his actual height, many kids will be just tall enough and decide last minute they don't want to ride, and it might have been better for the family to use their FP on something else.

That week tends to be very low crowd. Keep your plans how they are. You can get in lines for those rides and it's usually not horrible. He's also still 3 and while you'll know him best, he may not be ready for them.

That might be a lower crowd time of year in general, but I would definitely not go into it expecting "low" crowds. If you visit the MK on one of the few days a week they don't have a MVMCP scheduled, it will have concentrated crowds and feel very busy indeed.

 

[Accident]

That might be a lower crowd time of year in general, but I would definitely not go into it expecting "low" crowds. If you visit the MK on one of the few days a week they don't have a MVMCP scheduled, it will have concentrated crowds and feel very busy indeed.

Feel busy and shorter ride lines in my mind is 2 different things. It can feel as busy as it wants if I can get onto any ride in 10-15 minutes.

 

[newdeal]

I have the feeling that the 40" height measurement area is actually slightly less than 40" in order to avoid disappointment. My daughter went on Dinosaur last year and at home she wasn't 40" but at Disney she made it just up to the mark

 

[mom2rtk]

Feel busy and shorter ride lines in my mind is 2 different things. It can feel as busy as it wants if I can get onto any ride in 10-15 minutes.

Any ride in 10-15 minutes? I'm not even sure extra magic bands could promise that.

 

[Accident]

Any ride in 10-15 minutes? I'm not even sure extra magic bands could promise that.

I love that week but this year it might be interesting as it's normally a week with no discounts but this year had discounts including free dining and lots are talking about it. Lately it's not been impossible to just do a couple lines for those rides and have a great day speeding up whatever other lines you can with fp+. It's also a 3 year old that may not be able to get on anything or may not be ready to get on these things yet. I think a plan of doing one or two of them if they are in standby isn't outrageous. fp+ just speeds up some lines, it doesn't mean you can't wait and ride them.

 

[nicolemb]

Any ride in 10-15 minutes? I'm not even sure extra magic bands could promise that.

I can't speak for beginning of December, but for our September trip, we didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything other than Anna and Elsa M&G (which was stated to be 10 minutes and we didn't realize how long queue was from the outside- think we just got caught in the RD crowd). Between FP, rider swap and just having a good idea which rides to prioritize in the morning, we didn't have any wait over 15 minutes.

It did feel like the parks were crowded, but not the lines.

 

[mom2rtk]

I love that week but this year it might be interesting as it's normally a week with no discounts but this year had discounts including free dining and lots are talking about it. Lately it's not been impossible to just do a couple lines for those rides and have a great day speeding up whatever other lines you can with fp+. It's also a 3 year old that may not be able to get on anything or may not be ready to get on these things yet. I think a plan of doing one or two of them if they are in standby isn't outrageous. fp+ just speeds up some lines, it doesn't mean you can't wait and ride them.

I have been in early December many times. It's a great time to visit. Great weather (usually, if you don't count 2010 ), parks are decked out for the holidays. And crowds are quite manageable. Just not what I would call "low". Probably more like moderate.

I'm used to being able to ride headliners multiple times. I just don't think that's possible any more most times of the year. And yes, I completely understand that I can stand in a line without fastpass. I just doubt most of the headliners are going to be 10-15 minutes. If the OP goes into it expecting that, she's going to be very disappointed.

I can't speak for beginning of December, but for our September trip, we didn't wait more than 15 minutes for anything other than Anna and Elsa M&G (which was stated to be 10 minutes and we didn't realize how long queue was from the outside- think we just got caught in the RD crowd). Between FP, rider swap and just having a good idea which rides to prioritize in the morning, we didn't have any wait over 15 minutes.

It did feel like the parks were crowded, but not the lines.

September is the one "go to" low crowd time left on the calendar. School is back in session and while parents will take kids out of school, most won't do it in the first few weeks.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have the feeling that the 40" height measurement area is actually slightly less than 40" in order to avoid disappointment. My daughter went on Dinosaur last year and at home she wasn't 40" but at Disney she made it just up to the mark

I've never heard that before. And I doubt it. She just might not have been as motivated to stretch herself out at home.

 

[Hope Soda]

I am definitely not expecting 15 minute wait times for rides like Soarin, 7 Dwarfs, Test Track, Toy Story, etc... I have fastpasses for pretty much all of the headliners, though not TSMM (we are doing EMM).

But I am hoping for wait times around that for minor attractions. We are planning to rope drop 6/7 days, and hoping to knock out the not-quite-headliners as early in the day as possible.

 

[Jarmo]

Did you try and measure him yourself? I'd guess if the doctors' measurements was off. Mark 40" on the wall and see where he stands with shoes.

 

[klmall]

Maybe OT but many years ago (in ancient times... ) our timid, shy DS was 4 years old and at WDW for his first trip. He was definitely tall enough for virtually all rides open at that time and he had no fears. He rode everything except Space Mountain. Of course, it was all new to him but by the time we returned two years later he had become fearful of many rides he loved before. At one ride, I think it was BTMRR, he totally balked and said something like "but I'm too young Mom".

It took him many years before he would ride many of the thrill rides again. He didn't try TOT until he was probably 13.

The worst time though was at Universal with the horrendous, long line at Back to the Future which snaked up several flights of stairs. We were at the very last waiting area before entering the pre-vehicle boarding area and he refused to move a step forward. I lost my good Mother cool and almost dragged him in. Luckily DH who didn't really want to ride, took him back down all those stairs (no chicken exit at the time). I have never forgotten this incident and regret forgetting that he could and would change his mind.

The lesson here; especially with FPs and all the arrangements necessary to ride WDWs rides is to have an alternative plan. Check for FPs for other rides. They do pop-up all the time.

 

[Hope Soda]

Did you try and measure him yourself? I'd guess if the doctors' measurements was off. Mark 40" on the wall and see where he stands with shoes.

I tried this and he does indeed seem to be less than 39" tall. So I'll keep my original fastpasses. Our first day doesn't include any fastpasses that aren't for all of us, so we'll see how he measures that day and maybe adjust the rides for the rest of the week if he's tall.

 

[disnut8]

One very important thing to remember is that your pediatrician will not be at Disney World with you so that measurement stays back at home and is not at Disney World. The only height measurement that you need to rely on is the one they take before your child enters the queue for any attraction.