My DD is 39 1/2 inches in shoes

[Inkmahm]

When I took my nephew to Six Flags a couple years ago, I was shocked when he measured 48 inches. (He was just short of that when we were at home.) After he got his arm band, he told me he had worn several pairs of socks to make himself taller.

 

[jenpace]

for any parents considering this type of thing....please be extra careful, and pay extra attention to the restraints on the rides. adding height to their legs isn't going to make them any safer on some of the rides, because the restraints are designed to hold them in while in a sitting position, so it's the length from waist to shoulders that really counts.

If the height difference is a 1/2" or less then wearing "tall" shoes IMO is not going to affect the safety of your child.

As a mom to 5 and having worked in pediatrics I can say that different kids will carry their height differently...one kid might be all torso and the next might be all legs. Even the same child will have varying proportions throughout all the growth spurts that they'll go through.

During one trip when my youngest was *just* tall enough for the CM's to allow her to ride while wearing flat shoes, she also had her Dansko clogs along on that trip. On the days that she had the Danskos on and was measured it was clear that they added a good amount of height...

BTW, aside from giving a bit of height, they're pretty great shoes...

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/i/64434,,_Dansko-Gitte-Clogs-for-Kids.html

 

[annacali]

My DD4 is about 41.5-42 inches. We just returned from Disneyland today. She is over the height limit for everything because *I* checked but I never had a single CM stop us and check her for anything...not Soarin' (which she rode multiple times!) BTMR, Splash, or even Tower of Terror. At Legoland we got stopped several times to see that she measured up, but not at Disney.

 

[JoRo]

We are in the same situation our daughter is at 39 inches now and we go in Oct ....

I actually worked with a guy with an older son who just happened to be short and he actually rebuilt the tennis shoes so that he would get that extra height.

If we are that close I will get her the taller shoes - splash mountain is a must for this trip maybe soaring...well see about that one too

Fun reading

 

[rune_74]

Buying taller shoes is hardly going to put the kids life at danger, I could see if it was like 4 inches or something, could really hurt an ankle

I need affordable cheap shoes for an extra inch just to be safe...my DD is at 39.5 right now and my other dd is at 36.5 so close....we go in october...thinking about hanging them in the basement with cement blocks tied to their legs to stretch them

 

[Mugglemama]

Buying taller shoes is hardly going to put the kids life at danger, I could see if it was like 4 inches or something, could really hurt an ankle

i wasn't implying that tall shoes were dangerous, i was urging parents to be careful when attempting to put children on rides that disneyland has deemed unsafe for individuals of certain heights. it's a reasonable piece of advice.

considering none of us are the experts as to ride restraints and their requirements in order to work effectively, it would just seem most prudent to follow the guidelines, that's all.

anyway, people are going to do what they want. but here's hoping (again) that everyone has a safe time while in the parks.

 

[Desert Dwellers]

On our second trip to DL, DesertGirl was tall enough for Indy with a couple inches to spare. But she's very thin so looks tinier than she really is, so as we were lined up to load into our car, the CM asked her to step out of line.

She asked DesertGirl to stand underneath the measuring bar. DesertGirl goes to stand underneath as asked, and of course whaps her head on it, because she's plenty tall. She got a lump on her noggin, and the CM felt dreadful about it.

 

[tinkerbelt]

We've actually been denied by the same CM who let us through 10 minutes before. When DD was right on the brink, we were at the park early one morning before the crowds picked up, and we went on Space Mountain. There was no line, and we went back through, and the same CM who had measured her and let her on 10 minutes before wouldn't let her through the second time. If you've got kids who are not quite there or just barely there, then I'd avoid any of the rides with height requirements and long lines, because even if the CM at the front lets you in, they will measure you right before you get on the ride, and it sucks having to wait in line only to be denied right when it's time to board.

 

[MommiePrincess]

Thanks for all the great replies....I might post this as a separate question, but do they pay attention to the kiddies shoes. So if I buy a pair of athletic (tennis) shoes with a "higher" heel (like 3/4 inch) will they say anything. Do they really eyeball the shoes and if they request you to take them off due to the heel (and they are tennis shoes) isn't that "wrong" to measure someone in bare feet vs those in whatever shoes and anything inside the shoes (I loved the folded up paper story). So if my DD has tennis shoes with a tad bit higher heel will/can the CM's say anything. They aren't "wedge" and are definately less then an inch, but they do flash when you walk and are noticeable (Strawberry Shortcake from WalMart shoes. With those on, DD is 40 inches on the nose with a measuring tape.

 

[DangerMouse]

Thanks for all the great replies....I might post this as a separate question, but do they pay attention to the kiddies shoes. So if I buy a pair of athletic (tennis) shoes with a "higher" heel (like 3/4 inch) will they say anything. Do they really eyeball the shoes and if they request you to take them off due to the heel (and they are tennis shoes) isn't that "wrong" to measure someone in bare feet vs those in whatever shoes and anything inside the shoes (I loved the folded up paper story). So if my DD has tennis shoes with a tad bit higher heel will/can the CM's say anything. They aren't "wedge" and are definately less then an inch, but they do flash when you walk and are noticeable (Strawberry Shortcake from WalMart shoes. With those on, DD is 40 inches on the nose with a measuring tape.

I've seen kids wearing cowboy boots and Heely's being measured without question. They won't even look twice at tennis shoes. Have a great trip.

 

[iheartdisney]

If your kids are exactly 40 inches, I'd still go with some bigger shoes...we did go on Friday, and did not get to do any "big" rides, becasue those sticks are definately off. We measured DD in several pairs of shoes here at home, and she was about 1/2 inch over. We did not ride anything before we measured her on the Star Tours stick, and she was about 1/2 inch short. So be aware...But I had explained to the kiddos that we would measure her once, and if she was too short, that would be it. Luckily DH is going back with me on the 27th for his birthday.

Do they really eyeball the shoes and if they request you to take them off due to the heel

When DS was right at the height requirement, he went to DL and WDW in cowboy boots and shorts...or the Walmart Camo boots (which add a good 1 1/2 inches!) and was never asked to remove them at a ride.

 

[lilismomma]

My DD Was 39 1/2 in march when we went and the first day at disney she passed all the 40 inch requirement but on which was big thunder rail road and the next day passed none so i really think it depend on the cm my heart raced everytime.. We are going again for 3 days August 10 and i have measured her many times Hoping she is well passed the 40 inch mark that way i will know for Sure she be tall enough For all the 40 inch rides with out worry that will be denied. I plan on getting her a new pair of tall shoes

 

[Disney Dreams]

So how strict are they with the 40 inch requirement???

They are strict. If a piece of paper can slip between the top of the head and the measuring marker, they don't ride.

But I think she would love Soaring Over California, and possibly Splash... It's hard to tell a 3 year old to "stand tall and still". ...She is just SO close to the 40 inch mark, I'd hate to see tears for 1/2-1/4 inch....

Every time this question comes up on the boards, I am beyond puzzled. Aren't children taught anything about following rules anymore? What about when she's 5 days away from being able to get her drivers' license? What about when she's 3 days too young to vote?

The height restrictions are rules put in place for safety. If she doesn't meet them, she doesn't meet them. What happens next is learning patience, teaching her about obeying the rules, and respecting policies that are in place.

I think it really depends on the CM...
We were in-line for Splash last month when the CM at the bottom said a boy who looked about 10 was tall enough to go on the ride who was just barely right there...
When we got to the top the CM told the boy he was too short and the boy said but the CM at the bottom said I was tall enough...
The CM would not let the boy go on the ride...
So I really think it comes down to the CM and their decision...

It is up to the CM to eyeball whether or not the child is close or not. Once they measure, it is not up to the CM at all. Either the child measures up or they don't.

Is the joy of riding a ride REALLY more important than a child's safety and / or teaching kids to respect rules?

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I think the sticks are off at DL. I had DS measured at his doctor's office without shoes last summer before our DL trip--he was 46"--tall enough for Indy!! When measured at the Indy ride he was too short--in his athletic shoes which added at least an inch to his barefoot height. We waited for staff change, stuffed his shoes with napkins from Bengal BBQ, & though he was measured 3 different times as we went through the line, he made it.
Just about the same situation last month with DD. She was 40" at MD visit, then magically shrunk when we got to Disneyland!
I can't swallow the safety argument for DL rides as Matterhorn is by far the most jarring and unrestrained ride IMO and it has a 35" requirement.
Target has loafers in turquoise or pink on clearance right now with a little wedge--DD proclaimed them comfy so we'll take them to DL next month just in case she "shrinks" again so she can finally ride Star Tours.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I think the sticks are off at DL... She was 40" at MD visit, then magically shrunk when we got to Disneyland!

But, those are the sticks that count when it comes to measuring. Everyone has to measure up on the same sticks.

I can't swallow the safety argument for DL rides as Matterhorn is by far the most jarring and unrestrained ride IMO and it has a 35" requirement.

Of course it's for safety. Depending upon how that particular ride is built and the physics involved, safety situations are different. If the height restriction isn't there for safety, what would it be there for??!?!?!

 

[5Clark5]

We had issues with our child in the morning making it on and in the evening too short. My suggestion is have your child try wearing two pairs of socks

 

[DangerMouse]

We had issues with our child in the morning making it on and in the evening too short. My suggestion is have your child try wearing two pairs of socks

This happened to us too. I actually took my socks off and put them over my child's socks, and then they measured fine.

While the rules are there for a reason, when you are talking about a fraction of an inch and measuring up for the ride early in the day, then returning later or even the next day and being denied, I am all for little tricks like this.

 

[Hester]

My daughter was just at 40" our last trip. Just seconding some info already posted:

- CMs were very strict & keen
- Measured multiple times, at line entrance & before loading
- "Measuring sticks" were not consistent in height
- We did get the "paper test"

 

[MommiePrincess]

If the sticks are truly off and I believe Dr's and measuring tapes over sticks that are pushed on, kicked, ground leveling issues etc.....has anyone ever asked for management or brought there own measuring tape. It seems wrong that Disney has it's own measuring scale which is inconsistent.

Also curious about inputs on riding on Matterhorn. Is is Ok for a slight little 3 year old who is over the 35 inch mark? She is fearless and loves fast rides.

 

[rune_74]

But, those are the sticks that count when it comes to measuring. Everyone has to measure up on the same sticks.


Of course it's for safety. Depending upon how that particular ride is built and the physics involved, safety situations are different. If the height restriction isn't there for safety, what would it be there for??!?!?!

I'm not so sure what the problem is getting them to wear a bigger shoe if they are off be a a centimeter or so... I for one would not feel I endangered my childs life at all by doing that. The only way you will ever get the exact size for a child is if you make them take their shoes off...I think its a bit crazy at that point.

If you can prove a centimeter or 2 will make that big of a deal then great, but honestly I'm all for helping with that little bit. It has nothing to do with learning patience, or learning to follow rules. Wearing shoes with a bigger sole is totally within the rules...(I'm not talking inches here...alot of kids shoes already give an extra inch)

Seriously if you feel uncomfortable with your kids weaing inch thick soles then don't let them...however, let the rest of us decide for our own families.