Question about height restrictions

[glamfish500]

When it comes to Disney’s height restrictions does 40” actually mean 40” or do they lean on the cautious side and add an inch to their cut off.

We’re going in September and want to be realistic about what our daredevil can ride. We took her somewhere in the fall and she needed to be 38” and hit that with no shoes by our measurements. When we got there she was easily two inches shorter than their sign allowed despite saying 38”. She was crushed.

Hopefully she’ll be well over 40” and it won’t be a problem but you never know when kids will/won’t hit a growth spurt.

 

[Klayfish]

There was actually a thread on here not too long ago about this. You may be able to find it. You'll find varying responses. Some say they are military strict about it. My experience says otherwise. Sure, if the kid isn't close at all, they won't let you in. But if it's 40" and they can just touch the 40", they can ride.

Get some thick bottomed shoes and make sure your child stands up nice and tall. That's what we did...our twins had sandals/flip flops with really thick bottoms and we taught them how to really stand tall. Worked great.

 

[KrazeeK120]

The measurement bars are accurate in my experience.

My son was almost 3 on our trip in the fall. We had a hard time getting an accurate measurement on him at home because he wouldn’t stand still/completely straight long enough for us to measure him. But based on the measurement we tried to take, I was pretty confident that he was right at 38 inches without shoes. At Disney, he hit the bar easily for SDD and 7DMT. (Sidenote - he ended up scared on both rides after insisting he really wanted to go on them!)

 

[Betty Rohrer]

When it comes to Disney’s height restrictions does 40” actually mean 40” or do they lean on the cautious side and add an inch to their cut off.

We’re going in September and want to be realistic about what our daredevil can ride. We took her somewhere in the fall and she needed to be 38” and hit that with no shoes by our measurements. When we got there she was easily two inches shorter than their sign allowed despite saying 38”. She was crushed.

Hopefully she’ll be well over 40” and it won’t be a problem but you never know when kids will/won’t hit a growth spurt.

make sure your daredevil understands to hit the bar not go under. if they go under no ride even if close but tall enough

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Disney is strict and fair.
The measurement is the measurement.
And they measure with shoes ON.
Remember that we shrink as the day goes on and there are some kids that don't understand that they need to stand up straight. You may need to prep and say you need to stand tall.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Disney is strict and fair.
The measurement is the measurement.
And they measure with shoes ON.
Remember that we shrink as the day goes on and there are some kids that don't understand that they need to stand up straight. You may need to prep and say you need to stand tall.

and if like one of my grandsons duck slightly so they do not hit their head on bar

 

[bigbabyblues]

In our experience, they are strict. My younger son was denied on Splash Mountain because they could slide a plastic park ticket (same as a credit card) between the top of his head and the bar. He was standing as tall as he could, he just wasn't quite tall enough to hit the bar that trip.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I think the OP is asking if the measuring posts at Disney are accurate (not whether Disney will allow a too-short child on the ride). OP, please correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[TangledHairDon'tCare]

I think the OP is asking if the measuring posts at Disney are accurate (not whether Disney will allow a too-short child on the ride). OP, please correct me if I’m wrong.

This is how I read it too!

My 4yo was 40.5” barefoot on our last trip and she was just over the stick on every 40” ride so I think they’re pretty accurate.

 

[daisy2013]

Often there is also two spots to measure - one at the start and one before you get on. Both matter. We practices feet together, head up, take a deep breath in. It makes to straighten up naturally

 

[rideswithchrist]

I wondered this too after my almost 3 year old got to ride 7DMT with us last time! Maybe I misread the height requirement and he was tall enough. I never checked.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I wondered this too after my almost 3 year old got to ride 7DMT with us last time! Maybe I misread the height requirement and he was tall enough. I never checked.

The height requirement is 38 inches. My son was almost 3 when he rode it and hit the bar easily. He’s average height. Most almost 3 year olds are tall enough for 7DMT (And SDD).

 

[sponica]

The height requirement is 38 inches. My son was almost 3 when he rode it and hit the bar easily. He’s average height. Most almost 3 year olds are tall enough for 7DMT (And SDD).

And some giant 2 year olds are that tall...cough my kid cough

 

[ForeverDance]

And some giant 2 year olds are that tall...cough my kid cough

I have one of those too. We went the first time when she was three and she was tall enough for everything but RnR and that nasty hurl ride in AK. The following year at 4 she was tall enough for everything.

 

[rideswithchrist]

The height requirement is 38 inches. My son was almost 3 when he rode it and hit the bar easily. He’s average height. Most almost 3 year olds are tall enough for 7DMT (And SDD).

I swear I measured him before our trip and expected him to be less than 38"- BUT I may have been thinking 40" was the cut off for that one since it was for all the others. I was super happy not to do a RS that time.

 

[glamfish500]

I think the OP is asking if the measuring posts at Disney are accurate (not whether Disney will allow a too-short child on the ride). OP, please correct me if I’m wrong.

Yes! Just making sure 40” is actually 40”. I totally get if Disney errs on the side of caution with their measurements, I just wanted to know what to expect so we can be prepared. I totally get that she’s not going to be able to ride if she’s under 40”

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Yes! Just making sure 40” is actually 40”. I totally get if Disney errs on the side of caution with their measurements, I just wanted to know what to expect so we can be prepared. I totally get that she’s not going to be able to ride if she’s under 40”

found it to be close but as I said earlier make sure she doesn't duck slightly under the bar. took a special CM about half way thru our trip to get one grandson to hit his head so he could ride. she was sure he was tall enough and made him go up to bar many times but finally he bumped his head complained because he did but he got to ride. rest of trip complaining all the way he bumped his head so he could ride many ride he had already failed at

 

[Tiggerlover91]

The height requirement is 38 inches. My son was almost 3 when he rode it and hit the bar easily. He’s average height. Most almost 3 year olds are tall enough for 7DMT (And SDD).

When my son was 3, he was about 42 inches! We did Splash, Kali River, BTMRR with no problem. My child is now 5'4 and he's 11! UGH!