really close to height requirement

[smoochie]

My daughter will be really close to the height requirement for some rides when we go. Should I do a high hairdo or make her wear higher shoes? I know I sound really desperate, but when her sister is going and she can't it will be sad. Any suggestions?

 

[cinamin27]

maybe some of the tennis shoes that are out there now with the thicker soles (my daughter has some Sketchers with thick soles that make her taller, although she is 11yrs old & 5'2" so we dont have height requirement concerns). high hairdo wont work as they use an L shaped pole & if the top bar doesnt sit directly on their head, she might not be allowed on

I know others will have issues with the OP's question & probably my answer but remember, only WE know OUR children best as far as what rides they can handle, especially if they are only a millimeter shorter than the requirement.

 

[Mr.BsMom]

The hair won't help... The CM's will most likely push it down anyway. You can try the shoes if you want to, but the height requirements are there for a reason. (don't mean to sound harsh, but it's true...) She may be sad, but I think it's better to be safe than sorry.
Plus..... It will give you another reason to plan another trip! We went last year, and we told our son we would go back when he was tall enough for Space Mountain. It got him excited about planning another trip (knowing we definitely WOULD go back in the near future), and as soon as he reached that milestone, we booked our hotel room and flights. We're going next month and he'll get to ride both Space Mountain and Mission:Space!

 

[dlaushey]

We go with the really thick soled shoes. Although many CMs have noticed and smiled only 1 has said something “Somebody got some new shoes so that she could ride the RnR” - and with that she waived us on through.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Everytime that I have seen, the CM's seem really strict with the height requirement. I've seen some get on because of the shoes they were wearing, but it didn't always work. I feel so bad though because they look so disappointed! Sure wouldn't want that job.

I guess it really depends on the CM. (Hairdo won't help, they work around it)

 

[DissyLove]

If the little one is ready, try big hair and shoes with lifts in them...

 

[zurgswife]

If you are just talking less then 1/4" without shoes then shoes should fix the problem...but just remember if you are unable to remedy the height problem with regular shoes... this is a safety issue. My youngest has had to spend many many trips sitting out because she just wasn't talk enough.

 

[WDSearcher]

You don't mention how much of a difference there is, so it's hard to say what to do. If, as others have said, you're looking at less than a 1/4", a slightly higher shoe will get her on the ride. But if it's more than that, you need to discuss with your daughter the fact that the reason she's not allowed on the ride is because Disney has set that height so that she'll be safe riding. She's old enough to understand that. There are bikes she can't ride and sports she can't play yet because she's not big enough -- this is another thing like that. I know it's tough to be in the parks with a disappointed daughter, but I'd rather have a disappointed kid than an injured one. (Or one who had a "rough ride" because the harness didn't fit as it should and so they never want to go on the ride again.)

Disney CMs aren't clueless -- they're not going to measure the top of the hair, they're going to measure the top of the head. It's also no use to put a stuffed baseball cap on a kid's head, as someone on the boards suggested once, or to put your child in severly platformed shoes. A CM seeing big-time platform sneakers or flip flops will ask the child to take them off and measure them barefoot. A small bit of extra sole on the shoe (like Sketchers) won't be as big of a deal.

But your best bet is to prepare your DD for the possibility that she will not be able to ride every ride her sister does. And then maybe get her a special pin or something as compensation.

 

[Kallison]

Get the big shoes, I"ve never seen a CM look at shoes. Good luck.

 

[rayelias]

My daughter will be really close to the height requirement for some rides when we go. Should I do a high hairdo or make her wear higher shoes? I know I sound really desperate, but when her sister is going and she can't it will be sad. Any suggestions?

All due respect, but there is a very good reason there are height requirements on these rides... your child's SAFETY.

PLEASE take that into VERY careful consideration if you decide to "push the boundaries." I know it may seem arbitrary, but on some rides, it could be very dangerous. I've seen videos (mostly from "carnival" type of operators, or smaller not so "Safety" oriented theme parks) where people are literally holding on for their lives, because they didn't properly fit in the safety restraints because of their stature.

Now, there are some attractions that I wouldn't think twice about. But, there are some that I definately would.

 

[Stitch1962]

Hairdos don't help... they just smash them down. Only hope is shoes that have thick soles, 'cause if they are shoes with heals or look like anything is stuck in them to make the kids seem taller, sorry ... kid has to be measured without. Remember that usually the kid gets measured 2 or 3 times before getting on the ride. As others said, height requirements are there to keep the kids from getting hurt. They'll soon be old or tall enough to ride anything they want. They just have to have some patience.

PS, kid swap works well!

 

[bishop1989]

The hairdo does work and so do thick soled shoes. You may even try a ball cap with the hair pulled up. As long as you are talking about less than one inch. The rides requirements are set up for reason but, their is a plus factor for situations like this where people smaller or lighter than recommended may get on. For this reason 1 inch is still safe but, do not go beyond that.

 

[sha_lyn]

I know others will have issues with the OP's question & probably my answer but remember, only WE know OUR children best as far as what rides they can handle, especially if they are only a millimeter shorter than the requirement.

I don't get this argument. The restrictions are in place not for fear of "not handling it" but because they need to fit the safety restrains correctly. I doubt a parent knows more about then engineering of a ride than those who set the regulations.

 

[aubriee]

Thick soled shoes do not always work. In January we were in line to ride Primeval Whirl and the little girl in front of us was wearing some very thick soled flip flops. The CM made her take them off and measured her barefoot. The parents were really upset and argued they would take responsibility if anything happened, but no go. They were turned away.

Last summer my GD was too short for rides at Sea World or Fiesta Texas and was very disappointed. When she saw this little girl turned away she got upset, but we reminded her she had grown since we were in San Antonio and besides the height requirements at WDW are less than they are at Sea World and Fiesta Texas. She was fine.

 

[smoochie]

everybody calm down. I would never risk my daughter life for a ride and I know why there are height requirements. Im talking a very small amount of a difference. Didn't know if they are that particular when measuring. Thank you everyone for your thoughts.

 

[beattyfamily]

everybody calm down. I would never risk my daughter life for a ride and I know why there are height requirements. Im talking a very small amount of a difference. Didn't know if they are that particular when measuring. Thank you everyone for your thoughts.

No problem. No need to justify your question! I was in the same boat about a year ago planning our trip when my DD was just shy of 48 and she REALLY wantedto do RnR. I told her to eat LOTS of veggies!! I also bought her a pair of sneakers with a bit of a height compared to regular sneakers but nothing major. She was only about 1/2 inch off when I bought them about 4 months before our trip. By the time our trip came, with the shoes she was exactly 48 inches and sometimes a hair over depending when you measure her. I also have heard that you are taller in the AM so we of course did RnR first thing.

I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to get to 48 inches with shoes if they are VERY close to it anyway. But I wouldn't put anything in the shoes or puff up her hair!

 

[eeyore0062]

Tall hairdos don't work under caps... I have seen them ask the child to take off the cap and then they mash down the tall hairdo.

I have also seen them make the child take off their shoes.

The rules are there for the child's safety and well being, and are put in place by the manufacturer of the ride. They know what height they designed the ride for, and what is the limits of safety.

 

[LisaBi]

That ride ought to have height of requirement of at least 5 feet! Warning to all - be careful with children. My son is well over 48 inches - he loves the mountains, Test Track, etc. But this ride is rough. It really bounces you around. Maybe its not a height thing as much as you have to be strong enough to hold yourself still (with no where to hold on.) My son banged his head pretty good.

Lisa B

 

[rcraw45425]

Primevil Whirl as I call it is a killer! DD7 was a tad too chort in October, we tried the ponytail hat thing, they just took off th ehat and squished her pony down Really upset her, especially since she was tall enough for Dinosaur which looks and is truly rougher. This last trip the first of the month she wore some moderately stacked OP tennis shoes, look like the old converse high tops. She had also grown a bit so she made the height requirement so on we went. Big mistake in my book When we hit the first turn and started to spin I'd thought I was a goner That ride whips you all around. As some other poster said, DD's and I are all on the petite side, I felt like I was going to be thrown out several times, not to mention DD7, the one wanting so desperately to ride. When we got off I felt like kissing the ground. Funny thing is I thin kshe'd ride it again if she could convince us to ride with her.

 

[Stitch1962]

Took DD and her friend to AK last weekend. They wanted to ride Primeval Whirl. DD liked it, but her friend didn't as she hit her head against DD's ear when they were spinning. They then proceeded to argue about which was better... Dinosaur (friend liked that best) or Primeval Whirl (DD liked that better). DD's friend said she will NEVER go on PW again. It is a lot rougher than it looks (it looks like a kiddie ride), and the height requirement on it is definitely as it should be!