Rides and height restrictions :(

[becca011906]

Ok i hadn't measured dd in a while... since her 3 y/o dr visit where she was 38 1/8 inches with out shoes on so i was thinking ok not big deal she'll be 40 inches for most the rides my the time we go right??? Well i measured her toinght with shoes on and she's still only 39inches... she is going to be so upset at the parks if she can't ride some of the stuff 'BIG broth' is riding... we had a carnival in town over the 4th of july and she rode EVERyTHING there, including the scrampler the orbit, all of it, at first i wasn't going to let her on the orbit, i mean she's so dinky, she's about 28lbs at 3y/o and my friend that kept her while i took ds on it said she SCREAMed the whole time i was on the ride, she just kept saying "but i not affraid" and then later that night we took her on it, she LOVED it she is a thrill rider already! LOL
So if he does by chance grow and inch in the next 7 weeks and is right at 40 inches are we going to have to have her height checked at every ride?
http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/rr.htm going off this list, if she isn't tall enough she will have to sit out 10 rides that are at 40 inche and i already knew she will have to sit off Mission space and Space MT that brother will get to ride... well i'm guessing he'll ride, he's 46inches tall, but he's 5y/o would you advice a 5y/o going on all this? I dont' ahve a problem with any of the rides in ? with my 3y/o b/c when ds was 3y/o we took him on all the 40 and taller rides...
any tips?
Thanks!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Measure her when you get to the parks--you never know.

I thought DD2 was yet again too short for Goofy as we measured her before we left and she was a half inch to an inch short. At Disney--I figured...let me just see how much further. And she was tall enough. Don't know how she managed a growth spurt in less than 48 hours.

It is frustrating--but nothing you can do if she is too short. And I dare say--perhaps reverse psychology--no souvenirs if she isn't able to behave. It isn't about her lack of bravery (which should be praised)--it is just so that she doesn't get hurt...which can very likely happen when someone who doesn't meet the height requirements rides a ride they aren't supposed to.

Our girls have always seen it as a right of passage and we've always done the measuring at home and marked on the growth chart where they needed to get too.

My only suggestion is on baby swaps--instead of just sitting and having her wait...get the baby swap pass (can be used later in the day) and whoever is watching her go off and do something else.

Good luck and have a pleasant trip.

 

[becca011906]

Oh i'm so hoping for a growth spurt! LOL we'll have to do the babyswap on most everything b/c of the baby (1y/o). I way understand that it's for her safey, but i'm just so worried about her having a melt down time after time...

I'm also wondering if he is tall enough if they will like mark her hand or give her some kinda of a pass for all thoes rides so we won't have to go through her getting messured evey single ride..

 

[Fastcars]

They measure everytime you get on a ride. You might get lucky from one ride to the next with same height requirements,but if you short on one probably going to be too short on all. Give a shot anyways might have midday growth spert

 

[bartleby1]

Unfortunately, unless things have changed, they get measured at each ride. So, if they are close to the 40 inch mark (either slightly over or slightly under), they may get on some and not others. I have also heard of situations where some kids pass for a ride one time and not later in the day.

Does anyone know if the markers they use are exactly 40 inches or do they make them slightly higher to account for shoes? My 3 year old son is 39-3/4 inches without shoes. I haven't measured him yet with shoes on.

Anyway, just a suggestion, if your DD doesn't make the 40 inch mark, maybe one of you could take your older child on the thrill rides and the other one take your DD and baby on something else during that time. Let her pick her favorite ride. If you do it kind of secretly you might avoid some of the disappointment. That is what we plan to do if DS doesn't make the cut. He is not the type to really throw a fit or anything, but I hate to see him disappointed at the happiest place on earth.

Of course, you could always try hanging her by her toes for a few hours a day and hope she stretches !

 

[becca011906]

thanks! hopefully she will just be tall enough for all, but i'm conserned about her temper! She's typical midldle child! LOL

 

[becca011906]

hopefully we will get some on to chim in on the hight think that was asked about shoes that makes me curious too! hang her by her toes, that's so funny!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh i'm so hoping for a growth spurt! LOL we'll have to do the babyswap on most everything b/c of the baby (1y/o). I way understand that it's for her safey, but i'm just so worried about her having a melt down time after time...

I'm also wondering if he is tall enough if they will like mark her hand or give her some kinda of a pass for all thoes rides so we won't have to go through her getting messured evey single ride..

Nope--she'll have to be measured for every ride. Sometimes they even get measured twice for the same ride.

I would try to just discipline her (my opinion--you do what you feel is appropriate) and souvenirs are gotten at the end of the day--and if she has a meltdown...that's it.

ORRRRRR---if she wants to behave that way...you can tell her she'll go spend time in the Baby Care Center Air Conditioning--and the one in MK even shows cartoons (not sure of the others).

The only place with hand marking (and an accompanying wrist band) is the rapids ride at Animal Kingdom--that's b/c shorties who are tall enough for the ride have to sit in a special seat with a bar that comes down so they have something to hold onto. Not sure why a handstamp AND a wristband--but they do both and that is so CM's can ID very easily the kids who need the special seat. But that doesn't translate to other rides and measuring will apply.

For my girls--we just talk about having calcium and protein a lot--the growing foods....you never know what could happen in 7 weeks.

Also--these are not the days to wear skinny little shoes...wear the "big" shoes. not talking high heels--nothing obvious. But some of those shoes out their have a good lift on them. Not the day to where the dollar store flip flops. Do NOT tell your daughter you are doing this though as little kids have BIG mouths and you also don't want to get her hopes up.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

thanks! hopefully she will just be tall enough for all, but i'm conserned about her temper! She's typical midldle child! LOL

The Nanny shows would suggest dealing with that Temper and not allowing her to get away with it. I know it will be tough--but start now and any temper she shows at home--stick to your guns about it. Come up with a plan on how you will deal with her temper at WDW. If she screams at the top of her lungs--she isn't going to get to ride the ride no matter what anyway if she's too short....what about the "I wants" regarding souvenirs, mickey bars, penny presses, ride picks, et cetera.

I think your best preparation on how to handle it is to have the plan in place to deal with her temper in a uniform way regarding any situation that comes up on the trip.

For example--she has to sit out on the next ride she is tall enough for.....time out in the baby care center....return to the hotel room (we have done this once! It sucks, but DD doesn't behave that way anymore )....no desserts...no snacks....

She must have a consequence for her actions--but she also must know that her actions will not be tolerated....Joe Frost (one of the nanny shows) suggests a warning and then if repeated....one minute per year of age in the naughty corner.

And yes--I have put my 2yo in the naughty corner at Disney World. Since we do this at home, she knows it is business and the offense is not repeated (though a new offense might be and then we repeat).

Get your discipline game plan in place and you'll have a better way to make the swaps more pleasant should she be too short.

 

[welovedis]

becca-good idea to plan ahead for the possibility of her disappointment in not being able to ride. I would tell her that she probably won't be able to ride those rides and concentrate on the things she will be able to take part in. Some advance preparation will really help when you are in the midst of things there.


As Lisa mentioned if you are consistent with your discipline and follow-thru now (at home) it will be much easier when you are on vacation to convey the seriousness of her misbehaving.

However, I disagree on the "big shoe" issue. Ride restrictions are in place for a good reason. While I agree they sometimes seem unfair or don't accurately measure (for example, my DS was too short for Kali (yrs ago when they had a higher height restriction) but measured tall enough for Tower of Tower) but I have taught my DS that the person in charge of the ride is going to make a decision and we would listen to what they told us. At 3 he did fine and while he was disappointed, he handled it well and had a terrific trip.

If you put your child in "big shoes" to have them appear to be tall enough to ride something, you are only putting them at risk for an avoidable injury. I would much rather deal with a small meltdown or disappointment, then an injury of any kind because the limit was pushed.

GL with your trip planning!

 

[tjmw2727]

My younger dd was in that position at just under 40" and also just under 44" so I understand your dilemma. I talked with her about what she would not be able to ride and got her exited about what she could ride.

Really, with hundreds of attractions in WDW I hope you can get her more exited about those than the 10 or so she may not be able to ride.

They do measure each and every time you enter the queue and often again at boarding. I have seen many parents usher the kids into the line without getting measured only to be meausred at boarding and not meet the reqirement. The CM's are very good at checking for height and try to measure to save you the time in line but some slip by.

FWIW they will ask the child to remove hats, meaure to the head not the hair and if shoes are obviously high they will ask the child to remove them as well. And yes I have seen the "shoe removal" twice on two different trips.

I would prepare her for the fact that she probably won't be able to ride the rides with a height restriction. I would think about separating for these rides so she dosen't even have to deal with it. Perhaps take the baby and the preschooler to another attraction or show while the others ride say Splash with FP and then you and another member of the party return and ride with FP.

Have a great trip.
TJ