Short People..How do you cope?

[sames1]

I'm told that no matter how old you are, if you are too short you can't ride on a good percentage of the rides. I've often wondered, how do "little people" and short people cope with that?

 

[scanmom]

are you for real? if you have any valid questions about doing disney with a disability, I would suggest looking at the disabilities board. But I wouldn't ask your question over there, or anywhere.

 

[sames1]

Why not?

are you for real? if you have any valid questions about doing disney with a disability, I would suggest looking at the disabilities board. But I wouldn't ask your question over there, or anywhere.

 

[ElleBelle]

I'm told that no matter how old you are, if you are too short you can't ride on a good percentage of the rides. I've often wondered, how do "little people" and short people cope with that?

I think it was a valid question.... When typed, it's very hard to tell how people are asking a question--- I really can't tell if this question was asked with sarcasm.

 

[bytheblood]

I don't think the question was meant to be offensive, just more of a 'how does Disney work with this situation' question.

sames1 - I believe the rules would probably apply the same. The height restriction applies not because of age, but safety precautions.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I don't think the question was meant to be offensive either, just a curiosity.

Age is not the issue it is the safety restraints provided for the rides, so even if you are 40 years old, if you do not meet the height requirement you can not ride. But you would be talking about little people/dwarfs more so than your average shorter adult. Most of the Disney height requirements are between 32" and 48" (with a few taller exceptions at the Water Parks). In my 10 years working at WDW I only had one experience with an adult, little person, that was not tall enough to ride and she came to me with a beaming smile and said "well let's see if we can do this one" and when she was to short she turned to her friends and said "have fun I will go get ice cream" and away she went. In that situation these are people that have lived with this there whole life, it is something that unfortunately they have become acustomed to and usually have a great attitude about it.

 

[disneyjunkie]

are you for real? if you have any valid questions about doing disney with a disability, I would suggest looking at the disabilities board. But I wouldn't ask your question over there, or anywhere.

What's wrong with the OP's question?

If you don't meet the height requirement, you can't ride. There are plenty of other things to do around the parks.

 

[sames1]

In my 10 years working at WDW I only had one experience with an adult, little person, that was not tall enough to ride and she came to me with a beaming smile and said "well let's see if we can do this one" and when she was to short she turned to her friends and said "have fun I will go get ice cream" and away she went. In that situation these are people that have lived with this there whole life, it is something that unfortunately they have become acustomed to and usually have a great attitude about it.

I think that person is sweet to have that attitude. Still..when I see anyone turned away from a ride, even a child, because they are too short, I feel bad.

There must be something the designers can do to make way for anyone, no matter how short or tall, to ride. Perhaps an attachment or something that insures that can't fall out.

One further thought. Another "What would Walt do" type question. Did Disneyland originally have rides with a height requirement?

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

It is not Disney's decision (or Universal, Sea World, etc). Ride restrictions are in place for the saftey of the patron (by the ride inspectors and safety teams). Based on age, intensity, and safety restraint systems. They will make adjustments after the ride opens if they see away that they can lower the height. Splash Mountain and Dinosaur both opened with higher height requirments than they currently enforce, because they changed the logs at SM and they made minor changes to the ride for Dinosaur... On a side note, My nephew is 1 and a half and he is already meeting some of the height requirments at Disney, next visit he could go on Big Thunder (at 2 years old)...would I put him on there...NO never.

I understand what you are saying, as a grown adult it is different than a child, but there are safety requirements for everything in this world and sometimes we like them other times we think they are silly. I would rather see the height set and enforced then something tragic happen because someone felt badly for me.

As for your "what would Walt do" question, Disneyland did not "open" with Height requirement rides. But there were height restricted attractions there in Walt's lifetime...Of the rides that are currently still in operations, The Matterhorn, for example opened, on June 14, 1959 (it currently has a 35" restriction).

 

[HugsForEeyore]

This is a very good question, as I have dealt with it! I am just about five feet tall, and to rent a motor boat at Disney, you need to be AT LEAST five feet tall. I was very afraid they would turn me away! But fortunately, no CM has pulled out a measuring stick and checked me, though it would be close! I guess I look "tall enough" and I am clearly over age 16 (the age requirement for renting), so never had a problem, thank goodness!

 

[Sleepy]

I am just about five feet tall, and to rent a motor boat at Disney, you need to be AT LEAST five feet tall.

WOAH! I never thought about a requirement like that. Must have something to do with the foot pedals/view? That is all I can think of. I suppose if I shrink I will not qualify as I am only 5ft now.

 

[scanmom]

if I took that question the wrong way. Sometimes it is hard to tell the tone of a poster, and it read "rude" to me. I hope I didn't sound too rude in my reply, but I was a little shocked at the question.

 

[Talking Hands]

This is a very good question, as I have dealt with it! I am just about five feet tall, and to rent a motor boat at Disney, you need to be AT LEAST five feet tall. I was very afraid they would turn me away! But fortunately, no CM has pulled out a measuring stick and checked me, though it would be close! I guess I look "tall enough" and I am clearly over age 16 (the age requirement for renting), so never had a problem, thank goodness!

I have never been refused a boat rental and I am only 4'8" tall. And I had no problems using it. Of course, I don't look like a teen either but well over.

 

[johde]

It not just short people that have that problem. While not at Disney, several rides have Maximum Height Requirements. For Example, at Kings Island in Ohio. Runaway reptar, and delirium have a 76" maximum height, Face off- 78". Certain "Pooh Sized" individuals also have problems with rides. Even after losing over 100lbs there are still rides I can't fit properly. Some of those I may never fit properly due to my height (almost 6'4" tall). Ride manufacturers have a delicate balancing act when designing rides. Changes that might allow them to lower the minimum height might effect people on the other end of the scale and certain large or tall people might no longer be able to ride. The reverse could also be true. Designing a ride so more tall or "pooh sized" people can ride might require a raising of the minimum height. That being said, Disney is one of the best out there in keeping the most people happy. The highest height requirement of any ride at the 4 major parks is 48" (52" if you count DRIVING alone on the speedway you can ). Kings Island in Ohio is 54", Cedar Point in Ohio is 54", Universal is 54", Sea World is 54". Busch Gardens is 54". Disney is better at accomidating shorter people than any of these other parks. They are also the best I've been to at accomidating people who are tall or "pooh sized". No thrill ride can accomidate everyone. Disney I believe has done about the best that can to accomidate the largest number of guests on their more thrilling rides.

 

[mattsdragon]

I'm not sure if this was a serious post or not, but as a tall person, I found it pretty funny.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

This is a very good question, as I have dealt with it! I am just about five feet tall, and to rent a motor boat at Disney, you need to be AT LEAST five feet tall. I was very afraid they would turn me away! But fortunately, no CM has pulled out a measuring stick and checked me, though it would be close! I guess I look "tall enough" and I am clearly over age 16 (the age requirement for renting), so never had a problem, thank goodness!

I guess I can't rent a boat then! LOL I'm only 4' 10." I can ride every ride though, that's all I care about

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I guess I can't rent a boat then! LOL I'm only 4' 10." I can ride every ride though, that's all I care about

Wow! Didn't know there were so many us five feet and under crowd!

But yes, I clearly remember the signs for renting motor boats saying you have to be at least five feet tall! Maybe they changed it by now, but I know I saw it only a couple of years ago! Happy to say, I rented many times over the last 10 years and never had a problem.

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

It not just short people that have that problem. While not at Disney, several rides have Maximum Height Requirements. For Example, at Kings Island in Ohio. Runaway reptar, and delirium have a 76" maximum height, Face off- 78". Certain "Pooh Sized" individuals also have problems with rides. Even after losing over 100lbs there are still rides I can't fit properly. Some of those I may never fit properly due to my height (almost 6'4" tall). Ride manufacturers have a delicate balancing act when designing rides. Changes that might allow them to lower the minimum height might effect people on the other end of the scale and certain large or tall people might no longer be able to ride. The reverse could also be true. Designing a ride so more tall or "pooh sized" people can ride might require a raising of the minimum height. That being said, Disney is one of the best out there in keeping the most people happy. The highest height requirement of any ride at the 4 major parks is 48" (52" if you count DRIVING alone on the speedway you can ). Kings Island in Ohio is 54", Cedar Point in Ohio is 54", Universal is 54", Sea World is 54". Busch Gardens is 54". Disney is better at accomidating shorter people than any of these other parks. They are also the best I've been to at accomidating people who are tall or "pooh sized". No thrill ride can accomidate everyone. Disney I believe has done about the best that can to accomidate the largest number of guests on their more thrilling rides.

I have noticed that Ohio is much more strict on their size requirements. Why I don't know.

 

[All Aboard]

But there were height restricted attractions there in Walt's lifetime...Of the rides that are currently still in operations, The Matterhorn, for example opened, on June 14, 1959 (it currently has a 35" restriction).

I'm sure you know that the Matterhorn didn't have a height restriction until after the Roger Rabbit accident. It operated for over 40 years without one.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

As for the boat rentals, they were probably trying to keep young kids from getting them so they set a height limit. Then they added an age limit and kept all the other ones. I have seen 3 and 4 year olds riding in the boats so it isn't a safety issue to be in one that small.