Slightly different hight requirement question for those w/ ASD kids

[ppony]

So. I'll say right away so no one jumps to conclusions that I'm trying to get my son on a ride he's not tall enough for. No way. If he's not tall enough, he doens/t ride. It's a safety thing. He's a peanut for his age. Even though I know he's tall enough for some rides, I won't take him on them because he's not ready and I'm too nervous about it.

ANYWAY! My question, as some of you guys w/ ASD kids would understand, if they have it in their head they can ride a ride and then they get turned away for being too short, they will have a MELTDOWN of epic proportions. Mine gets self-injourous and also injures others. The only reason that could happen is if the person at the entrance let him in for meeting the requirement and the last person to measure at the actual loading area said "no". THAT would be the issue I'm speaking of. So what I'm wondering if if anyone has gotten anything from guest services like a band or pass or what-not that says he's been remeasured and meets those requirements so we don't have to fear that melt-down every single time. We just got home from the pediatricians and w/o shoes right now (50 days out from our trip) he's 43.5 inches. SO depending, he could be right at that cusp where he could meet requirements of 44 inch rides w/ one CM and not w/ another on the same ride. Given the passing of our beloved GAC and now I'm REALLY not grooving on the FP+ (already did it sans child) and DAS, I'd just like to avoid as much trouble and anxiety as I possibly can. Disney isn't making vacations for anyone too "relaxing" anymore w/ all this scheduling in advance. Then for those of us that have issues over and above, well, ....you know. I'm sad we bought DVC 5 years ago and it's just not as fun as it was then and with current trends, is only getting worse for US anyway.

Any thoughts are appreciated. We've done this trip w/ him many times. We know how to do WDW w/ him and under the GAC before. This is just a new issue for us given he was terrified of most rides before and now is a thrill seeker.

 

[wilkeliza]

Unfortunately there is no band you can get from GR regarding height. The reason is because if something were to happen to your son and it was determined it was because he was let through while bring too short it would be the entrance and load cast members who loss their jobs and even face lawsuits not GR.

 

[ppony]

Unfortunately there is no band you can get from GR regarding height. The reason is because if something were to happen to your son and it was determined it was because he was let through while bring too short it would be the entrance and load cast members who loss their jobs and even face lawsuits not GR.

Thanks for the info. They COULD do it but choose not to. Lots of other amusement parks do it now. They have the same legal needs and issues. Disney is just getting less and less special-needs friendly. And I'LL be the one being sued when my son scratches or hurts someone else when I can't react fast enough to stop him.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks for the info. They COULD do it but choose not to. Lots of other amusement parks do it now. They have the same legal needs and issues. Disney is just getting less and less special-needs friendly. And I'LL be the one being sued when my son scratches or hurts someone else when I can't react fast enough to stop him.

They use to do it but there was a lot of people taking the band off the tall enough child and putting it on the too small child. None of the major theme parks are doing it any more and the only one I've been to recently that still does it is Hershey and they still will measure if they think a kid may be too short and snuck the band on someone else.

 

[ppony]

They use to do it but there was a lot of people taking the band off the tall enough child and putting it on the too small child. None of the major theme parks are doing it any more and the only one I've been to recently that still does it is Hershey and they still will measure if they think a kid may be too short and snuck the band on someone else.

People always ruin it for others. Parks owned by Cedar Farms still do it. The one here does.

 

[Laura66]

Thanks for the info. They COULD do it but choose not to. Lots of other amusement parks do it now. They have the same legal needs and issues. Disney is just getting less and less special-needs friendly. And I'LL be the one being sued when my son scratches or hurts someone else when I can't react fast enough to stop him.

So I'm sure he flies off the handle when he doesn't get other things in life - not just things at Disney?
How do you prevent him from harming others then?
I'm sympathetic to what you have to deal with on a daily basis - I have family members who's children sound similar to yours. However, they know it's their responsibility to prepare him for things that are out of their control and be on the ball to deal with him and prevent him from hurting others when he does not get his way.

 

[joanchris]

We haven't been since the switch to DAS, but, my understanding is that the user's picture is on it..would there be a way to have him measured when he gets the DAS, and have it on the card somewhere? Then it would be attached to his photo? I have no idea if this is possible, as I said, we haven't been since DAS started (we're going next week!).

 

[wilkeliza]

We haven't been since the switch to DAS, but, my understanding is that the user's picture is on it..would there be a way to have him measured when he gets the DAS, and have it on the card somewhere? Then it would be attached to his photo? I have no idea if this is possible, as I said, we haven't been since DAS started (we're going next week!).

It is not possible as Disney does not measure at GR or guarantee a child will be able to ride a rode. I have never heard of anyone being signed off as being tall enough and neither have my friends who work in GR. We all know it is something that use to be done at least over 5 years ago and is a practice that is no longer allowed.

 

[wilkeliza]

People always ruin it for others. Parks owned by Cedar Farms still do it. The one here does.

I would think Cedar farms isn't a multibillion dollar company that gets sued when the wind changes either.

 

[ppony]

So I'm sure he flies off the handle when he doesn't get other things in life - not just things at Disney?

How do you prevent him from harming others then? I'm sympathetic to what you have to deal with on a daily basis - I have family members who's children sound similar to yours. However, they know it's their responsibility to prepare him for things that are out of their control and be on the ball to deal with him and prevent him from hurting others when he does not get his way.

We're able to predict and prevent most of the time. And other times, you aren't usually standing within inches of other people. You have space. We do place ourselves between us and others but how does one exactly keep a writhing child completely out of reach of others 100% of the time? It's not possible, despite our best efforts. Not only that, he will strike out at random w/o warning. It's why we usually keep him in a stroller. We're working on it. I was just hoping to avoid what I could see a very real problem. Who knows, maybe he'll surprise us. We usually prepare for the worst and sometimes, he reacts in an opposite way. But just like mother parents that deal w/ this 24/7, we do as much as we can in advance to prevent trouble.

 

[ppony]

I would think Cedar farms isn't a multibillion dollar company that gets sued when the wind changes either.

Check again. They are in the top in revenue. #12 to of the top 25 in the world.

 

[ppony]

It is not possible as Disney does not measure at GR or guarantee a child will be able to ride a rode. I have never heard of anyone being signed off as being tall enough and neither have my friends who work in GR. We all know it is something that use to be done at least over 5 years ago and is a practice that is no longer allowed.

It IS possible, they just don't. Not everyone has to go to GR to address issues they will have. I wouldn't expect them to do this for every child either. Like I said, if you read it, this is a special circumstance where there are cognitive disabilities in play. Disney used to be more accomodating. Yes, I get it, we won't ask! thanks for being abundantly clear.

 

[wilkeliza]

It IS possible, they just don't. Not everyone has to go to GR to address issues they will have. I wouldn't expect them to do this for every child either. Like I said, if you read it, this is a special circumstance where there are cognitive disabilities in play. Disney used to be more accomodating. Yes, I get it, we won't ask! thanks for being abundantly clear.

You are going off what happens at other parks not at Disney. Yes in theory it is possible but it isn't done at Disney. I was just letting you know I even asked my friend who works at Guest Relations just to make sure and she said it isn't an accommodation that is offered at Disney.

 

[aaarcher86]

It's unfortunate, but I wouldn't expect them to offer something to someone that they can't offer to others. I'm sure you can see the issue that would cause? They could potentially do a lot of things, but don't - they just can't do everything.

The best thing to do would be to avoid a ride with a 44" height requirement to avoid the issue entirely.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I'd ask when you get DAS card( if you are), but have never seen this. I totally agree with you, we had a similar problem with my son. He had his heart set on meeting mickey that talks. He is 12, and has autism. I know that sometimes he talks, and sometimes not, and I knew we had better be sure he was talking because if my son thought he was going to talk, and he didn't.....oh boy, a 12 year old having a meltdown, not pretty. But it seemed that the CMs could not tell me yes or no at the entrance, so we took a chance figuring we had a 50/50 shot, and luckily, mickey was talking, and it was the highlight of the trip for him. But I know what you mean because we went to DTD because he had his heart set on riding the buzz light year bumper car things and dh missed by an inch a couple of years ago, and I honestly don't know how security wasn't called with the scene he caused. I know cedar fair parks in OH do the wristband thing, and it works great to not have them measured at each ride. That would be great if Disney would add this.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I would think Cedar farms isn't a multibillion dollar company that gets sued when the wind changes either.

It's Cedar fair, and cedar point has held the #1 spot for as far as I can remember for amusement parks in the world.

 

[wilkeliza]

It's Cedar fair, and cedar point has held the #1 spot for as far as I can remember for amusement parks in the world.

Sorry Cedar Fair. However what I was pointing out was not how good or bad of a park it is but how much it is worth. Cedar Fair Entertainment is worth half of what Disney is as does not carry the same weight for as many families in the US. Growing up in TX I had no clue what Cedar Fair was but I sure did know what Disney was.

 

[aaarcher86]

I'd ask when you get DAS card( if you are), but have never seen this. I totally agree with you, we had a similar problem with my son. He had his heart set on meeting mickey that talks. He is 12, and has autism. I know that sometimes he talks, and sometimes not, and I knew we had better be sure he was talking because if my son thought he was going to talk, and he didn't.....oh boy, a 12 year old having a meltdown, not pretty. But it seemed that the CMs could not tell me yes or no at the entrance, so we took a chance figuring we had a 50/50 shot, and luckily, mickey was talking, and it was the highlight of the trip for him. But I know what you mean because we went to DTD because he had his heart set on riding the buzz light year bumper car things and dh missed by an inch a couple of years ago, and I honestly don't know how security wasn't called with the scene he caused. I know cedar fair parks in OH do the wristband thing, and it works great to not have them measured at each ride. That would be great if Disney would add this.

Pretty sure Kings Island is owned by them, and they don't do the wristband method. Either way, I don't think either one of these parks sees the foot traffic Disney does.

I feel like a more practical comparison is Universal, and even they don't measure up on a visitor count.

 

[EveDallas]

They use to do it but there was a lot of people taking the band off the tall enough child and putting it on the too small child. None of the major theme parks are doing it any more and the only one I've been to recently that still does it is Hershey and they still will measure if they think a kid may be too short and snuck the band on someone else.

Six Flags is a pretty major theme park with parks all over the US. They still do the band system.

 

[ChloeH]

I agree that passing the measurement when entering the line and then not the second time is a lot for a kid in the spectrum to process. The sudden ride denial will feel so unexpected. It a lot of disappointment for any kid. Why not just teach the first CM how to measure accurately and eliminate the second measure. You are either 44" or you aren't. It shouldn't be a matter of opinion. No other measurements in life are opinion based.